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)
Art & Life
Twista Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Young Chris, M-E's, Free-Wheez
Tha boy Twista
Holla
My life on tha track (Okay)
Up and comin' state Prop
Check game (That's right)
It's tha Roc
Better than ever (Holla)
Yeah
It's tha motherfuckin' Roc bitch, you hotter than us?
(Okay, okay)
Ever since a young buck, I been on tha come up,
Known to dish tha raw, dish tha law if they come up,
And cheddar 'till tha sun up
If there's a ransom and tha law get involved, then we never get it summed up,
Never put ya gun up, if ya come round me,
I go to war wit' niggas 'round tha corner from 'round me,
You can front 'round me, but I read through that,
Wit' tha mili' and I ain't talkin' 'bout no Segal mac,
Niggas see shoot back, we can see to that,
Hit yo front letters see through back, bring yo peoples back,
And I used to grind out on my friends spot, 'till he's mom wanted my Tim-bots,
Now my paint got me discounts, or trans-quo all around tha world, like I was signed to
Pimp-dot,
And if it's ten targets and I got ten shots,
I'm tryin' to leave at least hit nine out of them ten shot
I got my mind on my money, money on mind,
But some say its a gift, I don't write but I rhyme,
I, complete songs with just one try,
Tell 'em it's no lie, I (beef?) all my life dogg, I never think, it's already there,
I find ways to say-it, so you motherfuckers hear-it,
And when you hear it you feel it, you know its real (so)
This is how I live it, how its pictured for real, (nigga)
I'm shittin' for real
Diamonds against wood, underground king for real,
Big crib when I lay, yeah I'm livin' for real,
Trust me tha guns come off tha shelf whenever shit'll get real,
Automatics and tha extended clips, that's what I'm hittin' wit',
Dummies in tha black rhinoes,
(Yeah) They be killin' shit,
Mask up kidnap shit, that's how my niggas get,
Chi-town, NYC, that's how my niggas get
Yes, just picture me rollin',
Tha smith and wesson'll stay goin' put a hole in yo chest,
It's just, another hustle paper gettin' made and fold ya,
Mad, you street niggas finally made it,
I swoop five, he know tha ride, heavily loaded,
Deliver pies like cake, they go straight through yo payment, (Yup)
Chump, you don't really want to war,
With tha State Prop clique, if ya clique shot us, (Why us)
S-P game so damn tough, tha 4 4 in tha 5th tucked y'all can't hang,
Transporter turned rapper, get a can for to fill my life,
Still accomplished, want to fill they cups?
Tha rap version of Mandela call my bluff,
Well still tha street dwellers feel my pain (My pain)
I spit a verse and split a clip in tha rain,
A fool-proof when tha full force open you (What)
Twista will rock you, you don't want tha thug apostle to pop you,
Hostile when I drop you, turnin' everything colossal to fossiles,
I speak street gospel, all they life I spit words and paint portraits,
For real niggas that hold down they fortress and serve off of porches,
Hit 'em in tha body wit' tha powerful forces, that'll end all your data,
Make you clean up your house, bag up an ounce, hit tha dance floor and bounce,
We blessed wit' tha talent, fuck wit this clique, it ain't gon' be easy,
''cause you fuckin' wit' Twist if you fuck wit Chris, Bleek and Free-wheezy,
So speak and breath easy, or tha scutche's my future in 3D,
I like whore's, I'm from a city full of vice, lords, and GD's,
Breeze and souls, 2-6's, kings, VD's and stores,
Spanish cobras and all tha true soldiers survivin' are gone,
Watch me spit if for tha killers and hustler's, flippin' all tha pounds and bricks,
Hate on me I'm a bust at you hoes, and I put eleven down wit' a clip,
Niggas servin' fiftys and hundreds, when I see you and I'm on yo tip,
Twista and ?
The lyrics to Twista's "Art & Life" bring together several artists on one track, creating a powerful and creative flow of words that invoke images of the streets and the struggles of life within them. The opening lines establish the themes of the song, with Twista asserting that his life is on the track and he's an up and coming state prop. The verses from Memphis Bleek, Young Chris, and Freeway build on these themes, with bragging about their skills and their ability to dish out the raw on the streets.
The lyrics are raw and powerful, with the artists painting vivid pictures of life on the streets and the tough choices that must be made in order to survive. There are themes of loyalty, honor, and courage, as well as the harsh reality of violence and the need to be prepared for anything. Twista's verse is particularly powerful, with its mix of street slang and religious references, creating an almost spiritual sense of struggle and redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
My life on tha track (Okay)
I am living and breathing for this music game
Up and comin' state Prop
I am part of the up-and-coming State Property rap group
Check game (That's right)
Listen up and pay attention to what I am about to say
Get low (Get low)
Everyone get down and feel the beat of the music
It's tha Roc
We are associated with Roc-A-Fella Records
Better than ever (Holla)
We are back and better than ever before
It's tha motherfuckin' Roc bitch, you hotter than us? (Okay, okay)
We are the best in the business and no one can top us
Ever since a young buck, I been on tha come up,
I have been working hard to make a name for myself since a young age
Known to dish tha raw, dish tha law if they come up,
I am known for selling drugs and taking on those who challenge me
And cheddar 'till tha sun up
I am making lots of money by whatever means necessary all day and night
If there's a ransom and tha law get involved, then we never get it summed up,
If someone is kidnapped and the police get involved, we know we will never get them back
Never put ya gun up, if ya come round me,
Don't ever let your guard down when you are around me
I go to war wit' niggas 'round tha corner from 'round me,
I am not afraid to confront and fight with those in my own neighborhood
You can front 'round me, but I read through that,
You can pretend to be something you're not, but I can see through it
Wit' tha mili' and I ain't talkin' 'bout no Segal mac,
I have a military-grade weapon and it's not a reference to the actor Steven Seagal
Niggas see shoot back, we can see to that,
If someone shoots at us, we will shoot back just as hard
Hit yo front letters see through back, bring yo peoples back,
Our bullets can pierce through you and hit anyone behind you, so bring backup if you want to confront us
And I used to grind out on my friends spot, 'till he's mom wanted my Tim-bots,
I used to sell drugs at my friend's house until his mother found out and kicked me out
Now my paint got me discounts, or trans-quo all around tha world, like I was signed to Pimp-dot,
I am so successful that I get discounts on things and can travel around the world like a famous rapper
And if it's ten targets and I got ten shots, I'm tryin' to leave at least hit nine out of them ten shot
I am an expert marksman and can hit most of my targets with precision
I got my mind on my money, money on mind,
I am always thinking about making money and increasing my wealth
But some say its a gift, I don't write but I rhyme,
Some say my talent for rapping is natural and I don't need to write down my lyrics
I, complete songs with just one try,
I can create a whole song in one go and don't need to edit or change it much
Tell 'em it's no lie, I (beef?) all my life dogg, I never think, it's already there,
I am always ready for confrontation and don't need to put much thought into it, it comes naturally
I find ways to say-it, so you motherfuckers hear-it,
I find unique and clever ways to express myself in my music so that others will listen and take notice
And when you hear it you feel it, you know its real (so)
My music is so powerful that it elicits emotions in those who listen and it is undeniably authentic
This is how I live it, how its pictured for real, (nigga)
This is my reality and my music reflects it
I'm shittin' for real
I am producing great music that is impacting the world in a big way
Diamonds against wood, underground king for real,
I have a lot of wealth and success, but I still come from humble beginnings
Big crib when I lay, yeah I'm livin' for real,
I have a large, luxurious home and am truly living the high life
Trust me tha guns come off tha shelf whenever shit'll get real,
I have a stash of guns that I am ready to use if a real situation arises
Automatics and tha extended clips, that's what I'm hittin' wit',
I have sophisticated weaponry that I am skilled at using
Dummies in tha black rhinoes, (Yeah) They be killin' shit,
My associates drive luxury black SUVs and are not afraid to use violence when necessary
Mask up kidnap shit, that's how my niggas get,
We are not above kidnapping people to get what we want
Chi-town, NYC, that's how my niggas get
My associates are from both Chicago and New York City, and these are the tactics they use in both places
Yes, just picture me rollin',
Imagine me driving around in style
Tha smith and wesson'll stay goin' put a hole in yo chest,
I always carry my gun and am not afraid to use it to harm others
It's just, another hustle paper gettin' made and fold ya,
I am always looking for ways to make money and will do whatever it takes to succeed
Mad, you street niggas finally made it,
I am proud of my fellow street rappers who have become successful
I swoop five, he know tha ride, heavily loaded,
I drive a luxurious car that is heavily customized and loaded with features
Deliver pies like cake, they go straight through yo payment, (Yup)
I sell drugs like it's a piece of cake and the profits go straight to my bank account
Chump, you don't really want to war,
You don't want to pick a fight with me because you won't win
With tha State Prop clique, if ya clique shot us, (Why us)
If you mess with the State Property rap group, we will retaliate
S-P game so damn tough, tha 4 4 in tha 5th tucked y'all can't hang,
We are too strong and intimidating for others to handle, and we always carry our guns with us
Transporter turned rapper, get a can for to fill my life,
I used to transport drugs but now I have turned to music to make a living
Still accomplished, want to fill they cups?
I still have a lot of success and wealth and others are envious of it
Tha rap version of Mandela call my bluff,
I am like the rap version of Nelson Mandela - someone who is strong and unyielding
Well still tha street dwellers feel my pain (My pain)
Those who grew up on the streets understand my struggles and relate to my music
I spit a verse and split a clip in tha rain,
I can rap effortlessly and seamlessly while also shooting a gun in the rain
A fool-proof when tha full force open you (What)
I have a foolproof plan for taking down my enemies when they come at me
Twista will rock you, you don't want tha thug apostle to pop you
I am a force to be reckoned with and can rock anyone who tries to mess with me
Hostile when I drop you, turnin' everything colossal to fossiles,
I am ruthless and merciless when it comes to my enemies, and can destroy everything in my path
I speak street gospel, all they life I spit words and paint portraits,
I share the truth of life on the street through my music, and create vivid and powerful images with my lyrics
For real niggas that hold down they fortress and serve off of porches,
My music is for those who are legitimate and successful in their criminal enterprises
Hit 'em in tha body wit' tha powerful forces, that'll end all your data,
I can take down anyone with my strong and swift attacks, leaving them out of commission
Make you clean up your house, bag up an ounce, hit tha dance floor and bounce,
I can control your life completely, making you clean up your mess, package drugs, and dance for my amusement
We blessed wit' tha talent, fuck wit this clique, it ain't gon' be easy,
We are incredibly talented and anyone who tries to oppose us will have a hard time
''cause you fuckin' wit' Twist if you fuck wit Chris, Bleek and Free-wheezy,
If you mess with me, you mess with my associates Chris, Bleek, and Free-Wheezy
So speak and breath easy, or tha scutche's my future in 3D,
Speak calmly and don't cause problems, or you will experience my violent revenge in 3D
I like whore's, I'm from a city full of vice, lords, and GD's,
I enjoy women who are loose and promiscuous, and I come from a city full of gangs and violence
Breeze and souls, 2-6's, kings, VD's and stores,
These are all different gangs and groups that exist in my city
Spanish cobras and all tha true soldiers survivin' are gone,
These are also different gangs, and the only true members are those who have survived the violence and danger
Watch me spit if for tha killers and hustler's, flippin' all tha pounds and bricks,
I make music for the dangerous and successful criminals who are making money through drug-trafficking
Hate on me I'm a bust at you hoes, and I put eleven down wit' a clip,
If anyone tries to oppose me, I will use my gun to shoot at them and take them down
Niggas servin' fiftys and hundreds, when I see you and I'm on yo tip,
Others are making small amounts of money, but I am making hundreds of dollars and won't hesitate to harm them
Twista and ?
No meaning here, just a call-and-response for the crowd to shout back
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER RIES, LESLIE PRIDGEN, CARL MITCHELL, DAVE PALMER, MALIK COX, BRIAN BRIDGEMAN, DELROY ANDREWS, MICHAEL CAREN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind