Show Buisness by A Tribe Called Quest Lyrics Meaning – Peeling Back the Curtain on the Rap Game’s Illusions
Lyrics
The highs at all of these industry shing-dings
Where you see the pretty girls
In the high animated world
Checkin’ for a rapper with all the dough
If you take a shit they want to know
And if you’re gonna fall, they won’t be around, y’all
So you still wanna do the show business?
And you think that you got what it takes?
I mean you really gotta rap and be all that
And prepare yourself for the breaks
Check it out
Do you wanna be in the business? (the business)
The ups and downs with the hoes (the business)
Always gettin’ fronted on at shows (the business)
People gotta stick their nose (in the business)
Yo, I gotta speak on the cesspool
It’s the rap industry and it ain’t that cool
Only if you’re on stage or if you’re speakin’ to your people
Ain’t no one your equal
Especially on the industry side
Don’t let the games just glide
Right through your fingers, you gotta know the deal
So Lord Jamar speak, because you’re real
They’re givin’ you the business and puttin’ on a show
You’re a million dollar man that ain’t got no dough
But you got a ho tickets backstage to a show
Sedated and at that fact they elated
Time pass and your ass say, “Where’s my loot?”
The reply is a kick in the ass from a leg and a boot
All you wanna do is taste the fruit
But in the back they’re makin’ fruit juice
You ask for slack and wanna get cut loose from the label
Not able ’cause you signed at the table
For a pretty cash advance, now they got a song and dance
That you didn’t recoup, more soup wit’ ya meal?
‘Cause this is the real when you get a record deal
And I say
Shucks, look what the cat hauled in
It’s Phife Dawg from A Tribe Called Quest, let me begin
Like Chuck D, I got so much trouble on my mind
‘Bout these no-talent artists gettin’ signed, they can’t rhyme
And if that ain’t bad, you got bootleggers
Goin’ out like suckers, motherfuckers
Feel it’s time that I let loose the lion
And if not that then I’ll commence to head flyin’
Seems in ’91 everybody want a rhyme
And then you go and sell my tape for only $5.99?
Please nigga, I’ve worked too hard for this
No more will I take the booty end of the stick
Bogus brothers makin’ albums when they know they can’t hack it
Cos they lyrics is played like 8-Ball jackets
Now tell me I can’t tear it up
Go get yourself some toilet paper ’cause your lyrics is butt
Do you wanna be in the business? (the business)
People can’t walk a straight line in (the business)
Some of these brothers can’t rhyme in (the business)
Ayo, I’m tryna get mine (the business)
The party scene is cool, but then again it’s all the same
You see the same faces, but at different places
When you’re up and ridin’ high everything is palsy-palsy
Get a million pounds and all the skins give you hugs
Well that’s cool, I can dig it, it really ain’t my bag
Prefer to max on the side and let my pants sag
“Oh, he’s a cutie”, yeah, real cute
But I wasn’t that cute when I didn’t have no loot
Although I hit a pound of herbs I’m still nice with the verbs
So fuck what you heard
The born cipher, cipher master makes me think much faster
But critics still continue to plaster
My name and discredit my fame
All that shit is game
And I don’t really give a damn
Eat from the tree of life and throw away the verbal ham
Well, excuse me, I gotta add my two cents in
Don’t be alarmed, the rhyme was condensed in
A matter of minutes so it must be told
All that glitters, not gold
Everybody wants a deal, help me make a demo
See my name in bright lights, ride around in a limo
My moms keeps beefin’ (boy, get a job)
But I wanna make jams, damn, I know I’ll slam
Huh, well it’s not that easy
You gotta get a label that’s willin’ and able
To market and promote, and you better hope
(For what?) That the product is dope
Take it from Diamond, it’s like mountain climbin’
When it comes to rhymin’ you gotta put your time in
Get a good lawyer so problems won’t pile
You don’t wanna make a pitch that’s wild
A Tribe Called Quest has always been known for their astute social commentary, laced within their infectious beats and smooth rhythms. ‘Show Business,’ a standout track from their 1991 album ‘The Low End Theory,’ is no exception, offering listeners a glimpse behind the velvet curtain of the music industry.
The song stands as a bold critique, unmasking the supposed glitz and glamor, revealing instead an underworld of exploitation and fair-weather friendships. Through their quintessential fusion of jazz-infused hip-hop, the group dissects the journey of an artist within the treacherous terrains of show business.
Snakes and Ladders in the Industry Playground
In ‘Show Business,’ A Tribe Called Quest doesn’t just rap about the music business; they dissect it. The group paints a landscape where deceit and opportunism are rife, and integrity is a scarce commodity. The song opens with a sinisterly casual tone, addressing the ‘snakes, the fakes, the lies, the highs,’ all commonplace in these ‘industry shing-dings.’
The lyrics describe an animated world where appearance is king, and authenticity is just an afterthought. They poetically strip down the artifice of the business, showcasing the endless cycle of use and abuse that artists often endure in their quest for stardom.
The False Promises of Showbiz Stardom
Juxtaposing the allure of fame and fortune against the harsh reality, the song highlights the empty promises peddled by the industry. ‘You’re a million dollar man that ain’t got no dough,’ this line encapsulates the irony and the facade of success that many artists face, representing a mirror in which many rappers peer only to see a distorted reflection of prosperity.
The ‘ups and down with the hoes’ and being ‘always gettin’ fronted on at shows’ speaks to the fleeting and fickle nature of both relationships and respect within the industry—a place where loyalty is often tied to one’s current success rather than one’s talent or character.
Unmasking the Industry’s Theatre
The business is shown as a stage, a performance where the lines between the performer’s reality and the audience’s perception blur. When Lord Jamar says, ‘They’re givin’ you the business and puttin’ on a show,’ he warns against the performativity of the industry, urging artists not to be naive spectators but informed players.
Furthermore, the metaphor of ‘taste the fruit’ versus ‘makin’ fruit juice’ in the backstage serves as a critique of how artistic value is extracted and commodified, leaving the artist unrewarded and squeezed dry.
Echoes of Memorable Prose in ‘Show Business’
With memorable lines like ‘Prefer to max on the side and let my pants sag,’ A Tribe Called Quest reflects the desire to stay authentic in an industry that too often insists on a polished, prepackaged image. Phife Dawg’s assertion that ‘I’m still nice with the verbs, So fuck what you heard,’ serves as a poetic assertion of skill and defiance of rumors or external validation.
This poetic bravado, rooted in authenticity and skill, contrasts sharply with the ‘no-talent artists’ and bootleggers undermining the craft—a reminder that at the heart of show business, there is an art that shouldn’t be lost.
The Hidden Message Within the Beats
At the center of ‘Show Business’ lies a hidden warning to aspiring artists, a lesson taught through sharp verses and resonant beats. It’s a coded message about the perils of industry razzle-dazzle and the importance of having your wits about you.
The pragmatic advice to get ‘a good lawyer so problems won’t pile’ signifies the understated business acumen needed to navigate show business—a trait often overshadowed but as crucial as lyrical prowess. The closing lines, ‘All that glitters, not gold,’ cement the song’s core sentiment: success in show business often comes with a hidden price tag, one that’s not always worth paying.
