Madlib was born in Oxnard, California to musician parents Otis Jackson, Sr. and Dora Sinesca Jackson. He sampled his first song at 11 years old, sourced from his father's collection. His younger brother is the producer and rapper Michael "Oh No" Jackson. His uncle is the jazz trumpeter Jon Faddis. He was raised in Oxnard, where he began his music career.
During an interview on Chrome Children, Madlib stated that his most significant musical influences include Miles Davis, Sun Ra, and David Axelrod. Some of his hip-hop influences are Large Professor, Marley Marl, Paul C, DJ Pooh, and Dr. Dre.
Fake Names
madlib Lyrics
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Yeah
Yeah yeah
Mic check check check
Uh, yeah, yeah, uh
Survival of the fittest, my nigga
Check, check, check
I need a check, check, check
Shit's so real, gotta use fake names
Every time I sleep, dead faces, they occupy my brain (My brain)
Erica said I never changed (Never changed)
Lifestyles of the insane
You was like a brother to me, no other to me
Swear I would trade my life for yours, I knew you was fucking with me
Found out some niggas fucked your wife and we put them bitches to sleep
Ain't going to say your government, I'ma call him by Ricky G
Now Ricky G, he had a cousin named Yella with bricks of yola
Had a Mexican that came 'cross the border to Arizona
They was getting shit for seventeen
Tossin' shit to me for twenty-eight
Bitch go for thirty-one, I barely ate
Seen them niggas frown when I started breaking that shit down
Said I need more time with them chickens, I'm out here making rounds
Jealous niggas want they twenty-eight up front now
I bought all the damn clientele, we could have ran the town
But fuck it, you cut the price, then I fly to Phoenix
Said if you ain't copping like twenty, then, cocksucker, beat it
They put Yella Boy on the evening news
Devil on my shoulder said, "Fuck friends 'cause cash rules"
Shit's so real, gotta use fake names
Every time I sleep, dead faces, they occupy my brain, uh
Christina said I never changed (Never changed)
Lifestyles of the insane
I done walked through hell in these size 12's
Speak it from my own mouth before I let the time tell
Dream team legal, I never take an L
Courtroom, funeral fresh, Givenchy my lapel
Pouring up, foreigned up, three bricks, I'm a hundred up
Jack a pussy, blow his pack, that's how you fuck the summer up
Fuck it up, bottled up, your hoes fuck for followers
Finessers, carries, tiger lilies, bitch, I'm super modeled up
Well pimp that
My hoes twist it fat, she roll ten Backwoods out the zip, yeah
Pasadena, Reno, came to Vegas, it was lit, yeah
Crystal Lynn came all the way to Denver for the dick, yeah
Had to cancel my Miami trip, that bitch was sick, yeah
Put me on, always put me on
Then labor sixteen hours, need to put me on
Drop a zone, dope ain't locking up, this shit done took too long
Shout out to BO and Charlie Mack, man, bring them niggas home
Most my dawgs got life in jail from conversations on the phone
I bought my first mansion, told my mama leave that dope alone, forget that
Used to get ten bricks Dominicano off the lip, yeah
Put that on my nephew Luciano, we the shit, yeah (Luci)
Bitch, I put your pussy in the mail, I need to see it, yeah
Abby used to follow me on tour, that shit was lit, yeah
Put me on, Freddie, put me on (She was like)
Put me on, Otis, put me on
I used to love that bitch though
Yeah, Kane
Yeah, yeah, remain
Yeah, yeah, put me on, put me on
Put me on, Amber, put me on
Put me on, Nina, put me on, uh, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Hahaha, hello
All my niggas, man, they ready
It is time once again for the two motherfuckers
Madlib the Beat Konducta, straight from California
So light the motherfucking weed up bitch
Turn the sound up, let us go
And as usual, no fuck boys
Real niggas only
In "Fake Names," Madlib touches on several themes, including survival, fraudulence, and loyalty. Madlib has used fake names since the beginning of his music career because he believes they give the artist a degree of separation or protection from the art, and the real names do not necessarily reflect the true nature of the artist. Throughout the lyrics, he also talks about the use of fake names as a means of survival, revealing how people have to live fa?ade in order to survive in a world that is hostile to them.
Madlib also speaks about the theme of loyalty, revealing how loyalty can collapse within the blink of an eye, and taking cues from the existence of "fake names." The language of the song is riddled with stories of deception, including a betrayal by a close friend with whom he had deep ties, only to find out that his friend's wife was cheating on him. Madlib reveals that he is not willing to call out his old friend's name, saying, "I'ma call him by Ricky G."
Overall, the song delves into the complex nature of relationships, betrayal, and survival. Madlib's lyrics describe complex interpersonal relationships that exist within the context of a harsh world characterized by deceit, danger, and the struggle to survive where the use of fake names has become a means of adaptation to the harsh realities of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Shit's so real, gotta use fake names
The reality is too dangerous, which is why pseudonyms must be used
Every time I sleep, dead faces, they occupy my brain (My brain)
Haunted by thoughts of those who have passed away
Erica said I never changed (Never changed)
An individual named Erica believes that they haven't changed
Lifestyles of the insane
The lifestyles of the artists are chaotic and unpredictable
You was like a brother to me, no other to me
Referring to someone who was once as close as a sibling
Swear I would trade my life for yours, I knew you was fucking with me
Talking about a situation involving a friend in danger
Found out some niggas fucked your wife and we put them bitches to sleep
Retaliation against individuals who committed adultery
Ain't going to say your government, I'ma call him by Ricky G
Avoiding mentioning the individual's legal name
Now Ricky G, he had a cousin named Yella with bricks of yola
Describing an individual named Ricky G and his accomplice Yella
Jealous niggas want they twenty-eight up front now
Those who are envious of success demand payment upfront
But fuck it, you cut the price, then I fly to Phoenix
Negotiating prices for illegal goods
Devil on my shoulder said, "Fuck friends 'cause cash rules"
The temptation to prioritize money over friendship
I done walked through hell in these size 12's
Enduring difficult circumstances in one's life
Speak it from my own mouth before I let the time tell
Sharing one's own story instead of waiting for others to tell it
Pouring up, foreigned up, three bricks, I'm a hundred up
Dealing with illegal substances and making profits
Well pimp that
Approving of something
My hoes twist it fat, she roll ten Backwoods out the zip, yeah
Describing the way someone rolls their cannabis
Shout out to BO and Charlie Mack, man, bring them niggas home
Giving a shoutout to those who are incarcerated and hoping for their release
Most my dawgs got life in jail from conversations on the phone
Friends being given life sentences due to phone conversations being heard by the authorities
Bitch, I put your pussy in the mail, I need to see it, yeah
Making sexual advances through crude means
I used to love that bitch though
Admitting to loving someone in the past
Madlib the Beat Konducta, straight from California
Introducing Madlib's identity
So light the motherfucking weed up bitch
Encouraging the use of marijuana
And as usual, no fuck boys
A disclaimer stating that those who are untrustworthy are not welcome
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Frederick Tipton, Leon Sylvers, Otis Jackson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@KATZFEY
the beat switch doesn’t even throw me off anymore. it just makes so much sense. Madlib the legend.
@jimo4818
Precisely.
@solrac2001
That switch is GODLY.
@samsevan
Yes indeed
@AlinHanciu
good god, straight fire.
@storm7617
This 👌👌
@hummm2022
I have goosebumps everytime man
The second beat is legendary damn
@thaMANSTA
The best part about these tracks that 🔀 the beat up half way through, is that they get don't repetitive on 🔂 🔥🔥🔥
@JewportMenthols
"Shit so real gotta use fake names" I've never heard a colder opener
@geordiejones5618
Gibbs and Vince have my favorite one liners and openings