SWAP MEETS, STICKY GREEN, AND BAD TRAFFIC
LYRIC FROM SONG: “STILL D.R.E.” ON ALBUM: 2001 BY ARTIST: DR. DRE
Three things that I strongly associate with the city of Los Angeles, California, or the particular neighborhood within which I live, are frequent gatherings where people buy, sell, and trade goods; marijuana of a particular texture and color; and congested roadways.
SLANG ON THE DOUBLE NINE
LYRIC FROM SONG: “1ST OF THA MONTH” ON ALBUM: E 1999 ETERNAL BY ARTIST: BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY
Illegal drugs are sold on E. 99th Street south of Interstate 90 in the northeastern part of the city of Cleveland, Ohio.
HIT LAKE SHORE, GIRLS GO ALL CRAZY
LYRIC FROM SONG: “DRIVE SLOW” ON ALBUM: LATE REGISTRATION BY ARTIST: KANYE WEST
When we arrive at a major expressway along the eastern border of the city of Chicago, Illinois, that runs along the western coast of Lake Michigan, females become excited to see us and our nice cars.
I’M FROM THE LOU AND I’M PROUD
LYRIC FROM SONG: “COUNTRY GRAMMAR” ON ALBUM: COUNTRY GRAMMAR BY ARTIST: NELLY
I am not embarrassed to claim to be from the city of St. Louis, Missouri, in the midwestern United States, even though you may think a person who is a rapper would most like to be associated with the East or West Coast.
PEOPLE WANNA CRUISE CRENSHAW ON SUNDAY
LYRIC FROM SONG: “I WISH” ON ALBUM: I WISH BY ARTIST: SKEE-LO
Some like to aimlessly drive in their cars back and forth on a major boulevard in the city of Los Angeles, California, to speak out the car window to friends, play their stereo systems, show off their cars, and wind down the weekend before going back to work on Monday.
ATL HOE, DON’T DISRESPECT IT
LYRIC FROM SONG: “GET LOW” ON ALBUM: KINGS OF CRUNK BY ARTIST: LIL JON & THE EAST SIDE BOYZ
I will call you a name as a form of persuasion to prevent you from thinking or saying bad things about the city of Atlanta, Georgia, because it is a city I am proud of.
I’M FROM THE BAY, WHERE WE HYPHY AND GO DUMB
LYRIC FROM SONG: “TELL ME WHEN TO GO” ON ALBUM: MY GHETTO REPORT CARD BY ARTIST: E-40
I am from the Oakland/San Francisco, California, area, which is a location where people engage in hyperactive behavior and possibly foolish yet amusing and fun activities without regard to their appearance and for the sake of enjoyment.
WENT TO JACOB AN HOUR AFTER I GOT MY ADVANCE
LYRIC FROM SONG: “TOUCH THE SKY” ON ALBUM: LATE REGISTRATION BY ARTIST: KANYE WEST
Shortly after I signed a deal with a record company, I made my way to a shop owned by Jacob the Jeweler, who outfits celebrities and sports stars with expensive fashion accessories, because I am now able to afford such things after receiving money in exchange for future record sales.
I REP THE DIRTY DIRTY WHERE THEY MOVE ‘CAINE
LYRIC FROM SONG: “TURN IT UP” ON ALBUM: THE SOUND OF REVENGE BY ARTIST: CHAMILLIONAIRE
I am an ambassador from an area in the southern United States referred to as the Dirty South, and this is a place where cocaine is received, trafficked, and sold, because it is one of the shorter routes by sea from South America to the continental United States.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I’D LIKE TO THANK R. A. Montgomery and Edward Packard for making reading books enjoyable; the producers of the television show In Living Color for initially exposing me to rap music; MC Hammer for putting his heart into Too Legit to Quit; Pro Set for releasing Yo! MTV Raps trading cards; Michael Nankin and David Wechter for the movie Midnight Madness; Chris, Ryan, and Craig from wE=MCs2 for some inspirational studio and freestyle sessions; everyone who ever helped me with, contributed to, or visited UnderstandRap.com for their support; Abrams books for believing in and publishing this book; my friend Jon for convincing me it would be a good idea to spend a couple hours in the spring of 1998 watching the movie House Party and writing down every slang term we heard and didn’t understand; Tom, John, and Dan for being great friends and helping to shape my sense of humor; Mom and Dad for their unconditional love and support; and my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
DO YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND RAP?
Rap songs are renowned for their double entendres, clever turns of phrase, and general ingenuity, so things don’t always make sense on the first (or fourth) listen. Enter UNDERSTAND RAP, a useful pop-cultural reference volume, based on the website of the same name, that explains all the confusing lyrics and terms used in rap songs via language that even your elderly relations can understand.
WILLIAM BUCKHOLZ is a technical writer living in Seattle, WA.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT
WWW.UNDERSTANDRAP.COM
Understand Rap Page 6
