You Know My Steez by Gang Starr Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Threads of Authentic Hip Hop Culture
Lyrics
“MCing, and DJing from your own mind, ya know?”
“I, I guess right now we should start the show”
Who’s the suspicious character strapped with the sounds profound
Similar to rounds spit by Derringers
You’re in the Terrordome like my man Chuck D said
It’s time to dethrone you clones, and all you knuckleheads
Cause MC’s have used up extended warranties
While real MC’s and DJ’s are a minority
But right about now, I use my authority
‘Cause I’m like the Wizard and you look lost like Dorothy
The horror be when I return for my real people
Words that split wigs, hittin’ like some double Desert Eagles
Sportin’ caps pulled low, and baggy slacks
Subtractin’ all the rappers who lack, over Premier’s tracks
Severe facts have brought this rap game to near collapse
So as I have in the past, I whoop ass
Droppin’ lyrics that be hotter than sex and candle wax
And one-dimensional MC’s can’t handle that
While the world’s revolvin’ on it’s axis
I come with mad love and plus the illest warlike tactics
The wilderness is filled with this
So many people searching for false bliss
I’m here with the skills you’ve missed
The rejected stone is now the cornerstone
Sort of like the master builder when I make my way home
You know my steez
“You know my steez”
“Let ’em know, do your thing y’all”
“Keep it live”
“To the beat y’all”
The beat is sinister, Primo makes you relax
I’m like the minister, when I be lacin’ the wax
I be bringin’ salvation through the way that I rap
And you know, and I know, I’m nice like that
Work through worldly problems, I got the healing power
When the mic’s within my reach, I’m feelin more power
Stealing at least three minutes of every rap radio hour
It’s often easier for one to give advice
Than it is for a person to run one’s own life
That’s why I can’t be caught up in all the hype
I keep my soul tight and let these lines takes flight
The apparatus gets blessed, and suckers get put to rest
No more of the unpure I got the cure for this mess
The wackness is spreadin’ like the plague
MC’s lucked up and got paid but still can’t make the fuckin’ grade
How many times are wannabes gonna lie?
Yo they must wanna fry, they can’t touch the knowledge I personify
I travel through the darkness carrying my torch
The illest soldier, when I’m holding down the fort (“You know my steez”)
You know my steez
“Let ’em know, do your thing y’all”
“Keep it live”
“You know my steez”
“Let ’em know, do your thing y’all”
“Keep it live”
“You know my steez”
“Let ’em know, do your thing y’all”
“Keep it live”
“You know my steez”
“Let ’em know, do your thing y’all”
“Keep it live”
“The mic”
On the microphone you know that I’m one of the best yet
Some punks ain’t paid all of their debts yet
Tryin’ to be fly, ridin’ high on the jet-set
With juvenile rhymes makin’ fake-ass death threats
Big deal, like En Vogue, here’s something you can feel
Styles more tangible, and image more real
For some time now, I’ve held the scrolls and manuscripts
When it’s time to go all out you be like, “Damn he flipped”
Now I’m sick, fed up with the bullshit
Got the lyrical full clip, giving you a verbal ass whip
Don’t trip, it’s the gifted prolific one
Known as Bald Head Slick, why is the press all on my di-dick?
My style be wilder, than a kamikaze pilot
Don’t try it, I’m about to start more than a friggin’ riot
Styles unsurpassable, and nuccas that’s suckas, yo
Them motherfuckers are harrassable
For I be speaking from my parables and carry you beyond
The mic’s either a magic wand
Or it gets tragic like the havoc of a nuclear bomb
Then I grab your palm, no pulse you’re gone
And if you thought we’d lose our niche in this rap shit, you way wrong
I stay up, I stay on, shine bright, like neon
Your song’s, pathetic, synthetic, like Rayon
Fat beats, they play on, want dope rhymes, put me on
Word is bond you know my steez
In the vast sphere of hip-hop culture, certain songs not only capture the essence of the genre but serve as defining anthems for the underlying philosophy and lifestyle. ‘You Know My Steez’ by Gang Starr is an exemplar of this truth – a manifesto woven with the threads of authenticity and lyrical mastery. With Guru’s articulate verses and DJ Premier’s sinister beats, the track is a cornerstone of hip-hop authenticity.
Diving into its viscera, the song is an audacious statement against the facade in the rap game and a testament to the undiluted spirit of the true emcee. Stripped of pretense, it’s an epitome of the real against the fake, a narrative that underscores craftsmanship over gimmickry.
The Prophetic Voice in the Wilderness of Hip-Hop
Gang Starr’s Guru doesn’t just spit bars; he sermonizes, bringing a prophetic fervor to the fray. ‘You Know My Steez’ positions him as a voice in the wilderness of commercial hip-hop, surrounded by false idols, eschewing the ‘wackness’ that had prevailed. His raps aren’t just words; they’re a revelation of hip-hop’s crisis of conscience.
The song convicts those who have diluted the essence of hip-hop, indicting the rap game for its ‘extended warranties’ on lackluster talent. Here, Guru’s ‘steez’- his style and approach – becomes the antidote, one rife with cultural and social awareness, a reflection of an artist committed to the original tenets of the genre.
From Magical Wizards to Master Builders: A Tapestry of Imagery
‘You Know My Steez’ is not just a track; it’s a kaleidoscope of layered imagery. Guru compares himself to a wizard – a magical force in a land of lost ‘Dorothys’. This juxtaposition highlights his distinctiveness and his mastery over his craft as opposed to those who blindly fumble through the genre.
Moreover, the reference to being a ‘master builder’ ties in with Hip-Hop’s foundational elements, capturing his role in constructing something lasting, in contrast to the ephemeral nature of his contemporaries’ work. These metaphors are not just poetic devices but are articulate expressions of identity and purpose in a genre misled by commercialism.
The Hidden Meaning: Decoding Guru’s Warlike Tactics
Upon a deeper listening, ‘You Know My Steez’ reveals its hidden meaning – a clarion call to the guardians of authentic hip-hop to engage in cultural warfare. Guru’s ‘warlike tactics’ imply a strategy of engagement, where music and message converge to reclaim the soul of hip-hop.
The ‘terror’ and ‘wilderness’ in the song serve as metaphors for the chaos and uncertainty in hip-hop culture, plagued by ‘false bliss’. Guru’s response is tactical precision, uncompromising lyrics, and beats that serve as his arsenal in this cultural battle.
Wisdom Over Hyperbole: The Most Memorable Lines
In a genre often swamped with bravado and hyperbole, ‘You Know My Steez’ stands out with lines that resonate with wise introspection. Lyrics like ‘It’s often easier for one to give advice / Than it is for a person to run one’s own life’ echo the sagacity of a seasoned sage speaking truths in a crowd of sophists.
The memorable closing lines, ‘Fat beats, they play on, want dope rhymes, put me on / Word is bond you know my steez,’ serve as both a testament to his unwavering confidence in his abilities and a call-to-action for the listener to acknowledge the undeniable prowess possessed by Gang Starr.
A Legacy Etched in Vinyl: The Song’s Everlasting Influence
The impact of ‘You Know My Steez’ is monumental, forever etched in the annals of hip-hop history. The song is a manifesto for the purists, a track which distilled the very essence of what it meant to embody the real ‘hip-hop steez’.
Artists and fans alike have been influenced by Gang Starr’s authentic approach, the song becoming a paradigm for aspiring artists in their quest to navigate between the allure of mainstream success and the commitment to artistic integrity. ‘You Know My Steez’ is a magnetic pole for the genre, a reference point for real hip-hop.
