Monday, March 26, 2012

Moniques Room- Fred the Godson Decoded

"I Told you it's gonna cost you misplace things sorry if I lost you
I f-cked your best friend purposely
my heart is Teflon how you dare try hurting me
I f-ck shorty you hate I told her work with me
And she do it better than you b*tch
That’s word to me
We send the vids to your Facebook
I wish I would of seen how your face looked
While I’m violating, your a pretender
You caught amnesia, you don’t remember?"
This is a very powerful song that many people who just got out of a bad relationship, or were cheated on can relate to. Fred the Godson says he had sex with his ex's bestfriend and then refers to how he sent videos of the sexual activity to her facebook. He is saying that he is over her and he deserves better. He ends the song with "F*ck you, I hate you"!




Review By Ashlee

1+1 Beyonce Decoded

"If I aint got nothing, I got you
If I aint got something I don't give a damn, cause I got it with you
I don't know much about algebra, but I know one plus one equals two
And it's me and you, thats all we'll have when the world is thru

Cause baby we aint got nothing without love
Darling you got enough for the both of us
So come on baby, make love to me"

This is a song from Beyonce's latest album titled "Four". This is a very emotional romantic song that is favored by many. Many people assume that she is speaking to her husband Jay-Z. She is saying that he is all she needs even if the world were ending.

Review By ashlee

Aladdin reference

aint know she would be bagging
a lad in copper shoes
who would go bananas for a boo
shoot im looking for my jasmine.

these lyrics make a clever reference to the disney movie aladdin. at first sight, these lyrics are saying that a women succesfully approached a man,adorning copper foamposites, a popular sneaker made by nike. the man she was able to interest was infact looking for love, stating he was looking for a boo. at second glance, the lyrics reference aladdin by saying looking for a lad in copper shoes, as aladdin himself wore, then stating he would go bananas for a boo, a reference to aladdins pet monkey abu, then closing the lyrics by stating im lookin for my jasmine

Review by Dominick

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Leave you Alone - Young Jeezy Ft. Neyo

"and maybe we can kick it when i got the time
be my back bone every man needs a spine
gotta know you'll ride with me if i’m right or wrong
case it’s the hustler in me i know you like that
you probably think i’m with a different broad every night
when i think about it shit man you’re probably right
the more i think about it shit you’re probably wrong
cause what you didn’t think about it…im probably grown"

The above lyrics is Young Jeezy talking to his "girlfriend" asking her if shes going to be there with him whether hes up or down/rich or poor? He states "if i wake up in the morning and it’s all gone
best believe i’ma get it right back" almost making it seem simple to get everything that he has and has accomplished. The song is stating that he is bad for the girl and she should leave him alone, but he is saying he wants her to be with him whether hes good or bad.


Review By: Ashlee

Monday, March 19, 2012

The Coolest - Lupe Fiasco pt II Decoded

"My new lady gave me a Mercedes
And a necklace with a solid gold key
Like the starter of a car
The opener of a door or two pounds of raw
You gave me a baby, but what about lately?
Then ha-ha-ha-ha-ha'd
Right up in her face, G
There's more fish in the sea,
I'm on my mission to be, be"


This verse is a continuation of the personification of the streets. In this passage, Lupe Fiasco explains that his new lady, the streets who he ultimately chooses to be with, enabled him to have a car. However, in saying my new lady gave me a solid gold key, is a reference to his means of attaining money, which was by dealing drugs, as a key is slang for a kilo of cocaine. He than states "you gave me a baby but what about lately", referring to his actually woman, who he is distant from due to the time he spends generating income in the streets.

Review done by: Dominick

The Coolest - Lupe Fiasco Decoded

"She said - that she would give me greatness,
Status, placement above the others
My face would grace covers
Of the magazines of the hustlers
Paper, the likes of which that I had never seen
Her eyes glow green with the logo of our dreams
The purpose of our scene,
The obscene obsession for the bling
She would be my queen,
I could be her king
Together, she would make me cool
And we would both rule, forever,
And I would never feel pain
And never be without pleasure, ever, again
And if the rain stops,
And everything's dry
She would cry
Just so I can drink the tears from her eyes
She'll teach me how to fly
Even cushion my fall
If my engines ever stall
And I plummet from the sky
But she will keep me high
And if I ever die
She would commission my image on her bosom
To hum
Or maybe she'd retire as well
A match made in Heaven set the fires in Hell
And I'll be..."

The above lyrics illustrate the misconceptions of a life of crime. In this verse, Lupe Fiasco personifies the streets as a women he is considering being in a relationship with. The women, the streets, persuades the protagonist of the song to be with her (or choose to live a life of crime) by promising him fortune and fame. He explains that the streets will enable him to attain his obsession, which is money, and fame as he explains that the women will enable him to live a life of luxury and grace the covers of magazines. Lupe Fiasco ends this verse by stating that this match, seemingly made in heaven may be corrupt, explaining that the match, as in a tool used for starting a fire, is what started the fires in hell.   

Review by: Dominick

Monday, March 12, 2012

Hangover - Decoded

"but playing love gives me a headache you ask me if i love you of course but if by the force of nature we get married well probably have a divorce cuz nothing last forever despite hoodies that i lent her and my favorite pullover im a bit to cool to sweater"

(decoded the lines in which he makes reference to the clothing he lent her, he cleverly ends this verse by saying despite lending her his hoodies and pullover he still does not feel the need to sweat her, a play on words concluding the reference to clothing.)

"and i could do you better, but love i aint with it cuz she say they talking and he say he split it so my diagnosis is your nuts if your cuffing but you gotta be crazy before your committed."

This part illustrates the authors belief that because of the deceit and misconceptions that are prevalent in intimate relationships, concluding that one has to be crazy to be in a committed relationship. However, this is a double entrendre as a mentally insane individual must be deemed "crazy" before he or she is committed to a mental isylam.)

Review by Dominick

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Keep It Between Us - Kelly Rowland Decoded

"Know that I don't ever wanna hurt you
And I don't think nobody else deserves you
I don't think I can see nobody else here with me
Promise to love you, and to cherish, and to nurture
And when the time is right we can take it further
Long as I know that you're here to stay
And never give your love away"

This song is from Kelly's third solo studio album entitled "Here I Am", which has been released since summer 2011. Thankfully, this song is finally getting the attention it deserves. I recently just heard this song and fell in love. If you like the song, you will like the video even more. Kelly and her "on screen boyfriend" are walking the streets of Paris together and appear to be very happy and in love.

Review done by: Ashlee

Climax - Usher Decoded

"Going Nowhere Fast
We've Reached The Climax
We're Together, Now We're Undone
Won't Commit So We Choose To
Run Away, Do We Separate?
Don't Wanna Give In
So We Both Gave Up
Can't Take It Back
It's Too Late, We've Reached The Climax"

This is Usher's latest song "Climax" and it is the first track from his forthcoming seventh album (yet untitled), which is to air this year. This song has recieved alot of positive attention. Many of Usher's songs relate to his former relationships, mainly his relationships not working out. Usher dated singer Chilli (from former female group TLC) from 2001-2004, and the couple had a very rocky relationship. Many of Usher's songs back during this time period were related to their relationship and his cheating episodes on her. He talked about regretting cheating and not being able to move on. This new song "Climax" leaves many fans wondering if this song is also about his ex girlfriend of over 10 years ago. In a recent interview Chilli admitted that Usher wanted to get married and she didn't want the same because she could not move forward knowing that he was unfaithful to her." Any couples going through a tough breakup can relate to this song.

-Review done by Ashlee

Monday, March 5, 2012

Feel Inside - Mary J. Blige Ft. Nas Decoded

"I wanna make you happy
But you just don’t see it
I wanna be around, babe
But I’m so tired of competing
We say all the wrong things
Till we make each other cry
What are we doing?
Will it ever get better?
My heart, my soul
I gave, it’s yours
I can’t get back
All the things that I lost
Boy, I love you
But you’re pushing me away


I gave you everything that I got
Watched my feelings walk on by
Ever get sick of trying?
This is how I feel inside
I feel inside"


This is the 2nd verse of the song "Feel Inside" and it is sang by Mary J. Blige. As you can see she is speaking to her significant other and she is clearly fed up in the relationship and "sick of trying". Many people can relate to this song because if you have ever been in a relationship then usually there comes a point when you do feel this way, which makes this song very easy to relate with. Typically in a relationship, one person always ends up getting hurt worse than the other, and it is usually because they gave their all...rather than their partner who did not put their all into the relationship.
Mary J. Blige is known for her powerful and amazing vocals and Nas is a great lyricist as well, so the two together are an explosive combination. This song recently just came out and has already been catching a lot of attention.


-Review done by Ashlee

Illest Alive - Jay-Z Decoded

"King Hov, I’m exactly what you people think
11 in a row, Bill Russell rings, Michael Jordan swag
Yall think Michael Jordan bad
Homie I got a 5 more rings than Michael Jordan had
Elvis has left the building now I’m on the Beatles ass
People hear Watch The Throne,
Yeah it’s like the Beatles back Bey Bey my Yoko Ono,
Rih Rih complete the family
Imagine how that’s gon look front row at the Grammys
Screw your awards like Eddie Murphy’s couch
The Roc is in the building we should have stayed in the house"


"Know when to leave when the heat is coming, I learned that
This is where DiNero would be if he ain’t turn back
F-ck Sosa, this Hova this is real life
This is what the ending of Scarface should feel like"


The above verse is more of Jay-Z gloating about his much deserved achievements musically, that often go unnoticed by mainstream America. First Jay-Z makes reference to 11 in a row, which is a reference to his 11 straight platinum albums, comparing them to the 11 championship rings of Boston Celtic's Legend Bill Russell. Even further, he puts his success above another African American, Michael Jordan, stating that he's achieved what he wanted 5 more times than Michael Jordan ( Jay-Z's goal being selling 1 million albums and Michael Jordan's being winning championships.) Moreover, he puts his success into even greater perspective, seemingly making his audience mainstream America, forcing them to acknowledge the fact that he has outsold music legend Elvis Presley and is not to far behind the Beatles themselves. Jay-Z goes on to suggest that the mainstream American gatekeepers may never critic his success with the likes of others because he is a rapper, stating screw your awards, possibly a reference to Jay-Z disdain for the Grammy's as they don't seem to respect rap music as much as they should. Still he goes on to compare his success and the company he keeps with the Beatles, stating that his wife Beyonce could be Yoko Ono, implying that he would be John Lennon. Lastly, he explains how his success is the same success that many iconic movie characters such as Scarface's Tony Montana, if they had been more cautious and got out of their respective lives of crime while they were ahead.

-Review done by Dominick

[Brothers In Paris] - Watch the Throne Decoded

"So I ball so hard these people wanna find me
But first people gotta find me
What’s 50 grand to a young brother like me Can you please remind me?
Ball so hard, this here's crazy
Y’all don’t know that not much phase me
The Nets could go 0-82 and I look at you like this here's gravy"

The above lyrics are a reference to Jay-Z, part own of the New Jersey Nets, being fined by NBA commissioner David Stern due to tampering violations, concerning his visit to the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team. Consequently, Jay-Z was fined 50 thousand dollars. The above lyrics ultimately appear to be a smack in the face to David Stern, expressing his opinion that his wealth is so abundant that losing 50k ultimately didn't do much in hurting his wallet.


"Ball so hard, this here's weird
We ain’t even s’pose to be here
Ball so hard, since we here It’s only right that we be fair
Psycho, I’m liable to go Michael Take your pick
Jackson, Tyson, Jordan, Game 6"

These lyrics are concerned with the irony of Jay-Z being a success story considering he grew up in the Marcy Projects and sold crack cocaine to generate a healthy income. In addition, Jay-Z makes reference to the success of the different Michael's in pop culture including Mike Tyson and Michael Jordan, believing that he's achieved the same level of success that they have. Ultimately, the Jay-Z verse in this song is concerned with the irony and unlikelihood of his success, feeling as though he is entitled to "ball" because of how hard and how resilient he has been in achieving his success.



-Review done by Dominick