Twista grew up in the K-Town area on the west side of Chicago. He started rapping at the age of 12. However, before starting his professional career, he worked at several other jobs including working at a factory, selling shoes, working at McDonald's, working as a security guard, and even cutting hair.
Twista was one of the first artists to sign with Loud Records. In 1991, he released Runnin' off at da Mouth under the name of Tung Twista. Due to his rapid-fire pace of delivery, he was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's fastest rapper. Despite this recognition, the album achieved little success. Tung Twista dropped the "Tung" off of his name in his second album Resurrection, which was never released outside of Chicago's underground.
In 1996, he teamed with fellow Chicago act "Do or Die" on the track "Po' Pimp" leading to a contract with Atlantic Records. He released Adrenaline Rush in 1997 followed by Mobstability in 1998. Twista then formed his own Legit Ballin' label which has released two compilation albums Legit Ballin' in 1999 and Legit Ballin' Vol. 2: Street Scriptures in 2001. The label later released Respect The Game,Vol. 3 in 2002 and Volume 4: Tha Truth in 2006.
Twista developed a good reputation in rap circles leading to work with Mariah Carey, P. Diddy (then Puff Daddy),Lil kim, Drag-on, Jay-Z, Timbaland, Ras Kass, Ludacris, Royce Da 5'9", Shaquille O'Neal, and Da Brat. However, it would take him until 2004 to achieve a platinum, number-one record under his own name.
On his website, Twista stated that he made Kamikaze to show that he was still true to the ideals that he had when he started out. "I represent for the MCs that have skills, not just make music for the hell of it. I take the time to concentrate. Otherwise, I could have 10 albums out there, easy. I could sit down all day and write something. But I write when I get in a zone more than writing because I’ve got to do this. I represent the artists that keep it true to what really is, to be able to make rappers want to write."
"I want to show the streets that I’m back and that I’m true to the game. Musically, I want to show that I’m still out here doing my thing. After all the people that were out when I was out years ago fell off, I’m still out here competing with the shorties. I also want to gain platinum success. It’s something that I haven’t done."
The first single, "Slow Jamz", featured Kanye West and Jamie Foxx. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 and world R&B charts in early 2004, and eventually reached number 3 on the UK singles charts. Kamikaze built on the success of "Slow Jamz" to reach the top of the Billboard 200 album chart upon its release in January 2004 and went platinum by March 2004. The second single, "Overnight Celebrity", became another top 10 Hot 100 hit and a UK top 40 entry, while the third, "So Sexy" (featuring R. Kelly), made the top 40 of the Hot 100. In the UK, the album track "Sunshine", which featured R&B singer Anthony Hamilton and lifted its chorus from Bill Withers' "Lovely Day", was extracted as a third single and became a big hit; this track received comparatively little exposure in the U.S., perhaps because rapper Lil' Flip had a huge hit there at the same time with a different song of the same title.
Albums
Runnin' off at da Mouth (1991, as Tung Twista) (US Certification: Gold)
Resurrection (1994, as Twista) (Never officialy released outside of Chicago's underground)
Adrenaline Rush (1997) #77 US
Mobstability (with The Speedknot Mobstaz) (1998, as Twista) #34 US
Kamikaze (2004) #1 US, #19 UK (US Certification: Platinum)
The Day After (2005) #2 US (US Certification: Gold)
Say What
Tung Twista Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(VERSE 1)
I'm rockin a rhythm, and I'm never wick (what?) wack
I'm rockin a rhythm, and I'm never wick (what?) wack
I'm rockin a rhythm, and I'm never wick (what?) wack
I'm rockin a rhythm, and I'm never wick (what?) wick wack
It's the Mr. Twista comin to twist the (what?) tongue
I crush a rookie like a cocky cookie (what?) crumb
I twist the words to leave the nerds sayin (what?) uhm -
My lyrical flowin'll make em cry boo- (what?) -hoo
I tick a tock to make the clock coo- (what?) -coo
You think I'm wack, then black, I flow for you (what?) too
The crew was through as if I knew voo- (what? -doo
Never say hello, that makes hell (what?) low
I flex a funky tongue like it was jell- (what?) -o
Comin to flow against a funky fell- (what?) -ow
Are you afraid, or should I say yell- (what?) -ow?
What I bring will swing like ping (what?) pong
Tryin to copy this, I bet you swing (what?) wrong
I ring the bells just to hear the ding (what?) dong
I'm throwin a style that be breakin em up in the flow of the song
The Tung will twist and make the people say (what?) (3x)
(Say what, say what, say what - what?) (4x)
(VERSE 2)
I know the time, I kick the funky tick (what?) tocks
I flow forever, never to quit, be non- (what?) -stop
To boost the juice I used to flow upon (what?) blocks
You couldn't manage if your name was Don (what?) Knots
I sliced a victim up like Han (what?) Solo
As sure as Dorothy's puppy's name was To- (what?) -To
Toe to toe I'm never to give a low (what?) blow
I'm kickin sorta funky like a ho- (what?) -bo
Sissy chickens, I call the fag a he- (what?) -she
Just scope the funky tongue, I flow in 3- (what?) -d
The phrase wick wick if you think it be (what?) me
My tip be glowin as if my name was E. (what?) T.
She sells seashells by the sea- (what?) -shore
Have you heard a flow like this be- (what?) -fore?
Gettin deeper than the deepest sea- (what?) -floor
Check the style, that's only one, there'll be (what?) more
Oh Salem, went to hip (what?) hop
To see just what he could hip (what?) hop
And all that he could hip hip (what?) hop
Was the Mister Twista funky hip (what?) hop
The Tung will twist and make the people say (what?) (3x)
(Say what, say what, say what - what?) (4x)
(SHOUT OUTS)
To moms and pops and my whole family (what?) peace
To Rashida B and Johnny I say (what?) peace
To my man Eric The Wiz I say (what?) peace
To DJ Rhythm and Lower Level I say (what?) peace
To the Ansaars and Chicagods (what?) peace
To Dr. York and Abdul Mallik I say (what?) peace
To Bobby Price and my man Bay Bay I say (what?) peace
I'm pumpin em up in a funky rhythm and I'ma say (what?) peace
The Tung will twist and make the people say (what?) (3x)
(Say what, say what, say what - what?) (repeat and fade)
The song "Say What" by Tung Twista is a fast-paced, energetic rap that showcases the relentless flow and clever wordplay of the artist. In the first verse, Twista boasts about his ability to rock a rhythm without being "wick wack" or uncool. He twists his tongue with ease, making the melody go "dum diddy dum" and crushing rookies like "cocky cookie crumbs." He challenges his listeners to keep up with his lyrical flow, which will make the nerds say "uhm" and the haters cry "boo-hoo." He flexes his funkier-than-jell-o tongue against a funky "fellow," ringing the "bells" just to hear the "ding dong" of his impressive rap skills. In the chorus, he declares that he will twist the tung and make the people say "what."
In the second verse, Twista continues to showcase his impressive rap skills, bragging about his ability to kick the funky "tick tocks" and flow forever without stopping. He boosts the juice by flowing upon "blocks," slicing his victims like Han Solo and kicking sorta funky like a "ho-bo." He calls the fag a "he-she" and flows in three-d, using the phrase "wick wick" to signify that it's him. He compares his glow to that of E.T. and references the classic tongue-twister "she sells seashells by the seashore." He gets deeper than the deepest "seafloor" and promises that there will be more of his unique style to come. In the chorus, he once again declares that he will twist the tung and make the people say "what."
Overall, "Say What" is a fast-paced, high-energy rap that highlights Tung Twista's impressive flow and clever wordplay. He shows off his ability to twist his tongue and play with words in creative ways, challenging his listeners to keep up with his rhythm and flow.
Line by Line Meaning
(Say what, say what, say what - what?) (4x)
The artist is inviting the listener to repeat the phrase 'say what', with emphasis on the last 'what'.
I'm rockin a rhythm, and I'm never wick (what?) wack
The artist is confident in their ability to produce a polished sound.
It's the Mr. Twista comin to twist the (what?) tongue
The artist prides themselves on their fast-talking and lyrical abilities.
I twist the words to leave the nerds sayin (what?) uhm
The artist enjoys playing with language to leave listeners in awe.
The Tung will twist and make the people say (what?) (3x)
The artist is acknowledging and confirming their label as a world-class wordsmith.
I know the time, I kick the funky tick (what?) tocks
The artist is in control of the rhythm and knows how to make it groove.
To boost the juice I used to flow upon (what?) blocks
The artist has honed their skills by performing in challenging venues.
The Tung will twist and make the people say (what?) (3x)
The artist is confident in their ability to captivate listeners.
(SHOUT OUTS)
The artist takes a moment to express gratitude and acknowledge important people in their life and career.
Contributed by Jayce C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.