Legendary Sacramento rapper X-Raided went to Seattle to work with J-Mac11, Cashman and PS, resulting in the song and video for “What It Is.” In his usual fashion, X-Raided delivers a scathing verse detailing his experience coming home after 26 years and everything he’s learned about the changes in the “game.” The lyrics are in stark contrast to the visuals, as X-Raided is seen surrounded by women, alcohol and drugs, yet rapping: “X-Raided did 26 years in the pen/ I stood strong while them other ni**as laid down/ I’m on a mission, gettin’ rich/ They’re all going broke; look who’s gettin’ paid now/ Shout out Bonnie Bloc Star, bitch/ She’s the only one who really stayed down/ Ni**as used to play the hoes, now trick niggas are the ones who gettin’ played now/ got a heart fulla rage now/ They done let the beast up out the cage now/ I used to hang on their every word; now I don’t give a fuck what they say now/ Its a whole new book, new chapters/ I’m out here on a whole ‘nother page now/ Cops won’t let me go back to Sac so I’m out here feelin’ outta place now/ I took a whole blunt to the head; I’m out here feelin’ outer space now/ We gotta be strapped to stay safe now/ We either die or we catch another case now/ Ni**as used to keep it 100; same ni**as lie to your face now/ Known ’em for your whole damn life but as soon as you need ’em, disappear without a trace now/ They wanna clique up and get up in the middle of your business/ And disrupt your income and mix up your men up/ Then comes the distrust, there’s nothin’ left to discuss/ Its endless, its disgustin’ then plus your mistress will suck all your friends up/ Your bucks and your ends up/ You’ll end up with nothin’ for trustin’ mis-hustlin’ ni**as that’ll betray you to get somethin’ out you/ But they dont even really give a fizuck about you.” The video is almost ironic in comparison to the bars, as if X-Raided is literally out of place. A fitting metaphor considering the present state of hip hop music. This is elite lyricism.
Speak On It!