Shadowboxin'
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Intro: Method Man/Johnny Blaze
[special technique] Fuck that
[special technique of shadowboxing] God damn
(The GZA, god damn!)
(The GZA, god damn!) Pledge allegiance to the hip-hop!
(Method, god damn!) I pledge allegiance to the hip-hop
(Maximilli-on, Maximilli-on)
(Uh, yeah, ahh, uh) Johnny Blaze
I pledge allegiance to the hip-hop
(Johnny Blaze) Maximilli-on
Maximilli-on
Verse One: Method Man/Johnny Blaze
I breaks it down to the bone gristle
Ill speaking Scud missile heat seeking
Johnny Blazing, nightmares like Wes Craven
Niggaz gunnin, my third eye seen it coming
Before it happen
You know about them fucking Staten
Kids they smashin
Everything huh, in any shape form or fashion
Now everybody talking bout they blastin, hmmm
Is you bustin steel or is you flashin? Hmmm
Talkin out your assHOLE
You shoulda learnt about the flow and peasy afro
Ticallion stallion, chinky eye and snot nosed
From my naps to the bunion on my big toe
I keeps it movin, know just what the fuck I'm doin
Rap insomniac, fiend to catch a nigga snoozing
Slip the cardiac arrest me, excorcist hip-hop possess me
Crunch a nigga like a Nestle, you know my STEEZ
burning to the third degree, sneaky ass alley cat top pedigree
The head toucher, industry party bum rusher
You don't like it dick up in ya fuck ya
(allow me to demonstrate) That's right, you corny-ass
(the skill of Shaolin) rap motherfuckers
(The special technique) Better go back and check
(of shadowboxing) your fuckin stacks
(Shadowboxing) Cause your naps ain't nappy enough
And your reefs ain't rugged enough
Bitch
Verse Two: The Genius/Maximillion
I slayed MC's back in the rec room era
My style broke motherfuckin backs like Ken Patera
Most rap niggaz came loud but unheard
Once I pulled ut, round em off to the nearest third
Check these non visual niggaz, with tapes and a portrait
Flood the seminar, tryin to orbit this corporate
indsutry, but what them niggaz can't see
must break through like the Wu, unexpectedly
Protect Ya Neck, my sword still remain imperial
Before I blast the mic, RZA scratch off the serial
We reign all year round from June to June
While niggaz bite immediately if not soon
Set the lynchin, and form the execution date
As this two thousand beyond slang suffocate
Amplify sample through vacumn tubes compressions
cause RZA, to charge niggaz twenty G's a session
Verse Three: Method Man/Johnny Blaze
When my mind start to clickin, and the strategy
is mastered the plot thickens, this be that Wu shit
I don't give a cotten-pickin FUCK
about a brother tryin to size a nigga up, I hold my own
Hard-hat protect your dome
Look at mama baby boy actin like he grown
No time for sleep, I gets deep as a baritone
Killa bee, that be holdin down his honeycomb, loungin son
Wu brother number one, protect your neck
Flying guillotines here they come, bloody bastards
Hard times and killer tactics, spittin words plus
semi-automatic slurs, peep the graphic
novel from the genie bottle, hit the clutch
shift the gear now, full throttle, time to bungee
To the next episode, I keeps it grungy
Hand on my nutsac, and spittin lung-ghies
At a wack nigga dat, don't understand the fact
When it come to RZA tra-cks I don't know how to act
Real rap from the Stat, killa hill projects
How to be exact, break it down
All and together now
Things are getting good looking better now
(Allow me to demonstrate the skill of Shaolin)




(Sha-shadowboxing, the special technique of shadowboxing)
(Shadowboxing)

Overall Meaning

The song "Shadowboxin" by Wu-Tang Clan features verses from Method Man/Johnny Blaze and The Genius/Maximillion, backed by a thumping beat and scratches from DJ RZA. The lyrics in this song touch on the themes of hip-hop being a source of unity, protecting oneself, and staying true to one's roots. Method Man's verse in the song speaks about his rap skills and how he keeps moving forward, ready to take on any challenge. He raps about his rough upbringing in Staten Island and how the people there are always prepared to take on anyone trying to harm them. The Genius/Maximillion's verse continues with the themes of protecting one's neck, using his lyrical skills to break through the industry, and staying true to the Wu-Tang Clan's trademark sound.


The song has many clever references, such as Method Man's mention of Scud missiles, which were a type of missile used during the Gulf War. He sings about nightmares like Wes Craven, an American filmmaker who directed horror movies, playing with the theme of fear. The Genius/Maximillion references wrestler Ken Patera, known for his strength and power, to emphasize the power of his rapping skills. The two of them talk about how they remain unchanged and unaffected by the industry, still true to their roots in hip-hop.


Line by Line Meaning

Fuck that
I reject that notion


God damn
An expression of amazement or admiration


Pledge allegiance to the hip-hop!
I commit myself to the culture of hip-hop


I pledge allegiance to the hip-hop
I commit myself to the culture of hip-hop


Maximilli-on
An introduction of the character Maximilli-on


Johnny Blaze
An introduction of the character Johnny Blaze


I breaks it down to the bone gristle
I break down the essence of the matter


Ill speaking Scud missile heat seeking
My rhymes are explosive and accurate


Johnny Blazing, nightmares like Wes Craven
I am a force to be feared, like the creations of horror master Wes Craven


Niggaz gunnin, my third eye seen it coming
I anticipate danger before it arrives


Before it happen
Before it occurs


You know about them fucking Staten
You are aware of the violent nature of Staten Island


Kids they smashin
The youth are engaged in destructive behavior


Everything huh, in any shape form or fashion
All manner of destruction occurs


Now everybody talking bout they blastin, hmmm
People claim to be armed and dangerous


Is you bustin steel or is you flashin? Hmmm
Are you actually using your weapon or just showing it off?


Talkin out your assHOLE
You are speaking nonsense


You shoulda learnt about the flow and peasy afro
You should have learned about the rhythm and culture of hip-hop


Ticallion stallion, chinky eye and snot nosed
I am confident and unapologetic about my appearance


From my naps to the bunion on my big toe
I am proud of every part of my body and identity


I keeps it movin, know just what the fuck I'm doin
I am always on the move and in control


Rap insomniac, fiend to catch a nigga snoozing
I am obsessed with perfecting my craft and catching others off guard


Slip the cardiac arrest me, excorcist hip-hop possess me
I am overwhelmed by the power and influence of hip-hop


Crunch a nigga like a Nestle, you know my STEEZ
I am capable of crushing my opponents and my style is unique and distinctive


burning to the third degree, sneaky ass alley cat top pedigree
I am fiery and cunning, an elite hip-hop artist


The head toucher, industry party bum rusher
I am a successful and respected figure in the music industry


You don't like it dick up in ya fuck ya
If you don't appreciate my work, I don't care


That's right, you corny-ass
I am correcting you and calling you out for being unoriginal


Better go back and check
You should re-evaluate and improve your work


Cause your naps ain't nappy enough
Your hair is not kinky enough, you are not truly representative of hip-hop culture


And your reefs ain't rugged enough
Your rhymes are not tough enough, you are not a true hip-hop artist


Bitch
An insult, emphasizing my superiority


I slayed MC's back in the rec room era
I was killing other rappers even in the early stages of my career


My style broke motherfuckin backs like Ken Patera
My unique approach and skill caused other rappers to fail


Most rap niggaz came loud but unheard
Many rappers are unsuccessful despite their attempts to be noticed


Once I pulled ut, round em off to the nearest third
When I start rhyming, I quickly and effectively defeat my opponents


Check these non visual niggaz, with tapes and a portrait
I challenge other rappers who rely on gimmicks and marketing instead of true talent


Flood the seminar, tryin to orbit this corporate
Many rappers try to be successful by participating in corporate culture instead of staying true to hip-hop traditions


indsutry, but what them niggaz can't see
These rappers are blind to the true essence of hip-hop culture


must break through like the Wu, unexpectedly
Hip-hop artists like Wu-Tang Clan will rise to prominence, surprising those who have underestimated them


Protect Ya Neck, my sword still remain imperial
I am still the best and will continue to dominate the hip-hop industry


Before I blast the mic, RZA scratch off the serial
Before I start rhyming, RZA manipulates the audio equipment for maximum effect


We reign all year round from June to June
Wu-Tang Clan's success is consistent and constant


While niggaz bite immediately if not soon
Many imitators try to copy Wu-Tang Clan's style as soon as possible


Set the lynchin, and form the execution date
We will punish those who try to copy our style


As this two thousand beyond slang suffocate
Hip-hop culture will continue to evolve and stand out from the crowd


Amplify sample through vacumn tubes compressions
RZA manipulates audio equipment to create unique and innovative sounds


cause RZA, to charge niggaz twenty G's a session
RZA is in high demand and charges a lot for his production services


When my mind start to clickin, and the strategy
When I start to think and plan my rhymes


is mastered the plot thickens, this be that Wu shit
When I perfect my approach, it becomes distinctively Wu-Tang Clan style


I don't give a cotten-pickin FUCK
I don't care at all


about a brother tryin to size a nigga up, I hold my own
I am confident in myself and don't need others' approval


Hard-hat protect your dome
Be prepared for anything, protect your head


Look at mama baby boy actin like he grown
A young man is trying to act mature and independent


No time for sleep, I gets deep as a baritone
I am always working and thinking, so my voice becomes deeper and more powerful


Killa bee, that be holdin down his honeycomb, loungin son
I am a strong and successful member of the Wu-Tang Clan


Wu brother number one, protect your neck
I am the best of the Wu-Tang Clan and always looking out for my own interests


Flying guillotines here they come, bloody bastards
Dangerous enemies are approaching quickly


Hard times and killer tactics, spittin words plus
I face difficult challenges and use aggressive rhymes to overcome them


semi-automatic slurs, peep the graphic
My words are powerful and effective


novel from the genie bottle, hit the clutch
My rhymes are imaginative and creative, and I am in control of my work


shift the gear now, full throttle, time to bungee
It's time to move onto the next part of my work with full energy


To the next episode, I keeps it grungy
I continue to be down-to-earth and authentic in my work


Hand on my nutsac, and spittin lung-ghies
I am unapologetic and confident, and my rhymes are aggressive and in-your-face


At a wack nigga dat, don't understand the fact
I am targeting a weak and unskilled rapper who doesn't understand the true nature of hip-hop


When it come to RZA tra-cks I don't know how to act
RZA's music is so great that I am overwhelmed by it


Real rap from the Stat, killa hill projects
Authentic hip-hop comes from the dangerous and crime-ridden projects of Staten Island


How to be exact, break it down
Be precise in your analysis, explain it in detail


All and together now
Let's work together and create something great


Things are getting good looking better now
We are making progress and things are improving


Sha-shadowboxing, the special technique of shadowboxing
A reference to the song's theme of hip-hop artists fighting for their place in the industry


Shadowboxing
Preparing for battle and perfecting one's technique




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CLIFFORD SMITH, GARY E. GRICE, ROBERT F. DIGGS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@Jeter21881

How as a producer can you come up with so many absolute FIRE beats in such a short period of time. The amount of pinnacle beats by RZA in a 6 year period is just unheard of. What a run..

@dutchcaliber

He is the goat for me. 90s rza is untouchable. arguably 8 classic albums in that timespan.

@organik_individual9740

He was in a different bag🔥

@mr.popsicle5391

Way ahead of his time smoking that Za that's why he zigzag, beats sharp like a razor even ask Ghostface killa 🗣🔥

@possessionbeginsinthemind

Goat. Long live GZA and RZA as the Grandmasters of the rap game. This track, I Gotcha Back, 4th Chamber, and Gold all have gorgeously sick beats. Liquid Swords oozes perfection. These men are artists, not rappers.

@madasinwat2

Read his book "the Tao of the wu" I think it was called. Good insight into the mindset, you may enjoy it....can send you the ebook file if you like 👍

26 More Replies...

@willzncube4386

Can we talk about how effortless Method man's flow and delivery has always been?🔥🔥🔥

@johnsondailysports1341

That shit is amazing

@TheVanillatech

Good but he aint no Ghostface.

@justinf401

I've always said hebdeserves more top 5 consideration

More Comments

More Versions