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)
Fire featuring Lil Boosie
Twista Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since a muthafucka done made a good song about reefa
And who better for you to handle this then a tidanamo
With analys of the cannabis sativa
Go and get a pillow and a cigerillo if I know
It's the killa I'm yellin roll one up Joe
Open the backwood up trippin' on me
'Cause I was sloppy I better get fucked up though
Especially the purple and the og
But y'all might call it the granddad rather safer and take a pull slowly
Eye lids low ain't no doubt about it that somebody's gon' peep me
Go ahead and ride I think I'mma chill because I'm kinda sleepy
Me and my niggas in my crew will get into it now we be at odds hardly
Cause we smokin' on a ounce of the ganja that bob marley
Me a rock to the reggae music whenever me feel the spliff workin
Kill off in any rude boy if ya take away my herb its da earth sin.
Smokin' on dat fire (Smokin' on dat fire)
Puffin' on dat dro (Puffin on dat dro)
Kush weed gets me higher (Kush weed gets me higher)
And da diesel get me blowed (And da diesel get me blowed)
And da diesel get me blowed (And da diesel get me blowed)
Smell good, let me hit dat
Blow kush wit' 8 Ball & Mjg
Smoke haze, I use to a seagal
Freeway put me on to da backwoods
And bleek introduced me to diesel
And snoop turned me on to the chronic,
Smokin' it I was feelin' bionic,
Lookin' at me rollin' a blunt and I'm huffin and puffin
And I cant get enough of this stuff,
And I'm loosin' my logic, you can smell all of my follicles
And I'mma follow you 'cause of da dro,
But if it ain't, I'm call my autobile,I be gettin' nothin'
But love 'cause I be smokin da bud,
Its lookin' like its from a high time auto particles I be grindin' up wit da hash
And I put some on yo blunt if you come up wit da stash,
So take it to the head its a gift from coupe
But if I share it wit a bitch, I'mma be fuckin' her ass,
Stay havin' sessions and my ends is plenty,
So when I'm smokin my friends is wit me,
Make em feel da slow breeze 'cause I blow trees like da windy city,
Let me call up da weed man 'cause if we out, then shit we on it,
Me and you can hook up and go get an ounce and I got 250 on it
Smokin' on dat fire (Smokin' on dat fire)
Puffin' on dat dro (Puffin on dat dro)
Kush weed gets me higher (Kush weed gets me higher)
And da diesel get me blowed (And da diesel get me blowed)
And da diesel get me blowed (And da diesel get me blowed)
I'm extra blowed, top floor,
In the double tree in dis Chi-Town manner smokin' dis kush shit back to back,
Got me rippin' track to track,
Like Webbie say where dat real at, dat one hit and you feel that,
I know I'ma dog I done smoke train wreck ain't done yet,
I'ma smoke til I hurt my chest, on da east coast they feed me man,
Kilt me wit dat diesel man, got me in new york eatin' everything,
Dade county Jamaican kush, stick to da bag (Yeah) put my whole click on his ass,
Don't like to brag but I smoke, choke on the best of the best,
I be high as giraffe pussy when I'm up in the west,
I chopped and tired I'm so high, I then smoked dat pisscat,
Smell good let me hit dat, dats why Michael Phelps did dat?
Smokin' on dat fire (Smokin' on dat fire)
Puffin' on dat dro (Puffin on dat dro)
Kush weed gets me higher (Kush weed gets me higher)
And da diesel get me blowed (And da diesel get me blowed)
And da diesel get me blowed (And da diesel get me blowed)
Smell good, let me hit dat
In this song, Twista and Lil Boosie narrate their love for marijuana or "reefa" as they call it. They describe the different types of weed they smoke and the different effects they have on them. They express their appreciation for the high the weed gives them and how it helps them relax, be creative, and be more in tune with their music. They also reference other famous musicians who have also expressed their love for weed such as Bob Marley and Snoop Dogg. They show their deep respect for the herb and how it is a source of inspiration and creativity for them.
The chorus of the song repeats the lines "Smokin' on dat fire, Puffin' on dat dro, Kush weed gets me higher, And da diesel get me blowed" which stresses on the different types of weed they prefer and how each of them has a different effect on them.
Overall, the song is a celebration of marijuana culture and its influence on hip-hop music.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I know it's been a long time
It's been a while since someone made a good song about weed
With analys of the cannabis sativa
Twista is an expert on marijuana, he knows everything there is to know about it
Open the backwood up trippin' on me
Twista is rolling a blunt, but he's being sloppy and might mess it up
Especially the purple and the og
Twista likes smoking purple and OG Kush strains the most
Eye lids low ain't no doubt about it that somebody's gon' peep me
Twista knows that people are going to notice he's high because his eyes are red and low
Me and my niggas in my crew will get into it now we be at odds hardly
Twista and his friends will never argue when they're smoking weed
Smell good, let me hit dat
Twista wants to smoke the weed that someone else is smoking because it smells good
Freeway put me on to da backwoods
Twista first learned about smoking backwoods from Freeway
And bleek introduced me to diesel
Twista was first exposed to the diesel strain by Memphis Bleek
So take it to the head its a gift from coupe
Smoking weed is like a gift and Twista wants to share it with others
Got me rippin' track to track, like Webbie say where dat real at
Twista is so high that he can't stop listening to music, and he's quoting Webbie's famous line about good weed
I'ma smoke til I hurt my chest
Twista will keep smoking weed until he can't anymore
I be high as giraffe pussy when I'm up in the west
Twista gets really high when he's on the west coast
Smell good let me hit dat, dats why Michael Phelps did dat?
Twista is joking that Michael Phelps smoked weed because it smells good, just like he does
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CARL TERRELL MITCHELL, SAMUEL C. LINDLEY, TORENCE HATCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@freemindedent9412
This song will forever be relevant ☑️💯
@cantgetright888
Twist my favorite rapper in top 5... since I was young🔥🔥🔥 and this song still bang so hard🔥🔥🔥🔥💯
@williamheinig84
2023 A1's where you at...?
@timothydavis7579
Radio One underground B-side fire collaboration fire 🔥Texas Chi town collaboration fire 🔥
@danmarley2926
Sparkin up that FIRE RIGHT NOW!!! Who with me in 2024?
@uptheroad4928
Year's later still bumping.
@betadvisor3710
Who still have fun in 2023
@MrBlactye
Absolutely a blaze song.
@nathantharper
2023 and still here forever
@danielolivas1686
This song is always fire