Staying busy, the Last Emperor released several singles to a loyal fan following who hung on to his every word. During this period, Last Emperor began to gain the respect of top notch producers like Prince Paul (De La Soul, Stetsasonic, & Gravediggaz), DJ Muggz (Cypress Hill & Soul Assassins), & Diamond D (D.I.T.C) - all of which he would come to recorded with. As a result, fans of hip-hop music were introduced to classics like "Secret Wars", "Monumental", "Animalistics", "Charlie", "Meditations", and "Do u Remember".
As his star began to shine brighter, Emp gained notice outside of the tri-state area and obtained his first deal, on a major label nonetheless, with Dr. Dre's (N.W.A & Death Row Records) Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope. Becoming a protégé of Dr. Dre., and recording an album for his Aftermath debut, the Last Emperor waited over 2 years for a release date that never materialized. After asking to be let go, the Last Emperor soon found himself in a bidding war that landed him on Rawkus Records. Being label mates with BlackStar (Mos Def & Talib Kweli), Pharaoh Monch (Organized Konfusion), Shabaam Saadiq & Company Flow, many considered the Rawkus Records situation to be a perfect fit for Emp's quick witted delivery and vivid story telling ability.
Now signed to Rawkus, the Last Emperor released a few singles including "the Umph" with Smif-n-Wesson (Boot Camp Clik) as the lead-up to his debut full length release. After being signed to Rawkus for about 6 months, unsuspectingly, the label closed its doors and stopped releasing any music. As a free agent again, the Last Emperor formed his own label, Red Planet Music, and inked a distribution deal with Raptivism Records. He released his debut full length "Music, Magic, Myth" on Red Planet Music and hasn't looked back since.
The Last Emperor has shared the stage with everyone from Redman, Common, Mos Def, The Roots, Talib Kweli, Murs, and KRS-1. He's toured domestically and outside the U.S. with Pharaoh Monch, Brother Ali, the Gorillaz, and (Wu-Tang Clan's) Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah and U-God. He has been produced by such greats as Dr. Dre, Diamond D, Prince Paul, DJ Muggz, Evil D & Mr. Walt (Blackmoon & Beatminerz) not to mention the countless collaborations with artists like Siagon, Masta Ace, DeLa Soul, M1 (Dead Prez), Rakaa Iriscience (Dilated Peoples), and Rza (Wu-Tang Clan).
Since "Music, Magic, Myth", Emp put out a mixtape called "Hidden Treasures". He has also released a vinyl only 12” single called “Black Apache/Gangsta Groove” and is currently preparing a free download title "Science Team.....GO!" All this music leads up to his next full length album scheduled to release this year on Red Planet Music tentatively titled; “Last Emperor: and the Wizards Wardrobe”.
The Last Emperor remains a relevant necessity in Hip-Hop music. His consciousness and love for the culture can only better an industry plagued by mediocrity and normalcy. Fortunately for all, the wait is over. Get ready world because this is the year of the Last Emperor.
The Great Pretender
The Last Emperor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It has been said that man can create anything he can imagine
(Last Emperor)
Every now and then, when I'm home alone
In my modern day hut made of iron and stone
I pull out my imaginary microphone
And weave tales of adventure that are on my own
If ya coolin' by yourself or maybe with some friends
From the young bucks up to senior citizens
I make 'em get up and feel like kids again
But if you don't wanna stand then take a seat
As I take you to the land of make belief
Mr Gray has come to display his greatest feats
You wanna snap, well relax cause your in for a treat
What I write comes to life so people can get busy
And live on well after these same people forget me
Your attentions surrendered by The Great Pretender
Come on and say it with me
Y'all better stop playin' with me
(Last Emperor)
Check it, check out the number one style
From a small town where imaginations run wild
And if this is a race I should pick up the pace
So the line between reality and myth is erased
Like a Grand Prix driver or a traffic cop
Or a deep sea diver or an astronaut
More than a player, I'm like the ultimate team mate
For girls that care, I'm the ultimate dream date
Who goes by the name of The Great Pretender
I don't discriminate cause of race nor gender
A high siege pirate with the weary frame
And if I don't float ya boat I'll retire me name
Or play the roll of a politician and run for the senate
Fill a lifetime of rhymes into a couple of minutes
See, Prince Paul's taken on another apprentice
Who fights for hip hop better than a public defendant
Who got sick and tired of skits that the others were writing
I couldn't take it and replaced it with something exciting
With my own imagination I made it in show biz
It's The Great Pretender, y'all know what it is
(Last Emperor)
Outside the boundaries of time and space
Were the most bizarre things are now common place
Alongside the producer who provides the bass
Stands a lone pretender who's known to rock the place
And told great stories that you can take witcha
Remembered as an artist who painted great pictures
To be a great speaker as well as a great listener
So someday I hold the stories the angels might whisper
So tell the great Kings and peasants as well
From the mountains that they conquered to the valleys they dwell
Don't let life's greatest book be pulled from the shelves
The G.P. signin' off, take care of ya selves
The Last Emperor's song "The Great Pretender" is a tribute to imagination and storytelling. In the song, the rapper imagines himself as a skilled storyteller who can transport his listeners to the land of make-believe. He describes himself as the "ultimate team mate" and "ultimate dream date," and suggests that he can be anyone or anything he wants through the power of his imagination. He encourages listeners to join him on his imaginary adventures and feel like kids again.
The song also touches on the idea of leaving a legacy through storytelling. The Last Emperor suggests that his own stories will live on long after he is forgotten. He compares himself to a painter and a great speaker, and imagines that someday his stories might be cherished by angels. He implores his listeners not to let life's greatest book be pulled from the shelves, presumably referring to the idea that our stories and experiences should be celebrated and remembered.
Overall, the song celebrates creativity and the power of imagination to transport us to new worlds and new experiences. It encourages listeners to embrace their own ability to tell stories and to find joy in the act of creation.
Line by Line Meaning
Every now and then, when I'm home alone
Occasionally when I'm by myself at home
In my modern day hut made of iron and stone
In my contemporary home constructed from durable materials
I pull out my imaginary microphone
I pretend to have a microphone
And weave tales of adventure that are on my own
I create my own exciting stories
This is you're opportunity to listen in
Now is your chance to hear them
If ya coolin' by yourself or maybe with some friends
If you're relaxing alone or hanging out with companions
From the young bucks up to senior citizens
From young and old people alike
I make 'em get up and feel like kids again
I bring joy and excitement to their lives like when they were kids
But if you don't wanna stand then take a seat
If you don't feel like being active then sit down
As I take you to the land of make believe
I transport you into a world of imagination
Mr Gray has come to display his greatest feats
I, The Great Pretender, am here to showcase my talents
You wanna snap, well relax cause your in for a treat
If you want to be impressed, don't worry, I've got you covered
What I write comes to life so people can get busy
My stories come to life, inspiring people to take action
And live on well after these same people forget me
My legacy lives on even after I'm forgotten
Your attentions surrendered by The Great Pretender
I have captured your attention through my imaginative storytelling
Come on and say it with me
Repeat it after me
Y'all better stop playin' with me
Don't underestimate me
Check it, check out the number one style
Look at the top-notch style I have to offer
From a small town where imaginations run wild
From a place where people's imaginations are unrestricted
And if this is a race I should pick up the pace
If this is a competition, I need to move faster
So the line between reality and myth is erased
So that the distinction between fact and fiction is eliminated
Like a Grand Prix driver or a traffic cop
Like a skilled racecar driver or law enforcement official
Or a deep sea diver or an astronaut
Or like a diver who explores the depths of the ocean or an astronaut who ventures into space
More than a player, I'm like the ultimate team mate
I'm not just a participant, I'm the best teammate you could have
For girls that care, I'm the ultimate dream date
For women who are looking for someone compassionate, I'm the perfect partner
Who goes by the name of The Great Pretender
My identity is The Great Pretender
I don't discriminate cause of race nor gender
I don't judge or exclude based on ethnicity or gender
A high siege pirate with the weary frame
A pirate that has taken many victories despite being worn out
And if I don't float ya boat I'll retire me name
If I don't appeal to you, I'll stop being an artist
Or play the roll of a politician and run for the senate
I could run for office and be a politician
Fill a lifetime of rhymes into a couple of minutes
Fit a ton of lyrics into a short period of time
See, Prince Paul's taken on another apprentice
Prince Paul has taken on another person to mentor
Who fights for hip hop better than a public defendant
Who advocates for hip hop more strongly than a lawyer representing the public
Who got sick and tired of skits that the others were writing
Who was fed up with the uninspired content that others were creating
I couldn't take it and replaced it with something exciting
I couldn't tolerate it, so I created something more compelling
With my own imagination I made it in show biz
I succeeded in the entertainment industry with my own creativity
It's The Great Pretender, y'all know what it is
I am The Great Pretender, and you know what to expect from me
Outside the boundaries of time and space
Beyond the constraints of time and the physical world
Were the most bizarre things are now common place
Where the most unusual things are now considered normal
Alongside the producer who provides the bass
With the support of the producer who provides the beat
Stands a lone pretender who's known to rock the place
Stands a solitary pretender who is famous for setting the stage on fire
And told great stories that you can take witcha
And narrated compelling stories that you can take with you
Remembered as an artist who painted great pictures
Recognized as an artist who created vivid images with words
To be a great speaker as well as a great listener
To be both a great communicator and a great listener
So someday I hold the stories the angels might whisper
So that someday I can tell the stories that only the angels know
So tell the great Kings and peasants as well
So let great kings and humble peasants alike know
From the mountains that they conquered to the valleys they dwell
From the mountains they have conquered to the valleys where they reside
Don't let life's greatest book be pulled from the shelves
Don't let the greatest stories of life be forgotten
The G.P. signin' off, take care of ya selves
The Great Pretender is signing off, take care of yourselves
Contributed by James M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.