Carl Terrell Mitchell (born November 27, 1973 in Chicago, Illinois), better… Read Full Bio ↴Carl Terrell Mitchell (born November 27, 1973 in Chicago, Illinois), better known by his stage name Twista and formerly Tung Twista, is an American rapper who once held the title of fastest emcee in the world, being able to pronounce 11.2 syllables per second. In 1992 he released his debut album, Runnin' Off At Da Mouth, and has since released a further seven albums including 1994's Resurrection, 1997's Adrenaline Rush, 2004's highly successful Kamikaze, 2005's The Day After and 2007's Adrenaline Rush 2007. His latest studio album, Category F5, was released in July of 2009.
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)
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)
Champions
Twista Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah
DJ Clue
Desert Storm
The Roc
This shit right here
The Roc Army
Dame Dash Presents
The Dream Team niggas
Word
Time after time
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime, crime, crime
And we mean to go on and on and on and on
Sup y'all? Yo, this is Dame Dash the C-E-O
Here to welcome y'all to the Dream Team
What y'all niggas thought I was gonna rap? Never
I'm just a little mad at niggaz comin at my neck
Like my Team ain't the best in the world... y'knahmsayin?
Like we ain't got Beans, Cam, Jay, Bleek, Freeway
We are the champions, my friend
And we'll keep on fighting, to the end
We are the champions, we are the champions
No time for losers
Cause we are the champions, of the world
Got damn Kanye!
I bet niggas didn't know you could rap huh? (They didn't)
That's my motherfuckin producer
This the producer on the Roc, he rap better than most rappers!
Well Dame if these niggas thought about they self for a change
Then maybe they can finally figure out how to get they self some change
I done seen jealousy make niggas do t-terrible things
How the song go, I do a hoe, oh yea shit'll never change
That so, worry though, we are the cham-p-ions
Spend a lot of time in Hampt-I-ons, do a lot of beats you can't be on
Damn all these fans can't be wrong, damn B.I.G. you can't be gone
Make those beats thugs want to rock, make a nigga feal just like 'Pac
Make it street but it just might pop, make it straight to the mountain top
Had the Chi' on lock, when they finally heard our sound with Roc
Came in the game, changed it again, changed everything, yeah
If you feelin this here, throw your fuckin hands in the air
We are the champions, my friend
And we'll keep on fighting, to the end
We are the champions, we are the champions
No time for losers
Cause we are the champions, of the world
Its the Roc-a-Fella label baby fuck them other labels baby
And we been duckin' shots from all them haters lately
We gettin' paper baby, them others tryin to keep up
We on top, so I guess we they saviors - NOPE!
We labeled as the Roc-A-Fellas, Jacob, watch's colors
Everywhere hell yea, test us and the gauges BLOW!
Fuck they hatin fo'? Don't make me pop a fella
Roc-A-Fella, stop a fella, could get hot for fellas, sig!
What? Don't make me chop up fellas, have to call the cops on fellas
Order helicopter fellas, nig-ga! I'm a Roc-A-Fella
What nigga for Roc-A-Fella shit I will rock a fella
Dame! (God damn Beans I got this let me talk my shit one time)
No we the illest niggas realest, I will kill these niggas!
Now that's what the fuck I'm talkin bout!
And you wonder why I'm proud of my family?
And you wonder why I ain't gotta rap?
I got niggaz that will assassinate you B, lyrically!
Really shut you the fuck down!! Don't get your career ended
Leave us the fuck alone, let us roc!
We are Roc-Heusen, we're the R., O., C. holla!
I'm here Dame, I'm here, Killa
This is just fate, how I would sit on a crate
Listen to tapes everyday a frisk was at stake
Chicks cuffs risk gettin raped my mission was straight thug
Visit them states near them great Michigan lakes
And fuck a bathroom, I pissed on the gate
Flipped a bird outta flip a bird switch up my plates
I got plans that was better than jail
Now look we like Bird, Parish, Kevin McHale
Scott, Worthy, Jabbar, and Magic
Oh my god it's Magic, Isiah, Dumars, I will carve your casket
Feel Scotty and Mike, feel Shaq and Kobe
My gats will de-tatch you homie
And I'm friends with thugs, I sell endless drugs
For the Roc Fam dog I extend my love
Jay, Bleek, beef I'll be crossin the bridge
Tossin they wigs make corpse of they kids
Free, O, Sparks and Mack Mittens
I'm 95 south, no doubt, mac clip in
I stack chips and, I'm Sacs Fifth-in
Louis Vuitton loughers, hat drippin
I go retrieve a duck, tell her proceed and suck
I don't just beat my cases, I beat 'em up
My lawyer eat 'em up put bars behind me
I'm glad they didn't stop that car behind me
Shit, it had three felons, gun shooters no
50 cal. A.C.P. Bazooka Joe
Don't be stupid though, I get scrilla man
I'm for'rilla man, yeah it's killa Cam
Uh dick suck bitch!
We are the champions, my friend
And we'll keep on fighting, to the end
We are the champions, we are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions, of the world
What y'all thought I was finished?
I'm not! I just recuited somebody new!
I'm like the George Steinbrenner of this shit
I mean I'm rich like him, HOLLA!
Everybody's swarmin' oh my god
It's the newest power forward of the squad
A legacy like Jordan with the mob
That be known for breakin' motherfuckers hard
Put Roc-A-Fella on my pinky ring
Fuck a battle nigga I'm a get them thangs
Rollin with them Lords and them folks up out the Chi
Twista gone make em spit the game
I represent the mob to the fullest
You don't want it with that boy who's known to pull it
With Kanye on the track of the Dream Team
I'm fin' to be the shit no matter which way you put it
They blessed a nigga in, now I'm fin' to go into a zone
Takin it to some motherfuckers domes
Cause it's on, I will rock until I'm gone
Fillin my body with lead, clutchin' chrome
Take it to your gut, take it to your chest
I be more provokin' when I'm smokin' sess
And we gettin' stronger hope you got a vest
Already got them macs, already got them techs
Served a few dimes, Beans got pearls
Legendary we on top of the world
How could you haters think we can be done
Hold it down because we got champions!!
We are the champions, my friend
And we'll keep on fighting, to the end
We are the champions, we are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions, of the world
Dame dash, presents the dream team, part one!
DJ Clue
Desert Storm
The Roc
This shit right here
The Roc Army
Dame Dash Presents
The Dream Team niggas
Time after time
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime, crime, crime
And we mean to go on and on and on and on
Sup y'all? Yo, this is Dame Dash the C-E-O
Here to welcome y'all to the Dream Team
What y'all niggas thought I was gonna rap? Never
I'm just a little mad at niggaz comin at my neck
Like my Team ain't the best in the world... y'knahmsayin?
Like we ain't got Beans, Cam, Jay, Bleek, Freeway
We are the champions, my friend
And we'll keep on fighting, to the end
We are the champions, we are the champions
No time for losers
Cause we are the champions, of the world
Got damn Kanye!
I bet niggas didn't know you could rap huh? (They didn't)
That's my motherfuckin producer
This the producer on the Roc, he rap better than most rappers!
Well Dame if these niggas thought about they self for a change
Then maybe they can finally figure out how to get they self some change
I done seen jealousy make niggas do t-terrible things
How the song go, I do a hoe, oh yea shit'll never change
That so, worry though, we are the cham-p-ions
Spend a lot of time in Hampt-I-ons, do a lot of beats you can't be on
Damn all these fans can't be wrong, damn B.I.G. you can't be gone
Make those beats thugs want to rock, make a nigga feal just like 'Pac
Make it street but it just might pop, make it straight to the mountain top
Had the Chi' on lock, when they finally heard our sound with Roc
Came in the game, changed it again, changed everything, yeah
If you feelin this here, throw your fuckin hands in the air
We are the champions, my friend
And we'll keep on fighting, to the end
We are the champions, we are the champions
No time for losers
Cause we are the champions, of the world
Its the Roc-a-Fella label baby fuck them other labels baby
And we been duckin' shots from all them haters lately
We gettin' paper baby, them others tryin to keep up
We on top, so I guess we they saviors - NOPE!
We labeled as the Roc-A-Fellas, Jacob, watch's colors
Everywhere hell yea, test us and the gauges BLOW!
Fuck they hatin fo'? Don't make me pop a fella
Roc-A-Fella, stop a fella, could get hot for fellas, sig!
What? Don't make me chop up fellas, have to call the cops on fellas
Order helicopter fellas, nig-ga! I'm a Roc-A-Fella
What nigga for Roc-A-Fella shit I will rock a fella
Dame! (God damn Beans I got this let me talk my shit one time)
No we the illest niggas realest, I will kill these niggas!
Now that's what the fuck I'm talkin bout!
And you wonder why I'm proud of my family?
And you wonder why I ain't gotta rap?
I got niggaz that will assassinate you B, lyrically!
Really shut you the fuck down!! Don't get your career ended
Leave us the fuck alone, let us roc!
We are Roc-Heusen, we're the R., O., C. holla!
I'm here Dame, I'm here, Killa
This is just fate, how I would sit on a crate
Listen to tapes everyday a frisk was at stake
Chicks cuffs risk gettin raped my mission was straight thug
Visit them states near them great Michigan lakes
And fuck a bathroom, I pissed on the gate
Flipped a bird outta flip a bird switch up my plates
I got plans that was better than jail
Now look we like Bird, Parish, Kevin McHale
Scott, Worthy, Jabbar, and Magic
Oh my god it's Magic, Isiah, Dumars, I will carve your casket
Feel Scotty and Mike, feel Shaq and Kobe
My gats will de-tatch you homie
And I'm friends with thugs, I sell endless drugs
For the Roc Fam dog I extend my love
Jay, Bleek, beef I'll be crossin the bridge
Tossin they wigs make corpse of they kids
Free, O, Sparks and Mack Mittens
I'm 95 south, no doubt, mac clip in
I stack chips and, I'm Sacs Fifth-in
Louis Vuitton loughers, hat drippin
I go retrieve a duck, tell her proceed and suck
I don't just beat my cases, I beat 'em up
My lawyer eat 'em up put bars behind me
I'm glad they didn't stop that car behind me
Shit, it had three felons, gun shooters no
50 cal. A.C.P. Bazooka Joe
Don't be stupid though, I get scrilla man
I'm for'rilla man, yeah it's killa Cam
Uh dick suck bitch!
We are the champions, my friend
And we'll keep on fighting, to the end
We are the champions, we are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions, of the world
What y'all thought I was finished?
I'm not! I just recuited somebody new!
I'm like the George Steinbrenner of this shit
I mean I'm rich like him, HOLLA!
Everybody's swarmin' oh my god
It's the newest power forward of the squad
A legacy like Jordan with the mob
That be known for breakin' motherfuckers hard
Put Roc-A-Fella on my pinky ring
Fuck a battle nigga I'm a get them thangs
Rollin with them Lords and them folks up out the Chi
Twista gone make em spit the game
I represent the mob to the fullest
You don't want it with that boy who's known to pull it
With Kanye on the track of the Dream Team
I'm fin' to be the shit no matter which way you put it
They blessed a nigga in, now I'm fin' to go into a zone
Takin it to some motherfuckers domes
Cause it's on, I will rock until I'm gone
Fillin my body with lead, clutchin' chrome
Take it to your gut, take it to your chest
I be more provokin' when I'm smokin' sess
And we gettin' stronger hope you got a vest
Already got them macs, already got them techs
Served a few dimes, Beans got pearls
Legendary we on top of the world
How could you haters think we can be done
Hold it down because we got champions!!
We are the champions, my friend
And we'll keep on fighting, to the end
We are the champions, we are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions, of the world
Dame dash, presents the dream team, part one!
The song "Champions" by Twista is a celebration of the Roc-a-Fella record label and the Dream Team rappers that made it a success. The lyrics are filled with references to the label's famous artists, including Jay-Z, Kanye West, Freeway, and Cam'ron. The opening lines of the song speak to the perseverance of the artists involved, with the repetition of "I've done my sentence but committed no crime" suggesting that they have been through tough times and come out the other side. The chorus bridges the personal to the collective, with the phrase "we are the champions" echoing the sense of brotherhood among the Dream Team rappers.
The verses of "Champions" alternate between boasting and affirmation, with Twista's fast flow and Kanye West's rhymes contributing to the song's message of triumph. The references are often hyperlocal, with mentions of specific streets and neighborhoods highlighting the rappers' roots. Dame Dash's spoken interlude in the song is directed at those who underestimate the label and the Dream Team, calling out other rappers for their perceived lack of talent. Ultimately, "Champions" is an anthem for the Roc-a-Fella and the unity and brotherhood of its artists.
Line by Line Meaning
Time after time
Despite facing challenges in the past
I've done my sentence
I have served my time
But committed no crime
But I did not commit any crimes
And we mean to go on and on and on and on
We plan on continuing our success indefinitely
We are the champions, my friend
We have succeeded in our goals and ambitions
And we'll keep on fighting, to the end
And we will continue to work hard and fight for our success until the end
We are the champions, we are the champions
We are highly successful and recognized as such
No time for losers
There is no room for failure or those who do not contribute to success
Cause we are the champions, of the world
Because we are the most successful in our industry
That's my motherfuckin producer
Proudly boasting about their top producer
If you feelin this here, throw your fuckin hands in the air
Encouraging the audience to celebrate their success
We gettin' paper baby, them others tryin to keep up
Acknowledging their financial success and others' attempts to compete
And you wonder why I'm proud of my family?
Justifying their pride in their successful team
I represent the mob to the fullest
Identifying as part of the team and fully committed to their success
Legendary we on top of the world
Acknowledging their status as legendary and highly successful
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O CAPASSO
Written by: FREDDIE MERCURY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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