Establishing his own spot amongst the ranks of East Coast hip-hop's seminal… Read Full Bio ↴Establishing his own spot amongst the ranks of East Coast hip-hop's seminal figures, DJ/producer Statik Selektah utilized his turntabling skills and ingenuity in PR and promotions to break some of the region's most promising artists, bearing his own influence on the national mixtape circuit. Born January 23, 1982 in Lawrence, MA, Patrick Baril was exposed to production equipment at a very early age, tinkering with his parents' eight-track machine, cassette recorders, and turntable. By middle school, he was already DJing school functions, but he was inspired to be a true wheels-of-steel artiste after hearing DJ Premier scratch and mix records on Funkmaster Flex's Hot 97 radio show. Soon after, at 14 years old, he purchased his first turntables and mixer. Calling himself DJ Statik (the "Selektah" surname came later), he started to work clubs and private parties up and down the New England coast.

In 2000, after living in New Hampshire, he moved back down to Massachusetts to enroll in the audio production program at Boston's New England Institute of the Arts. That same year, Selektah started putting out mixtapes, namely his Spell My Name Right series. With his mixtapes and DJ gigs, Selektah never passed up the opportunity to champion local hip-hop from Boston and the surrounding New England area. In particular, Selektah was responsible for introducing fellow Lawrence, MA, native Termanology to the world, helming his Hood Politics mixtapes in the mid- to late 2000s. Managing all of these tasks became much easier when he established in 2003 his own PR/marketing firm ShowOff.

In 2006, he turned ShowOff Records into an official record label, with Termanology & Producer DC's Out the Gate LP as its first release. By this time, though, Selektah's prestige had grown considerably. His radio shows were playing in several places, from London to Mobile, AL; he produced beats for many artists, including Foxy Brown, AZ, and Joell Ortiz; and most importantly, the DJ dished out tons of mixtapes with big name and up-and-coming artists, such as Nas, Q-Tip, John Legend, Royce da 5'9" (The Bar Exam, co-hosted with DJ Premier), and Saigon.

Statik dropped his first LP, Spell My Name Right in 2007, and his follow up Stick 2 the Script album in 2008. Other artists he has produced for following that include Talib Kweli, Bun B, Styles P, Consequence, Freeway, M.O.P., and Jadakiss. Rockstar games reached out for Statik in late 2008 to enlist him as DJ and producer of the Grand Theft Auto IV update "the Lost and Damned", as well as 2 songs for Midnight Club: Los Angeles.

In March 2008, Selektah and Saigon recorded All In A Day's Work in a 24 hour period, and was acclaimed by critics. He also DJed for Q-tip on his 2009 Renassaince World Tour. Statik just dropped his third studio album, 100 Proof: The Hangover on Showoff/Brick Records.

In 2010 Statik Selektah released his fourth album, Population Control, on Duck Down Records to critical acclaim boasting features from a mix of up and coming MC's and well established veterans.

Statik's fifth album, Extended Play, was released on June 18, 2013, and features Joey Bada$$, Action Bronson, Raekwon, Sean Price, Mac Miller, Black Thought, Noreaga, Lecrae, Lil' Fame, Styles P, Mike Posner, Termanology, Freddie Gibbs, Bun B, Joell Ortiz, Posdnuos of De La Soul, Talib Kweli, Troy Ave., Hit-Boy, Smif-N-Wessun, Flatbush Zombies, and many many more.

Cliff Notes
Statik Selektah Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pussy rap, dental damn beaver trap
That thrill is gone, I'm here to bring the fever back
To the streets, pumping out the big whips
Torpedo rhymes strong enough to sink ships
Two tone grip, Brother Mouzone shit
Better move on bitch, or else it's on, trick
I'm en fuego, I ain't even in my zone yet
I spit the shit to make you're motherfuckin' dome sweat

Queens-bred, no Packer but a cheese head
Fat ass, fucking pussy until she's dead
Suede foot, looking like an Indian
Cuisine, straight from the Caribbean
Long jackets, made from an amphibian
Bag of money, split with my committee and
Break it down, vision on the dollars
Dipping the impalas, chilling with my scholars

Get it?
I am not illiterate
Not, not!
Not even a little bit!
Straight up, I make the music just for you!
Nothing, nothing like an idiot!
Get it?
I am not illiterate
Not, not!
Not even a little bit!
Straight up, I make the music just for you!
Nothing, nothing like an idiot!

Call me John Bon Journo, hopping out the Volvo
Ratchet on the leg, dipping from the po-po!
Since a youth I've been labeled as a loco
I sell it but I never laced the nasal with the coco
Urban hippie, muffle with the green thumbs
Seven grams a purple to my neck'll leave my feet numb
Scoop a bitch, Portuguese sweet buns
Serve a dick like an elephant that's three tons
Her pussy whistle like my father out the window
Remind us that it's dinner time I'm lighting up the Indo
And when I go inside I think I might just play Nintendo
Call a Shortie from the heights have her play with my colembo
Uh, just let me catch my little breath an shit you won't accept a kid
Cause your destiny is for deficit
Me, you see I spit like epileptic shit
That's two options; it's either you fear me or you respect the kid

Get it?
I am not illiterate
Not, not!
Not even a little bit!
Straight up, I make the music just for you!
Nothing, nothing like an idiot!
Get it?
I am not illiterate
Not, not!
Not even a little bit!
Straight up, I make the music just for you!
Nothing, nothing like an idiot!

Mind like Watson, Fluent in the nuance
Van Damme Bronson, Alligator shoe on
Spin kick to the dick I'm eating dim sum
Right up in the tea room
You don't want to rerun!
Moon struck, splatter your platoon up
Hard times, drugs out the balloon
Beauty like a butterfly, flying out cocoon
Urban love and central village right by the lagoon
Uh, that's my grandfather, add a little cream of tartar
Make the grams harder
Now your Shortie hold me tighter than the dance partner
Pull the viper out my pants on her
Honey hit the tune I'll let it dance on her
Like a gypsy, hookers in Poughkeepsie
7 homies with me everybody's smoking fifties
990 add 2 that's my shoes
Reflect light like sun shining in the hot noon!

Get it?
I am not illiterate
Not, not!
Not even a little bit!

Straight up, I make the music just for you!
Nothing, nothing like an idiot!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Statik Selektah's song Cliff Notes are heavily loaded with metaphors and cultural references. The song starts with a jab at what the artist refers to as "Pussy rap," which he characterized as lacking the energy to electrify the streets. The artist instead promises to bring the fever back by delivering powerful rhymes fast enough to sink ships. The lyrics reference multiple works of art, including the TV show The Wire's character, Brother Mouzone. In that show, Brother Mouzone was a hitman who preferred a two-toned handgun grip. Statik also brags about his Queens roots and his love for the Caribbean culture, which he refers to as his "Cuisine, straight from the Caribbean." Statik Selektah continues to reference his heritage, with the lyrics "Long jackets, made from an amphibian," about animal skin clothing also popular in Caribbean culture.

The artist continues to reference popular culture in the song. The line "Ratchet on the leg, dipping from the po-po" references trends and slang commonly found in the modern hip-hop scene. The lyrics also reference classic video game consoles such as Nintendo, which he jokingly claims to play right before calling a girl from the heights to "play" with his "colembo." The artist continues to reference the martial arts movie star Jean Claude Van Damme, who was famous for his spin kicks, by saying "Spin kick to the dick I'm eating dim sum." Lastly, Statik boasts about his shoes, the Nike Air Max 990, signifying his love for sneakers and streetwear fashion.

Overall, Statik Selektah's lyrics and delivery in Cliff Notes are a direct response to the current state of the hip-hop music scene. His lyrics are full of metaphors and cultural references that energize the song and lift it away from the cookie-cutter music scene.

Line by Line Meaning

Pussy rap, dental damn beaver trap
I'm tired of hearing weak music, so I'm here to bring the real heat

That thrill is gone, I'm here to bring the fever back
I'm bringing life back into the music scene with my powerful rhymes

To the streets, pumping out the big whips
My music is meant to be played loud in the streets with expensive cars

Torpedo rhymes strong enough to sink ships
My lyrics are powerful enough to make a significant impact

Two tone grip, Brother Mouzone shit
I have a firm grasp on the hip hop scene and my style is reminiscent of Brother Mouzone from The Wire

Better move on bitch, or else it's on, trick
If you can't keep up with me, you better step down before I come for you

I'm en fuego, I ain't even in my zone yet
I am on fire and haven't even warmed up yet

I spit the shit to make you're motherfuckin' dome sweat
My rhymes are so intense that they will make you sweat from your head

Queens-bred, no Packer but a cheese head
I am from Queens, but I rock a cheese head like the fans of the Green Bay Packers

Fat ass, fucking pussy until she's dead
I enjoy having sex with women who have a curvy figure and I will do it until they reach orgasm

Suede foot, looking like an Indian
I'm wearing suede shoes that look like they were made by an Indian tribe

Cuisine, straight from the Caribbean
I enjoy food that originates from the Caribbean

Long jackets, made from an amphibian
I wear long jackets that are made from an animal that can live on both land and water

Bag of money, split with my committee and
I have a bag of money that I will share with my close friends

Break it down, vision on the dollars
I am focused on making money and I am determined to succeed

Dipping the impalas, chilling with my scholars
I am driving my Chevrolet Impala and hanging out with my intelligent friends

Get it?
Do you understand what I'm saying?

I am not illiterate
I am well-educated and not ignorant

Not even a little bit!
I am very smart and knowledgeable

Straight up, I make the music just for you!
I create music for my fans and no one else

Nothing, nothing like an idiot!
I am not stupid at all

Call me John Bon Journo, hopping out the Volvo
My name is John Bon Journo and I'm getting out of my Volvo

Ratchet on the leg, dipping from the po-po!
I have a weapon on my leg and I'm running from the police

Since a youth I've been labeled as a loco
I've been called crazy since I was young

I sell it but I never laced the nasal with the coco
I sell drugs, but I never use them myself

Urban hippie, muffle with the green thumbs
I'm a modern-day hippie who loves gardening

Seven grams a purple to my neck'll leave my feet numb
I smoke a lot of weed, and it makes me feel numb

Scoop a bitch, Portuguese sweet buns
I pick up a woman and she has a nice butt

Serve a dick like an elephant that's three tons
I have a large penis and I'm good in bed

Her pussy whistle like my father out the window
She makes noise while having sex, like my father whistling through the window

Remind us that it's dinner time I'm lighting up the Indo
She reminds me that it's time to eat while I light up my weed

And when I go inside I think I might just play Nintendo
When I go inside, I might play video games

Uh, just let me catch my little breath an shit you won't accept a kid
Excuse me for a moment, I need to catch my breath. People don't take me seriously because of my youth

Cause your destiny is for deficit
You are not destined for greatness

Me, you see I spit like epileptic shit
I have a condition that causes me to spit rapidly and I do it when I rap

That's two options; it's either you fear me or you respect the kid
You can either be scared of me or admire me

Mind like Watson, Fluent in the nuance
I'm intelligent like Sherlock Holmes' partner, Watson and I understand the subtleties

Van Damme Bronson, Alligator shoe on
My style is a mix of Jean-Claude Van Damme and Charles Bronson, and I'm wearing alligator shoes

Spin kick to the dick I'm eating dim sum
I'm doing martial arts and eating Chinese food

Right up in the tea room, you don't want to rerun!
I'm in the tea room and you don't want to mess with me

Moon struck, splatter your platoon up
I'm crazy and will cause chaos amongst your group

Hard times, drugs out the balloon
I'm going through tough times and using drugs to cope

Beauty like a butterfly, flying out cocoon
I'm beautiful like a butterfly that has just emerged from a cocoon

Urban love and central village right by the lagoon
I love the city and live in the central village near a lagoon

That's my grandfather, add a little cream of tartar, make the grams harder
My grandpa is a good cook and he adds a special ingredient to make the food taste better

Now your Shortie hold me tighter than the dance partner
My girl is holding onto me tightly like a dance partner

Pull the viper out my pants on her
I'm taking my penis out and having sex with her

Honey hit the tune I'll let it dance on her
I'm playing music for her to dance to while we're having sex

Like a gypsy, hookers in Poughkeepsie
I travel like a gypsy and visit prostitutes in Poughkeepsie

7 homies with me everybody's smoking fifties
I'm hanging out with seven friends and we're all smoking marijuana

990 add 2 that's my shoes, reflect light like sun shining in the hot noon!
My shoes are worth $992 and they shine brightly like the sun at noon

Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: ARIYAN ARSLANI

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS