Rapper-producer Jay Dee left after the group's first national album, 2000's Fantastic, Vol. 2 (Barak) and rhymer Elzhi was added to the mix for 2002's Trinity (Past, Present And Future) (Barak/Capitol). Now, with the release of Slum Village's new album, the stunningly impressive Detroit Deli (Barak/Capitol), the group consists of just T3 and Elzhi. Throughout the changes, Slum Village's musical mission has remained constant: to deliver soul-stirring sonics that represent Detroit to the fullest. That vision is fully realized on Detroit Deli. Throughout the sensational 15-cut collection, T3 and Elzhi give listeners an intimate look at life in The D, from where they shop, hang with friends and eat to the type of cars they drive (check "Zoom") and what clothes they wear.
Slum Village represents the Midwest's funk heritage on the inspirational "Do You," which was produced by Jay Dee, and teams with Chicago's Kanye West on lead single "Selfish," a sly, piano-driven song where T3, Elzhi and West rap about their desire to have a monopoly with women. They then team with Ol' Dirty Bastard on the riotous "Dirty" about having to battle for a woman and deliver a Player's Hand Guide of sorts on the sensuous "Count The Ways," Both produced by B.R. Gunna.
Even though Slum Village excels at making this type of lighthearted music, they show on Detroit Deli that they also hit hard with more serious subject matter. On the moving, guitar-driven "Keep Holding On," they rap about people not losing faith in their lives, while on the stirring "Old Girl/Shining Star," T3 and Elzhi send a open letter of hope and support to single mothers working hard to survive.
"The inspiration came from my boy's niece who has a gang of kids and is out here struggling," Elzhi says. "She's stringing her kids around on the bus, just to get by. By me just looking at that, I'm like, 'I need to write a song because I know she's not the only one going through it.' Slum Village has never touched on ladies like that and everybody is calling girls hoes and Bs, dissing these ladies, so we wanted to touch the ladies in a different way."
The group also takes a different route on "Reunion." Jay Dee joins T3 and Elzhi on the insightful cut, which offers three different takes on the group's status. "It's like you're going through three state of minds at one time kind of in reverse," T3 says. "What we're trying to say is that we wish we were together, we might be together and then we're not together at all. We're trying to give you all the aspects of how people are coming at us, the type of stuff we're dealing with and kind of give you a glimpse of the stuff we're dealing with in the group."
Indeed, songs such as "Keep Holding On," "Old Girl/Shining Star" and "The Reunion" signal Slum Village's evolution; they mark the first time the group has let listeners in on their personal feelings. "I don't think people really know us and we never really touched on our emotions like that," T3 says. "We wanted to bring some realness, besides just the soul music. Elzhi, as a guy that saw Slum Village on the outside, he brought it to my attention that we never touched on serious topics and that we should try to touch on them more. I was with that and I have a lot to say, so why not?"
Detroit Deli also stands as Slum Village's most musically rich album to date. B.R. Gunna producers Black Milk and Young RJ, both 20 years old, handled the majority of the beats, while Kanye West produced "Selfish," Jay Dee handled "Do You" and T3 along with young RJ produced "Closer" and "Count The Ways." The beats are as divergent as the album's subject matter, ranging from soulful to futuristic, but they always remain powerful and innovative.
The same can be said for Slum Village's storied career. After releasing Fan-tas-tic Vol. 1 independently, Slum Village became one of hip-hop's hottest groups. While working on Fantastic vol. 2, they were joined in the studio by such luminaries as D'Angelo, Busta Rhymes, Kurupt, Pete Rock, and A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip, among others. The resulting album became an underground classic and Slum Village was seen as the second coming of the Native Tongues (A Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers, De La Soul) by member Q-Tip, as well as fans and journalists alike.
Jay Dee left the group after Fantastic, vol. 2 in order to work on his solo career, but Slum Village pressed on, releasing in 2002 the Dirty District mixtape and later that year its third album and first with new member Elzhi, Trinity. Many fans looked at rapper-producer Jay Dee as the group's backbone, but Trinity proved that Slum Village could provide without its sonic architect, as that album's single "Tainted" became the group's biggest hit.
"We've always stuck to our guns," T3 says. "We've never tried to change to get commercial success. We always just did what we did and when you do what you do, eventually somebody's going to have to give you your respect for having the courage to do what you do."
Now back where they started, Slum Village yet again thrills and delights fans and gains yet a larger audience hungry for the smoking beats under the hot lyrical talent of T3 and Elzhi. Slum has begun to bring more of their personal feelings to their music, allowing the listeners and fans to touch more on the emotions and realness and touched on more serious topics. Prequel to a Classic features previously unreleased joints and jams from Slum Village with production by B.R. Gunna, J Dilla and Kareem Riggins. The mixtape gives listeners the best of some of their material since Fantastic Vol. 1.
T3 has said in a recent interview that slum village has reunited with Baatin and has added Illa J(J Dilla's Brother) to bring a Dilla effect. He is quoted "Slum Village is totally not that at all,” T3 adds. “I’m incorporating Baatin, and I’m putting Illa J in—not to take Dilla’s place, but just to have that essence of Dilla on this new project. I’m pulling together all the producers that we’ve used before—Black Milk, Wajeed , Kareem Riggins, Pete Rock and all the people who have been down with SV from day one.”
J Dilla died on February 10, 2006 after being diagnosed with TTP and Lupus.
Baatin died on July 31, 2009.
www.slumvillage.com
Raise It Up
Slum Village Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
New S-V
Raise it up
Raise it up
I ain't about shit
Nope, what me dog
I ain't that nigga Jay dee uh uh
You ain't never seen me balling out at the bar right?
I don't rock my ice and bounce foreign cars
And my Rover ain't the hottest Rover you ever seen
That ain't a TV screen
It ain't sitting on eighteens dog
I ain't gaining no green and my chain don't swing uh
I ain't doing my thing
I ain't doing a thing
I ain't got none of that dough with none of them cars
I ain't fucked none of them hoes in none of them bars
I don't smoke weed
I ain't use to mess with this three's
I ain't from the D
No I wasn't blessed with the beats
I don't be at the spot swinging my chain like this
Swinging my thing til these motherfuckers bang my shit
I don't sip 'Mo
I ain't never popped Cris'
This Rollie just don't look right sitting on my wrist huh?
Uh Uh wasn't me
Dip the Sean John
Sip the cham' Don
Shit you want some
I don't hold heat
No I ain't never caught a case
I don't know what titles to trace
I ain't as tight as they say
I don't ball out with my click at all
But I do show niggas how to spit this bar
Flow make the hoes put the dick to jaw
S-V bitch, What the fuck you thought?
What
Raise it up
Raise it up
Alright, Okay, yup it was me
Yes I must admit. It was that nigga T3
Yeah Yeah I did it
Okay blame it on me
Yeah I'm that nigga that's hitting bitches that's overseas
Yes I'm that motherfucker
Hot damn I'm a G
I'm the nigga who rip
I'm the one that emcees
Yeah. I'm that type of nigga talking trash up in your face
Okay it was me. I hit your girl up in your place
Place the bitch on the mat and sprayed the cum up on her face
Tell the chick to participate
She call me everyday
Anyway, I got a crew that always give you what you need
We don't hold it against you
If your crew ain't up to speed
See, we be them
We be them niggas S-V
You can do what you gotta do
You will never see three (three)
Raise it up
Raise it up
Maybe it's that nigga Titus
Maybe it's me
Maybe he's part of the group (the) S and the V
Maybe my name is Rasaul Rassi
Maybe I'm Christ?
Maybe the Sun
The One
Maybe I'm the nigga who pulled the gat first (maybe)
Pointed at the casket and blasted at the hearst
Niggas they front (hard).
You just learning to roll the blunt (huh)
Been there, done that
I'm on that other shit
Gradually speeding out my body til I fell away
Maybe my crew is like an omen, from the great lake
Maybe I'm the first fish who bit at the bait (bait)
Catching a crab from a bitch on a blind date
Maybe it was Titus who paved the way
Maybe it was Titus who came to save the day
Maybe you like me. Maybe you don't. You give a fuck (fuck)
Probably with my crew that made you raise it up
Raise it up
The song "Raise It Up" by Slum Village is a hiphop track that talks about the group's experiences in the music industry. The first verse of the song is rapped by T3, where he talks about how he's not into the flashy lifestyle that's often portrayed by other rappers. He doesn't have expensive cars, jewelry, or any of that stuff, but he still shows up and shows his skills on the mic. T3 expresses that he's not trying to be someone else, but he's focused on staying true to himself and his craft. The second verse is rapped by Baatin, who talks about how he's not just one person, but many. He could be anyone, even the messiah, or just a regular guy talking trash in your face. He speaks about how his crew (S-V) is like an omen from the great lake and how he's caught a crab (an STD) from a blind date. The chorus "Raise it up" is a call to action to the listeners, to represent themselves and their beliefs proudly.
The song "Raise It Up" was produced by Jay Dee (also known as J Dilla), who was one of the founding members of Slum Village. The group released the song on their album "Detroit Deli (A Taste of Detroit)" in 2004. The sample used in the track is from "I Keep Asking You Questions" by The Blackbyrds. The song was one of the last tracks that J Dilla produced for the group before his passing in 2006. The meaning of the song has been interpreted in different ways, with some saying it's about being true to yourself, while others see it as a call to action for the community to come together and stand up for their rights.
Line by Line Meaning
Turn it up
Start playing the song louder
Raise it up
Emphasize what we're saying
I ain't about shit
I'm not as wealthy or flashy as other rappers
Nope, what me dog
What I'm saying is true
I don't floss nope
I don't flaunt my wealth
I ain't that nigga Jay dee uh uh
I'm not as famous or influential as Jay Dee
You ain't never seen me balling out at the bar right?
You've never seen me spending extravagantly at the bar
I don't rock my ice and bounce foreign cars
I don't wear expensive jewelry or drive expensive foreign cars
And my Rover ain't the hottest Rover you ever seen
My Rover car is not the most impressive one you've seen
That ain't a TV screen
My car doesn't have a TV screen in it
It ain't sitting on eighteens dog
My car doesn't have 18-inch wheels
I ain't gaining no green and my chain don't swing uh
I'm not making a lot of money and I don't have a flashy chain
I ain't doing my thing
I'm not living my life the way other rappers do
I ain't got none of that dough with none of them cars
I don't have a lot of money and I don't own expensive cars
I ain't fucked none of them hoes in none of them bars
I haven't had sex with any women in bars
I don't smoke weed
I don't use marijuana
I ain't use to mess with this three's
I don't usually wear Air Jordan 3 sneakers
I ain't from the D
I'm not from Detroit
No I wasn't blessed with the beats
I don't have the natural talent for making music like Jay Dee did
I don't be at the spot swinging my chain like this
I don't hang out in public places flaunting my jewelry
Swinging my thing til these motherfuckers bang my shit
Showing off my jewelry until people start complimenting me
I don't sip 'Mo
I don't drink Moët & Chandon champagne
I ain't never popped Cris'
I haven't drunk Cristal champagne
This Rollie just don't look right sitting on my wrist huh?
Even though I have a Rolex watch, it doesn't look right on me
Uh Uh wasn't me
I'm denying that I did something
Dip the Sean John
I like to wear Sean John clothing brand
Sip the cham' Don
I like to drink Champagne Dom Pérignon
Shit you want some
I'm offering to share my champagne
I don't hold heat
I don't carry a gun
No I ain't never caught a case
I haven't been arrested or charged with a crime
I don't know what titles to trace
I'm not interested in tracing my family's history or genealogy
I ain't as tight as they say
I'm not as talented or skilled as people say I am
I don't ball out with my click at all
I don't spend extravagantly with my group of friends
But I do show niggas how to spit this bar
I'm good at rapping and I can teach others how to do it well
Flow make the hoes put the dick to jaw
My rapping skills impress women and make them want to have sex with me
S-V bitch, What the fuck you thought?
Slum Village is the group I'm a part of, what did you think I was going to say?
Alright, Okay, yup it was me
I'm now admitting that I did something
Yes I must admit. It was that nigga T3
I'm admitting that T3 from Slum Village was involved in something
Yeah Yeah I did it
I'm admitting to doing something wrong
Okay blame it on me
I'm saying that I'm responsible for what happened
Yeah I'm that nigga that's hitting bitches that's overseas
I'm admitting to having sex with women in other countries
Yes I'm that motherfucker
I'm confident in myself and my abilities
Hot damn I'm a G
I'm a gangsta, I'm tough and cool
I'm the nigga who rip
I'm the person who is good at rapping
I'm the one that emcees
I'm the person who raps on stage
Yeah. I'm that type of nigga talking trash up in your face
I'm that kind of person who talks tough to you
Okay it was me. I hit your girl up in your place
I'm admitting to having sex with your girlfriend in your home
Place the bitch on the mat and sprayed the cum up on her face
I'm describing having ejaculated on your girlfriend's face
Tell the chick to participate
I encouraged her to participate in sexual activities with me
She call me everyday
Your girlfriend continues to contact me after we had sex
Anyway, I got a crew that always give you what you need
I'm saying that my group of friends can provide for your needs
We don't hold it against you
I'm saying my friends won't judge you
If your crew ain't up to speed
If your group of friends isn't as cool or tough as mine
See, we be them
My group of friends is the best
We be them niggas S-V
We are the rappers Slum Village
You can do what you gotta do
You can do what you need to do
You will never see three (three)
You won't see all three members of Slum Village together
Maybe it's that nigga Titus
Maybe Titus from Slum Village did something
Maybe it's me
Maybe I did something
Maybe he's part of the group (the) S and the V
Maybe Titus is part of the group Slum Village
Maybe my name is Rasaul Rassi
Maybe that's my name
Maybe I'm Christ?
Maybe I'm like Jesus
Maybe the Sun
Maybe I'm like the sun in the sky
The One
Or maybe I'm God
Maybe I'm the nigga who pulled the gat first (maybe)
Maybe I'm the person who drew a gun first in a confrontation
Pointed at the casket and blasted at the hearst
I shot my gun at a funeral procession
Niggas they front (hard).
People are trying to act tough
You just learning to roll the blunt (huh)
You are new to smoking marijuana
Been there, done that
I'm saying that I have experience in smoking marijuana
I'm on that other shit
I'm doing something different or unique
Gradually speeding out my body til I fell away
I'm describing an out-of-body experience where I felt like I was moving very fast
Maybe my crew is like an omen, from the great lake
Maybe my group of friends is a sign of good or bad things to come from the Great Lakes region
Maybe I'm the first fish who bit at the bait (bait)
Maybe I'm the first person to fall for a trap
Catching a crab from a bitch on a blind date
I'm describing a bad experience with a woman I met on a blind date
Maybe it was Titus who paved the way
Maybe Titus was the one who led the way or set an example
Maybe it was Titus who came to save the day
Maybe Titus was the one who rescued us from a bad situation
Maybe you like me. Maybe you don't. You give a fuck (fuck)
Maybe you have an opinion about me, maybe you don't. You don't really care either way
Probably with my crew that made you raise it up
You are likely enjoying this song because of my talented group of friends (Slum Village)
Raise it up
Emphasize what we're saying
Raise it up
Emphasize what we're saying
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: R.l. Iii Altman, Titus Printice Glover, James Dewitt Yancey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
iBust Fatrap
its ok haha :D cause guru said
Rap is an art you can't own no loops
It's how you hook em up and the rhyme style troop
So don't even think you could say someone bit
Off your weak beat come on you need to quit
I flip lines and rhymes that never sound like yours
There ought to be laws against you yapping your jaws
Originality overflows in the end
The truth is, that you wish you could live the
Life I live and kick the lyrics I kick
But bear in mind that you can't think as quick
So Premier drops beats, for me to say verses to
And if I sound doper then take it personal
850iStyle
JD drops one of the hottest verses in rap history here...AND he produced this masterpiece
Jason Voss
So gifted
Mr.Worq
Rest In Peace to the homie J. Dilla. This beat and track is freaking bananas. Someone PLEASE explain to me how the illest music do not get it's recognition? Under 200,000 views are you crazy I can watch and listen to this track all damn day.
Hii Ken
It real i can listen all day
biggz1986
Jesus, I remember the exact day I first hears Slum. I remember what I was wearing, what I was doing, and that was in 1999. The greatest group no matter how you mix and match members. Villa Manifesto is sick. Dilla is the G.O.A.T. on the boards and SV is still the shit. R.I.P. Dilla & Baatin
Christina Bell
Man this track still is my favorite still gives me goose bumps and low key I want to cry because this sound just hits the soul . ❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 RIP J Dilla and Baatin❤️❤️❤️❤️
Tyler Hughes
i cant make it through a week without bumpin some SV... i just wish dilla and baatin were still here. RIP brothers. forever missed.
M0rganFReelance
This was the first Dilla beat I ever heard. It was on Q104.7 a small SoCal radio station.. the late night DJs were REAL underground Hip Hop heads.. introduced me to Jay Dee, T3, Baatin [RIP], SV 🔥🔥🔥🎧🔥🔥🔥
We Beamin
Thanks for the recollect bro
Christina Bell
Still one of my favorite songs 🔥🔥🔥🔥