In 1998, their album "Street Cinema" was released on Roc-A-Bloc/Ruffhouse records. The majority of the production was handled by Ski, famous for his work on Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt. It was critically-acclaimed but was not well-received commercially. It had a unique concept in which every track had its own storyline that was a good premise for a movie.
They did not get much airplay until the single "No Pigeons" was released, which hit #21 in the UK and stayed on the charts for six weeks. Street Cinema was re-released with "No Pigeons" appearing as a bonus track.
In an attempt to capitalize, Sporty Thievz also released a rebuttals to Destiny's Child's hits "Bills, Bills, Bills" (written by the same songwriter as "No Scrubs", Kandi Burruss) and "Independent Women". The rebuttal to Bills, Bills, Bills, is entitled "No Billz (Why, Why, Why?)" (a.k.a. No Bills, Bills, Bills), in which the group humorously question "Why we gotta spend, because we men?". In the "Independent Women" rebuttal "Independent Men" they consider the unfairness of child support, stating "She won't let me see my seed acting like it's funny, She gettin' her hair done with that diaper money".
On May 11, 2001, group member Marlon Brando was tragically killed after being struck by a car in North Bronx at the age of 22. It is reported that the driver of the car was intoxicated and swerving onto the sidewalk. Marlon Brando is believed to have saved a bystanding girl's life by pushing her out of the way. Since then, Sporty Thievz have been on hiatus. They are recording a follow-up to Street Cinema called Street Cinema 2 or Reincarnated, which will be coming soon under their label, Sporty Records.
Spy Hunter
Sporty Thievz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A top secret formula had been stolen from the research lab
We had a job to do
We ran all suspects name through R&I and came up with
(King Kirk)
Respond like James Bond to this con named Don
Milli ons in his palms sellin' neutron bombs
Time 6 a.m. agent mayhem and eight men no maybe ten
Came to scoop me in the Benz in the ??Graham??
Money involved? Say when gave me a beige Range and thangs
But they claimed the Range changed to a plane, strange
But perfect, showed me circuits and how to work it
Wounds- how to nurse it, weapons- how to burst it
Searched it, like a serpent, read the blueprints
Dime be with two chinks sportin' links and new minks
Drive a six with dark tints and one of the chinks
Named Dinks and Dinks always drinks so he thinks he's invinc'
Other chinks a wimp, but Teflon's his vest holds
If he think you gonna roll, he'll put holes in your dress code/
Time to load and hit the highway, I'ma do it my way
Spy way, do or die way, Schwarzenegger, True Lie way!
So I pulled up on the drive way, ran through the side way
Saw his compadres, motherfucker, yippee kay-ah
Die hard!, nigga yelled "my God!", caught an Uzi scar,
Hit the tar, other bullet to the car, "Ah!"
Time to pay him back, time to fade him
Got up tried to spray him, no aim, so I grenade him/
Didn't get the Don but the bombs was a factor
Found what I was after, set the reactors
For two minutes, heard laughter and "lieutenant you finished"
It was the Don with a Smitheth, Wessun to my chestun
For a second I thought I was dead, no more said
Then I heard shots of lead and lead sped through his forehead
Brando with the ammo and Dubez with the Uz'
Move into plane rovers, motherfucker, we spy hunters
(Big Dubez)
Big Dubez, Billy D, four-five, concealed weapon
Runnin through bricks that niggaz ain't yet step on
Eludin Cop-po, in the eight, inhalin char-coal
They tailin but I'm Indy 500 Monaco
Pigs can't stop no, Sporty Thiev Gestapo,
They sickened against flip whips to saw you slick and
Out the fender, yo, no retreat no surrender
To the fullest, that's why my toys deflect bullets!
On the cell like "Who in charge? Get me the sarge"
Your squad car next, your fam reached my garage
Espio-nage, yo my fate on the rocks
I blow 'em out the box, firin missiles on roadblocks
On the verge on smack-ups, forces callin for back-up
Chunked in the trunk, 200 ki's to crack up
Breathe holdin's essential, spy-hunter utensils
Four govermentals with four sets of dentals
I'm on a Cannonball Run like Burt Reynolds
Bustin off at the choppers, backin down coppers
(Gunshots)---ooooh!!
(Marlon Brando)
We in the Philippines, on death row, about to face guillotines
My crew lace marines, stick over and make realer teams
So yo, say hello to my li'l friend, want to play?
OK! feel ten through your steel, man
Yo we come together like foreign lea-ders
Livin large in Argen-tina, camouflaged in Kor-ea,
In the bushes where they can't see-us
Spin astro 16 silence-face screw ons
Mission impossible, merge em to the Persians
With 2 glocks to my head, enuff cream to flip the script
Got niggaz watchin the Feds, twenty ultra-red
Beams comin through my window, tear-gas bleak up my glass,
The smoke blew the crib-bo, the coke moves are ditto
Layin blue in Beirut, sneak-in weed-in Swe-den
Shook the D's in Peru, like a crooked Batman
With no partner but still (robbing/Robin),
Trails be mind-bogglin, leave the D's followin
My front man, I be the big man behind the front man
Front man got knocked? Big man still be the trump man
Mix six crews and their glues, skully low smokin ni-ckles
Runnin' up in cold blocks with ic-icles, spray the trey-nickle
Guaranteed to hit you, if I miss you
Bullets will probably ricochet and nip you
And fall like the Berlin wall
Hang 'em off ??the terror spies?? lets make a ball
Crooked navy seals with flak-on, sniffin, getting they crack on
I managed to mack on enough oil to put Iraq on, stapped the gats on
For this spy-war, coke lab, helicopter roof, and a cy-borg
The Sporty Thievz's song Spy Hunter describes the life of spies who are on a mission to retrieve a stolen top-secret formula from a research lab. They narrow down the suspect list to King Kirk and are instructed to respond to him like James Bond. Kirk is said to be selling neutron bombs and is accompanied by two Chinese men. Tensions rise, and the spy is hit with a Smitheth Wessun on his chest by the suspected con named Don. After a few seconds, gunshots are heard as another member of the spy crew terminates Don. The song is loaded with action and vivid descriptions that paint a picture of spies in their element.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a 498 DS
A top secret formula had been stolen from the research lab
We had a job to do
We were assigned to retrieve the stolen formula
We ran all suspects name through R&I and came up with
We conducted an investigation and identified potential suspects
(King Kirk)
This is King Kirk speaking
Respond like James Bond to this con named Don
Act with the same sophistication and skill as James Bond when dealing with the criminal named Don
Millions in his palms sellin' neutron bombs
Don is making a fortune by selling dangerous weapons
Time 6 a.m. agent mayhem and eight men no maybe ten
At 6 a.m., chaos ensued and we were joined by eight or possibly ten agents
Came to scoop me in the Benz in the ??Graham??
They arrived in a Benz car, perhaps a Graham model, to pick me up
Money involved? Say when gave me a beige Range and thangs
If money is involved, let me know. They provided me with a beige Range Rover and other necessary items
But they claimed the Range changed to a plane, strange
However, they claimed that the Range Rover transformed into a plane, which seemed peculiar
But perfect, showed me circuits and how to work it
Nevertheless, they perfectly instructed me on circuits and how to use them
Wounds- how to nurse it, weapons- how to burst it
They taught me how to handle wounds and care for them, as well as how to effectively use weapons
Searched it, like a serpent, read the blueprints
They searched the area meticulously, like a snake, and studied the blueprints
Dime be with two chinks sportin' links and new minks
A beautiful woman accompanied by two Chinese men wearing expensive jewelry and new fur coats
Drive a six with dark tints and one of the chinks
One of the Chinese men drives a black luxury car with tinted windows
Named Dinks and Dinks always drinks so he thinks he's invinc'
One of the Chinese men is named Dinks, and he often consumes alcohol, making him feel invincible
Other chinks a wimp, but Teflon's his vest holds
The other Chinese man is a weakling, but he wears a Teflon vest for protection
If he think you gonna roll, he'll put holes in your dress code
If he suspects you're planning something against them, he will shoot you and ruin your appearance
Time to load and hit the highway, I'ma do it my way
It's time to load our weapons and get on the highway. I will handle it according to my own style
Spy way, do or die way, Schwarzenegger, True Lie way!
We will carry out this operation like spies, with a do-or-die mentality, like Arnold Schwarzenegger in 'True Lies'
So I pulled up on the drive way, ran through the side way
I arrived at the location, parked my vehicle in the driveway, and entered through the side entrance
Saw his compadres, motherfucker, yippee kay-ah
I spotted his associates and exclaimed, 'Yippee ki-yay, motherfucker!'
Die hard!, nigga yelled 'my God!', caught an Uzi scar
Someone shouted 'Die Hard!', and I was shot by an Uzi, leaving a scar
Hit the tar, other bullet to the car, 'Ah!'
I fell to the ground, and another bullet hit the car, causing damage
Time to pay him back, time to fade him
It's time to get revenge on him, to eliminate him
Got up tried to spray him, no aim, so I grenade him
I stood up and attempted to shoot at him, but I couldn't aim properly, so I threw a grenade
Didn't get the Don but the bombs was a factor
I didn't manage to get Don, but the bombs were a significant aspect of the mission
Found what I was after, set the reactors
I found the target I was seeking and activated the reactors
For two minutes, heard laughter and 'lieutenant you finished'
For two minutes, I heard laughter, and someone said, 'Lieutenant, you're finished'
It was the Don with a Smitheth, Wessun to my chestun
Don appeared with a Smith & Wesson firearm pointed at my chest
For a second I thought I was dead, no more said
In that moment, I believed I was about to die, so I had no more words to say
Then I heard shots of lead and lead sped through his forehead
Suddenly, I heard gunshots, and a bullet quickly pierced his forehead
Brando with the ammo and Dubez with the Uz'
Brando was armed with ammunition, and Dubez had an Uzi
Move into plane rovers, motherfucker, we spy hunters
We switched to using plane rovers, becoming spy hunters
(Big Dubez)
This is Big Dubez speaking
Big Dubez, Billy D, four-five, concealed weapon
I am Big Dubez, also known as Billy D, and I carry a concealed .45 caliber weapon
Runnin through bricks that niggaz ain't yet step on
I navigate through dangerous areas where others haven't ventured before
Eludin Cop-po, in the eight, inhalin char-coal
I successfully evade the police while driving an eight-cylinder car and inhaling charcoal
They tailin but I'm Indy 500 Monaco
They are following me closely, but I am skillfully maneuvering like a race car in the Indy 500 in Monaco
Pigs can't stop no, Sporty Thiev Gestapo
The police cannot stop us, we are like the Sporty Thiev Gestapo
They sickened against flip whips to saw you slick and
They are unable to catch us because we use fast cars and cunning tactics
Out the fender, yo, no retreat no surrender
I swiftly escape from danger, with no intention of retreating or surrendering
To the fullest, that's why my toys deflect bullets!
I utilize my weapons and gadgets to the maximum extent, allowing them to deflect bullets
On the cell like 'Who in charge? Get me the sarge'
I make a phone call and demand to speak with the person in charge, urging them to get me the sergeant
Your squad car next, your fam reached my garage
Your police vehicle will be next, and your family will be taken to my safe location
Espio-nage, yo my fate on the rocks
Engaging in espionage, my fate is uncertain and possibly in danger
I blow 'em out the box, firin missiles on roadblocks
I defeat my enemies instantly, firing missiles at roadblocks
On the verge on smack-ups, forces callin for back-up
We are close to confrontations and clashes, and the opposing forces are requesting backup
Chunked in the trunk, 200 ki's to crack up
I have hidden 200 kilograms of drugs in the trunk, ready to be sold
Breathe holdin's essential, spy-hunter utensils
Being able to hold your breath is crucial, as we are spy hunters equipped with specialized tools
Four govermentals with four sets of dentals
There are four government agents with four different sets of dental records
I'm on a Cannonball Run like Burt Reynolds
I am moving at high speed, like in the movie 'Cannonball Run' starring Burt Reynolds
Bustin off at the choppers, backin down coppers
I am firing shots at helicopters, causing the police to retreat
(Gunshots)---ooooh!!
Gunshots can be heard
(Marlon Brando)
This is Marlon Brando speaking
We in the Philippines, on death row, about to face guillotines
We are currently in the Philippines, awaiting execution by guillotine
My crew lace marines, stick over and make realer teams
My group consists of highly skilled individuals, equipped to overcome obstacles and form stronger alliances
So yo, say hello to my li'l friend, want to play? OK! feel ten through your steel, man
Introduce yourself to my small but powerful weapon. Would you like to engage? Okay! You'll experience the impact of ten bullets in your body
Yo we come together like foreign lea-ders
We unite and work as a team, just like foreign leaders
Livin large in Argen-tina, camouflaged in Kor-ea
We are living lavishly in Argentina while remaining hidden in plain sight in Korea
In the bushes where they can't see-us
We hide in the bushes where we cannot be seen
Spin astro 16 silence-face screw ons
We equip our weapons with special attachments that suppress sound, allowing us to operate silently
Mission impossible, merge em to the Persians
Our mission seems impossible, but we will find a way to connect with the Persian people
With 2 glocks to my head, enuff cream to flip the script
Two guns are pointed at my head, but I possess enough money to change the situation in my favor
Got niggaz watchin the Feds, twenty ultra-red
I have individuals keeping an eye on the police, equipped with advanced tracking devices
Beams comin through my window, tear-gas bleak up my glass
Laser beams are directed towards my window, and tear gas fills up the space between the glass panes
The smoke blew the crib-bo, the coke moves are ditto
The smoke caused an explosion in the building, and my cocaine trafficking operations continue as planned
Layin blue in Beirut, sneak-in weed-in Swe-den
I am distributing drugs discreetly in Beirut and smuggling weed into Sweden
Shook the D's in Peru, like a crooked Batman
I evaded the authorities in Peru, behaving like a corrupt version of Batman
With no partner but still (robbing/Robin)
I operate alone, but I am still successful at stealing or robbing
Trails be mind-bogglin, leave the D's followin
I leave confusing trails that puzzle the detectives, making them follow me
My front man, I be the big man behind the front man
I am the mastermind behind the operation, while someone else acts as the front man
Front man got knocked? Big man still be the trump man
If the front man gets caught, I will continue to be the one who holds all the power and influence
Mix six crews and their glues, skully low smokin ni-ckles
Combining six different criminal groups and their connections, we operate discreetly with our heads covered, smoking nickel bags of drugs
Runnin' up in cold blocks with ic-icles, spray the trey-nickle
We invade dangerous neighborhoods, armed with icicle-shaped weapons, and spray bullets from a .32 caliber pistol
Guaranteed to hit you, if I miss you
I am certain to hit my target, but if I happen to miss, there will still be consequences
Bullets will probably ricochet and nip you
Bullets might bounce off surfaces and graze you
And fall like the Berlin wall
They will fall like the Berlin Wall fell
Hang 'em off ??the terror spies?? lets make a ball
We will hang them, potentially spies, to create a spectacle or victory celebration
Crooked navy seals with flak-on, sniffin, getting they crack on
We are corrupt members of the Navy SEALs, wearing bulletproof vests and indulging in drug use
I managed to mack on enough oil to put Iraq on, stapped the gats on
I have obtained enough wealth and resources to have control over Iraq, and I am armed with guns
For this spy-war, coke lab, helicopter roof, and a cy-borg
In this war involving spies, cocaine laboratories, helicopter rooftops, and even a cyborg are involved
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID ANTHONY WILLIS, KIRK HOWELL, MARLON BRYAN, SHAAROD A. FORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sensaye25
One of the most underrated rap albums ever. Mad creative.
Kevin Ramirez
There so much Albums like this...........
Big Dubez
Greatly appreciated!!! 💪🏾
Mookaron Tha Don
Word up to many people dont know about these dudes they went hard.
Big Dubez
Greatly appreciated!!! 💪🏾
Mookaron Tha Don
@Big Dubez Yes sir!
Benny ILL
One of the most creative and mind altering albums...smoked out and you watchin a movie
Big Dubez
Greatly appreciated!!! 💪🏾
Aerial Penn
This album was so ambitious. Every track was a story. Prince Paul's a Prince Among Thieves is dope but this was like short movies. This one of my favorite joints. The beat switch, the flows...just overall dope.
I think Ski produced this whole album.
Big Dubez
Naaaa Ski did half and my potnah King Kirk did the other half. Kirk actually produced this joint.