Train of Thought
French Montana's "Have Mercy" Featuring Beanie Sigel, Jadakiss and Styles P
Words: Emmanuel Maduakolam
Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in the Fall 2016 issue of of XXL Magazine, on stands now.

VERSE THREE:

“This goes out to those who choose to use disrespectful views/On the king of P-H- I-L-L-Y, represent the 2-1-5, 24/7, 3-6-5, 211s, 187s, who wan’ die?/Six million ways, which one you wan’ try?/Rest in peace to B-I-double G-I/Who wan’ trouble? Put you to sleep like a double G high/What’s beef? Twenty akhis strapped like a jihad/See me, slippin’ in the streets, never be I/I creep, stay low, and never cease fire/I keep extra gats for extra cats/Yes, it’s the Mac and I’m back to put the grip on rap/The most crazy/Sigel baby/MAC-10 and Eagle crazy/ Renegade like Slim Shady/That Mossberg 12 gauge bang like M-80, cause damage/ God damn it, you can’t stand it/Take heed to French Montana and don’t panic/I’m a boss in these streets like William and Rihmeek/That’s ball game/Flow tight like denim from Balmain”

XXL: What do you mean on the line, “Who want trouble? Put you to sleep like a double G high”?

Beanie Sigel: It’s a high. Double G is the strong milligrams of Xanax.

For the first half of the verse, you paid homage to The Notorious B.I.G. by using some of his cadence.

Yup, right before I got shot I [made a song] with Jahlil Beats. He flipped The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Kick in the Door” and I used the cadence to the flow of [the original song]. That’s how Big started it. [Raps] “This goes out for those that choose to use/Disrespectful views on the King of N-Y/Fuck that, why try, throw bleach in your eye,” I used certain parts of his record and the pattern that he rapped.

When did you record over The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Kick in the Door” with Jahlil?

I recorded it [with Jahlil] at the end of 2013, early 2014.

What is your favorite line that you spit on “Have Mercy”?

I think [it’s], “I’m a boss in these streets like William and Rihmeek/That’s ball game/Flow tight like denim from Balmain.” Rick Ross and Meek Mill, their government names are William Roberts and [Robert] Rihmeek Williams. They also have a record called “Ima Boss.” With Balmain, they make skinny tight ass jeans.

There are so many double entendres. How do you come up with everything?

They just come; some people talented and some people are gifted. It’s a gift. Some records I got quadruple entendres. I was always taught when you read a word, try and look beyond that word ‘til you find the origin of that word and where that word come from. It’s called etymology. Etymology is the study of words and their origins. So, that’s why when I say certain things I can be a little wittier and clever than the average person because my lexicon is broad.

Check out more from XXL’s Fall 2016 issue including our Gucci Mane cover story interview, Young Thug's cover story interview and Young M.A in Show & Prove

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