East Oakland native Tajai began rhyming with future bandmate A-Plus at age 8, while both were in elementary school. Tajai and Phesto met later in junior high school. Tajai recruited his best friend Phesto in middle school and A-Plus brought Opio into the budding act in high school before making its major-label debut on Jive Records with the group's well-received album 93 'til Infinity, in 1993.
The group is part of the hip-hop collective Hieroglyphics, along with emcees Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Casual, Pep Love, Jaybiz, and producer Domino. The group participated as full members in all three of Hieroglyphics' studio albums: 1998's 3rd Eye Vision, 2003's Full Circle, and 2013's The Kitchen.
93 ’til Infinity is the group's highest charting album to date (#17 Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums; #85 Billboard 200) and, in January, 1998, was named one of the Top 100 Rap albums by The Source magazine.
The group stayed with Jive for one more album, 1995's No Man's Land, before being released from the label during the same year.
The group released two albums on Hiero's self-owned independent label, Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings: 1999's Focus, and 2000's Trilogy: Conflict, Climax, Resolution.
On October 30, 2006, Hierocast (Hieroglyphics' official podcast), Del tha Funkee Homosapien reported that the Souls of Mischief was currently working on its next studio album with Prince Paul (De La Soul, Gravediggaz, Handsome Boy Modeling School). On January 6, 2009, Souls of Mischief released the Tour Stories EP produced by Domino and co-produced by Prince Paul. The song is taken from the group's fifth studio album, Montezuma's Revenge, released on Hieroglyphics Imperium.
In 2013, a documentary about the band was released entitled Til Infinity: The Souls of Mischief. Produced and directed by Shomari Smith, it reflected on the 20 year anniversary of the band's debut album 93 'Til Infinity and includes over 50 interviews with prominent MCs, DJs, and producers of the era.
During the 2017 NBA Playoffs, Gatorade released a television commercial promoting Gatorade Flow, which featured Indiana Pacers star forward Paul George and the instrumental music of Souls of Mischief' 93 'Til Infinity.
Do You Want It
Souls of Mischief Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
{Chorus - Do you want it? repeated}
[Tajai]
Ah yeah, my peoples if you want me, cool
Everybody know the T is the joint be comin through
with the _____ like Napolean Bonaparte(sp?) I'm swoll
you lack the balance, couldn't rip it in virtual reality
I got a style that's dehumanizing
Keepin' eyes on swell
the demise of your personnel
that's not surprising
Yo I got live and in my verse I _____ your best man
show me that as I get in it
Sorry, no gimmicks
cause with me the possibilities is limitless
I'm too _______ at this English shit
and if ya didn't list this as your favorite
you simply didn't listen...closely
to the rhymes I kick to my sisters and my brethoren (sp?)
never try to front like I'm a veteran
but give respect and receive I leave
but you feel the presence
cause the bass drum got resonance
[Opio]
Check it out cause you all know me
Opio Lindsay...champion MC
internationally...niggas be challenging thee
hieroglyphics imperium steering 'em heat
get get up out ya seat
nigga ya weak
I'd rather spit at a freak
and get up under the sheets
instead of... configuring speech
for niggas to leech on
my crew touch the mic
Souls of Mischief we be on...point
sure as Casual hit the joint
making muthafuckas scream and shout
ya know we turn it out
so baby girl with the light brown eyes
let me speak to you a minute and examine them thighs
and get wise to the fact
that I'm hip to that act
don't try to play that role
let's get real and hit the sack
it ain't all like that
you know...we keep in contact
let me take control... just relax
{Chorus}
[A-Plus]
I demonstrate the skills that niggas need to flow
they need to ____ a bro
but even so I still leave you though
you know I never understood about wack
ain't nuthin' good about wack
it's all shit, that's what my niggas call it
that's all I know well fuck the rest raps
I'll buck ya chest perhaps
ya luck is less, black
you flunked the test, yes
and you will never pass
I got them hoes sayin' A-plus
you so fresh with ya clever ass
No doubt MC's are gettin' ransacked
see I'm the man, black
stand back
this is what ya plan lack
the proper use of flows
___________ my ________
you hoes that don't do ya own rhymes
got to chew the pros
the buddha flows with a sack on the floor
from '93 til we chill now we back in the door
but now, it's gruesome when a crew's dumb
so I gotta bruise 'em
hieroglyphics win, never lose
[Phesto]
Here goes Phes-rock
makin' ladies just drop
out of conrol from the soul
making money don't stop
to the fellas never jealous
celebrate the fact
Souls of Mischief comin' way too phat
to sit back and ________ maybe
you be excilerating and exhault
as I expand my palm and baby in the _______
not at all was I shocked she wasn't ________
at my performance
I leave 'em in aw without warning
so try to ascertain your ass a brain cause I reign
breakin backs and necks over tracks for checks
leavin' niggas heartless, discarded
by the genuine artist strechin' to the farthest
reachin' your imagination, niggas catchin' a blur
I'm like the ________,
my rhymes come together like clockwork
perfect is the only way to word it
energy excerted
it's Souls of Mischief on your circuit
check it out...
(Chorus)
The song "Do You Want It" by Souls of Mischief starts with a repeated chorus of "Do you want it?" inviting listeners to engage with the verses by Tajai, Opio, A-Plus, and Phesto.
Tajai's verse boasts of his unique style that's dehumanizing and how it's easy to spot lack of balance and heart in other performers. He raps about how he has a limitless possibility due to his English skills and how his rhymes should be listened to carefully. He notes that he is not a veteran but deserves respect for his work.
Opio, in his verse, introduces himself as a champion MC and mentions that people challenge him. He raps about how his crew, Souls of Mischief, takes over the mic and how he'd rather spit at a freak than spend time with leeches. He makes a direct reference to a lady with light brown eyes, hinting at a sexual encounter.
A-Plus's verse touches on how vital proper flow and good rap are, constantly contrasting it with wack raps. He notes that he leaves people in the dust, and people in the rap game are ransacked, implying he's better. He boasts of his A-plus rating with the ladies and furthermore includes the catchphrase that all rappers want to be with celebrities.
Phesto's verse speaks of his lyrical skills making ladies drop out of control. He boasts of the crew's phatness and how they never back down. He talks of how he will break people's backs and necks with his rhymes, showing his prowess. He also notes that he draws the imagination of listeners with his rhymes.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah yeah, my peoples if you want me, cool
I'm here for you, if you want me
with the _____ like Napolean Bonaparte(sp?) I'm swoll
I am strong and built like Napoleon Bonaparte
y'all niggas that be flowin, it's all heart no soul
Your rap lacks soul, it's just words with no passion
you lack the balance, couldn't rip it in virtual reality
You don't have the skills to rap in a virtual reality setting
I got a style that's dehumanizing
My rap style is inhumanly good
Keepin' eyes on swell
I'm watching and staying aware of changes
the demise of your personnel
I'm aware of the downfall of your group/band
that's not surprising
I saw that coming
Yo I got live and in my verse I _____ your best man
I showed up and performed so good that I outdid your best rapper
show me that as I get in it
Let me show you what I'm capable of
Sorry, no gimmicks
There are no tricks or gimmicks in my rap
cause with me the possibilities is limitless
I have endless potential and talent
I'm too _______ at this English shit
I'm incredibly skilled at rapping in English
and if ya didn't list this as your favorite
If you didn't make this your favorite, then you didn't listen closely enough
you simply didn't listen...closely
If you didn't choose this as your favorite, you weren't paying close enough attention
to the rhymes I kick to my sisters and my brethoren (sp?)
You need to listen closely to the rhymes I rap for my brothers and sisters
never try to front like I'm a veteran
I don't claim to be a veteran
but give respect and receive I leave
Treat me with respect and I'll return the favor
but you feel the presence
You can sense my influence and impact
cause the bass drum got resonance
The bass drum I use has a powerful impact
Opio Lindsay...champion MC
I'm Opio Lindsay, a champion MC
internationally...niggas be challenging thee
Around the world, other rappers are challenging me
hieroglyphics imperium steering 'em heat
The hieroglyphics crew is leading the way in rap
get get up out ya seat / nigga ya weak
Get out of your seat, you weak rapper
I'd rather spit at a freak / and get up under the sheets
I'd rather have sex with a woman than waste my time on a bad rapper
instead of... configuring speech / for niggas to leech on
I'd rather have sex than waste my time writing songs that others will copy
my crew touch the mic / Souls of Mischief we be on...point
My crew, Souls of Mischief, are talented rappers
sure as Casual hit the joint
As Casual lights up a joint, we'll keep rapping
making muthafuckas scream and shout
We make people go wild with our music
ya know we turn it out
We always bring the best performance
so baby girl with the light brown eyes
I see a woman in the audience with beautiful eyes
let me speak to you a minute and examine them thighs
Let me talk to you and check you out
and get wise to the fact
Let me make you realize something
that I'm hip to that act
I know what you're trying to do
don't try to play that role
Don't act like someone you're not
let's get real and hit the sack
Let's be honest and have sex
it ain't all like that
It's not all about sex
you know...we keep in contact
We can stay in touch after this
let me take control... just relax
Let me lead and relax
I demonstrate the skills that niggas need to flow
I show other rappers what it takes to be successful
they need to ____ a bro
They need to learn from me
but even so I still leave you though
Even if I teach you, I'm still better than you
you know I never understood about wack
I never understood why people like bad rap
ain't nuthin' good about wack
Bad rap has no redeeming qualities
it's all shit, that's what my niggas call it
My crew considers bad rap to be total garbage
that's all I know well fuck the rest raps
I think bad rap is the worst, everything else is better
I'll buck ya chest perhaps / ya luck is less, black
I'll make you struggle and your luck will run out
you flunked the test, yes / and you will never pass
You failed and you will always fail
I got them hoes sayin' A-plus
When I rap, even women are impressed
you so fresh with ya clever ass
You're really good and clever
No doubt MC's are gettin' ransacked
Other rappers can't compete with me
see I'm the man, black / stand back
I'm the best rapper, and other rappers should back off
this is what ya plan lack
Your plan is flawed
the proper use of flows
Using the right style of rap
___________ my ________
Unknown meaning as phrase is incomplete
you hoes that don't do ya own rhymes
Bad rappers who don't write their own lyrics
got to chew the pros
They have to copy the professionals
the buddha flows with a sack on the floor
I'm rapping while smoking weed
from '93 til we chill now we back in the door
We've been rapping since 1993, now we're back and ready to continue
but now, it's gruesome when a crew's dumb
It's hard to watch when other rappers are bad
so I gotta bruise 'em
I have to criticize them
hieroglyphics win, never lose
Our group, Hieroglyphics, always wins and never loses
Here goes Phes-rock / makin' ladies just drop
I'm Phesto, and I can make women faint with my raps
out of conrol from the soul
My raps are so powerful they can control people
making money don't stop
We keep making money because we're so successful
to the fellas never jealous / celebrate the fact
I'm not envious of others, I celebrate their success
Souls of Mischief comin' way too phat
Souls of Mischief is too good
to sit back and ________ maybe
To just do nothing and wonder
you be excilerating and exhault
You'll be excited and happy
as I expand my palm and baby in the _______
As I reach out to you and hold your hand
not at all was I shocked she wasn't ________
I wasn't surprised that she wasn't in shock when I touched her
at my performance
At my rap performance
I leave 'em in aw without warning
I leave the audience in awe
so try to ascertain your ass a brain cause I reign
Get a good brain and be mindful, because I'm in charge
breakin backs and necks over tracks for checks
I work hard to earn money by making great music
leavin' niggas heartless, discarded
I make other rappers feel bad and unimportant
by the genuine artist strechin' to the farthest
By me, the talented artist, pushing myself to be my best
reachin' your imagination, niggas catchin' a blur
My music is so powerful it can make your imagination go wild
I'm like the ________,
Unknown meaning as word is bleeped out
my rhymes come together like clockwork
My raps are perfectly timed and executed
perfect is the only way to word it
The only way to describe my raps is 'perfect'
energy excerted
I use a lot of energy when I rap
it's Souls of Mischief on your circuit
Our group, Souls of Mischief, is making waves in the rap circuit
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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