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 (US Certification: Gold)
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)
Adrenaline Rush 2007 (2007)
American Gangsta
Twista Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Home of the brave and in god we trust
Im just a American gangsta, U.S hustla
Home of the brave and in god we trust
Im just a American gangsta
Chi-town bred
Cuz I gotta rep my city to the death
Remember I spit it for the bitches
Now I'm spittin for the thugs
Hat cocked to the right
Hat cocked to the left
Brotha its a formal
Its a focus on ya chest
I spit it for the lords, and the for the folks
and for the crips and for the bloods
Im like an american dream
Role to the green, with the souls and the
breeds and the cobras a kings and the 2-16
Millimeter bullets from the niggas that
Tryin to do opposite.
They dont really wanna see how phyco I can get
I dont really see a mutha fucka stoppin this
Tryin to come at u and the apocalypse
.40 cal will have ya screamin, I dont wanna die
I am becomin nauseous with the fake thugs
So its love
To the real G's and all the boss's
To the niggas in the caller case
That got into it big
To get wut nobody gave us
We was born into this system, so dont be mad at what u made us
Pull the pistol and cock it and bust in the sky
One time for the U.S, for turnin my niggas to
gangstas cuz gettin money is what they do best
Hard to fight like I ever did like Al Capone
Gangsta's is boss's,
K-town is the mutha fuckin hood, the Rock is the company
come and step into my office
American gangsta, U.S hustla
Home of the brave and in god we trust
Im just a American gangsta, U.S hustla
Home of the brave and in god we trust
Im just a American gangsta, U.S hustla
Home of the brave and in god we trust
Im just a American gangsta, U.S hustla
Home of the brave and in god we trust
Im just a American gangsta
Forever see me in a lack
Got work but ya never see me in a pack
A mutha fucka said he never seen me with a strap
And I heard a mutha fucka say he dont see me in the hood
Lil nigga I dont see u, cuz homie my hood is worldwide
and gettin money is wut we do.
Make ya knee joints lock when I freak u
Hit the 3 point shot like Hedo
Turkoglu up in the game
U killin the game like pac, nigga we point glocks like he do, see u
No one will recognize I'm the maker of the Midwest
Im like for real?
Controversy in the middle
I guess I'm like shaquille
U can go on feel like ya feel
Nigga kno the hands I like to kill
But if u can hit me with the bangs
Lil cheap for shit, lets strike the deal
Got my phycos in the city rollin wit me
Always ready busta cap at the king like du
I can bury ya bodies like an animal
Because I'm a cannibal, I eat a nigga like food
Rippin thru ur flesh so I can devour the heart
Music is my playground, but if the rappin dont get yo
I hit this head with the back of the pistol until this bitch nigga lay down
And no competition I had to be fuckin a twig?
Whoever comin for me gangsta, ima get it everytime I wanna get it
I'm living proof
Its a category F5
American gangsta, U.S hustla
Home of the brave and in god we trust
Im just a American gangsta, U.S hustla
Home of the brave and in god we trust
Im just a American gangsta, U.S hustla
Home of the brave and in god we trust
Im just a American gangsta, U.S hustla
Home of the brave and in god we trust
Im just a American gangsta
The lyrics of Twista's song American Gangsta are a testament to the embodiment of gangsta culture and the American way of life, both admired and feared in equal measure. The opening lines of the song "American gangsta, U.S hustla/Home of the brave and in God we trust" speaks to the idea of the American dream - one of hard work, bravery, and religious faith which often intertwines with the pursuit of wealth and power. The rapper identifies himself as an "American gangsta," a product of Chicago's violent streets, a place where reputations are made, and the game is played just as hard as anywhere else. He raps about the need to represent his city to the death and annihilate all opposition until there is nothing left.
Throughout the song, he juxtaposes different aspects of gangsta culture, spitting for the "bitches" and the "thugs," the "lords" and the "folks," the "crips," and the "bloods." He speaks about the "American dream" and the pursuit of success by "rolling to the green," but also the violent reality on the streets where "16 millimeter bullets" fly, and people fight for survival. He acknowledges the "fake thugs" who nauseate him but also pays respect to the "real G's" and the "bosses" who have overcome the system's limitations to succeed. In the end, he paints a picture of himself and his followers as cannibals, devouring everything in their path, and facing every challenge with the power of an F5 tornado.
Line by Line Meaning
American gangsta, U.S hustla
I am a gangster and hustler in the United States
Home of the brave and in god we trust
We are a nation of courageous people who believe in God
Chi-town bred
I am from Chicago
Cuz I gotta rep my city to the death
I have to represent my city strongly and never back down
Annialate them till I dont see nothin left
I will destroy my enemies until there's nothing left of them
Remember I spit it for the bitches
I used to rap for women, but now I rap for gangsters
Now I'm spittin for the thugs
I am now rapping for gangsters
Hat cocked to the right
I wear my hat tilted to the right
Hat cocked to the left
I wear my hat tilted to the left
Brotha its a formal
It's a way we show respect
Its a focus on ya chest
It shows that I am serious and focused on the situation at hand
I spit it for the lords, and the for the folks and for the crips and for the bloods
I rap to represent all kinds of gangs and show unity among them
Im like an american dream
I represent the American dream
Role to the green, with the souls and the breeds and the cobras a kings and the 2-16
I am making my way to the top with my allies, and colors representing our gangs
Millimeter bullets from the niggas that Tryin to do opposite.
I am prepared to fight anyone who opposes me, even if it means using firearms
They dont really wanna see how phyco I can get
My opponents don't know the extent of my insanity and what I'm capable of
I dont really see a mutha fucka stoppin this
No one can stop me or my gang
Tryin to come at u and the apocalypse
We are ready for anyone trying to come against us, even during the end of the world
.40 cal will have ya screamin, I dont wanna die
I am prepared to kill anyone who tries to take me down
I am becomin nauseous with the fake thugs
I am sick of people pretending to be gangsters when they are not
So its love To the real G's and all the boss's To the niggas in the caller case That got into it big
I have respect and admiration for real gangsters who have become successful and wealthy
To get wut nobody gave us We was born into this system, so dont be mad at what u made us
We had to work hard to get what we have, and we are not responsible for the system that we were born into
Pull the pistol and cock it and bust in the sky
I am showing off my power and willingness to use my firearm
One time for the U.S, for turnin my niggas to gangstas cuz gettin money is what they do best
I am showing appreciation for America's ability to bring out the gangster in us and our focus on getting money
Hard to fight like I ever did like Al Capone
It's difficult to fight me because I am as ruthless as Al Capone
Gangsta's is boss's, K-town is the mutha fuckin hood, the Rock is the company come and step into my office
Gangsters are in charge, my neighborhood is the hood, and my gang is like a company where I am the boss
Forever see me in a lack
I will always be seen driving a Cadillac
Got work but ya never see me in a pack
I am always working alone, not with a group of people
A mutha fucka said he never seen me with a strap
Someone said they haven't seen me with a gun
And I heard a mutha fucka say he dont see me in the hood
Someone said they haven't seen me in my neighborhood
Lil nigga I dont see u, cuz homie my hood is worldwide and gettin money is wut we do.
I don't see you little guy because my gang is global and we are always making money
Make ya knee joints lock when I freak u
I can make you feel intimidated and scared
Hit the 3 point shot like Hedo, Turkoglu up in the game
I am skilled like a basketball player Hedo Turkoglu, and I am always on top in my gangster game
U killin the game like pac, nigga we point glocks like he do, see u
I am succeeding in the game as well as Tupac did, and I am ready to use my weapon at any time
No one will recognize I'm the maker of the Midwest
People don't realize that I am responsible for making the Midwest what it is today
Im like for real? Controversy in the middle I guess I'm like shaquille
I am saying that I am responsible for the controversy and tension in the Midwest, and I am as dominant as Shaquille O'Neal
U can go on feel like ya feel Nigga kno the hands I like to kill
You can continue to think and feel however you want, but know that I am skilled at taking lives
But if u can hit me with the bangs Lil cheap for shit, lets strike the deal
If you are able to harm or hurt me, I am open to making a deal though it may be cheap
Got my phycos in the city rollin wit me Always ready busta cap at the king like du
I have my crazy, loyal friends in my city who are always ready to shoot someone who challenges me
I can bury ya bodies like an animal Because I'm a cannibal, I eat a nigga like food
If I kill you, I am capable of burying your body like an animal and even eating people
Rippin thru ur flesh so I can devour the heart Music is my playground, but if the rappin dont get yo
I would be able to rip through your body just to eat your heart. Though music is my passion, I am willing to turn to violence
I hit this head with the back of the pistol until this bitch nigga lay down
I am willing to hit someone's head with the back of a gun to bring them down
And no competition I had to be fuckin a twig? Whoever comin for me gangsta, ima get it everytime I wanna get it
I am telling other gangsters that no one can compete with me, and whoever challenges me will be taken care of easily
I'm living proof Its a category F5
I am the perfect example of a category F5 tornado, meaning that I am powerful and destructive
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CARL TERRELL MITCHELL, FREDERICK TAYLOR, JOHN GANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JJ H
Great track, artists like twista should make a comeback and bring hiphop back to life
Rob Banks
Nobody on the planet can out rap Twista. Soooooo underrated.
Hareem Obduljawon
Busta Rhymes and Tech N9ne can but I'm still a Twista fan.
Bob Anderson
Facts. Twista is goated period. No one is fucking with him.
siccDeville
I think he's in the Guinness books for fastest rapper.
MidwayTyraczPDR
Typy niezły klimat tam w stanach pozdro dla chłopaków. Szacun za bycie soba ! Dobry kawałek z grubym bitem i sliskim floow. Mistrz
Dixion Kash
They will never get old
King Moe
His flow is so smooth.. I’m rockin’ with it!
putorickforever
Põe qualquer rapper novo no bolso. Melhor fast rapper
wyLdchyLd5p6d
oh my god this song goes so hard, twista is unique upon all rappers but this song fits perfect he doin it big on this joint