Born in Corona, Queens, and raised on Groshon Ave in Yonkers, NY, Styles began rapping with Jadakiss and Sheek in 1994, as they all grew up in the same Yonkers, New York neighborhood. They eventually signed to Bad Boy Records, formed the rap group called "THE LOX" which stands for "Living Off Xperience", and recorded songs with Notorious B.I.G., Sean Combs and Darren Blackburn. In 1998, The Lox released Money, Power & Respect w/ the hit song "Money, Power, Respect" feat. fellow Bad Boy, "Lil Kim" and Ruff Ryder Earl "DMX" Simmons. Soon thereafter, Styles P led the Lox on the now infamous quest to leave Bad Boy Records. When they were finally released, the Lox signed to Interscope. Shortly thereafter, a new Lox album and Jadakiss' solo album Kiss Tha Game Goodbye were released.
Styles released A Gangster and a Gentleman in 2002, as his debut solo album. The album contained the song "The Life", featuring Pharoahe Monch which was originally recorded for Rawkus Records' Soundbombing 3 compilation album. The follow up hit was the song dedicated to marijuana use, "Good Times (I Get High)", one of the most played songs of 2002.
In 2003, Styles P. and Jadakiss appeared on the "Oz Soundtrack" with one of the harder edged songs "Some Niggas" about prison life. On a mixed album with several songs about the lifestyle behind bars, "Some Niggas" was one of the fiercest and most remembered songs on the street from that album.
In 2004, Styles P. released the mixtape Ghost Stories in limited distribution form (NY only) -- the mixtape spread to other cities and onto the internet in the next year. He was featured on the hit song "Locked Up", by R&B artist Akon.
In 2005, Styles P. received local market airplay for his and Jadakiss' remix of Mariah Carey's mega-hit "We Belong Together", and on Miri Ben-Ari's album, The Hip-Hop Violinist; he features on the track "We Gonna Win". He released two stand-alone mixtapes in complete form: Ghost in the Shell in the spring of 2005 and Ghost in the Machine in the Fall.
Styles P. has been featured on many rappers' albums including Ghostface Killah, Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, and Akon's albums. Styles is rumoured to appear on DMX's new album Walk With Me Now and You'll Fly With Me Later. He will also appear on the title track to The Roots' latest album, Rising Down.
The Hardest
Styles P Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah It's the ghost SP
wit the G-O-D AZ
It's the ghost SP
wit the G-O-D AZ
hardest yea hardest out
Styles P:
where the dirty niggas pile in the court (shit)
you should know im a yonkers native
gem star swing somebody cut your run wit david
stomp ya head like its part of the pavement
got business to engage in, my man got a case
and we got to go kill a witness just to save him
always got me back on that new shit
playing marvin gaye right before and after i do shit
f**king wit them niggas thats ruthless
havoc niggas in the bar rx-7 and supra's
drinking to much smoking to much
going places acting ignorant provoking too much
I dont know the nigga f**king had opened him up
Im from a place where the man that hit ya
bounced to orlando wit ya
on a roll let the cannon hit ya
boy we oh so fowl
and i aint tryna blow no trail
these niggas show no style
they like cowards on the stand (cowards)
looking at the nine i got the power in my hand, feel me
maybe not wit your lady shot
why dont you tell me what your baby got, nigga
your playing the game, stick to the rules
if you dont know em then go back to school motherf**ker
Chorus (Styles P):
I'm T-H-E H-A-R-D-E-S-T you dont wanna see SP
everyday i wake up its like im liabel to sin
smoke haze and bible paper swallowing gin
im G-H-O-S-T i can crack the ground
and make the clouds come down
find me if your looking for trouble
send a 100 niggas imma bust a thousand rounds
AZ:
Im the rap James Bond
my crack hairs gone
got it cuffed in the court
had my mac face on
funny walk money talk toe black stay calm
we up north like a boss that had half his arms
slid his mom 7 grand told her hold that down
we fam it go low then i roll back 'round
am as viscous as the realest you know
only difference is consistence im considered a pro
from the trenches 'till im dead and inches below
its not a game hear the name better snitchin wit dough you never know
niggas wanna see me dead, death threats being spread
but its easily said they cant touch me
stay wit a chick and a dutchy
slim and quick but the fifth make me feel like im husky
develish dont move with a car lean over
most wanted in the mix tryna dodge that quarter
Im wit tarver and weigh more than thats most
Im wit the ghost and we bang like we champs of the coast
put your gloves on and f**k the humble shit the love is gone
by the morning they'll mumble and mourn motherf**kas
Chorus (AZ):
Im T-H-E H-A-R-D-E-S-T y'all dont wanna see AZ
at any givin minute nigga liabel to flip
you wanna pimp nigga find you a bitch im not the one
S-O-S thats me got a 100 hungry goons that'll kill for free
and the same young nigga that'll torch ya face
suit up and support the waste
The song "The Hardest" by Styles P is a collaboration with AZ. The two rappers use gritty and raw lyrics to depict their rough neighborhood and the violent lifestyle that they are a part of. Styles P talks about his origin in New York where people would kill for their friends, whereas AZ compares himself with James Bond and brags about his toughness. The chorus, sung by both rappers, proclaims themselves as the hardest, which is a nod towards the street credibility that they have earned. Despite the violent undertones in the lyrics, the song is actually a commentary on the survival attitude of those living in such neighborhoods, where violence and crime are rampant.
The lyrics of "The Hardest" are a reflection of the experiences of Styles P and AZ growing up in neighborhoods where poverty and violence were common. The depiction of shootings, gang violence, and drug usage showcases how these have been normalized in their lives. Styles P talks about his friend who is in jail and how they need to kill a witness to save him. Violence is seen as a necessity and a means to protect and survive in these situations, which makes it a part of their everyday life. AZ boasts about his toughness and how he has a hundred hungry goons ready to kill for free, which is a way of saying that he isn't afraid to defend himself or his reputation.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah It's the ghost SP
Styles P is known as the Ghost SP
wit the G-O-D AZ
AZ is also present and both artists are referred as G-O-Ds
hardest yea hardest out
Styles P proclaims that he is the hardest out
I'm from a part of new york thats fowler than poor
Styles P comes from a part of New York that is extremely impoverished and run-down
where the dirty niggas pile in the court
He describes a scene of criminals hanging around in the court
you should know im a yonkers native
He identifies as a native of Yonkers, New York
gem star swing somebody cut your run wit david
He's associated with the Gem Star gang that uses unique weapons and can cut people off
stomp ya head like its part of the pavement
Styles P can stomp on someone's head so hard that it blends with the pavement
got business to engage in, my man got a case
He has important things to do, his friend is in trouble with the law and needs help
and we got to go kill a witness just to save him
He will go to any extent to save his friend, including killing a witness
always got me back on that new shit
He tries new ways to stay ahead in the game
playing marvin gaye right before and after i do shit
He listens to Marvin Gaye's music before and after doing things
f**king wit them niggas thats ruthless
He associates with people that are ruthless
havoc niggas in the bar rx-7 and supra's
There are criminals driving high-end RX-7 and Supra cars
drinking to much smoking to much
They drink and smoke a lot
going places acting ignorant provoking too much
They go to places and provoke others while being ignorant
I dont know the nigga f**king had opened him up
He doesn't know who did it, but someone killed a person
Im from a place where the man that hit ya bounced to orlando wit ya
In his area, if someone hits you, they might take you to Orlando with them afterwards
on a roll let the cannon hit ya
If you continue to make trouble, you will get in trouble with the law
boy we oh so fowl
His group is very dangerous and immoral
and i aint tryna blow no trail
He tries to be careful and not leave a trail behind
these niggas show no style
Other criminals in his area lack style and do things in a brutish manner
they like cowards on the stand (cowards)
They turn into cowards when they are questioned by the law
looking at the nine i got the power in my hand, feel me
He has a weapon in his hand and feels powerful
maybe not wit your lady shot
He wouldn't shoot someone in front of their significant other
why dont you tell me what your baby got, nigga
He wants to know what someone's possessions are
your playing the game, stick to the rules
If you're going to be in the criminal game, follow the rules
if you dont know em then go back to school motherf**ker
If you don't know the rules of being a criminal, you're unfit for the game
Im T-H-E H-A-R-D-E-S-T you dont wanna see SP
Styles P is the hardest and nobody wants to come up against him
everyday i wake up its like im liabel to sin
He feels like every day he wakes up, he's leading himself into sin
smoke haze and bible paper swallowing gin
He smokes marijuana, drinks gin and uses bible paper to smoke
Im G-H-O-S-T i can crack the ground
Being the Ghost, he has the power to do things that others can't do
and make the clouds come down
He has the power to bring down the clouds or create rain
find me if your looking for trouble
If someone is looking for trouble, they can find him
send a 100 niggas imma bust a thousand rounds
If a group of 100 people come to attack him, he has the power to take them all out with a thousand rounds of ammunition
Im the rap James Bond
AZ compares himself with a fictional character James Bond
my crack hairs gone
He doesn't have any more hair left due to the stress of criminal life
got it cuffed in the court
His drug operation has been caught by the law
had my mac face on
He was armed with a MAC-10 sub-machine gun
funny walk money talk toe black stay calm
He has a style and is calm, even when in trouble
we up north like a boss that had half his arms
He and his group are located in the northern part and still dominant without having full control
slid his mom 7 grand told her hold that down
He gave his friend's mother $7,000 and asked her to keep quiet about it
we fam it go low then i roll back 'round
He has complete allegiance to his family and goes underground when in trouble
am as viscous as the realest you know
He is as dangerous as the most severe criminal anyone knows
only difference is consistence im considered a pro
He's more consistent and better at what he does than most other criminals
from the trenches 'till im dead and inches below
He will keep doing this work until he's dead and buried
its not a game hear the name better snitchin wit dough you never know
One should never snitch on him because he might be willing to pay them hush money
niggas wanna see me dead, death threats being spread
Some people want to kill him and death threats have been made
but its easily said they cant touch me
He thinks that it's easy to say you're going to kill him but it's not that simple
stay wit a chick and a dutchy
He has a girlfriend and smokes Dutch cigars
slim and quick but the fifth make me feel like im husky
Even though he's slim, he feels confident in his ability to use a gun
develish dont move with a car lean over
He doesn't drive around in an obvious way, he tries to be sneaky
most wanted in the mix tryna dodge that quarter
He is 'most wanted' and tries to avoid any potential legal trouble
Im wit tarver and weigh more than thats most
He has supporters and is influential
Im wit the ghost and we bang like we champs of the coast
He's with Styles P and they dominate the underground rap scene
put your gloves on and f**k the humble shit the love is gone
It's time to put on gloves and fight, he doesn't have any love for anyone
by the morning they'll mumble and mourn motherf**kers
By morning, the people he fights will regret it and feel sorrowful
S-O-S thats me got a 100 hungry goons that'll kill for free
AZ explains that he is the SOS, the one to call when someone needs 'saving.' He also has a hundred loyal followers who will kill for him
you wanna pimp nigga find you a bitch im not the one
He is not someone to be trifled with, he's not a pimp or someone who can be taken advantage of
and the same young nigga that'll torch ya face
He will also harm people with fire
suit up and support the waste
He wears a suit while doing his work and doesn't care about anything else
Contributed by Taylor Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@dwhiterite
Still rockin this is 2020!! Hardest beat out there!!🔥🔥🔥
@cmonson2151
2022 still love it .
@cerebro7
2023
timeless
@energykinetic9318
One of the best tracks I’ve ever heard. AZ and Styles P represented on this for real. True Hip Hop. XP dope producer.
@Samsaraindo
This is an amazing track. The video deserves to be re worked and presented in all its glory.
@sexmachine5515
this joint is too dope, this is real rap music, shout out to az, style p your one best rapper ever.
@BXCOWBOY718
I love hearing both versions together
@The-Enigma-S7
A few main ingredients, which makes a real emcee is a combination of clarity, delivery, wordplay, intellect and the Art of Storytelling. This is why AZ still remains dope in this era.
@mrcolemr
Now that's how you make a come back single. Shouts out to AZ.
@mustafahashimi7237
One of the most underrated songs ever