U-God was born in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York. However he moved to Staten Island, New York as a youth. He was originally a beatboxer for clan affiliate Cappadonna, as well as being well known friends with future members Method Man, Inspectah Deck, and Raekwon. Sometime before the members united, U-God was mentored in rap by Cappadonna. He soon became friends with RZA and Ghostface Killah, and he began rhyming under the alias Golden Arms, based on the kung-fu movie The Kid with The Golden Arms. Later on narcotics possession prevented him from featuring heavily on the group's debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), his input on the seminal LP consisting of only a short bridge on the group's debut single "Protect Ya Neck" in 1992 as well as the famous opening verse of "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'". Nevertheless, after his release he quickly became known to fans for his rugged flow and bass-like voice on Wu tracks such as "Winter Warz", "Knuckleheadz", "Investigative Reports", and "Black Jesus". He was featured heavily on the group's second album Wu-Tang Forever on which he was one of only four of the group to get a solo track - "Black Shampoo" (While the others being Inspectah Deck with "The City", Ol' Dirty Bastard with "Dog Shit" and RZA with "Sunshower"; clan affiliate and singer Tekitha sang 'Second Coming' solo). Around this time his young son was accidentally shot and injured, an ordeal the rapper documented on the Wu-Tang Clan track "A Better Tomorrow". He appeared with all the clan members during the VH1 Hip-Hop Honors, as well as on tour for the release of Wu Tang Clan's latest album, 8 Diagrams. U-God released his third studio album Dopium in 2009 and touring around the globe in support of 8 Diagrams. He released his fourth studio album Keynote Speaker in 2013.
Name: U-God
Real Name: Lamont Hawkins
Web: www.myspace.com/ugod
Get Down
U-God Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a bonified g, g, g, g, g, g (Chea, chea, chea, chea)
I'm a bonified g, g, g, g, g (Chea, chea, chea, chea, come on)
I'm a bonified g, g, g, g (Where ya at? East coast, west coast)
Vicious, vicious, viciously (come on! )
[Chorus: U-God]
Get down, get down, brah', I'm in your town, brah'
And now, I bust a round off, I'm a survivor
This is how we do it, for you snake ass conivers around
For you conivers, bust a round
Look around, lay ass down with the fo' pound
Shady spots for eighty blocks
I keep a bitch eyes closed like Jamie Foxx
Off the chain, niggaz saw I'm off the chain
Nigga, stay in ya lane, so I'm off your face
It don't stop, I'm on the block
Lickin' shots, with the twelve gauge
Hit a nigga up, have you rapping for the front page
[Chorus]
When them 24's park, them big dogs bark
You don't wanna get down when them big dogs start
Moving through the crowd, making glocks get loud
Lettin' suckers know we'll take yo town
Flip a little ass, stack a little cash
Quick on the smash, I'm always on the smash
What these niggaz gon' do with the Wu and the Ru
Them Timbs and them chucks, gon' put it on them dudes
[Chorus]
I'm down for the get down, earnin' my stripes
Hillside, real guys, burn burners for life
Put slugs through yo vest, or blood on my knife
Yo I'm up in here, where it at? Throw the dice
The chrome device, still layin' on my hip
Lettin' my nuts swing, we bang for the strip
I'm up in this bitch, I bounce around the west coast
Hollerin' at hoes, lookin' for the best smoke
[Chorus]
I'm a gangsta-gangsta brah', straight up menace
And I don't stop shootin' til the clip is finished
Ya'll ain't heard about me, still a boy in the hood
AK in the trunk, brah', it's all good
One time try to gaffle, the work, no hassle
C.P.T., kingpin of the castle
It's Compton, you see the bulge in the waist
T-shirt go up, y'all about face, chea
[Chorus]
The song "Get Down" by U-God is a rap song that is all about his gangster lifestyle. The chorus is filled with a repetitive line "I'm a bonified G" which means he is a gangster through and through. He starts each verse of the song with a statement about himself, that he is in town, he's a survivor, and he's viciously gangster throughout. The song is directed at those who are not part of this gangster lifestyle and are seen as lesser, calling them snake-ass connivers and saying he will have them rapping for the front page. The song is all about toughness and survival on the streets, being able to handle yourself at all times, including when those big dogs start barking.
The lyrics of the song are very indicative of the gangster rap genre of the 90s, focusing on the violent and dangerous street life. U-God's uses this style to build up his own self-image as a gangster of the highest order. The chorus reinforces this image, as he repeats that he is "bonified" several times, making sure everyone understands that he is not a person to be messed with. Overall, this song is about U-God's own image as a gangster, and how he perceives others who are not part of this lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a bonified g, g, g, g, g, g (Chea, chea, chea, chea)
I am a certified gangster with six g's in my name (Chea, chea, chea, chea)
I'm a bonified g, g, g, g, g (Chea, chea, chea, chea, come on)
I am a certified gangster with five g's in my name (Chea, chea, chea, chea, come on)
I'm a bonified g, g, g, g (Where ya at? East coast, west coast)
I am a certified gangster with four g's in my name, representing both the East and West coasts
Vicious, vicious, viciously (come on! )
I am extremely vicious and aggressive (come on!)
Get down, get down, brah', I'm in your town, brah'
Get ready because I am in your town and things are about to go down
That's how we do it, I'm a stone cold rider
I am a tough and fearless rider who does things the gangster way
And now, I bust a round off, I'm a survivor
I just fired a shot, but I survived every attempt on my life
This is how we do it, for you snake ass conivers around
This is how gangsters do things, for those who try to con and deceive us
For you conivers, bust a round
If you are a conman, watch out because I might shoot you
Look around, lay ass down with the fo' pound
Be careful and lay down because I am armed with a 40-pound gun
Shady spots for eighty blocks
There are several shady places around an 80-block radius
I keep a bitch eyes closed like Jamie Foxx
I can make someone stop talking by simply closing their eyes, like Jamie Foxx did in a movie
Off the chain, niggaz saw I'm off the chain
I am extremely wild and uncontrollable, as people have seen before
Nigga, stay in ya lane, so I'm off your face
Stay out of my way or else I will hurt you
It don't stop, I'm on the block
I never stop patrolling the block
Lickin' shots, with the twelve gauge
I am firing shots with my twelve-gauge gun
Hit a nigga up, have you rapping for the front page
I can hit you and make you ashamed enough to make the headlines
When them 24's park, them big dogs bark
When those 24-inch wheels stop, big and aggressive dogs start barking
You don't wanna get down when them big dogs start
You do not want to mess with me when those big and aggressive dogs start barking
Moving through the crowd, making glocks get loud
I am walking through the crowd and making my gun (Glock) sound menacingly loud
Lettin' suckers know we'll take yo town
I am warning people that I am about to take over their town
Flip a little ass, stack a little cash
I am making money by doing something illegal and immoral
Quick on the smash, I'm always on the smash
I am quick and decisive when I have to smash something or someone
What these niggaz gon' do with the Wu and the Ru
Other gangsters cannot handle the power and strength of the Wu-Tang Clan and the Ruff Ryders
Them Timbs and them chucks, gon' put it on them dudes
The boots of the Wu-Tang Clan and the Ruff Ryders will hurt other people
I'm down for the get down, earnin' my stripes
I am ready for action and willing to earn my place among the other gangsters
Hillside, real guys, burn burners for life
I am proud to be from Hillside and to be a real guy, who will carry and use guns forever
Put slugs through yo vest, or blood on my knife
I will shoot you even if you are wearing a bulletproof vest or stab you with my knife
Yo I'm up in here, where it at? Throw the dice
I am here, but where is the action? Let's gamble and take risks
The chrome device, still layin' on my hip
My chrome gun is still on my hip, ready to be used at anytime
Lettin' my nuts swing, we bang for the strip
I am showing my toughness and the gang's power, fighting for our territory
I'm up in this bitch, I bounce around the west coast
I am present and active in this place, and I keep moving around the West Coast
Hollerin' at hoes, lookin' for the best smoke
I am talking to women and looking for the best quality of drugs
I'm a gangsta-gangsta brah', straight up menace
I am a real gangster, a menace to society
And I don't stop shootin' til the clip is finished
I will keep shooting and using my entire clip of bullets
Ya'll ain't heard about me, still a boy in the hood
You might not have heard of me, but I am still a dangerous person in the neighborhood
AK in the trunk, brah', it's all good
I have an AK gun in my car trunk, and everything is fine
One time try to gaffle, the work, no hassle
The cops tried to confiscate my drugs but it was not a problem
C.P.T., kingpin of the castle
I am from Compton and I am the leader of my gang's kingdom
It's Compton, you see the bulge in the waist
This is Compton, and you can see that I am armed
T-shirt go up, y'all about face, chea
If I lift my shirt, you better turn back and show respect, chea
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DAVID LEE, JAMES TIPPETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Baltimore Z-Wad
Absolute Classic. U-god sounds hard as fuck over the nice, upbeat, funky West Coast beat
Tariq Busy
this was meant for the dancefloor. easy on the lyrics heavy on the hook-singing. U-god is unafraid to experiment.
Galaxy Glory
Hip hop foreva!
Corey Banks
“Boo sprinkle garbage in his blunts”
Jas ProLogik Hall
Uncle Eiht don't have to say much, bruh. 😎💯
Marcos Medrano
Ohhhhh shit
Whiskey Pete
I buss a round off! @bigzenz