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)
Sunshine
Twista Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the sunlight hurts my eyes,
Then somethin' without warnin' love,
Bears heavy on my mind
Let's get them dollars, let's get this money
I keep my mind on my money, money on my mind,
I got my finger on the trigga', stayin' on the grind,
Saw the two thousand and three Navi, on Sprees wit' a kit,
Soon as my eyes see the sunshine,
My thoughts is jukin' the block, and dodgin' the one time,
Peep how we movin' the rocks and wit' pounds of dro before I double my shit,
I can serve sixteen ounces for six and get back ninety-six,
A killa' for the skrilla', nigga', best not be stalkin',
I gots to get them bigga', figga's, fuck what you talkin',
I represent them nigga's ballin' wit' jewelry full of zickels,
Down to the nigga's chasin' million, their dreams servin' nickels,
And I know, one day, I'm gon' come up,
And when you see me, don't hate, that I rolled up,
Get paid whether you legit when you slang, or tippin' off 'cane,
Until I take a dip in the Range, I'm flippin' them thangs,
Gotta get that money man
It's a lovely day, just got paid,
Stack it up, be on my way,
It's lovely day, lovely day,
Lovely day,
It's a lovely day, just got paid,
Stack it up, be on my way,
Lovely day, lovely day,
Lovely day
A hustler's definition, is a hustler for scratch,
You serve a motherfucker, you serve him for that,
I'm makin' money off of verses when I spit 'em on tracks,
And if I ain't sellin' no records, I'm servin' them packs,
I got a, clip full of hollows, money makin's my motto,
Semi-auto and Marlboro's in the bottle, 'til I hit the lotto,
Wit' dreams of ownin' a records label, flippin' words,
My nigga' flippin' buildin's better than he was flippin' birds,
I got the, mentality and the motive I'm on a mission,
For the money, you can get it too, it's all about yo' ambition,
Play yo' position, provide the plans, and follow procedures,
In the six-hundred, blunted, wit' a pocket full of hundred's and Visa's,
Love, when I get that dust, hit 'em up, re-cock then I get back up,
Love, when I get that gig, get a crib, get a car when the grip stack up,
It's still in the evenin' if I'm sleepin' paper problems,
Soon as I get up it's just another day, another dollar
Gotta get that money man
It's a lovely day, just got paid,
Stack it up, be on my way,
Lovely day, lovely day,
Lovely day,
It's a lovely day, just got paid,
Stack it up, be on my way,
Lovely day, lovely day,
Lovely day
Got love for the corporate playa's that's ballin' rollin' jags,
Got love for the thug nigga's who get it on the ave.,
Love for those, who can make a mil' and sit back and laugh,
And love for the fine stripper's who get it poppin' ass,
Love for the single parents that's workin' through the struggle,
Love for those who gotta make a livin' movin' muscle,
Love for those who gotta watch the hater's rollin' bubbles,
Causin' trouble every time a young brotha' try to hustle,
And if I can't, legally make or not
Then I gotta get, right back on the block
And if it no work we do a stick-up and whip-up a concoction,
Might leave yo' face down in the dirt because hurtin's not an option
Gotta get that money man
It's a lovely day, just got paid,
Stack it up, be on my way,
Lovely day, lovely day,
Lovely day,
It's a lovely day, just got paid,
Stack it up, be on my way,
Lovely day, lovely day,
Lovely day
When I wake up in the mornin' love,
And the sunlight hurts my eyes,
Somethin' without warnin' love,
Bears heavy on my mind
The lyrics of Twista's song "Sunshine" describe the hustler lifestyle and make it clear that the pursuit of wealth and money is never-ending. The song conveys the emotions of a hustler who wakes up every day, ready to grind and make money. Twista's lyrics depict a lifestyle that many people would not want, but for the hustlers, it's a way of life, and they embrace it. The morning is a challenging time for him, and he feels the burden of his daily obstacles. But as soon as he sees the sunshine, he's ready to take on the world and make some money.
Twista makes it evident that his mind is always on his money, and he's always grinding, even when he's sleeping. He mentions that he can earn a vast amount of money by selling sixteen ounces of drugs and getting back ninety-six. This verse shows that Twista is always strategizing ways to make money and grow his empire. He's also aware of the dangers and risks associated with hustling.
The chorus of "Sunshine" is optimistic and euphoric, but its message is clear. No matter what, Twista will always be pursuing money, and there's never a dull moment in his life. The song is a powerful depiction of the hustle culture, and it exemplifies the never-ending race that the hustling community is consistently engaged in.
Line by Line Meaning
When I wake up in the mornin' love,
I start my day with the intention of hustling and making money.
And the sunlight hurts my eyes,
The harsh reality of the grind may be overwhelming initially.
Then somethin' without warnin' love,
The stress of making money can creep up unexpectedly.
Bears heavy on my mind
The weight of needing money is always present.
Let's get them dollars, let's get this money
The primary goal is making money by any means necessary.
I keep my mind on my money, money on my mind,
I am constantly thinking about ways to make money and how to achieve financial success.
I got my finger on the trigga', stayin' on the grind,
I am persistent and focused on hustling every day.
And when I wake up in the mornin', I gots to hit a lick,
I am always on the lookout for opportunities to make money.
Saw the two thousand and three Navi, on Sprees wit' a kit,
I noticed a particular car model with customization that could be profitable to sell.
Soon as my eyes see the sunshine,
I am filled with energy and motivation to hustle harder.
My thoughts is jukin' the block, and dodgin' the one time,
I am strategizing how to evade law enforcement while selling drugs or other contraband.
Peep how we movin' the rocks and wit' pounds of dro before I double my shit,
I am keeping a close eye on the market to maximize profits from dealing drugs.
I can serve sixteen ounces for six and get back ninety-six,
I am charging a markup price for the drugs that I sell.
A killa' for the skrilla', nigga', best not be stalkin',
I am willing to resort to violence to protect my money and drug trade.
I gots to get them bigga', figga's, fuck what you talkin',
I am focused on expanding my profits and disregarding any naysayers.
I represent them nigga's ballin' wit' jewelry full of zickels,
I am part of a group of successful hustlers who have invested their profits in expensive jewelry.
Down to the nigga's chasin' million, their dreams servin' nickels,
Even those who sell drugs for small amounts of money are chasing the dream of becoming a millionaire.
And I know, one day, I'm gon' come up,
I am confident that my hustling will eventually pay off and I will become wealthy.
And when you see me, don't hate, that I rolled up,
I don't want others to be envious or resentful of my financial success.
Get paid whether you legit when you slang, or tippin' off 'cane,
Regardless of whether my money is made legally or through illegal means, I am still making a profit.
Until I take a dip in the Range, I'm flippin' them thangs,
I am hustling every day until I can eventually afford to buy an expensive car.
Gotta get that money man
Money is the ultimate goal and I will do whatever it takes to make it.
It's a lovely day, just got paid,
Making money is a great feeling and motivator to keep hustling.
Stack it up, be on my way,
I am constantly accumulating and saving my money to become financially stable and independent.
A hustler's definition, is a hustler for scratch,
A true hustler is focused on making money at all costs.
You serve a motherfucker, you serve him for that,
If someone requests a product or service, I am willing to provide it for a price.
I'm makin' money off of verses when I spit 'em on tracks,
I am capable of making money through music and rapping.
And if I ain't sellin' no records, I'm servin' them packs,
I am willing to sell drugs if making music is not profitable enough.
I got a, clip full of hollows, money makin's my motto,
I am willing to use violence to protect my money and those who threaten it.
Semi-auto and Marlboro's in the bottle, 'til I hit the lotto,
I will continue to hustle and sell drugs until I can win the lottery and become financially independent.
Wit' dreams of ownin' a records label, flippin' words,
I hope to become successful enough in music to start my own record label and invest in other artists.
My nigga' flippin' buildin's better than he was flippin' birds,
One of my friends has transitioned from selling drugs to real estate and is now making more money through flipping buildings.
I got the, mentality and the motive I'm on a mission,
I am determined and focused on making money by any means necessary.
For the money, you can get it too, it's all about yo' ambition,
Anyone can become successful if they have the drive and determination to make money.
Play yo' position, provide the plans, and follow procedures,
It is important to know your role in making money and to stick to a plan to achieve success.
In the six-hundred, blunted, wit' a pocket full of hundred's and Visa's,
I am driving a luxury car while being high and carrying a lot of cash and credit cards.
Love, when I get that dust, hit 'em up, re-cock then I get back up,
I am willing to resort to violence to protect my drug trade and profit.
Love, when I get that gig, get a crib, get a car when the grip stack up,
I am using my profits to invest in real estate and luxury items.
It's still in the evenin' if I'm sleepin' paper problems,
My financial situation is always on my mind, even when I am sleeping.
Soon as I get up it's just another day, another dollar
I am always focused on making money and hustling, every day is a new opportunity to earn a profit.
Gotta get that money man
Money is the ultimate goal and motivator to keep hustling.
Got love for the corporate playa's that's ballin' rollin' jags,
I respect those who have made it big in the corporate world and can afford luxury cars.
Got love for the thug nigga's who get it on the ave.,
I respect those who hustle and sell drugs to make money, as well as the risks that it involves.
Love for those, who can make a mil' and sit back and laugh,
I respect those who have made a million dollars and can afford to relax and enjoy their wealth.
And love for the fine stripper's who get it poppin' ass,
I respect the hustle of strippers who are able to make a lot of money through their work.
Love for the single parents that's workin' through the struggle,
I respect those who are able to raise a child and work hard to make a living.
Love for those who gotta make a livin' movin' muscle,
I respect those who have to hustle and sell drugs to make ends meet due to lack of job opportunities or other financial difficulties.
Love for those who gotta watch the hater's rollin' bubbles,
I respect those who face resentment and criticism for their success.
Causin' trouble every time a young brotha' try to hustle,
Hustling and making money as a young black man can be difficult and face opposition from law enforcement and other individuals.
And if I can't, legally make or not
If I am unable to make money legally,
Then I gotta get, right back on the block
I will resort to selling drugs or other illegal means to make money.
And if it no work we do a stick-up and whip-up a concoction,
If all other means of making money fail, I am willing to rob others or create drugs to sell.
Might leave yo' face down in the dirt because hurtin's not an option
If others interfere with my profits or try to stop me from making money, I am willing to use violence to protect myself and my business.
Gotta get that money man
Money is the ultimate goal and motivator to keep hustling.
It's a lovely day, just got paid,
Making money is a great feeling and motivator to keep hustling.
Stack it up, be on my way,
I am constantly accumulating and saving my money to become financially stable and independent.
Lovely day, lovely day,
Every day has the potential to be great and profitable.
Lovely day
Making money is a great feeling and motivator to keep hustling.
Lyrics © GOLDEN WITHERS MUSIC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDY THELUSMA, SKIP SCARBOROUGH, BILL WITHERS, ANTHONY CORNELIUS HAMILTON, CARL TERRELL MITCHELL, WILLIAM HARRISON JR WITHERS, CARL MITCHELL, ANTHONY HAMILTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@UPROXXVideo
What classic artists do you guys want to see and hear more from?
@0nurbis
Cool G rap is underated !
@0nurbis
Brand Nubian, House of Pain, Big Syke Daddy, Craig Mack, Big Pun, Fat joe, Group Home etc etc :;)
@UPROXXVideo
@@0nurbis He's the Kool Genius of Rap!
@HannibalHector714
AZ ✌🏾😎
@retromatic588
Devin The Dude
@falidasign
Who else played Midnight Club and listen to this track non stop ❤️
@JD-tn9co
hell yeah
@jamiepowell811
Still play midnight club can never get enough of that game no matter what
@hichamandrebanouni4530
So sad they didn't make more games. Need 4 speed underground was also a classic