Learning from their cohort Lord Finesse, the two started an underground buzz by street promoting their demos then selling the tapes out of the trunks of their cars. The street sales helped them polish their debut single "Soul Clap" b/w "Party Groove," a cut that banged dance clubs and got love on Yo! MTV Raps for many a week, a self-titled EP was released in March of 1992. Their debut album, Runaway Slave, followed in the fall and is seen as an early-'90s hip-hop essential. The album brought a bouncing hardcore sound of crisp, jazzy horns, stiff drum kicks, and snapping snares that could get a party hopping but could also satisfy the non-dancing purist nodding his head in the back of the club. The album truly is a D.I.T.C. family affair and introduced such legendary names as the late Big L, Fat Joe, and Diamond D, whose classic debut solo album Stunts, Blunts, and Hip Hop dropped the same week in 1992.
The albatross of making unadulterated rap music is that it sometimes costs a crew acclaim, for Show and A.G. are some of rap's disturbingly underrated. The sequel to their raw, stripped sound came in 1995 with the under-appreciated Goodfellas and the two were major contributors to D.I.T.C.'s eponymous debut album in 2000.
Runaway Slave
Showbiz & A.G. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Verse One: A.G.
Livin in the slums with the bums, the rats and the stray cats
Dogs with the rabies, little babies are having babies
Juveniles act wild
Every footstep you take, on every corner there's a crack vial
Now the dealer's in jail, all the crackheads are dying
My man got AIDS, he was hit hard
To get laid, he paid a crackhead for a five dollar quick job
In the ghettoes this stuff you have to find
A beer will relax my mind but I still pack my nine
Cause I'm aware of all evil and devilishment
Because I'm living in a rat like settlement
Sometimes it's hard to manage
I grab a forty take a sip and let the mental do the damage
Yeah I'm woozy and my eyes are red
But it's better than a uzi and a brotherman is dead
See nine out of ten are black on black crimes
Four out of nine were killed before their prime
The other five wanted vengeance
So now five out of five are doin a jail sentence
Ask the Giant I've been through it
So when I reach to the top, I say the ghetto made me do it
And I know how to strive, huh
Born and raised in the ghetto so you know I can survive
Chorus:Runaway... runaway slave (8X in background)
I gotta getaway, I gotta do it now
or find a better way, so how that sound (both lines repeat 4X)
Verse Two: A.G.
Chapter two, of every black man's diary
Drugs and diseases, put in our society
Kill another brother and it's bravery
Come on that's one step backwards into mental slavery
Yeah you best believe that's reality
You got black on black then there's police brutality
Yeah it's bad but what makes it sad
Is that I'm being harassed by a black man with a badge
He's sellin out because he's two-faced
But you only got one race, you only got a nigga's face
He's sellin out because times is hard
And old ladies are gettin robbed cause I can't find a job
Fight to the top, and the other man'll drop
and gettin treated like savages will stop
You got the right plan, but goin about it the wrong way
Divided is the long way united is the strong way
Too many died for us to take a pause
So let's all get ours, and stop tryin to get yours
Walk a straight path, but it's so easy to stumble
So weak minds crumble in the concrete jungle
Get your chance to sell drugs, you don't pass up
But a fast buck will wind up to be your last buck
It's a damn shame, you're deaf dumb and blind
Did it ever cross your mind, you're killin off your own kind
And pretty soon even you will be a goner
Easy access to guns, liquor stores on every corner
Street knowledge is a must, you never learn enough
You're physically rough, but mentally you gotta be tough
We shall overcome with no doubt
The runaway slave is sayin peace and I'm out
Chorus
I gotta getaway, I gotta do it now
or find a better way, so how that sound (2X)
"Let's runaway, let's escape" (7X)
The song "Runaway Slave" by Showbiz & A.G. provides an insightful commentary on the harsh realities of living in the ghetto, especially for African American men. The first verse, delivered by A.G, discusses the harsh living conditions in the slums, where he's surrounded by rats, stray cats, and dogs with rabies. A.G also talks about the proliferation of drugs and how it has affected his people, leading to numerous deaths and illnesses. He talks about the AIDS epidemic and how a friend of his was hit hard. In the latter part of the verse, A.G talks about how it's hard to manage in the ghetto and how he tries to cope by drinking beer and carrying a gun.
In the second verse, A.G talks about the societal issues facing African Americans, highlighting the police brutality they face, adding that it is especially sad when it is perpetrated by a black man with a badge who is supposed to be protecting them. He describes how drugs and diseases were introduced into their society, leading to mental slavery. Also, he emphasizes that "united is the strong way," adding that if they continue to be divided, they will never progress. A.G implores his people to walk a straight path because it is easy to stumble, and the weak minds crumble in the concrete jungle.
"Runaway Slave" is a powerful commentary on the struggles of living in the ghetto made stronger by the lyrics' realism and direct language. The song's chorus emphasizes the need for an escape from the harsh realities of the ghetto, adding a touch of sadness to the song's message.
Line by Line Meaning
Livin in the slums with the bums, the rats and the stray cats
Living in a poor, dirty neighborhood surrounded by homeless people, rats, and wandering cats
Dogs with the rabies, little babies are having babies
Stray dogs with diseases and young girls getting pregnant
Juveniles act wild
Teenagers behave recklessly
Every footstep you take, on every corner there's a crack vial
Illegal drugs are easily available and present everywhere
Pushers, dealers, crackheads are buying
People who sell drugs and those who buy them are abundant
Now the dealer's in jail, all the crackheads are dying
The drug dealer is caught, but the addicts are losing their lives
My man got AIDS, he was hit hard
My friend is suffering from AIDS and was severely affected
To get laid, he paid a crackhead for a five dollar quick job
He had to pay a drug addict five dollars for a sexual favor
In the ghettoes this stuff you have to find
Illegal and harmful things are easily available in poor areas
A beer will relax my mind but I still pack my nine
Drinking beer can calm me down, but I still carry my gun for protection
Cause I'm aware of all evil and devilishment
I know about all the bad things happening around me
Because I'm living in a rat like settlement
I am residing in a cramped and dirty area resembling a rat-infested place
Sometimes it's hard to manage
It is difficult to cope with the adverse environment
I grab a forty take a sip and let the mental do the damage
I drink a forty-ounce bottle of alcohol to numb my mind
Yeah I'm woozy and my eyes are red
I am feeling dizzy, and my eyes are bloodshot
But it's better than a uzi and a brotherman is dead
Being drunk is better than carrying a gun and killing someone else
See nine out of ten are black on black crimes
Most of the crimes happen between black people
Four out of nine were killed before their prime
Almost half of them were murdered before they could fulfill their potential
The other five wanted vengeance
The remaining five sought revenge for the harm caused to them
So now five out of five are doin a jail sentence
Those five seeking revenge ended up in prison
Ask the Giant I've been through it
I have experienced the same things as Showbiz & AG, who are referred to as the Giant
So when I reach to the top, I say the ghetto made me do it
The poverty-stricken neighborhood is the reason behind my struggles, and I'll acknowledge it even if I become successful
And I know how to strive, huh
I know how to put in the effort and work hard
Born and raised in the ghetto so you know I can survive
Growing up in the slums, I have learned to survive against all odds
Chapter two, of every black man's diary
The struggles and challenges faced by black people are common
Drugs and diseases, put in our society
The society is plagued by drugs and ailments
Kill another brother and it's bravery
Killing someone from one's community is considered heroic by some individuals
Come on that's one step backwards into mental slavery
Such actions represent a setback that brings cognitive enslavement
Yeah you best believe that's reality
This is the hard truth, and you cannot deny it
You got black on black then there's police brutality
People from the same ethnic community harming each other, and police authorities mistreating them
Yeah it's bad but what makes it sad
It is a depressing situation
Is that I'm being harassed by a black man with a badge
A person, belonging to a black community, who is supposed to protect me, is harassing me
He's sellin out because he's two-faced
The person is betraying the community and his duty as a professional
But you only got one race, you only got a nigga's face
We belong to the same racial group, and I am of the same skin color
He's sellin out because times is hard
Due to difficult circumstances, the person is compromising their values
And old ladies are gettin robbed cause I can't find a job
The lack of job opportunities is causing the elderly to become victims of robberies
Fight to the top, and the other man'll drop
Work hard to succeed, and it'll bring down those who try to bring you down
and gettin treated like savages will stop
Once the black community is prosperous, they will no longer be treated unfairly
You got the right plan, but goin about it the wrong way
You have the correct approach, but the execution is incorrect
Divided is the long way united is the strong way
Working together is a powerful way to overcome obstacles
Too many died for us to take a pause
Many people have lost their lives, and we must continue fighting
So let's all get ours, and stop tryin to get yours
Let's focus on securing our needs and refrain from stealing
Walk a straight path, but it's so easy to stumble
It is challenging to remain on the right path without getting sidetracked
So weak minds crumble in the concrete jungle
People who lack the determination and strength to succeed fall prey to the harsh environment
Get your chance to sell drugs, you don't pass up
If there is an opportunity to sell drugs, people exploit it
But a fast buck will wind up to be your last buck
The instant money earned from drug dealing can lead to death
It's a damn shame, you're deaf dumb and blind
It is unfortunate that you lack the awareness and understanding of the consequences of your actions
Did it ever cross your mind, you're killin off your own kind
Have you ever thought that you are hurting and killing people from your own community?
And pretty soon even you will be a goner
You yourself will face the same consequences
Easy access to guns, liquor stores on every corner
Guns are easy to obtain, and alcohol shops are present everywhere
Street knowledge is a must, you never learn enough
Having knowledge of the streets is essential, and you can never learn too much
You're physically rough, but mentally you gotta be tough
You may be strong physically, but you must also be robust mentally
We shall overcome with no doubt
We have no doubts about overcoming the challenges that come our way
The runaway slave is sayin peace and I'm out
I, a former slave, am departing in peace
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDRE MAURICE BARNES, RODNEY LEMAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind