1.jayz97
loading...

In the sixteen years since XXL's inception, we have spoken with a LOT of rappers about how the sausage is made with their music. Pretty much since the mag's beginnings, we have been running a reoccurring column "Train Of Thought" where hip-hop's most esteemed lyricists touch upon the inspiration for their illest verses. Over the years, we've had everybody from Kanye West to Scarface break down some the greatest verses from their songs.

XXL is looking back today at 10 of the best "Train Of Thought" features we have run in the past 16 years in the magazine. Here are the stories behind some of the best to ever do it. -B.J. Steiner

Scarface
loading...

Scarface - "Safe" 

Issue: November 2002

Now listen up my niggas, and I ain't tryin to preach
I'm just tellin it from my side cause I'm in the streets
I done been there, done that, seen a whole neighborhood
Destroyed by the government bein tipped off by one rat
He caught a dope case and they threatened him with time
He get his own fuckin people jammed and he take the five
That's the shit there; they ain't even catch him with dope
But they gave him thirty-five years cause the nigga done spoke
Snitchin, that's a motherfucker, watch what you say
You don't know no-motherfuckin-body, nigga you lame
Watch your so-called homeboys, keep to yourself
Stay away from niggas gettin caught that get out of jail
Don't talk about your business, keep yo' thoughts in yo' head
And this game it got a paper trail, watch where ya spend
Don't write down names and numbers, it's a memory thang
Never shit where ya sleep, keep the crib out of range
And plus you never let these niggas know where you stay
Cause when the push turns to a shove, they hit and you say
True motherfuckin game... true motherfuckin game

XXL: I remember you said Reasonable Doubt came out you told Jay he was gonna around and get niggas indicted. But on this song you're giving some real advice. You ain't scared that'll put more heat on you?

Scarface: Man, I got to. I'd be less of a man if I ain't explain that shit to them young niggas coming up. 'Cause them young niggas coming up the fucking wildest. The young niggas don't know they fucking with. They don't know the terms of endearment. [Laughs], the rules for real niggas. I played the game and I feel like I won 'cause I got out alive.

XXL: You saw a whole neighborhood destroyed by one rat?

Scarface: By one rat. My muthafuckin' neighborhood. But that's in everybody's neighborhood. Not just mine. There's a sign in Texas that says "If you think it's a drought now, wait til' September 11th," signed the DEA. It's a conspiracy by the government against niggas, period.

XXL: And dude gave his man 35 years on a snitch?

Scarface: Man, the game done change. The street code used to be death before dishonor, but now a muthafucka will dishonor your ass in a minute and tell. Man I seen it with my own eyes. Them muthafuckin' feds was trying to give me that 30. Them muthafuckas jammed up a couple of my partners and then gonna ask me "What I know about J [Prince]?" I was like "I don't know nothing about J. I make music. I don't sell dope." I said something on my last album like, "You find out who the real muthafuckas was when the time get passed around." There's consequences to snitchin'. It ain't always about a muthafucking getting at you. It could be about them getting at my most precious.

XXL: You told cats to keep their crib outta reach, but how a nigga from the hood supposed to do that?

Scarface: Never shit where you sleep, Bonsu! Hear me, if you living and sleeping that apartment gotta work in that next complex. You don't run that shit up in your house and you don't put that shit up in your pockets. They got beer cans, tennis balls, water bottles, it's ways. Matter fact they fingerprint shit now. Wear some surgicals.

XXL: You advised don't write down anything - It's a memory thing. I know everybody can't do that, so would you say that's one of the gifts that separate short-lived hustlers from bosses?

Scarface: Man, you don't never write shit down. You don't write names and numbers down. You don't write accounts down. You don't write anything down. It's a memory thing and if you smoking weed and can't remember who you owe or all these numbers you need then that might no be something that you wanna fuck with.

XXL: Where shouldn't a hustler spend his money?

Scarface: Car dealers, houses, anything you gotta put your name on, anything that go to the government is a paper trail. If you buy some shit don't put your name on it. Buy shit with cash and put that shit under Charlie Hustle's name or some shit. Some made-up name. -Bonsu Thompson

Twista
loading...

Twista - "Poppin' Tags"

Issue: March 2003

It's a party when I go up in the sto'
Shoppin while I'm zooted off the dro'
Rollin like a nigga that just came up on a mill'
And I got 'em sweepin and pickin up tags off the flo'
Bag full of clothes, I remember havin rocks in the hall
On the corner with the Glock by the balls
Servin up a jab and workin security 6 to 6
Then it's straight from the block to the mall
Buy what's on the wall
Go ahead and treat yo'self
When you come up on some cheddar better pop that tag
Like when I dip off in the Prada then I go off
To the lot and lay the paper down and cop that Jag
I got a closet full of ammunition and funds
Mink, Roc-a-Wear and some guns
Pelle and a fresh pair of Jordan’s
Dro packs and “Bo Jack’s” and Air Max’s; throwbacks and “1’s”
No max for none
(When I go up in the sto' a nigga never get enough)
I'm a baller and if you want it come and get it now
(Nigga come to a race with a car you won't catch up)
And the Twista kinda wicked when I spit it now
I be choppin up cheddar with Kanye
Chop a little cheddar up with Jay
Chop it up with the O-to-the-Kizay
Poppin big tags with the flow and the dough, we get bi-zay!

XXL: First off, does the song mean you're definitely going be on the Roc?

Twista: It's in the works but it's pretty much official. We just working the kinks out now.

XXL: What made you wanna go over to the Roc?

Twista: Just having a good relationship from previously working with Jay. Being cool with Dame already and then I was down with Kanye before he jumped over there. I was just cool with them niggas. I already did stuff with Freeway. I had a cool relationship with Beanie and when they came to Chicago to do a show I came out and did my "Is That Your Chick" verse and the chemistry was kinda tight so we started talking from there.

XXL: You say you been chopping it up with Kanye for a second. How do long have you known him?

Twista: Man, for a lot of years. Since hew was still young staying at his mama's cribs. [Laughs] 'Cause I was always a little older than him so he's gonna laugh at that too.

XXL: How long have you been poppin' tags?

Twista: Man, that song was presented by Kanye to me first and he was like "We got the cut 'Poppin Tags.'" And I'm like "poppin' tags? What you talking about?" He was like "You know how we be poppin' tags all day, let's pop some tags then." So when we was working on the song I didn't wanna make it like I just wanna ball and talk about how we buying shit. I wanted to bring some excitement to the whole theory of poppin' tags. I wanted to make it almost like you was clubbin' while you were shopping. That's why I said "It's a party when I got up in the sto..."

XXL: So you was hustling and working as a security guard at the same time?

Twista: Not at exact same time. One day you could be doin' a little of this and then you could be doin' a little of that. A lot of brothers from my hood know what I mean when I say that on how how they get down. You know, dudes hustle a little, get themselves a little bit of paper and go straight up to the mall.

XXL: You mentioned a lot of kicks so which do you prefer, the Air Max, Bo Jacks or Jordans?

Twista: Jordans. I feel them other ones though, you can't go wrong with the Air Force 1s, but I like Jordans. Everybody know me for the Pelles and the Jordans. That's Twista stelo, he gonna have on the fresh Pelles and some Jordans. If you listen to my old songs when I get on some fashion I'm talking about rocking some Pelles. That's how we came up. We be ghetto ballin' cause that was the shit.

XXL: What do you chick gotta do for you before you let her pop some tags?

Twista: She gotta have a young Bonnie attitude first and she probably gotta pop some tags for me first. If she pop enough tags for me first it'll make me feel like she's really down for me. Then we can probably make it mutual. -Bonsu Thompson

Fabolous
loading...

Fabolous - "Breathe"

Issue: September 2004

I see them on the block when I passes
Looking like they need oxygen mask-es
I make it hard to (breathe)
But I keep the Glocks in the stashes
Cause the cops wanna lock and harass us
And make it hard to (breathe)
They has to react, like having an asthma attack
When they see the plasma in back
You dudes are wheezing behind me
My flow is like a coupe, breezing at ninety
That's the reason they signed me
The slick metaphors and hard punches on the cuts
Feels something like hard punches to the gut
How I address the haters and underestimaters
And ride up on em like they escalators
They shook up and hooked up to respirators
On they last breath talking to investigators
I'm a breath of fresh air in a fresh pair
Face it boo and do it till your face get blue

XXL: You can come across mad cocky on the verse. Was this your way of telling your critics to let you live?

Fabolous: Yeah, man, that's where the expression of the whole record "Breathe" came from. When you was breathing you inhaling and exhaling so that's what I really wanted to do on the record - inhale some of what these people was thinking and saying about me and exhale how I'm feeling.

XXL: So that's what led you to to the title "Breathe?"

Fabolous: To tell you the truth, that little sample in the record wasn't even saying saying "Breathe," but to me that's what it was sounding like, so I wrote the whole record with the "Breathe" concept. Then we went back to Just (Blaze) and he was like, "That part is not even saying 'Breathe,' but I can make it say 'Breathe.'" But the sample was really like "Eeeeee," he just sampled somebody's voice or something, but it worked.

XXL: You have a line about "Haters and underestimators." are you putting them all in the same category?

Fabolous: Yeah, I mean mostly the people that be hating are underestimating a person anyway, so really they in the same category to me. A lot of people didn't see me progressing this far, like I had a couple of hits from the first album, went platinum, but they didn't expect the success of the second album and figured I would fall off, but I stayed afloat.

XXL: You compared your flow to a coup, what model would it be?

Fabolous: I would have to say something sleek but still heavy, maybe like a CL. A CL is quick and smooth but it still got he heaviness like a regular car. People think because it's such a big car that it's not that fast, but them shits get out when you mash on them. That's how I feel about me - people judge me from the obvious radio singles but I can still mash on them when I have to.

XXL: Your line, "Cops wanna lock and harass us" - is that addressing your previous run-ins with the "Hip-Hop Police"?

Fabolous: Cops try to pull me oer all the time, wanting to illegally search my car. I go through the hood, the DTs know my car, sometimes they cut me some slack and don't really fuck with me. But most of the time they figure, "Hey, let me search your joint," and we shouldn't have to go through that. So that line was just me relating to the people. I still go through the same things and I'm not even the same category as the average person.

XXL: You really have a plasma screen tv in the back of the whip? That's some next level shit.

Fabolous: [Laughs] Nah, I ain't got no plasma, I was just talking a little bit of shit. I got some TVs up in the headset but I ain't put no plasma up in the shit.

XXL: Near the end of the verse you're like, "They shook up and hooked up to respirators." Who exactly were you referring to?

Fabolous: That was for the haters. When they gotta face the repercussions for hating on somebody - now they shook up in the hospital, I guess it scared them straight though. Like, for some people, it takes something to happen to them before they realize the realness of something. -DJ Rhude

havoc-1
loading...

Havoc - Mobb Deep's "On The Run"

Issue: August 2004

You know my weapons conventional, blow a hole, then you folding
You be the death of you, every do, last view will be arial
Put the Range on off road, the woods to bury you
Never question my M.O., or the ammo I carry, a state
Crime or federal, task force to battle you
Faggots, know what the lead'll do, put ya vest on daddy
Them slugs will burn like verenial, off top to carry you
Dirty laundry, we airing you, respect my gangsta, and shotty
You little raps don't grab me, the truth'll hurt for they addy
They drink the drink and rade the pain, to build some courage to clap me
Give a fuck if it's tellin' you, more the merry, I'm marry to guns
Muthafucka, pull ligaments, nigga, they vary
Being need of some medical, livin' life as vegetable
Take that, think about it and don't try nothin' fancy
Make a move and I'll level you, like a bomb with atomic forces
Niggas betta pray and kiss they crosses
Holy water to bless you, them slugs will tear your tissue
And clog the fuck outta a vassel, and got you seeing me crystal
Niggas sweatin' in they sleep, I got them sleepin' with pistols
I'm the dope, you the fiend, fuckin' right, I'm fiction

XXL: That verse is crazy. You took it a few levels higher on this one. What got into you?

Havoc: Well, I made the beat. I'm always trying to step my lyrical game up and I wanted to do a different rhyme style involving a lot of words and I just right-handed it.

XXL: Your, "Never Question my M.O. or the ammo I carry..." What's your favorite type of ammo when it's time to go to war?

Havoc: Definitely I would say the four-pound. That's what my brother used to always use. So I just something like that.

XXL: Why do describe your gangster as savvy?

Havoc: My gangsta's like... it's like I don't have to show out to show my gangsta. My gangsta is slick. It's a gangsta without having to show my gangsta. When it's time I just do what I gotta do.

XXL: The polygamous line was ill. Talking about you're "married to your gun," break that down for cats who don't know what you're talking about.

Havoc: Yeah, first of all if they don't know what the word [polygamous] means, it's a dude that's married to a couple of women. I'm making my Gat - all my guns - as my women, so it's like I'm married to my guns. They vary, it's a whole lot of them.

XXL: At the end of the verse you got a little crazy with it, talking about "Unclogging vessels." How can bullet unclog a vessel?

Havoc: I was just fucking around, saying lik when that a slug hit you, all that blood gonna spill out. Niggas got little heart problems, little cholesterol in they blood, so when we unclog that.

XXL: What do you mean when you said, "Got you seeing me crystal?"

Havoc: Oh, like niggas will see real clear after. Like my shit is real clear. They don't got it twisted no more.

XXL: The way you was flowing, that shit was crazy. That's probably one of the illest parts of the verse. What made you fuck with that flow?

Havoc: I'm a fan of the lyrics. I just wanted to play around with my flow. Niggas always, like, rhyme the same and I'm always one to play with my flow. In the future people gonna really recognize that. It's like I'm not just an artist that's willing to just rhyme one way. I'm ready to try new stuff, different styles, so people could just see that I'm gifted on the lyrical tip. That's what I'm willin' to show when I do this solo album. Whenever it comes you gonna see a different side of me. -Omar Mazariego

kanye_west14
loading...

Kanye West - "Crack Music"

Issue: October 2005

How we stop the Black Panthers?
Ronald Reagan cooked up an answer
You hear that? What Gil Scott was "Heron"
When our heroes or heroines got hooked on heroin
Crack, raised the murder rate in D.C. and Maryland
We, invested in that, it's like we got Merrill Lynched
And we been hangin from the same tree, ever since
Sometimes I feel the music is the only medicine
So we, cook it, cut it, measure it, bag it
Sell it, the fiends, cop it, nowadays they can't tell if
That's that good shit, we ain't sure man
Put the CD on your tongue, yeah that's pure man

XXL: What is your interpretation of “Crack Music?”

Kanye West: “Crack Music,” has a lot of layers to it. The main meaning is slang. It has everybody fiend in. People saying ‘that’s that crack right there.’ When we tired to take “Jesus Walks,” pop, they said the singing in the middle was too “Black.” So, it’s like ‘Yo, if you think that’s too “Black,” what you think of this?” That real Black music! Rock bands make music for rock fans. This song is for Rap fans. It has a chorus that is only appropriate for Black people to sing. This is for Black people!

XXL: You mention Reagan as a conspirator to the fall of the Black Panther party.

Kanye West: I love that line because people look at me like I’m crazy. What do you mean Ronald Reagan? Wasn’t he President?’ But he was the governor of California during that time. So, I just say ‘go to the Internet and look up [Google] Ronald Reagan and put black panthers next to it and you can find out more information.’

XXL: Do you take responsibility in your lyrics to educate?

Kanye West: I think its something that God puts in me. That was always something I set out to do, but it seems like after this accident and now and then God just taps me on the shoulder and says, ‘say this,’ or ‘deliver this.’ When I make my music, it is to try and put wherever we are in a time capsule. So, if someone wants to look back at 2005, you can play a Kanye album and it will touch on a lot of the main things that black people in America are going through. That’s what I’m here for.

XXL: Why Crack is glorified in Hip-hop?

Kanye West: That’s another point of “Crack Music.” These are the kids that grew up under these circumstances. This is the music that is the product of being born into the Crack generation.

XXL: Do you consider music a healing tool?

Kanye West: Oh yeah! When I say ‘sometimes I feel music is the only medicine.’ Definitely, my first album was one of my healing tools. It was like my nurse. It was like my Angel.

XXL: Do you think the government can destroy hip-hop?

Kanye West: No, non-blacks are making money off of it. It’s a business. To say you can destroy hip-hop is like destroying a culture. Destroying a people. Destroying peoples souls, but souls last forever. I’m sure it was said in the 60’s, ‘they’re going to destroy rock-n-roll,’ but you can’t. Hip-hop is like the Dipset and G-Unit mixtapes. How you going to stop that? -Thomas A. Harden

GZA_Teaching_Classroom_Lead Image
loading...

GZA - "Queen's Gambit (NFL)"

Issue: December 2005

She dated jolly green GIANTS, that, flew on JETS
An A-list actress, who was never walked off sets
She loved stuffed animals, especially BEARS
Was a role model, like a CARDINAL to our peers
A PATRIOTIC tomboy, like Mary Ellen from The Waltons
A former lifeguard, who had the skills of a DOLPHIN
When I met her, she was in drama school and wore BENGALS
Drove a BRONCO, and she was far from star spangled
Had basic skills, and worked part time in mills
Raised buffalo's, cause she was behind them BILLS
Had a man who always roared like LION
A domestic violent cat, tackled the girl and kept her crying
Couldn't care, she was losing her hair, from depression
She was in the air, and there was some room for interceptions
I told her to stay strong, not to be ashamed
You're a "ten-i-see", you just need to TITAN your game
Her ancestors were CHIEFS, who ran with running deer
On the sail with the SEAHAWKS, who battled the BUCCANEERS
The REDSKIN garments, was suede coat liners
Held rare coins, frequently sought from gold miners
They were hard working warriors, we call over timers
Shot plenty arrows at COWBOYS and 49ERS
Her interesting background, but quite unusual
Great for a script, but out of bounds for a musical
She told me to call her, if I came to town
I started TEXAN her, soon as my plane had touchdown
Holding my luggage, in the hand that revealed the bad scars
She pulled up at arrivals, driving the JAGUAR
Her BROWN skin was soft, her legs beautifully shaven
Her house was fly, sitting on the roof, was a RAVEN
As we entered, I heard laughter
She walked into a large living room, I went after her
There was two of her, girlfriends, playing chess like they were VIKINGS
Militant as PANTHERS, they're resemblance was striking
Had on thongs, high heels, and belts that was garter
Energized like phones that just came off the CHARGER
I introduced myself to gain yardage
Cuz anything less then smooth, would of been straight up garbage
The shorter one met me, when I had a sky pager
Thought I rolled with robbers, STEELERS and panty RAIDERS
She took fruit from the orange bowl, it was in season
One of them said she loved the juice and kept squeezing
I knew that I was gonna get, wined and dined
It would of been a penalty, not to pass the scrimmage line
Now I laid back and relaxed, waiting for the kick-off
One removed the lip gloss, like she was bout to lick all
She caressed me, with fingertips soft as velvet
Dying for me to PACKER, as she stroked my helmet
And I was thinking these girls was SAINTS
But it was first and ten, and there was extra walls to paint
Before you know it, I had all three in a huddle
Buckin' like a COLT, before I released them puddles
They spread EAGLES like wide receivers
As I RAM them in the endzone, and they became true believers

XXL: After “Labels,” “Publicity,” “Fame” and “Animal Planet,” how did you decide what sub- ject to tackle next?

GZA: This is not something I always look forward to doing. It just comes as an accident. Like I did “Labels” years ago and then “Publicity.” But after “Labels,” it wasn’t like, What else can I do? Oh, I need to talk about magazines. Everything always came by accident.

XXL: Every team in the NFL is cited except for the Atlanta Falcons. Are you not a Michael Vick fan?

GZA: Falcons were a little tough because I have other birds in there—Eagles, Ravens, Seahawks and Cardinals. I thought about saying something about them watching [the 1980’s soap opera] Falcon Crest, but that’s kind of old. I remembered it later, but I just left it out.

XXL: You mentioned another TV Land staple, The Waltons. Was Mary Ellen really a patri- otic tomboy?

GZA: I didn’t really know too much about the character. So I asked a partner of mine who is familiar with those old shows, “Tell me something about The Waltons.” He was like, “Mary Ellen was a tomboy.” There was another [fam- ily member] who was patriotic, but I wanted to put the [New England] Patriots in the song. Why was her story great for a script, but out of bounds for a musical? Can you see it more as a musical or as a script? It’s self-explana- tory, plus it rhymed. Are you a big football fan? Not at all. That’s the good thing about writing. I don’t really follow football unless it’s the World Series (laughs). I mean, I might watch the Super Bowl. -Thomas Golianopoulous

killer_mike_1
loading...

Killer Mike - “I Promise I Will Not Lose”

Issue: September 2006

God in the building, kneel at the altar
Promise on my Grind that the Grind will never falter
Hatin’-ass nigga, heard you talkin’, I can’t fault ya
Shit, I don’t blame you, but I will never name you
See a line in my rhyme would blow and fuckin’ fame you
I’d rather see you sittin’ on the sideline of shame, you
(Ha, ha, ha)
If he really were your homie, he’d a bought you a chain, too, ain’t you in the same crew?
I know, you his homie, you don’t need it like that, folk
But the truth is, nigga, you a sidekick hoe/Now sit back, blow ’dro like a sidekick ho
Your diamonds ain’t as big as my Sidekick, hoe
I’m flippin’, writin’ rhymes on my Sidekick, hoe
Winkin’, blowin’ kisses at that light-skinned ho (mwah)
Hate dark liquor, but I love a dark hoe
Adversity is nothin’, I’m destined to win, folk
So hate on me, nigga, go on, shit on my name
But even your kids sayin’, BANG, BANG, BANG!
And your whole hood sayin’, Grind Time Rap Gang
Wait another year, man, promise you will go insane
Your little girl’s skippin’ home, whistlin’ ‘It’s Jones’
Little cousins playin’ Nario, Pill and Big Slim
All of that’ll happen, I will never know or give a fuck
Grind Time Rap Gang, sucker duck, we what’s up.

XXL:What led to the “one monkey don’t stop no show” comment that was made about you at Birthday Bash in Atlanta?

Killer Mike: It’s the crab in the bucket mentality. Basically, he took it upon himself to do something that only Big Boi had the right to do. He ain’t the boss, he a gofer. It ain’t his muthafuckin’ business why I’m not there. He knew I was in Meridian, Miss., gettin’ some money, because the Birthday Bash don’t pay. His act could’ve caused me not to be able to feed my children.

XXL: So who is this “he”?

Killer Mike: I ain’t a tattletale. I don’t give a fuck if he did tell on me, I ain’t gon’ tell back on him. If he really a man and don’t like me as much as he pretended to in that statement, come out and tell the world.

XXL:Is that really his kids saying, “BANG, BANG, BANG,” on the song?

Killer Mike:Nah, that wasn’t his kid. I wouldn’t want the nameless one to lose face in front of his child. I’d never try to destroy no father in front of they child. That ain’t right.

XXL:What exactly is a “sidekick hoe”?

Killer Mike: Something other than the priority. Anything else, you’s a sidekick, you is something to play with and have fun with and send back home with some wet drawers and no money.

XXL: You mention something about a chain being bought. What’s that about?

Killer Mike:Why [Big Boi] ain’t offer to get you a chain? ’Cause you a chump, and he wouldn’t make his money back! If you ain’t makin’ money for a nigga, stay a homeboy and go get him a glass of Kool-Aid, and hope you can wear his chain.

XXL: What was Big Boi’s response to everything?

Killer Mike: He was pretty amused by it. He said, “I don’t give a fuck about that.” He said the deal with Virgin and JD is almost done, we gonna go buy matchin’ [Dodge] Chargers. You know what’s gonna be on the back of mine? A gorilla pissin’ on a monkey. -Justin Monroe

game_jesus
loading...

Game - "The Doctor's Advocate"

Issue: January/February 2007

I never said 'Thank You', and I took for granted
You let me in your house, and made me a part of your family
Now I'm eatin' with you, Eve, and Busta Rhymes
I wasn't starstruck, I was just glad to be signed
And even though sometimes I run loose
You still my homeboy Doc, I'd take a bullet for you
I'm not askin' you to take my side in the beef
But you told me it was okay to say "Fuck The Police"
Now its my turn to carry the torch
And I still got the chain that you wore on the cover of The Source
Remember when we got drunk, to do 'Start From Scratch'?
I told you.. you was like a father to me I meant that
Sittin' here lookin' at my platinum plaques
Thinkin' what the fuck am I without a Doctor Dre track
When Doc say its a wrap (its a wrap)
Its still Aftermath, and ain't nothing after that

XXL: How come you never said “Thank you” to Dr. Dre?

Game: I probably said, “Good lookin’,” but I never said, “Thank you.” We, as gangster rappers, don’t always say the kindest words. Where I come from, we say, “Good lookin’ out.” Thank you? We don’t talk like that.

XXL: It’s kinda hard to believe that you weren’t starstruck at first.

Game:That ain’t me. When I first got there [to Aftermath], I played it cool. I guess it didn’t hit me until a couple of days later.

XXL: What do you mean by “Sometimes I run loose?”

Game: I’ma loose cannon, and I do what I want to do. I was speaking about the 50 beef. Dre told me that it wasn’t a good idea to engage in that battle, and I did it anyway. I went against the grain, but I’m a man. I make my own decisions.

XXL: Can you explain that “Fuck the police” line?

Game: I was making fun of 50 Cent, subliminally. I was saying that Dre and N.W.A said, “Fuck the police,” so why can’t I say, “Fuck the Police”? It was a shot at 50. Take it as you want it.

XXL: What chain was Dre wearing on the cover of The Source?

Game: The chain that I now own. There was [an issue of The Source] where Dre was on [the cover] wearing a black T-shirt and this chain with a diamond in the middle. He didn’t actually give it to me. He passed it down to Mel-Man, and before Mel-Man bowed out of the Aftermath camp, he gave it to me. I’ma pass it down when I see fit.

XXL: Why were you gettin’ bent before recording “Start From Scratch?”

Game: We had just finished “How We Do.” After that, we got drunk. Dre put on this beat, and I just went in. He was like, “Why don’t you write a song when you’re drunk?” “You want me to write a song and perform it when I’m drunk?” So I started writing, and when you’re drunk, the truth comes out. I had Belvedere and fruit punch. Belvedere is my vodka of choice. It gets me right every time. It helped me make hits and millions of dollars. [Laughs]

XXL: You sound like you’re angling for an endorsement deal.

Game: Hey, man, put it in bold print.

XXL: So here’s the million-dollar question: What are you without a Dr. Dre track?

Game: I’ma rapper from Compton, California, slash gang member. —Thomas Golianopoulos

prodigy_10
loading...

Prodigy - Mobb Deep's "Pearly Gates"

Issue: June 2006

Now homie if I go to hell and you make to the pearly gates
Tell [the boss man] we got beef
And tell [his only son] I'mma see him when I see him
And when I see him, I'mma [beat him like a movie]
For leaving us out to dry on straight poverty
For not showing me no signs they watching over me
Look, we a new breed in 2006
We don't give a fuck about that [religious bullshit]
Nigga show me where the cash at
The nice whips with the three car garage to fit them shits
Man my life is painful, pray to angels
I'm praying to myself hoping I ain't got to spank you
My bullets shank you, and when my guns start cutting
Ain't nobody gon' save you
In the Bible times, they ain't had to deal with the shit
We dealing within, these survival times

XXL: This verse is like an E-ZPass to hell. What made you tackle such a touchy subject?

There may be some truth to religious topics, but I see through all the bullshit. I ain’t scared to talk about it. I wrote that verse to spark conversations like this. That way I don’t have to get all deep into it with my music. My tactic is to mix the medicine with the food. I say shocking stuff like this for the press to [be like], Why the hell you say that? Then I can break it down and give them medicine.

XXL:  Originally, you called out both God and Jesus by name. Why the edits?

Prodigy: The higher-ups at Interscope told me to change it. Apparently, I touched somebody in the office the wrong way. It’s cool, because I’ll break it all down in interviews to the point where interviewers will shut off their recorders. It’s censorship just like ’Pac got from C. DeLores Tucker and them. I wish those people would start that “Rap is negative” argument with me. I’d send them home crying.

XXL:  One of the things making your life painful is your battle with sickle-cell anemia. Do you blame God for the pain?

Prodigy: No. This verse is speaking to their version of God. I’m shittin’ on what they’re telling us it is. I could never shit on the real Creator, ’cause He or She created me. Whoever created all this shit is bigger than what they’re saying.

XXL:  Biblical times weren’t exactly easy—plagues and locusts can’t be fun. Those problems don’t impress you, huh?

Prodigy: Number one, you can’t even believe half the shit the Bible says. I don’t give a fuck. Fuck some locusts. I only care about right now. Fuck locusts, I’m dealing with niggas trying to kill me and the world lying to our kids. We’re living in a foul system where we have no choice but to conform. So what the fuck do I care about some locusts?

XXL: On “Suicidal Thoughts” Biggie said, “When I die, fuck it, I wanna go to hell.” Based off this verse, seems like you concur.

Prodigy: I actually had a conversation with Ma$e about this verse one day. He had the same reaction that I’m sure everybody else has. “Pray for that boy, he’s going to hell.” And I can’t care about where I’m going after I die. It’s all about right now. You either do good now, or you don’t. Fuck heaven and hell. Quote that. I want people to come at me. —Matt Barone

pusha_t_1
loading...

Pusha T - Dre's "Chevy Ridin' High (Remix)"

Issue: October 2006

If he claim king and he claim best then I guess you can call me God
There’s none higher, none flyer
The kingpin is back, Louis Vuitton frames hide the face of the supplier
Peekaboo, take a look at what these kilos do
Air-condition the Jacob watch, it’s Freon blue
A hundred thousand, it should come with some mileage, too
Give me the option to get it serviced at Jiffy Lube
Three years gone, Feds tapping the phone
Rappers downloading my style, I’m feeling like a ringtone
(Yiiiiiiick!) The hiatus they tried to mini-me me/Triple beams to BAPE jeans, they’ll never be me
Re-Up Gang known as the kilo shoppers
Ridin’ Chevys give us room to reload choppers
Gourmet beef serving niggas Fillet Oscar
So many bitches screamin’ we should promote operas.

XXL: Let’s get this out the way, what in the hell is “Fillet Oscar”?

Pusha T: That’s my favorite dish! It’s filet mignon served with crabmeat on top of it…

XXL: Wait, that’s an actual dish?

Pusha T: Fuck yeah! C’mon, man, I don’t just rap to be rappin’, my nigga. We don’t just make words link. I will send you a menu just in case you want to see. But it’s definitely…definitely a muthafuckin’ dish.

XXL:Aight, now back to business. So did you have a set plan on what you wanted to address before you went in the booth?

Pusha T: Nah, basically everything that I’m doing is done out of the spirit of competition. Even when writing that verse, I didn’t know who was gonna be on the track. But it’s more about being the best.

XXL: So in that case, were you referring to T.I. and Weezy with the opening line?

Pusha T: Nah. Those guys are doing their thing, and they have great nicknames. Like I said, it’s all done out of the spirit of competition. Those guys have made their mark, and I want a nickname, too. So that’s mine…God [laughs].

XXL: That might take a while to catch on, homie.

Pusha T: Nah, man, it’s just about being as obnoxious as you can be in this game. And that’s what this verse is basically about—just being obnoxious. Staking my claim, you know what I’m sayin’?

XXL: Okay, God, who’s out to mini-me you?

Pusha T: Hey, man, it’s evident. I’m slapping people on the wrist with these. And I’m letting everyone live and reevaluate what they’ve been doing—when they’re biting the slang, biting the style… I’m letting them live. During the hiatus…I mean, damn! I’ve heard everybody jacking ad-libs… Yiiiiiiick! To the style, to the look, to everything. We’ve been doing this since ’02, ’03 and it’s like people coming out these days acting like they’ve reinvented the wheel.

XXL: So that’s why you said rappers are downloading your style, huh?

Pusha T: I’m your favorite rapper’s role model. It’s just evident and apparent. You can see how these platinum and multiplatinum guys have been in the game for a long time. Now in ’06, everybody is rapping “birds.” It’s crazy to me. I think the Clipse have been influential on a lot of what’s going on today.

XXL: That’s a bold statement.

Pusha T: I just feel that hip-hop is dummied-down. Everybody dummies down at some point. I just think that a lot of the hip-hop that’s coming out now is 100 percent dummied-down. And of course that makes it easier for a lot of the ignorance to be understood.—Sean A. Malcolm

More From XXL