The Thrill Is Gone
Static Selektah Feat. Styles P & Talib Kweli Lyrics
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The thrill is gone
(I feel it coming back though
I mean it's back, really though, you know)
The thrill is gone, I think it's coming back
40 below, bubble coats and a lot of struggle rap
Back in the days I used to juggle crack
Met real hip hop and fell in love with that
And the money along with it
But what's a good time without hearing a song with it?
Used to wonder where the did the culture go
If it left did it go where it's supposed to go?
Good question, no answer
Living slow, more like Jo Jo Dancer
No sniffing, no burning up
If he ain't turn the mic on how the hell he turning up?
Design of my mind is so intricate
Smoke, make the rhyme up, not hard to think of it
Ill writer with no ink pen
Walter White is the boss, you just a pink man
The thrill is
The thrill is gone
(Your style is played out)
We shining brighter than the lights on a cityscape (New York)
Something's wrong, the thrill is gone like Biggie say
Start a revolt like Diddy, nope, I'm not kidding
With a targets, they leaving in a scope like Fifty
The slave mentality over, we think bolder
I finally kept the craft, now I'm killing these King Cobras
They try to take the crown, but they drown in they own blood
The next time the dudes came around they showed love (Where the love?)
The heart is a house for love, but when your furnishes
Complaining about the game, but still voting with your purchases
Burning it, I murder the tournament that determine it
For the market and they slobbin' on the knob that we turn it with (Turn it up)
The bars make you follow the stars, I'm like Copernicus
The Gods flying up to the firmaments to feel the turbulence
The bullets gonna hit you from the pistols that they burnish
Got you praying for tourniquets, hoping that the scar ain't permanent
Come on, man
The thrill is
The thrill is gone
In "The Thrill Is Gone," Static Selektah, Styles P, and Talib Kweli paint a picture of the current state of hip hop in comparison to its golden era. The lyrics are a commentary on the decline of hip hop's authenticity and how it has become more commercialized. The song begins with an acknowledgment that the thrill is gone but it's coming back. Then, Styles P's verse focuses on his early days of hustling and his transition to the love of hip hop. He reminisces about the old times when the genre was raw and pure, before it became mainstream. Talib Kweli's verse criticizes the current state of the industry, where the focus is more on consumption and less on substance. He also questions whether the culture has gone where it was supposed to and leaves the question unanswered. The song's title is a reference to the iconic blues song by BB King, "The Thrill Is Gone." This idea of the thrill being gone is not just for the hip hop industry but is a broader commentary on how the world around us loses its excitement over time.
Line by Line Meaning
The thrill is
The excitement or enthusiasm is present
The thrill is gone
The excitement or enthusiasm is lost
I feel it coming back though
I sense that the excitement is returning
I mean it’s back, really though, you know
I confidently state that the excitement is indeed present
40 below, bubble coats and a lot of struggle rap
The environment includes harsh conditions and a lot of rap music about overcoming hardships
Back in the days I used to juggle crack
I used to illegally sell drugs to make a living
Met real hip hop and fell in love with that
I discovered authentic hip hop music and became passionate about it
And the money along with it
I also made money from my involvement in hip hop
But what’s a good time without hearing a song with it?
Music is an essential component of any enjoyable experience
Used to wonder where the did the culture go
I used to question the direction of hip hop culture
If it left did it go where it's supposed to go?
If hip hop culture disappeared, did it go to its intended destination?
Good question, no answer
Although it's a valid question, there is no clear answer
Living slow, more like Jo Jo Dancer
I am living a slower, more introspective life, similar to the character Jo Jo Dancer from the movie of the same name
No sniffing, no burning up
I don't partake in drug use or heavy drinking
If he ain’t turn the mic on how the hell he turning up?
If the music isn't playing, how can he be getting hyped up?
Design of my mind is so intricate
My thought process is complex and detailed
Smoke, make the rhyme up, not hard to think of it
I can effortlessly come up with rhymes while smoking
Ill writer with no ink pen
I am a skilled songwriter even without a pen and paper
Walter White is the boss, you just a pink man
I am the mastermind and you are just a small-time supporter, referencing the show Breaking Bad
Your style is played out
Your fashion or musical style is outdated and unoriginal
We shining brighter than the lights on a cityscape (New York)
We radiate more energy and are more noticeable than the bright lights of New York City
Something's wrong, the thrill is gone like Biggie say
Something isn't right, and the excitement is lost like the lyrics of the song 'Warning' by The Notorious B.I.G.
Start a revolt like Diddy, nope, I’m not kidding
I would like to initiate a cultural rebellion like Sean 'Diddy' Combs, and I am serious about it
With a targets, they leaving in a scope like Fifty
With specific goals in mind, we are targeting and shooting down our opposition like 50 Cent
The slave mentality over, we think bolder
We have overcome a mindset of being slaves to mainstream culture and now think in a more radical way
I finally kept the craft, now I’m killing these King Cobras
I have honed my skills and am now dominating my competition
They try to take the crown, but they drown in they own blood
Others have attempted to claim the top position, but they have failed and met their own demise
The next time the dudes came around they showed love (Where the love?)
After proving ourselves, others have shown us respect and admiration, although it was not immediate
The heart is a house for love, but when your furnishes
The heart is naturally built to hold love, but when you surround yourself with negative influences
Complaining about the game, but still voting with your purchases
You can't complain about the state of the industry while still supporting it by buying music
Burning it, I murder the tournament that determine it
I excel in competitions and win decisively
For the market and they slobbin’ on the knob that we turn it with (Turn it up)
I am creating music for the masses and they are dancing to our beat and lyrics
The bars make you follow the stars, I’m like Copernicus
My lyrics are so influential that they guide you to the stars, like astronomer Copernicus' discoveries about the universe
The Gods flying up to the firmaments to feel the turbulence
Powerful beings are venturing to the heavens to experience the chaos and energy of the universe
The bullets gonna hit you from the pistols that they burnish
Violent consequences will come from the weapons that our enemies are polishing
Got you praying for tourniquets, hoping that the scar ain’t permanent
Our enemies are desperately trying to stop the damage we are inflicting, hoping that it won't leave permanent scars
Come on, man
Let's continue pushing the boundaries and creating great music
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@PaperChaserCEO
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@byronfrankson4474
Styles goes stupid on the 2nd.
Track still makes my heart beat, for the future of the culture.
Hip Hop don’t stop!
@749angelino
Statik selektah one of the greatest producer right now
@t2p
Facts
@SuperPekka
Underground rap is music, and music is art. Commercial rap is entertainment, and entertainment is just that and nothing but. That's the difference.
@ObiOrjiekwe
Couldn't imagine Styles and Kweli would work together. The Thrill aint gone nowhere. Hip-Hop forever!!!
@Dee_Nice89
Talib Kweli speaks The Truth When He Rhymes
@kentarostory9961
Act 1💪🏼
@marathonlogistics9943
one of the most underrated songs <<
period 2022 revived the realness
@MadcapMusic
Hip Hop Is Alive. Its just falling on deaf ears. The music i make is real. I have far too much respect for artist like these to piss on Hip Hop the way so many do.