Do you have any early memories of the Black Eyed Peas, when they were a “conscious hip-hop” group? You guys were on Ruthless Records with a lot of the other early signees. He was capturing the essence of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony way before anybody even understood that’s what it was. We’d be like, “Man, what’s wrong this guy? He acting like he a groupie or something?” That’s how we were thinking, but he was on his visionary shit. We’d be in the studio working, and he’d be walking around taking pictures of us. Everywhere he went, he’d just be taking pictures of us. It was just a little one that you’d buy in the store for $99, back then it was probably like $500. He’d walk around with his little digital camera. He took all of the photos that had to do with Creepin On Ah Come Up. Is it true that Eazy-E took the photo:mode_rgb():quality(96)/discogs-images/) for your _Creepin On Ah Come Up_ cover? New Edition was one of my first, all time favorite R&B groups. When I saw Michael Jackson, that’s when the dream set in… and from there it went on to people like Prince, New Edition. We had a big loud stereo, and they would always play music, and I would always be singing. He never did it professionally, but he was known as the singer in the family. My family loves music my father used to sing. I had chills, and I was like, “Yo, this is what I want to do when I get older.” It just hit me right there. After I saw that performance, a rush just went through my body. First, he performed with his brothers, then he performed his new stuff, which was “Billie Jean,” from the Thriller album. I was sitting down watching the show with my family, and Michael Jackson came on. How it started for me is when I first saw Michael Jackson perform on the Motown Special back in the ‘80s. I just gotta know.Few people ask about your singing influences, but you were heavily inspired by R&B. So many people said we wouldn't take it, so many people said we couldn't make it! So I made up my mind! They don't wanna see me shine! They don't wanna see me shine! Don't you think too much jealously? Ain't no time for to be slippin', we the world's worst enemy! The same rappers that hated us bought the verses, so we can take from them. These poor playa-haters are the motivators. Danger is just a part of me, like it's stuck in my arteries. I'm standing against this army with Bone Thugs-n-harmony, harmony. It's my retaliation, I don't need no ignorance. It's the devil's infatuation! Tryin' to make my innocence. And just when you get enough: a target you will become. Any weakness, not here, you know that Wish gonna ride! (ride) Hit the streets with that, better love! Watch out if you kiss and tell.
Catch me! Push that's why I got my swagga down. See Me! Stack your paper, they hate my grind. True… THU-G's and we come to kill you, kill you, kill you! I think they might be scared (might be scared) to let me shine 'cause I'm a righteous playa! (I'm a righteous, righteous, righteous playa!) It's time for me to raise up, and do this sucker shake up. None of you suckas can break me! (Ha!) Nothin' can save ya now! They caught the Krayzie vapors! Stay away, fade away, playa hater! There's really no need to be crowdin' me, 'cause I can't deal with you haters surroundin' me, houndin' me! Tryin' to get my paper, hard to keep my faith up. That don't give 'em a reason to hate me, hate me, hate me! But I know my mind's strong. Stay away, fade away, playa hater! Stay away, fade away, playa hater! (I need you to…) Stay away, fade away, playa hater! Stay away, fade away, playa hater! Twenty-four seven grindin'! Tryin' to get my shine on. You suckas fail everytime tryin' to stop my shine! But we doin' our own thing – the Bone thing. I'm not surprised, you haters wanted to see Flesh stretched out without my thugs, one steady stressin' out. Why they wanna go there? Try to pop me, lock me, but couldn't knock me off my square. With so many odds against me, I had to step up my game! Imagine problems with crooked coppers.
I'm tryin' to focus on bigger and better things.
Hate on me and it's all fine! You just ain't no friend of mine. I'm gonna grind & I'm gonna shine! Ballin' 'til the end of time. I see no evil and I hear no lie! Niggas don't wanna see me fly higher than a rocket ship. (Jay Rush: 'Cause they don't wanna, they don't wanna, they don't wanna see me shine! )Īs long as I'm alive, no hater gonna never stop my drive! I did it and make it multiply. Why they gotta hate? (hate!) Steady hatin' mine! (mine!) Smilin' in my face, (face!) fakin' on the side. They don't wanna see me shine! Don't wanna see me shine! Don't wanna see me fly! Don't wanna see me ride!