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)
Way Of Life
Sunz of Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Razah, 4th Disciple
[Chorus: x2]
Hip hop is a way of life, it's in my breath
The way I, breathe and step, not the way I dress
East to west, throw your arms right to left
Give me a mic and a crowd, and a turntable set
Alotta niggaz turned thugs, after 2Pac died
Puttin' dust in they weed, after they heard How High
KRS was the main one, I heard Stay Wise
Before, N.W.A., you never thought of drive-by's
Slick Rick was the kingpin of all fly guys
Rakim kept it civilized, now it be Nas
cool G. Rap made rhymes for the organized crimes
On the Road to they Riches, selllin' nickels and dimes
Cypress Hill made you feel, How Can I Just Kill a Man
Niggaz turned killers after Wu-Tang Clan
Startin' formin' into groups, so they can put on they fam
Puff Daddy had you samplin' old records to dance
Biggie Smalls made you ball after One More Chance
The radio promotin' death, until there's no more fans
Alotta playas want to play, but the game is advanced
The true culture of this hip hop, let's spread it to France
M.O.P., kept it hardcore, from Onyx to DMX
Now it's on Soundscan sells and BDS
When the Fat Boys, to Big Punisher and Fat Joe
EPMD, to me was, the best duo
Nah, Run-DMC, still be number uno
Now every artist that you know, want to drop solos
Half naked to sell records, in magazine photo's
[Chorus: x2]
Back to '83, the era of the Treacherous Three
When the Cold Crush, bumrushed the Force MD's
Now the pussy is free, but the crack cost money, oh yeah
Melle Mel, brought the mentals, but we couldn't digest it
Cause all the niggaz in the eighties started gettin' arrested
Sugar Hill caught an ill deal, Rapper's Delight
Back when artists got signed just for grabbin' the mic
Kangols and rope chains, this when LL came
Ain't nobody had a metaphor like Big Daddy Kane
Public Enemy was deep before Do the Right Thing
MC Shan had Queensbridge under his wing
Marley Marl did The Symphony, it blew instantly
Made hip hop history, now it's industry
Everybody either look alike, or sound gimmicky
Not noticin' the energy was hid' in Tennessee
Never thought they ever see a young black Master P
Go to France and see a white boy blacker than me
Suge Knight or Eazy-E, had black labels
Why the rest eat the crumbs off the master's tables
[Chorus: x2]
The lyrics to Sunz of Man's song Way of Life explore the evolution of hip hop and its cultural impact. The song defines hip hop as a way of life, not just a genre of music, as it is ingrained in the artist's breath and movements, and not just their clothing. The lyrics acknowledge the cultural significance of hip hop, addressing topics such as the death of Tupac, the commercialization of the industry, and the rise of gangster rap. The song highlights the influences of iconic hip hop artists throughout different eras, including KRS-One, Slick Rick, Rakim, Nas, and Wu-Tang Clan, and their lyrical contributions that paved the way for newer artists to express themselves.
The lyrics also touch on the commercialization of hip hop and the shifting motivations of artists seeking success in the industry. The song highlights the importance of staying true to hip hop culture and spreading it beyond just the United States, to countries like France. The song also criticizes the music industry's promotion of violence and exploitation for profit, noting the contrast between the early days of hip hop and the current state of affairs. Overall, the song celebrates the artistic and cultural significance of hip hop and encourages artists to stay true to its roots.
Line by Line Meaning
Hip hop is a way of life, it's in my breath
Hip Hop defines me, it's in every breath I take
The way I, breathe and step, not the way I dress
It's not about my appearance, but my actions that define my Hip Hop culture
East to west, throw your arms right to left
Hip Hop unites people from all directions, from East to West, making them express themselves through hand gestures
Give me a mic and a crowd, and a turntable set
All I need to express myself is a microphone, a crowd, and a turntable set
Alotta n****z turned thugs, after 2Pac died
After 2Pac's death, many people became violent and aggressive
Puttin' dust in they weed, after they heard How High
People started using drugs with dust in them after hearing the song 'How High'
KRS was the main one, I heard Stay Wise
KRS-One was known for his message to stay wise and make intelligent choices
Before, N.W.A., you never thought of drive-by's
The concept of drive-by shootings wasn't popular until N.W.A
Slick Rick was the kingpin of all fly guys
Slick Rick was highly respected as a stylish and fashionable rapper
Rakim kept it civilized, now it be Nas
Back then, Rakim was known for his civilized approach to Hip Hop, now it's Nas who's carrying forward that legacy
cool G. Rap made rhymes for the organized crimes
G. Rap created rhymes for organized crimes, showcasing the harsh reality of the streets
On the Road to they Riches, sellin' nickels and dimes
The path to riches was often through illegal means, like selling drugs
Cypress Hill made you feel, How Can I Just Kill a Man
Cypress Hill's music moved people with the song 'How Can I Just Kill a Man'
N****z turned killers after Wu-Tang Clan
Many people were influenced to become violent after listening to Wu-Tang Clan's music
Startin' formin' into groups, so they can put on they fam
People formed groups to showcase their talent and provide for their families
Puff Daddy had you samplin' old records to dance
Puff Daddy's music often included old samples to make people dance
Biggie Smalls made you ball after One More Chance
Biggie Smalls' song 'One More Chance' was an anthem that made people feel like they could achieve anything
The radio promotin' death, until there's no more fans
Radio stations promote violence and death, even if it means losing their listeners
Alotta playas want to play, but the game is advanced
Many people want to be a part of Hip Hop, but it has grown too competitive
The true culture of this hip hop, let's spread it to France
The real Hip Hop culture should be spread to France, and beyond
M.O.P., kept it hardcore, from Onyx to DMX
M.O.P. kept it real and gritty, as did Onyx and DMX
Now it's on Soundscan sells and BDS
Hip Hop's success is measured by Soundscan sales and BDS ratings
When the Fat Boys, to Big Punisher and Fat Joe
From the Fat Boys to Big Punisher and Fat Joe, everyone has contributed to Hip Hop
EPMD, to me was, the best duo
To me, EPMD was the ultimate Hip Hop duo
Nah, Run-DMC, still be number uno
Actually, Run-DMC remains the top Hip Hop group
Now every artist that you know, want to drop solos
Nowadays, every artist wants to release a solo album
Half naked to sell records, in magazine photo's
Artists resort to using provocative images to sell their music, as shown in magazine photoshoots
Back to '83, the era of the Treacherous Three
Let's go back to the year 1983 when the Treacherous Three were ruling Hip Hop
When the Cold Crush, bumrushed the Force MD's
That was also the year Cold Crush dominated Force MDs in the battle of the bands
Now the pussy is free, but the crack cost money, oh yeah
Sex is easily accessible now, while drugs are expensive
Melle Mel, brought the mentals, but we couldn't digest it
Melle Mel's music was intellectual, but not everyone could fully comprehend it
Cause all the n****z in the eighties started gettin' arrested
The 80s saw a rise in arrests due to Hip Hop culture
Sugar Hill caught an ill deal, Rapper's Delight
Sugar Hill faced a raw deal, even after releasing the classic song 'Rapper's Delight'
Back when artists got signed just for grabbin' the mic
Initially, artists were signed just because of their talent on the mic
Kangols and rope chains, this when LL came
Hip Hop fashion in those days was all about Kangol caps and rope chains, and LL Cool J owned that look
Ain't nobody had a metaphor like Big Daddy Kane
Big Daddy Kane was the king of metaphors in Hip Hop
Public Enemy was deep before Do the Right Thing
Public Enemy's music was profound, even before Spike Lee's movie 'Do the Right Thing'
MC Shan had Queensbridge under his wing
MC Shan's music represented the Queensbridge area of New York City
Marley Marl did The Symphony, it blew instantly
Marley Marl's song 'The Symphony' was an instant hit
Made hip hop history, now it's industry
The song made history and now Hip Hop has become an industry
Everybody either look alike, or sound gimmicky
Nowadays, everyone either looks the same or resorts to gimmicks to sell their music
Not noticin' the energy was hid' in Tennessee
People are not aware that the true essence of Hip Hop still resides in Tennessee
Never thought they ever see a young black Master P
No one anticipated someone like Master P, who revolutionized Hip Hop as a young black man
Go to France and see a white boy blacker than me
Hip Hop culture has spread so far and wide that you can even find a white boy in France who's more Hip Hop than anyone else
Suge Knight or Eazy-E, had black labels
Suge Knight or Eazy-E owned black-owned record labels, promoting black talent
Why the rest eat the crumbs off the master's tables
Why settle for what's being offered when you can own your own label and control your own destiny
[Chorus: x2]
The chorus reinforces the idea that Hip Hop is a way of life defined by one's actions, not just appearance
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