J
Jersey8five6
Guest
lyrically, my favorite song is Big Pun's You Ain't A Killer. to me, it's like music's equivelant to a horror movie. but none of that Texas Chainsaw, cheap thrill horrocore ****.
this **** is more on some real, deep, Silence of the Lambs ****. if u can appreciate Anthony Hopkins performance in that, u should be able to appreciate pun's performance in this.
i think it's a great track if u want to demonstrate what hip hop is about. of course with Pun, u know u'll get grade a wordplay, and an effortless flow (or in academic terms, meter.)
the thing about "you ain't a killer" is that on the surface, it seems like its just u'r everyday battle rap. it exemplifies everything hip hop has ever stood for. the braggin and boastin, the machismo, the insecurity, the sadness, the happiness, the competitiveness. it can all be found in this track.
but then when u take a closer look beneath the surface, it's alot more than any battle rap. in fact, once u analyze it, it's kind of insulting to even think of it as a battle rap.
i remember a while ago, Fat Joe said that the thing that made Nas so ill (on Illmatic) was that, up until then, most street rappers (including Joe, he admits it himself) weren't really lyrical like that. Nas was on some real street ****, but his approach was so different. while Joe and everybody else were sayin **** like "Don't look at me or i'll ****in rip u'r head off!" tryin to intimidate mother****ers by yellin at them. Nas just came on another level, to where he didn't need to scare people, his rhymes got the point across perfectly. Joe's example of this was Nas' line "I sneak an Uzi on the Island/ in my army jacket linin"
i think the same could be applied to Pun, especially on "...killer." if u notice, his first verse doesn't even have any curses until the very last line. and even that curse is there for a reason! it emphasizes the degree and intensity that he's speaking in. if u take that curse out, it just wouldn't have the same impact. and the whole song is like that. it just shows how much thought and passion Pun put into his rhymes.
the song starts out with Pun's cry for help, with the line "The harsh realities of life is takin toll/ even Jesus christ forsake my soul/ please tell me what price to pay to make it home!" this line sets up the first verse beuatifully. the whole first verse is basically Pun breakin down what exactly would lead someone to live the lifestyle of a "killer," and halfway through, he becomes one.
the second verse is obviously Pun describin the mentality of killer. it goes into great detail about what marks a victim, how the victim suffers, and just how plain evil the Killer is. the verse glorifies the killer, but its neccessary to set up the next verse.
then the third verse comes in, and the first thing u notice is the tone changes drastically since the second verse. no more glorifying the life, no more crying for help. the mentality of insecurity and despair returns, but this time The Killer has kind of accepted his role. it comes back to describin the street life, and the paranoia associated with living it. now The Killer is on top, but is livin in fear of gettin "caught up." that's why he's runnin around with "half a million in the stash, passport with the gas..." at this point in his life, he feels no remorse for what he does ("now i'm strictly out for cream/ doin things to fiends i doubt you'll ever dream") but at the same time, it's kind of complicated, because he regrets how his life turned out, and admits that he turned out this way because of his mistakes ("could've went to college and been a mathematician/ bad decisions/ kept me out the game...")
after all three verses, if u pay attention to the hook, it gives u an idea of the reason for the track. Pun basically wrote it as an open letter to all the wanna be tough guys in the rap game. that's why he says "You ain't a killer/ u still learnin how to walk..."
lyrics are underneath the vid. some of the words don't even look like they'll rhyme when u just read it, but when u hear pun say it, from his pronounciation to his emphasis of the syllables, u hear how it works.
i got em out of the "Endangered Species" booklet, so they're official. i color coded the rhyme schemes (the pattern is Red, green, yellow, blue, purple) notice how throughout the song, he'll be blendin two, sometimes three different rhyme schemes all at once. then sometimes he has mini schemes in between on big scheme (example: the use of "people" and "chico" in the beginning of the third verse.)
enjoy
this **** is more on some real, deep, Silence of the Lambs ****. if u can appreciate Anthony Hopkins performance in that, u should be able to appreciate pun's performance in this.
i think it's a great track if u want to demonstrate what hip hop is about. of course with Pun, u know u'll get grade a wordplay, and an effortless flow (or in academic terms, meter.)
the thing about "you ain't a killer" is that on the surface, it seems like its just u'r everyday battle rap. it exemplifies everything hip hop has ever stood for. the braggin and boastin, the machismo, the insecurity, the sadness, the happiness, the competitiveness. it can all be found in this track.
but then when u take a closer look beneath the surface, it's alot more than any battle rap. in fact, once u analyze it, it's kind of insulting to even think of it as a battle rap.
i remember a while ago, Fat Joe said that the thing that made Nas so ill (on Illmatic) was that, up until then, most street rappers (including Joe, he admits it himself) weren't really lyrical like that. Nas was on some real street ****, but his approach was so different. while Joe and everybody else were sayin **** like "Don't look at me or i'll ****in rip u'r head off!" tryin to intimidate mother****ers by yellin at them. Nas just came on another level, to where he didn't need to scare people, his rhymes got the point across perfectly. Joe's example of this was Nas' line "I sneak an Uzi on the Island/ in my army jacket linin"
i think the same could be applied to Pun, especially on "...killer." if u notice, his first verse doesn't even have any curses until the very last line. and even that curse is there for a reason! it emphasizes the degree and intensity that he's speaking in. if u take that curse out, it just wouldn't have the same impact. and the whole song is like that. it just shows how much thought and passion Pun put into his rhymes.
the song starts out with Pun's cry for help, with the line "The harsh realities of life is takin toll/ even Jesus christ forsake my soul/ please tell me what price to pay to make it home!" this line sets up the first verse beuatifully. the whole first verse is basically Pun breakin down what exactly would lead someone to live the lifestyle of a "killer," and halfway through, he becomes one.
the second verse is obviously Pun describin the mentality of killer. it goes into great detail about what marks a victim, how the victim suffers, and just how plain evil the Killer is. the verse glorifies the killer, but its neccessary to set up the next verse.
then the third verse comes in, and the first thing u notice is the tone changes drastically since the second verse. no more glorifying the life, no more crying for help. the mentality of insecurity and despair returns, but this time The Killer has kind of accepted his role. it comes back to describin the street life, and the paranoia associated with living it. now The Killer is on top, but is livin in fear of gettin "caught up." that's why he's runnin around with "half a million in the stash, passport with the gas..." at this point in his life, he feels no remorse for what he does ("now i'm strictly out for cream/ doin things to fiends i doubt you'll ever dream") but at the same time, it's kind of complicated, because he regrets how his life turned out, and admits that he turned out this way because of his mistakes ("could've went to college and been a mathematician/ bad decisions/ kept me out the game...")
after all three verses, if u pay attention to the hook, it gives u an idea of the reason for the track. Pun basically wrote it as an open letter to all the wanna be tough guys in the rap game. that's why he says "You ain't a killer/ u still learnin how to walk..."
lyrics are underneath the vid. some of the words don't even look like they'll rhyme when u just read it, but when u hear pun say it, from his pronounciation to his emphasis of the syllables, u hear how it works.
i got em out of the "Endangered Species" booklet, so they're official. i color coded the rhyme schemes (the pattern is Red, green, yellow, blue, purple) notice how throughout the song, he'll be blendin two, sometimes three different rhyme schemes all at once. then sometimes he has mini schemes in between on big scheme (example: the use of "people" and "chico" in the beginning of the third verse.)
enjoy
[Verse 1]
The harsh realities of life is takin toll/
for even Jesus Christ, forsake my soul/
please tell me what price to pay to make it home/
take control/
i'm makin dough/
but not enough to blow/
J.O.'s, they lust my soul/
but Ayo, i don't trust a soul/
that's all i know and need to/
these evil streets'll meet u/
halfway, than eat u/
alive/
tryin to survive illegal/
i leave u/
lost/
mount u on a cross/
whip u like a horse
sacrifice u'r life/
to a higher force/
than i stomp u'r corpse/
it's the bronx of course/
recognize the accent/
one of the last livin/
still in action/
general assassin/
catchin any wreck/
blastin any tec/
smashin any chest/
passin any test/
charles manson in the flesh/
any last requests/
before u meet u'r maker?/
sow what u reap or wake up/
shakin up a storm like Anita Baker/
i'll take ya/
straight to hell and fill u'r heart with hate/
incarcerate/
your fate/
in Satan's fiery lake/
then i lock the gate!/
make no mistake/
The **** is Real as Joe/
we follow the killer's code/
when we come for you/
tell me, where will u go?/
nowhere to run, hide, i'll find u n silence u'r scream/
and even if u kill me, i'll still be in u'r ****in dreams!
[hook]
you ain't a killer/
u still learnin how to walk/
from new york to cali all the reall n----s carry chalk
mark u for death
won't even talk
that east to west crap
from watts to LeFrak
it ain't where u'r from, it's where's ya gat
[Verse 2]
u made a grave mistake/
shouldn't have come here, u changed u'r fate/
u'r brains'll make/
a debut/
on the table/
when i raise the stakes/
the pain is great/
but only for a second/
it starts strong, the lessens/
just when u restin/
the Armageddon/
sets in!/
with so much stress (T.S.!)/
Blessed him/
with no regrets (yes!)/
welcome to hell son! the threshold of death!/
face the serpent/
i blaze u'r person/
u'll get laced for certain/
even jakes don't trace the work in/
from close the case, to [close the] curtains!/
i'm hurtin/
heads severely/
really/
tryin to bring the pain/
there's nothing more satisfying/
then when u cryin/
screamin my name!/
it's not a game/
it's Purple Rain/
floods and blood stains/
Big Pun's my thug name/
bustin my gun, that's my love thang/
i slit u'r Jug[ular] vein/
snatch u'r adams apple/
john madden tackle/
u'r corpse/
than hoist it on the cross/
at the Tabernacle/
that'll have to/
hurt/
i'll work u'r body till it burst/
then curse tu vida/
like a brujeria verse/
i'm worse/
than anything u ever been through/
sick in the head and mental/
essentially/
meant to be/
the sole threat against u/
when u awaken/
u'r manhood'll be taken/
fakin/
like u satan/
when i'm the rhymin abomination!
[hook]
[verse 3]
It's hard to analyze/
which guys/
is spies/
be advised,/
people/
we recognize/
who lies/
it's all in the eyes,/
chico/
we read em/
and see em/
for what they are/
D's in undercover cars/
takin my picture like i'm a ****in star!!!/
i'm up to par/
my game is in a smash/
half a million in the stash/
passport with the gas/
first name and last/
ask anybody/
if my men are rowdy/
give me the minnie shottie/
i'll body/
a n---a for a penny probably!/
i'm obligated/
to anything, if it's crime related/
if it shine, i'll take it/
still in my prime, and i finally made it!"/
i hate the fact that i'm the last edition/
robbin-ya-stash magician/
could've went to college and been a mathematician/
bad decisions/
kept me out the game/
now i'm strictly out for cream/
doin things to fiends/
i doubt u'd ever dream/
my teams/
the meanest thing/
u ever seen/
measured by the heavens kings/
down to the devils mezanine/
i never screamed so loud/
i'm proud/
to be alive/
most heads die by 25/
or catch a quick 3-to5/
so be advised/
the street's full of surprises/
it's not who's the livest/
when the survivor's who's the wisest!
[Hook 2x]
The harsh realities of life is takin toll/
for even Jesus Christ, forsake my soul/
please tell me what price to pay to make it home/
take control/
i'm makin dough/
but not enough to blow/
J.O.'s, they lust my soul/
but Ayo, i don't trust a soul/
that's all i know and need to/
these evil streets'll meet u/
halfway, than eat u/
alive/
tryin to survive illegal/
i leave u/
lost/
mount u on a cross/
whip u like a horse
sacrifice u'r life/
to a higher force/
than i stomp u'r corpse/
it's the bronx of course/
recognize the accent/
one of the last livin/
still in action/
general assassin/
catchin any wreck/
blastin any tec/
smashin any chest/
passin any test/
charles manson in the flesh/
any last requests/
before u meet u'r maker?/
sow what u reap or wake up/
shakin up a storm like Anita Baker/
i'll take ya/
straight to hell and fill u'r heart with hate/
incarcerate/
your fate/
in Satan's fiery lake/
then i lock the gate!/
make no mistake/
The **** is Real as Joe/
we follow the killer's code/
when we come for you/
tell me, where will u go?/
nowhere to run, hide, i'll find u n silence u'r scream/
and even if u kill me, i'll still be in u'r ****in dreams!
[hook]
you ain't a killer/
u still learnin how to walk/
from new york to cali all the reall n----s carry chalk
mark u for death
won't even talk
that east to west crap
from watts to LeFrak
it ain't where u'r from, it's where's ya gat
[Verse 2]
u made a grave mistake/
shouldn't have come here, u changed u'r fate/
u'r brains'll make/
a debut/
on the table/
when i raise the stakes/
the pain is great/
but only for a second/
it starts strong, the lessens/
just when u restin/
the Armageddon/
sets in!/
(note: Armageddon is a member of TS, so this line serves as a double entendre. "Armageddon" representing the victim's death, but at the same time he's sayin when he's done with u, he'll throw u to the wolves, in this case his boys in the squad)
left him/
with so much stress (T.S.!)/
Blessed him/
with no regrets (yes!)/
welcome to hell son! the threshold of death!/
face the serpent/
i blaze u'r person/
u'll get laced for certain/
even jakes don't trace the work in/
from close the case, to [close the] curtains!/
i'm hurtin/
heads severely/
really/
tryin to bring the pain/
there's nothing more satisfying/
then when u cryin/
screamin my name!/
it's not a game/
it's Purple Rain/
floods and blood stains/
Big Pun's my thug name/
bustin my gun, that's my love thang/
i slit u'r Jug[ular] vein/
snatch u'r adams apple/
john madden tackle/
u'r corpse/
than hoist it on the cross/
at the Tabernacle/
that'll have to/
hurt/
i'll work u'r body till it burst/
then curse tu vida/
like a brujeria verse/
i'm worse/
than anything u ever been through/
sick in the head and mental/
essentially/
meant to be/
the sole threat against u/
when u awaken/
u'r manhood'll be taken/
fakin/
like u satan/
when i'm the rhymin abomination!
[hook]
[verse 3]
It's hard to analyze/
which guys/
is spies/
be advised,/
people/
we recognize/
who lies/
it's all in the eyes,/
chico/
we read em/
and see em/
for what they are/
D's in undercover cars/
takin my picture like i'm a ****in star!!!/
i'm up to par/
my game is in a smash/
half a million in the stash/
passport with the gas/
first name and last/
ask anybody/
if my men are rowdy/
give me the minnie shottie/
i'll body/
a n---a for a penny probably!/
i'm obligated/
to anything, if it's crime related/
if it shine, i'll take it/
still in my prime, and i finally made it!"/
i hate the fact that i'm the last edition/
robbin-ya-stash magician/
could've went to college and been a mathematician/
bad decisions/
kept me out the game/
now i'm strictly out for cream/
doin things to fiends/
i doubt u'd ever dream/
my teams/
the meanest thing/
u ever seen/
measured by the heavens kings/
down to the devils mezanine/
i never screamed so loud/
i'm proud/
to be alive/
most heads die by 25/
or catch a quick 3-to5/
so be advised/
the street's full of surprises/
it's not who's the livest/
when the survivor's who's the wisest!
[Hook 2x]
