Prior to becoming affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan, Sunz were known as Da Last Future and included rappers Shabazz The Disciple and 7th Ambassador, along with producer Supreme. 7th Ambassador retired before the group's Wu-affiliated days really got started, and soon before the release of their debut album The Last Shall Be First in 1998 both Killah Priest and Shabazz began to clash with Wu leader RZA, both eventually effectively cutting their Wu ties and leaving the group for solo careers. Supreme was kicked out of the group in late 2000, when it was discovered he had been heavily bootlegging the group's music, including leaking a whole album titled The First Testament. Killah Priest, who was absent from the recording of the group's second album proper Saviorz Day in 2002, has began to rediscover his Wu-Tang ties and is expected to work with the group again soon, while Shabazz made his official return to Sunz Of Man in early 2003.
Discography
* The Last Shall Be First (1998)
* The First Testament aka Elements (1999)
* Saviorz Day (2002)
* Elements (2004)
* Freedom Of Speech (2004)
* The Old Testament (2006)
Can I See You
Sunz of Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Words to cancer smoke your antidote
Give me the remote turn them off
I'll let my album melt your ass to a ?starts? crusifiction
Camouflaged for the mission use your third eye
To see the Israelite detect those who tell lies
I see you magnified I blend with the sun rise
Burn your enterprise today husbands and wives
In time, same shit inside or outside
Tales of the darkside, we still among minds
Keep the strong in the jail cells, the countdown for hell
Use the truth or you bail, let my words be the brail
For the blind who can't see us, like Black Jesus
Seizers, try to seize us, we spot them like cheaters
And turn them into believers
Yo, I was born to survive, A soldier and I strive
With a duty to civilize these 85's
See man streets is a wiseman, an original black man
With a plan to run these devil's off my motherfuckin land
Unless you were close, when I strained the operation
Yo, check the first to tool, when I guide to guard your nation
For this military attack, to and L's draw back
Beretta take the point on the Sunz Of Man war track
I burn them like trick-alls, while weak brothers went AWOL
This new born god, and I'ma hold my life so hard
These fool keep their intentions, I destory your intentions
For instence, we talkin this shit with no resistance
[Chorus: x4]
The gods stay camouflaged
Yo, remember, I think it was September or November
A cold winter, I heard you got bagged and murdered
Informed by my nigga Glock, the observer
He told me, all about the fucked up
Remember for a minute, shouldn't understand
Then again, I understood good
Shit is rough in the hood
Before I knew, I was a Sun Of Man
Kept a gun in hand, stalkin the land
Back and forth to the island
If it wasn't for the knowledge it self
I would of been seen dead
Ashes in the base sittin on the shelf
As the years went, became intelligent to the nonsense
Than instead of livin like a sandwich, I can vanish
[Chorus: x4]
The lyrics to Sunz of Man's "Can I See You" are steeped in imagery and metaphor, and require careful unpacking to truly appreciate their meaning. One interpretation of the lyrics suggests that the song is a call to arms for Black Americans to unite and resist their oppressors. The opening lines, "Yo you couldn't see my with a telescope/Words to cancer smoke your antidote" suggest that the singer is invisible, perhaps because he is unseen and overlooked by society. He then goes on to call for the destruction of the "enterprise" - a possible reference to capitalist institutions - which he argues are leading society towards a "crusifiction".
Throughout the song, there are references to the power of knowledge ("Unless you were close, when I strained the operation/ Yo, check the first to tool, when I guide to guard your nation") and the need for solidarity among Black people ("In time, same shit inside or outside/ Tales of the darkside, we still among minds/ Keep the strong in the jail cells, the countdown for hell"). The last line, "We spot them like cheaters/ And turn them into believers" could be interpreted as a message of hope, suggesting that even those who are currently oppressors can be convinced to join the struggle for justice and equality.
Overall, "Can I See You" is a song that calls for resistance, unity, and a rejection of the dominant systems that seek to keep Black people down. It celebrates the power of knowledge and the potential for transformation, urging listeners to rise up and fight for their freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo you couldn't see my with a telescope
I am so far away from common perception and understanding that even if one were to attempt to come closer, it would be impossible through conventional means.
Words to cancer smoke your antidote
My words pinpoint the subversive elements in society and expose them for the disease they are, while presenting a cure.
Give me the remote turn them off
I have the power to control the negative forces attempting to manipulate me, and I choose to silence them.
I'll let my album melt your ass to a ?starts? crusifiction
Through my art, I will challenge and dismantle the foundations of oppression, leading society to face its shortcomings and crisis of faith.
Camouflaged for the mission use your third eye
I am blending into the background of society to infiltrate and evoke change, only those who possess an enlightened perspective can perceive my purpose.
To see the Israelite detect those who tell lies
Only those who possess the spiritual and cultural knowledge of the Israelites can see through the deception and lies spread by the oppressors.
I see you magnified I blend with the sun rise
I see the negative forces working to keep society enslaved and I blend into the light of the new day to bring forth positive change.
Burn your enterprise today husbands and wives
I am calling for the destruction of the current societal systems of oppression and the institutions that support it, including those who have turned a blind eye to it.
Become Bonnie and Clyde, carry 4-5's in these last days
As society descends into chaos in its final days, I will team up with my partner and carry weapons to protect ourselves from the threats of the oppressors.
In time, same shit inside or outside
Whether society is degrading or thriving, the problems and oppression that exist within its systems maintain the same.
Tales of the darkside, we still among minds
Stories of the negative forces that control society continue to be passed down, and the oppressive forces remain present even when unseen.
Keep the strong in the jail cells, the countdown for hell
The oppressors target and intimidate the strong members of society, setting them up for imprisonment or worse, leading to society's inevitable downfall.
Use the truth or you bail, let my words be the brail
In order to escape the oppressor's grasp, one must seek out the truth and use it to guide themselves towards liberation, with my words serving as the pathway.
For the blind who can't see us, like Black Jesus
Just as many did not recognize the true power of Black Jesus until it was too late, the oppressors and those under their influence will not see the effect of my actions until it is too late.
Seizers, try to seize us, we spot them like cheaters
The oppressors will continue to try to thwart my efforts, but we will recognize and expose their tactics just as hunters do with cheaters.
Yo, I was born to survive, A soldier and I strive
From the moment of my birth, I was destined to thrive against the oppressive forces, and I am constantly working to achieve my goals.
With a duty to civilize these 85's
It is my responsibility to bring enlightenment and education to those who have fallen under the oppression of the ruling 85% of society.
See man streets is a wiseman, an original black man
The true wise men of society are those who have kept their roots in the culture of the original black man, rather than the oppressive systems and hierarchy of society.
With a plan to run these devil's off my motherfuckin land
My ultimate goal is to drive the oppressors and their influence off of the land that rightfully belongs to the people.
Unless you were close, when I strained the operation
Only those who have been closely involved in my mission can truly understand the hardships and challenges that have come from my efforts.
Yo, check the first to tool, when I guide to guard your nation
I am the first tool necessary to effectively guard and guide society towards liberation.
For this military attack, to and L's draw back
The destruction of the current oppressive systems requires a military-like effort, with L's (losses) being inevitable casualties of war.
Beretta take the point on the Sunz Of Man war track
The Beretta (gun) represents the weapon we will use to take on the oppressive forces, with Sunz Of Man leading the charge towards liberation.
I burn them like trick-alls, while weak brothers went AWOL
I swiftly take down the oppressive forces like a pimp burning his trick-alls, while those who are too weak to fight for their liberation fall away or desert the cause.
This new born god, and I'ma hold my life so hard
Through my rebirth into a new understanding of society and liberation, I hold my life with the upmost importance and will fight for it until the end.
These fool keep their intentions, I destory your intentions
The oppressive forces have their own intentions to maintain power and control, but I will destroy their intentions and work towards a better, more equal society.
For instence, we talkin this shit with no resistance
We are discussing the realities of the oppressive systems with no hint of backing down or giving in to its control.
Yo, remember, I think it was September or November
Recalling a specific moment in time where the tragic impact of the oppression and violence became clear.
A cold winter, I heard you got bagged and murdered
The situation was made worse by the cold, hard circumstances and the news that someone was killed by the oppressive forces.
Informed by my nigga Glock, the observer
I learned of the situation through a close acquaintance and trusted individual who had been keeping an eye on the oppressive forces.
He told me, all about the fucked up
The nature of the oppressive systems and their actions are so twisted to the point where the situation was deplorable and unacceptable.
Remember for a minute, shouldn't understand
It was hard to come to terms with the situation and the reality of oppression at first, but eventually it became clear.
Then again, I understood good
Eventually, I became fully aware and knowledgeable of the oppressive systems and their workings.
Shit is rough in the hood
The situation in inner cities and impoverished areas is extremely difficult and overwhelming, with oppressive forces working to keep it that way.
Before I knew, I was a Sun Of Man
Without even realizing it, I was aligned with and fighting for the liberation and enlightenment of society through the Sunz Of Man.
Kept a gun in hand, stalkin the land
In order to protect myself from the violent and oppressive forces, I kept a gun in hand to stalk and defend myself on the land.
Back and forth to the island
I was constantly commuting and traveling to various areas to gain a better understanding of the oppression and how to fight against it.
If it wasn't for the knowledge it self
Without the knowledge and enlightenment provided by the Israelites and similar networks, it would have been impossible to understand the oppression and fight against it.
I would of been seen dead
Without the protection and guidance of the enlightened networks, I would have been killed or tormented by the oppressive forces.
Ashes in the base sittin on the shelf
Without the knowledge and enlightenment provided by the Israelites and similar networks, my remains would be left behind like common household item.
As the years went, became intelligent to the nonsense
As time went on, I became more knowledgeable and aware of the illogical and unjust nature of the oppressive systems.
Than instead of livin like a sandwich, I can vanish
Rather than living in fear and confinement like a sandwich between the oppressive systems, I will vanish and fight against it to gain my liberation.
The gods stay camouflaged
The enlightened and powerful members of society remain hidden and concealed, only revealing themselves to those who seek enlightenment and seek to defeat the oppressive systems.
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RUFFIE, CH'RON J. SMITH, ROBERT F. DIGGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark Quintana
Never tire of hearing this.
Red Cypher144
Use your third-eye to see the israeLIE π₯π₯
William Capone
WORD!!
London Maths
This and flaming swords my Fav joints, Although everything on this LP is timeless
tryphone
man oh man, the sunz of man brings so much nostalgia. there are many thing that make a man what they are today. the sunz are one of mine.
Khalilah West Indies
Thas beautiful
JPDX
tryphone ππ½
RZA36
This is marvelous. Absolutely marvelous.
Stay Gold
RESPECT AND LOVE TO SUNZ OF MAN
Jordan Price
The hardest song on this whole album...