A suburban housewife’s guide to mid-90’s gangsta rap music

Alright, ladies. Before delving into the realms of true gangsta rap, we need to familiarize ourselves with a few key terms. Dictionary.com is a fine source of reference for such an endeavor.

gangsta (gāng’sta) n, adj
(Black English) a member of a youth gang

rap (rāp) n. Slang
A talk, conversation, or discussion.
A form of popular music developed especially in African-American urban communities and characterized by spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics with a strong rhythmic accompaniment.
A composition or performance of such music.

nigga n., [nig-ga]
(ethnic slur) extremely offensive name for a colored person; [syn: negro]

-izzle suffix, slang
African American English suffix used for pop-culture hip hop slang and by the Linguistic expert, Tomas Frederiksen. It is sometimes called “Snoop speak” or “Snoop slang” because it was popularized by Snoop Dogg, although several other musicians have used similar slang long before him. The “izz” infix technique is a similar form of this practice.

With our new understanding of the culture, let’s have a look at some of the top record albums.

Dr. Dre – The Chronic

This introspective release chronicles the doctor’s battle with testicular cancer.

Let’s break down these phat tracks, shall we?

The Chronic

chronic [ˈkronik] adjective
1.(especially of a disease) lasting a long time
Example: a chronic illness.
2. Marijuana, which is prescribed for pain management to those with such illnesses.

 An annotated sampling of the lyrics:

This is dedicated ta da niggaz dat been down from day one

DRE is keeping it real by giving recognition to those sharing his cancerous affliction

Welcome to Death Row

Although testicular cancer can be fatal, there are many treatment options. Obviously, Dre is feeling pessimistic concerning his future health

Like we always do about this time

A person with such an illness is often prescribed a structured drug regimen.

Ha ha ha yeah

There’s the positive attitude that’ll get you through this!

9-2’s

The author of this article is unfamiliar with this term. Perhaps it is a clinical term from the kind doctor

Death Row Records

 In mythology, the Grim Reaper (Death) records the activities of those on his list

Creepin’ while ya sleepin’

The morphine and other pain management drugs often cause one’s skin to ‘crawl’

Niggaz wit attitudes, Naw low 

See the above definition of ‘Nigga’

Niggaz on a muthafickin’ mission

 Testicular Cancer Awareness is a grand mission, indeed

Fuk Wit Dre Day (And Everybody’s Celebratin’)

Ever the dedicated physician, Dr. Dre is continuing his practice at the free clinic, even at the height of his personal travail.

An annotated sampling of the lyrics:

Ha, yeah, hell yeah, ha know what I’m sayin

Inner city medical doctors are often frustrated by patients’ lack of compliance.

Yeah, Mista Busta, where the fuck ya at?

How is your treatment progressing, Mr. Busta?

Can’t scrap a lick, so I know ya got your gat

I seem to be unable to acquire a tissue sample for culturing.

Your dick on hard, from fuckin your road dogs

You seem to have gonorrhea, sir.

The hood you threw up with, niggaz you grew up with

We need a sampling of the vomitus from your hat (seemingly used as a receptacle). You’re friends should also be  looked at.

Don’t even respect your ass

Many sex workers use the neighborhood (‘hood) clinic as their sole source of medical care. Dr. Dre is concerned for the high risk lifestyle these people lead.

That’s why it’s time for the doctor, to check your ass, nigga

A rectal exam is made more comfortable by friendly banter.

Used to be my homey, used to be my ace
Now I wanna slap the taste out yo mouth

Dre is upset when a fellow doctor is leaving the clinic for a higher-income (bling) private practice, thereby lowering the care available to the poor (G’s).

Cypress Hill – Black Sunday

Cypress Hill is a mexican-american (‘Chicano‘) gangster rapping group formed by the talented grandchildren of migrant workers.

Black Sunday was the last major dust storm of 1935, and the damage it caused was not calculated for months (PBS.org.) The Dust Bowl storms especially effected the Esé
migrant workers, who fed and clothed their families by harvesting the white man’s crops.

Always keeping with reality, these hombres share the story of their lives, familias, and pay tribute to the sacrifices of their predecessors.

Let’s break down these phat tracks, shall we?

Ain’t Goin Out Like That

This ‘track’ describes the living and working conditions of ‘hombres’. The band, as many other aspiring Chicano rappers, worked in the construction industry, building luxury condos (‘cribs‘) in which they aspire to someday live. The work is difficult and often dangerous.

 An annotated sampling of the lyrics: 

Let’s kick it ese

‘Ese’, pronounced ‘essay’ is Spanish for ‘friend’. Use by non-Mexicans may be interpreted as an informal attempt to bridge the language gap.

COMMIN’ OUT DA SLUMS!!!
It’s da hoodlums

The commute to work can be treacherous for inner-city young Eses.

I’m pullin’ my gat out on all you bums
So bring it on when you wanna come fight this

Many indigents can become violent when one doesn’t respond to their monetary requests.

Outlaw I’ll kick ya like Billy Ray Cypress Hill

Mr. Hill was heavily influenced by the soul-stirring rhymes of the great Billy Ray Cyrus

Kill I’ll bust that grill
Grab my gat and load up the steel

There’s a reason why construction work is referred to as a hard-labor profession.

And if you wanna get drastic
I’ll pull out my blasted glock automatic

Sir, I was not tardy for work this morning. Here, look at my gosh-darn digital watch.

Synthetic material bury your blocks n mortar

These building materials are substandard and do not meet city carbon-neutral requirements.

Headed down to da Mexican border
Smokin’ that smellie, Northern Cali,

Urban areas of California are stricken with air pollution (‘smog’), which is especially irritating the the respiratory systems of the ‘Chicano’, due to the flared nostrils common among the race. Many spend their weekends in Mexican resorts, where the air is better due to the lack of any viable industry.

 Insane In The Brain

This is an English-language recording of the song originally released in their homeland, ‘Loco en la Cabeza’ (lit.: Crazy in the Head).

To the one on the flam
Boy your temper just toss that ham
In the fryin’ pan
Like spam

Feel done when I come in slam
Damn
I feel like the son of sam
Don’t make me wreck shit hectic

Next to the chair got me goin’ like General Electric
EEEN!
The lights are blinking
I’m thinking
It’s all over when I go out drinking
Oh, makin’ my mind slow,
That’s why I don’t fuck wit da big four-o
Bro’, I got ta maintain
`Cause a nigga like me is goin’ insane

Many of the clever alliterations were lost in translation, as rhyme and rhythm were given precedence over meaning. The original espanol lyrics are:

Soy uno con mi familia
aunque discutimos a veces,
nosotros gozo siempre de la compañerismo
sobre una comida agradable del lomo de cerdo asado.

Cuando soy cansado,
y él es la hora para el siesta,
mis 12 hermanos y hermanas y el
snuggle de I junta con gusto en el colchón pelado.
Nos olvidamos a menudo de cómo es afortunado estamos verdad.

Tenemos electricidad en nuestro casero,
incluso si es no fiable.
Cuando sale la energía, bebo tequila.
No debo beber tanto.
Tequila me hace estúpido y controvertido.
 Está loco beber al exceso.
Uno quién complace regularmente debe estar loco en la cabeza.

The literal translation is:

I am one with my family
Although we sometimes argue,
We always enjoy each other’s company
over a nice meal of roasted pork loin.

When I am tired, and it is time for sleep,
my 12 brothers and sisters and I
snuggle together warmly on the bare mattress.
We often forget how fortunate we truly are.

We do have electricity in our home,
even if it is unreliable.
When the power goes out, I drink tequila.
I should not drink so much.
Tequila makes me stupid and  argumentative.
It is crazy to drink to excess.
One who indulges regularly must be crazy in the head.

Ice Cube – Death Certificate

 An embellished coming of age sage, based on singer/song-rapper Mr. Cube’s own journals.

Let’s break down these phat tracks, shall we?

My Summer Vacation

This emotional track is a collage of outtakes from Mr. Cube’s various summer vactions.

 An annotated sampling of the lyrics:

 Damn G, the spot’s gettin hot

Golly, father. Your chosen vacation destination is overly crowded.

So how the fuck am I supposed to make a knot?

I need further tutelage on proper seamanship, namely nautical knots. (This lyric was retrieved from the unrealized song “Rollin’ wif my Boyscout Posse 187”

Police looking at niggaz through a microscope
In L.A. everybody and they momma sell dope
They trying to stop it
So what the fuck can I do to make a profit?

Law enforcement officers are mistrustful of negros (‘niggaz’), due the their tendency to trade in illicit drugs. It is difficult to lead a life of crime when ‘the man’ insists on enforcing the unfair laws of our great democratic nation.

Catch a flight to St. Louis
That’s cool, cause nobody knew us

We take an airplane trip to the fine state of Missouri, where we’ve never been.

We stepped off the plane
Four gang bangers, professional crack slangers
Rented a car at wholesale

My fellow short-order cooks and I exit the jet in an orderly manner, and proceed to the car rental counter, discount coupons in hand.

Drove to the ghetto, and checked in a motel
Unpacked and I grab the three-eighty

We drive into the city and acquire a room at an inexpensive hotel.
After I re-fold my clothes and put them into the provided chipboard dresser, I check my email on the computer (380SX) kindly provided by the establishment.

Cause where we stayin, niggaz look shady
But they can’t fade South Central

The weather is nice and cool here, but I am homesick for my friends.

 

 Color Blind

This ‘track’ uses a traffic jam as a metaphorical tool for illustrating the importance of family.

 An annotated sampling of the lyrics:

Here’s another day at the stoplight
I’m lookin in my mirror so I can see who can see me
South Central is puttin Ice Cube to the test

South Central (a colloquial name for the city of Los Angeles, California), is notorious for its frustrating traffic jams, which cause many people to be late for their jobs.

With four brothas in the SS
I can’t go around and can’t back up
So I gotta peep game layin in the cut
Is this a jack or a kidnap?

My younger brothers are in the car, as I’m supposed to drop them off at school before work. They are terribly bored, waiting for the traffic to clear, and so I am. We play a card game to pass the time.

Since I’m never ever slippin I fully strapped
I grab my gat out the glove
Now, do these fools got a problem with me?
Or do they got love?

This game is growing old, but I have an assortment of travel games in the glove-box.
Will that please my brothers? I think it will!

 For a more detailed education on the fad of rapping music, please see this encyclopedia article. 

If you suspect your child may be involved in rapping-gangster related activities, refer to this handy reference chart of gang-signs.

Yo, yo, yo! Special thanks to my homeboy, Devizzle! Much love, my brutha!