With the always spirited ‘Print on the mic and RJ deftly manning the boards, this pair caught the underground by storm with their 6-song EP Unlimited in 2002. Only a year later they got heads listening a lot more closely with 2003’s pensive full-length debut, Eight Million Stories.
As Blueprint expresses through Soul Position’s new material, it was a long, sometimes uncertain road from when they recorded Eight Million Stories until now. But with the duo back in action, as their new album’s title says, Things Go Better With RJ and Al. On this well-balanced release, ‘Print delves into a greater variety of subject matter than ever, as he speaks on reshaping the Black identity in hip-hop and, on the lighter side, warns people not to waste his precious cell phone minutes. And as usual, RJ mines an abundance of funky samples for his partner in rhyme to enthusiastically rhyme over. On their new album, Soul Position dodges the dreaded sophomore jinx and delivers yet another gimmick-free release that’s sure to be one of the most talked about records of 2006.
Take Your time
Soul Position Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take your time young man
Don't you rush to get old
Keep it in your stride
Live your life, live your life
This goes out to everybody, movin too fast
You do slow down
Ehen its not even neccesary
You need to think about your actions
I've ben there I don wanna go back
None of y'all - nobody's goin home
For I, I try not to walk the beef route
But everybody wanna speak out
Forgot when I was younger
Cats try to knock your teeth out
Slap you in your mouth piece
Until some blood leaks out
As fast as they rolled on you, they will be out
Have you bunny hopping fists is
everytime you them a block from your house
But you walkin the scenic route
I've seen cats take it to the max pull their heaters out
But this is rap, so it ain't what it should be about
There's a lotta ways we can settle our differences
Whatever you choose let me know what your decision is
Talk on the telephone or clash in front of witnesses
Tweaks swords with sentances until your pride blemishes
So you actin like you want it but iknow your frontin
Cuz you the type of cat that starts static over nothin
With a chip on your shoulder like the world owes you somethin
Mad cuz your name got cold and wasnt buzzin slowdown
(Chorus)
You got an appetite for destruction
Cool, we can break bread
Whatever you feel, we can break legs
I make sure all your dawgs get fed
But talk is cheap, and I'm concerned about what ain't said
I seen cat's outnumber mine three to one
Sellin wolf tickets and thinkin we had won
I knew they didnt have to fight like us when we was young
Cuz we was chasin them cats down the street when they was done
You aint hard cuz you can kill in a song
Hard is being a man and admittin you were wrong
Hard is be squashin my beef with you
Cuz if I dont I might be six feet deep with you
It benifits nobody, not me or you
You can get got and they can get me too
I'm man enough to admit it now, life is changin
And we need to slow down
(Chorus)
The song "Take Your Time" by Soul Position featuring Blueprint speaks about the importance of slowing down in life and reflecting on one's actions before jumping into confrontations. The chorus advises young men not to rush into getting older and to live their lives at their own pace. The lyrics in the first verse point out the dangers of rushing into confrontations and the need to think before acting. The rapper talks about personal experience and how he has learned from it.
The second verse goes on to talk about the destructive nature of confrontation and the importance of communication. The rapper raises concerns about the false bravado that comes with fighting and how it does not solve any problems. He highlights the need to admit when one is wrong and the importance of resolving differences peacefully. The overall message of the song is to take a step back and think before acting, to communicate effectively, and to resolve differences peaceably.
Line by Line Meaning
Take your time young man
Don't rush through life, take your time and enjoy the journey
Don't you rush to get old
Don't try to grow up too fast, enjoy your youth
Keep it in your stride
Take things as they come, don't stress or worry about things out of your control
Live your life, live your life
Enjoy life, make the most of every moment
This goes out to everybody, movin too fast
For anyone who's too busy or moving too quickly to slow down and appreciate life
You need to think about your actions
Be aware of the consequences of your choices and actions
But this is rap, so it ain't what it should be about
Rap music shouldn't be about violence or confrontation, but rather about expression and creativity
Mad cuz your name got cold and wasnt buzzin slowdown
Don't be upset about losing influence or fame, take a step back and enjoy life at a slower pace
Whatever you feel, we can break legs
If necessary, we can physically fight, but that shouldn't be the first choice to settle differences
I'm man enough to admit it now, life is changin
It's mature and brave to recognize that life is changing and adapt accordingly
Contributed by Penelope P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.