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)
Front Porch
Twista Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Smokin' reefa
Hm yeah
I woke up early Saturday morning sick off Rhemy and brews
Wit a hang over from blues
Hurl on my clothes and shoes stomach on wooz
From this killer weed that's so fired it made your nose bleed
This thick bitch chose me and was stickin' like liquor
She look to tight that bodies right my heart and mind was like "Dick her"
But wit my body aching from hurl sensation that's got me shaken
I swiftly took the number and passed on ass that was for the taken
I remember wakin up at the flat fucked up in the back
Checkin on my weed and scratch I damn near fell out the lat
I hit the sack to sleep it off woke up woozy and still smoking
Twista's wishes thinking about last night and the bitch that was scopin'
Fuck it lets get 'em on I grabbed the phone "Girl call your friends"
Then I hit Twista and Maze and them bout the bitch in the Benz
Nigga push only cause I see them already been in the block
You know the lit niggas you'll find us in my favorite spot
And that's on
[Chorus: x2]
The front porch smoking reefa
The weed got 'em feelin' um hm
On the front porch getting deeper
Ghetto love got 'em feelin', um hm yeah yeah
In the summer I hit the front porch wit a morning be
Sippin' on the duce duce OZ
And I be killin' me how many thick fees I see
Getting bubbly waitin' for Stokes and T, I spit a little game at three
Tryin' to talk up on the shoppin' spree
Or a be of that stinky green free
Straight getting, to puff puff pass
and drive up my gas hittin' all the hot blocks
Bumpin' "Legit Ballers" to "Rock y'all Spot"
Everybody know the shit 'bout to drop
See from Northbound to Ten Row in it go tryin' to get they props
Pollutin' the air wit squares, blunts, and tops
Settin' up shops for lots comin' back nots
Each and everyday of the week
the Mobsta Elites be on somebody porch dumpin' heat
Bustin' flows in the cipher getting deep
While we cheat something sweet to Legendary beats
'Till we reached our peak
Scummy aloud attractin' crowds to the street
Then it's time to retreat grab something to eat
And head to the late front to get up wit some freaks
Wit a treat under the seat
For the cats who get the sudden urge and want to try to jack
Cause when your pockets is fat
It seems like all the haters and hood-rats want to attack
And when the park close we hit the liquor store
for a box of Sitches and a fifth of Yak
South on the corner and get a few sacks
Or betta yet the whole pack so we can get back
On the
[Chorus]
One morning I
Woke up next to a chocolate fee and a red bone
My dick was hard I started stroking and poking
After toppin' I tell them to role the blunt
Cause on the front I hear them niggas steady smoking and jokin'
I heard it's gonna be hot outside gotta get up and lay my clothes out
It's gonna be too many hoes out
Before my ladies rolled out I got 'em to clean up the whole house
Then I threw my fit on look in the mirror get on gone
"Nigga you looking dope because you got a knot"
Ain't no cruising up out the hop
I'm hangin' by the spot cause I had to put the Lexus off up in the shop
But it's all to good it's a hood thang
Never too bogus notice the love on the block that nigga coolin'
Aiming the radio out the window steady grooving
Tip by the corner store wit the indo steady movin'
Niggas who flippin' new 98's is steady cruising
Bumpin' up the block flossin' for the chicks cause they rich
But I ain't leavin' off the front with the blunt
Set a switch just to pull in all the thickest bitches
At the crib I can't get caught wit heat
If it's some static I shall chalk and sweep
I go and get the B's up off but chief
"Come get me if the phone for me I'm at the party across the street"
I'm enjoying the breeze high degrees and no ease
Pockets be full of G's smoking B's hiding the fees
Making no enemies the po P's yellin' out "Freeze"
Serving niggas wit ease staking cheese so nigga please
Tell me 'bout some ghetto love
Homies around smoking Newports 'till the brew drunk short
You can travel the world can't find a place like home
With a crib on the front with a skunk torch
Ain't nothing lie
In the song "Front Porch" by Twista, he takes us on a journey through his typical Saturday. The song has two verses, with both verses beginning on the porch while smoking reefa, reflecting on events from the previous night while moving from one activity to another. In the first verse, we see Twista reflecting on his morning after a wild previous night, waking up hungover and sick from too much beer and weed. He spends the day smoking some more weed, hanging with his boys, and trying to pick up women. In the second verse, he wakes up with two women in his bed and gets ready to go out to cruise around the block, look for girls, and smoke more weed while hanging with friends.
Throughout the song, Twista romanticizes the community around him with lyrics like "Ghetto love got 'em feelin'", describing the sense of community and love in the hood, and "You can travel the world can't find a place like home" emphasizing the importance of his neighborhood despite its poverty and violence. The song's chorus repeats the phrase "On the front porch smoking reefa," emphasizing the laidback vibe and comfort of home, highlighting its resistance to change.
Line by Line Meaning
On the porch, on the porch
Sitting on the front porch
Smokin' reefa
Smoking marijuana
Hm yeah
Yes
I woke up early Saturday morning sick off Rhemy and brews
I woke up early Saturday morning feeling sick from drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana
Wit a hang over from blues
With a hangover from feeling down and depressed
Hurl on my clothes and shoes stomach on wooz
I vomited on my clothes and shoes, feeling nauseous and dizzy
From this killer weed that's so fired it made your nose bleed
From smoking extremely potent marijuana that made my nose bleed
I had me so high, my brain was fried movin' at slow speed
I was extremely intoxicated and moving slowly
This thick bitch chose me and was stickin' like liquor
This attractive woman showed interest in me and was clinging to me like alcohol
She look to tight that bodies right my heart and mind was like 'Dick her'
She had a tight body and my heart and mind were telling me to pursue her sexually
But wit my body aching from hurl sensation that's got me shaken
But with my body hurting from feeling nauseous, I hesitated
I swiftly took the number and passed on ass that was for the taken
I quickly took her phone number but decided not to pursue a sexual encounter
I remember wakin up at the flat fucked up in the back
I remember waking up intoxicated in the back of a car
Checkin on my weed and scratch I damn near fell out the lat
Checking on my marijuana and money, I almost fell out of the car
I hit the sack to sleep it off woke up woozy and still smoking
I went home to sleep it off, but woke up feeling dizzy and still smoking marijuana
Twista's wishes thinking about last night and the bitch that was scopin'
Reflecting on the previous night and the woman who showed interest in me
Fuck it lets get 'em on I grabbed the phone 'Girl call your friends'
Forget it, let's party. I called a woman and told her to invite her friends
Then I hit Twista and Maze and them bout the bitch in the Benz
Then I contacted Twista and Maze to tell them about the woman in the luxury car
Nigga push only cause I see them already been in the block
I'm motivated to party because I see others already enjoying themselves
You know the lit niggas you'll find us in my favorite spot
You know the cool guys, you'll find us in my favorite hangout spot
And that's on
That's how it is
[Chorus: x2]
Chorus: (repeated twice)
The front porch smoking reefa
We are sitting on the front porch smoking marijuana
The weed got 'em feelin' um hm
The marijuana is making us feel good
On the front porch getting deeper
We are getting more intoxicated on the front porch
Ghetto love got 'em feelin', um hm yeah yeah
The love and camaraderie of the neighborhood is making us feel good
In the summer I hit the front porch wit a morning be
In the summer, I go to the front porch in the morning
Sippin' on the duce duce OZ
Drinking a 22-ounce beer
And I be killin' me how many thick fees I see
And I can't believe how many attractive women I see
Getting bubbly waitin' for Stokes and T, I spit a little game at three
Getting excited while waiting for my friends Stokes and T, I flirted with three women
Tryin' to talk up on the shoppin' spree
Trying to have a conversation with them while they are shopping
Or a be of that stinky green free
Or trying to get a free sample of marijuana
Straight getting, to puff puff pass
Getting straight to smoking marijuana together
and drive up my gas hittin' all the hot blocks
and wasting my gasoline driving around the neighborhood
Bumpin' 'Legit Ballers' to 'Rock y'all Spot'
Listening to music by 'Legit Ballers' to pump up the atmosphere
Everybody know the shit 'bout to drop
Everyone knows that something big is about to happen
See from Northbound to Ten Row in it go tryin' to get they props
From the northbound area to Ten Row, people are trying to gain recognition
Pollutin' the air wit squares, blunts, and tops
Polluting the air with cigarettes, marijuana joints, and cigarillos
Settin' up shops for lots comin' back nots
Setting up makeshift stores to sell products and make money
Each and everyday of the week
Every day of the week
the Mobsta Elites be on somebody porch dumpin' heat
the respected and influential individuals are on someone's porch, showcasing their skills
Bustin' flows in the cipher getting deep
Freestyling and expressing deep thoughts in the group
While we cheat something sweet to Legendary beats
While we enjoy something sweet and listen to legendary beats
'Till we reached our peak
Until we reach the peak of our enjoyment
Scummy aloud attractin' crowds to the street
Our reputation attracts people to come and see us on the street
Then it's time to retreat grab something to eat
Then it's time to leave and find something to eat
And head to the late front to get up wit some freaks
And go to the after-party to meet some attractive women
Wit a treat under the seat
With some drugs hidden under the car seat
For the cats who get the sudden urge and want to try to jack
For the people who get the sudden urge to rob or steal
Cause when your pockets is fat
Because when you have a lot of money
It seems like all the haters and hood-rats want to attack
It seems like everyone who dislikes you or is jealous wants to harm you
And when the park close we hit the liquor store
And when the park closes, we go to the liquor store
for a box of Sitches and a fifth of Yak
to buy a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of cognac
South on the corner and get a few sacks
Go to the corner and buy some drugs
Or betta yet the whole pack so we can get back
Or even better, buy the whole quantity so we don't have to return soon
On the
On the front porch
[Chorus]
Chorus
One morning I
One morning I
Woke up next to a chocolate fee and a red bone
Woke up next to a dark-skinned woman and a light-skinned woman
My dick was hard I started stroking and poking
I became sexually aroused and started touching and penetrating
After toppin' I tell them to role the blunt
After having sex, I asked them to roll a marijuana joint
Cause on the front I hear them niggas steady smoking and jokin'
Because I could hear other people on the front porch smoking marijuana and joking
I heard it's gonna be hot outside gotta get up and lay my clothes out
I heard it's going to be a hot day, so I need to lay out my clothes
It's gonna be too many hoes out
There will be many attractive women outside
Before my ladies rolled out I got 'em to clean up the whole house
Before the women I was with left, I had them clean up the entire house
Then I threw my fit on look in the mirror get on gone
Then I put on my stylish outfit and looked in the mirror before leaving
'Nigga you looking dope because you got a knot'
I was feeling confident because I had a lot of money
Ain't no cruising up out the hop
I can't just casually leave
I'm hangin' by the spot cause I had to put the Lexus off up in the shop
I'm hanging out near the hangout spot because I had to take my Lexus to the repair shop
But it's all to good it's a hood thang
But everything is fine, it's a hood thing
Never too bogus notice the love on the block that nigga coolin'
I never feel fake, I notice the love from people in the neighborhood, and I'm cool
Aiming the radio out the window steady grooving
Playing music from the car stereo while cruising
Tip by the corner store wit the indo steady movin'
Stopping by the corner store with high quality marijuana and moving around
Niggas who flippin' new 98's is steady cruising
People who are selling drugs and drive new 1998 cars are enjoying their success
Bumpin' up the block flossin' for the chicks cause they rich
Driving around the neighborhood to show off for the attractive women because they are wealthy
But I ain't leavin' off the front with the blunt
But I'm not leaving from the front porch while still smoking marijuana
Set a switch just to pull in all the thickest bitches
Walk with confidence to attract the most attractive women
At the crib I can't get caught wit heat
At my home, I can't be caught with weapons
If it's some static I shall chalk and sweep
If there is any trouble, I will resolve it and move on
I go and get the B's up off but chief
I go and get the drugs and smoke them
'Come get me if the phone for me I'm at the party across the street'
Tell me to come to the party across the street if someone calls for me
I'm enjoying the breeze high degrees and no ease
I'm enjoying the breeze and the high temperature without any worries
Pockets be full of G's smoking B's hiding the fees
My pockets are full of money, smoking marijuana and hiding my expenses
Making no enemies the po P's yellin' out 'Freeze'
Not making any enemies while the police are warning people to stop
Serving niggas wit ease staking cheese so nigga please
Easily selling drugs and making money, so please
Tell me 'bout some ghetto love
Tell me about the love and camaraderie in the neighborhood
Homies around smoking Newports 'till the brew drunk short
Friends around smoking menthol cigarettes until the alcohol is finished
You can travel the world can't find a place like home
You can travel anywhere in the world, but you can't find a place like home
With a crib on the front with a skunk torch
With a house on the front porch, smelling like marijuana
Ain't nothing lie
Nothing is better than this
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CALVIN THOMAS, CARL TERRELL MITCHELL, JABARI BRISTOW, SAMUEL C. LINDLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind