Jean moved to Brooklyn, New York when he was nine, then to Northern New Jersey, where he began playing the guitar and studying jazz in his high school. In 1987, Jean, his friend (so close they told people they were cousins growing up) Prakazrel Michel (Pras) and his classmate, Lauryn Hill, formed a group called the Tranzlator Crew before becoming The Fugees. Wyclef worked as a cabdriver.
Recently he has been finding success as a collaborator - with his turn on Shakira's 2006 track 'Hips Don't Lie' hitting number one in many countries around the world.
In August of 2010, Jean announced his intent to seek the presidency of Haiti. This move came after his increasingly-high profile humanitarian work in the wake of the earthquake that devastated that nation.
You Say Keep It Gangsta
Wyclef Jean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[W] What up
[S] Unnnnnh!
[B] From the West Indies to the West Coast
[W] Callabo
[B] You say keep it gangsta
[Chorus: Wyclef (Butch Cassidy)]
Yo, that ain't your gun, it belongs to... (YOU SAY KEEP IT GANGSTA)
You roll with a hundred, but when the beef come don't nobody want it
(Gangster, la la la la, la la la la)
[Wyclef (Butch Cassidy)]
I want to dedicate this chant to my people locked down livin life in the yard
(KEEP IT GANGSTA)
Keep a shank boofed up in their tape just in case a thug want to play hard
(KEEP IT GANGSTA)
All this ice-grillin talk bout you King of New York, now you want to call a guard
(THAT AIN'T GANGSTA)
But it's too late when the guard show up cause your body's going straight to the morgue
(KEEP IT GANGSTA)
[Chorus: Wyclef (Butch Cassidy)]
But when the beef come, you're the first to run (YOU SAY KEEP IT GANGSTA)
Yo, that ain't your gun, it belongs to... (YOU SAY KEEP IT GANGSTA)
You roll with a hundred, but when the beef come don't nobody want it
(...GANGSTER)
[Butch Cassidy (Wyclef & Sharissa)]
I want to dedicate this jam to the ladies holdin spots when they fellows lock down
(KEEP IT GANGSTA)
Keep a glock in they pocket blowin shots till they pray I'm in town
(KEEP IT GANGSTA)
And to the snitch that ratted on rich the streets got you 16 rounds
(THAT AIN'T GANGSTA)
But there's only one place for a gully rat, six feet under the ground
(YOU SAY KEEP IT GANGSTA)
I'm gon keep it gangsta
(YOU SAY KEEP IT GANGSTA)
La la la la, la la la la
(YOU SAY KEEP IT GANGSTA)
[Chorus: Wyclef (Butch Cassidy)]
You roll with a hundred, but when the beef come don't nobody want it
(...GANGSTER)
[Big Jack (Butch Cassidy)]
Pick it up, pick it up, pick it up
Yo, stop with the posin
y'all ain't really holdin
I'm about to open, a chapter of the Omen
Casket, closin, bodies, frozen
I've, been chosen, y'all forsaken
Ante up, so the chains get taken
Flash backs of the rock season in the making
Ain't no more MC'n, ice is just gleamin
And you wonder why you got robbed, cause your life had no meaning, fake gangsta
(YOU SAY KEEP IT GANGSTA)
[Chorus: Wyclef (Butch Cassidy)]
But when the beef come, you're the first to run (YOU SAY KEEP IT GANGSTA)
Yo, that ain't your gun, it belongs to... (YOU SAY KEEP IT GANGSTA)
You roll with a hundred, but when the beef come don't nobody want it
(...GANGSTER)
Nobody, nobody, nobody
(YOU SAY KEEP IT GANGSTA)
[Sharissa (Butch Cassidy)]
Now what would you do if Henchman's came for you? (GANGSTA)
9 out of 10 times you would flea your crew (GANGSTA)
So people your lying say you running these streets (YOU SAY KEEP IT GANGSTA)
You better watch out cause they have heat (GANGSTA)
Now what would you do if Big Jack came for you? (GANGSTA)
9 out of 10 times you would leave your crew (GANGSTA)
So people your lying say you running these streets (GANGSTA)
You better watch out cause they have heat
[Butch Cassidy]
Gangsta
I'm gonna keep it gangsta
You say keep it gangsta
La la la la, la la la la
You say keep it gangsta
Gangsta
You say keep it gangsta
The song "You Say Keep It Gangsta" by Wyclef Jean featuring Butch Cassidy and Sharissa is a call out to those who portray themselves as gangsters but cannot actually stand up to the violence associated with it. The song opens with a conversation between the artists on both US coasts, highlighting the unity in the message being delivered. The chorus emphasizes that when trouble actually comes, those who were claiming gangsterism are the first to run away (You say keep it gangsta/But when the beef come, you're the first to run). The lyrics point out the discrepancy between their claimed affiliation and their actions in reality.
Wyclef Jean talks about the reality of the streets, where people keep hidden shanks and guns to defend themselves. The verse ends with a salvo about self-proclaimed kings of New York calling guards. The second verse deals with women who hold up the fort while their men are incarcerated; they too need to keep it gangsta. The verse also comments on snitches and their fate in the streets. Butch Cassidy's part tells listeners to keep it real by calling out fake posturing and living life with no meaning, leading to danger. Sharissa tells listeners how gangsters would flee when Henchman or Big Jack come to capture them, leaving their crew behind.
Overall, the song limns a picture of how it is easy to give oneself the veneer of thuggery but difficult to live up to it in reality. The message is that living up to the "gangsta" label is difficult and comes with consequences. The song urges listeners to spare themselves from the perils associated with gangster life.
Line by Line Meaning
But when the beef come, you're the first to run
You claim to be tough but when there's real danger, you run away.
Yo, that ain't your gun, it belongs to...
You pretend to be armed, but really, you're carrying someone else's weapon.
You roll with a hundred, but when the beef come don't nobody want it
You have many associates, but when there's trouble, no one is willing to back you up.
I want to dedicate this chant to my people locked down livin life in the yard
This song is for my friends who are incarcerated and have to defend themselves in prison.
Keep a shank boofed up in their tape just in case a thug want to play hard
They keep a homemade weapon hidden to use in case of a violent confrontation.
All this ice-grillin talk bout you King of New York, now you want to call a guard
You talk tough when everything's good, but panic and seek help when things get dangerous.
But it's too late when the guard show up cause your body's going straight to the morgue
By the time the authorities arrive, you'll already be dead because you couldn't handle the situation.
I want to dedicate this jam to the ladies holdin spots when they fellows lock down
This song is for the women who are maintaining their partners' territory while they're in prison.
Keep a glock in they pocket blowin shots till they pray I'm in town
They carry a gun and are ready to use it to defend themselves until their partner returns.
And to the snitch that ratted on rich the streets got you 16 rounds
If you rat on someone in the criminal world, you'll be punished severely.
But there's only one place for a gully rat, six feet under the ground
A traitor will end up dead and buried.
Pick it up, pick it up, pick it up, Yo, stop with the posin
Stop pretending to be tough, it's time to face reality.
y'all ain't really holdin, I'm about to open, a chapter of the Omen
You're not really in control, and I'm about to show you what true power looks like.
Casket, closin, bodies, frozen, I've, been chosen, y'all forsaken
You'll end up in a coffin, your body cold and lifeless, while I've been chosen for greatness and you've been abandoned.
Ante up, so the chains get taken, Flash backs of the rock season in the making
You'll have to bet something valuable to keep up with me, and I'm remembering the time when I was making big moves.
Ain't no more MC'n, ice is just gleamin
There's no more rapping, because now it's all about jewelry and looking flashy.
And you wonder why you got robbed, cause your life had no meaning, fake gangsta
You got robbed because you didn't have any real purpose or street credibility, you were just pretending to be tough.
Now what would you do if Henchman's came for you?
What would you do if a powerful gang came looking for you?
9 out of 10 times you would flea your crew
Most likely, you would abandon your associates and run away.
So people your lying say you running these streets
You're lying when you say you're running the streets, because you're really just a coward.
You better watch out cause they have heat
You should be careful, because they're armed and dangerous.
Gangsta
Being tough and showing strength.
You say keep it gangsta
You keep saying you want to be tough.
La la la la, la la la la
Singing and chanting this phrase.
Nobody, nobody, nobody
None of your associates are willing to help you when you're in trouble.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DUPLESSIS, JEAN, SANTIAGO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind