In a crowded field of singer/songwriters, Toothpick (a nickname given to hi… Read Full Bio ↴In a crowded field of singer/songwriters, Toothpick (a nickname given to him by his high school track team for being the skinniest guy on the team) separates himself from the pack both on and off the stage by infusing his original style of rap and freestyle with traditional story telling. He has been rapping and playing guitar since he was twelve, inspired by his mother.
Born and raised in New York, Ray is the former front man of the band Bad Ronald and was signed to Warner Brothers Records during his senior year of college. Bad Ronald broke onto MTV’s TRL in 2001 with their featured video “Let’s Begin (Shoot The ****),” directed by Marc Klasfeld.
Toothpick cites a range of musical influences from Cat Stevens and Soul Coughing to A Tribe Called Quest & The Roots. Recently he has shared the stage with Ziggy Marley and Gavin Degraw. When he’s not recording or touring, Toothpick can usually be found entertaining strangers with his acoustic guitar and unique blend of rapping and singing.

Backwards
Toothpick Lyrics

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Hip Hop, country blues
Crazy white dude with no tattoos
Saw myself on cable news
Cus I robbed a bank with a Rubik's cube
My life got so strange
When I sold my tickets for pocket change
Hopped the turn style and I took the train
Then I got fake titties and went back stage

My girlfriend didn't want me
Caught me diggin' through her dirty laundry
I'm dancing with myself in women's close

I walk backwards, you can kiss my ass
Put a smile on my face
Don't say hi when you walk by
Unless your gonna gimme
Unless your gonna gimme
Unless your gonna gimme some of what you got, what you got

I am so confused, livin' on vitamin C and booze
Traded my pumas to a homeless dude,
Now I'm a grown man walkin' round in ladies shoes
Hot lips, Mini skirt
S-L-U-T written on my shirt
Find a rich man that likes to flirt
Make sure that he gets his feelings hurt

Ivy League Intellectual
Dressed up as 'em heterosexuals
In New York City a beauty queen so drag

I walk backwards, you can kiss my ass
Put a smile on my face
Don't say hi when you walk by
Unless your gonna gimme
Unless your gonna gimme
Unless your gonna gimme some of what you got, what you got

She's so overdue
Traffic cop in army boots
Cocaine and 22s
Handcuffed me and she left the room
Broke ass, hopped the bail
Vintage going out of business sale
Old cheese so he's cut to fail?
But I said "I do" behind a wedding vail

She said she left the force
When I bet my life on a lucky horse
Painted my nails and chased the moon

I walk backwards, you can kiss my ass
Put a smile on my face
Don't say hi when you walk by
Unless your gonna gimme

Unless your gonna gimme
Unless your gonna gimme some of what you got, what you got

Overall Meaning

Toothpick's song "Backwards" is a wild ride through the life of the rapper. This genre-bending track mixes elements of hip hop, country, and blues into a surreal narrative that touches on themes of identity, rebellion, and social deviance. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, with Toothpick describing himself as a "crazy white dude with no tattoos," before revealing that he once robbed a bank with a Rubik's cube. The absurdity of this image is indicative of the song's overall style, which is characterized by a sense of irreverent humor and playful experimentation. Throughout the song, Toothpick adopts various personas and personas, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. He describes dancing in women's clothes, getting fake titties, and walking around in ladies' shoes as part of his journey to discover himself.

In the chorus, Toothpick declares that he walks backward and tells listeners to kiss his ass. This line is a rebellious gesture, a refusal to conform to societal norms or etiquette. He puts a smile on his face and demands that others give him what they've got, suggesting a desire to take whatever he wants and live on his own terms. The verses that follow are filled with more absurdist imagery, such as trading his Pumas to a homeless man and wearing a mini skirt with the word "slut" written on his shirt. The song ends with Toothpick painting his nails and chasing the moon, a final image of his quest for self-discovery and individuality.

Line by Line Meaning

Hip Hop, country blues
I enjoy a variety of music genres.

Crazy white dude with no tattoos
I don't fit the stereotype of a typical white rapper.

Saw myself on cable news Cus I robbed a bank with a Rubik's cube
I gained notoriety for a strange and clever crime.

My life got so strange When I sold my tickets for pocket change Hopped the turn style and I took the train Then I got fake titties and went back stage
I've had many odd and unexpected experiences, such as selling concert tickets for very little money, sneaking onto trains, and getting breast implants.

My girlfriend didn't want me Caught me diggin' through her dirty laundry I'm dancing with myself in women's clothes
I've had problems with relationships and sometimes express myself through cross-dressing.

I walk backwards, you can kiss my ass Put a smile on my face Don't say hi when you walk by Unless your gonna gimme Unless your gonna gimme Unless your gonna gimme some of what you got, what you got
I don't care what others think of me and only want to interact with people who have something to offer me.

I am so confused, livin' on vitamin C and booze Traded my pumas to a homeless dude, Now I'm a grown man walkin' round in ladies shoes
I'm struggling with my mental health and have made some unconventional choices like trading my shoes for nothing and wearing women's shoes.

Hot lips, Mini skirt S-L-U-T written on my shirt Find a rich man that likes to flirt Make sure that he gets his feelings hurt
I mock the sexist expectations placed on women and encourage them to use their sexuality as a tool for power.

Ivy League Intellectual Dressed up as 'em heterosexuals In New York City a beauty queen so drag
I challenge stereotypes of intelligence and sexuality through dress and performance.

She's so overdue Traffic cop in army boots Cocaine and 22s Handcuffed me and she left the room Broke ass, hopped the bail Vintage going out of business sale Old cheese so he's cut to fail? But I said "I do" behind a wedding veil
I've had some wild and tumultuous experiences with law enforcement, financial struggles, and relationships, including a wedding.

She said she left the force When I bet my life on a lucky horse Painted my nails and chased the moon
I've had some strange romantic experiences, such as dating a former police officer and making strange bets, painting my nails, and chasing the moon.

Writer(s): Sam Hollander, David Schommer Copyright: Pop Rox Music, BMG Rights Management (Ireland) Ltd.

Contributed by Hunter J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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