Verified archive entry

Checkmate

Checkmate is a diss track by Jadakiss targeting 50 Cent. Jadakiss and Styles P entered the conflict after Jadakiss appeared on Ja Rule's ‘New York’ and 50 Cent attacked him on ‘Piggy Bank.’ Their responses challenge 50's street narrative, commercial leverage and use of the nine-shot survival story as a brand.

Released2005
Annotated5
ExplicitYes
Addressable transcript

Lyrics & breakdown

Demo lines only. Select a line number to copy a stable deep link.

  1. 01

    [Intro]

    02

    You did it baby!

    03

    Congratulations, homie!

    04

    You made history!

    05

    1.1 million in a short week!

  2. 06

    Ha-HAA!

    07

    Well, screw a press conference!

    08

    Press this on your conscience!

    09

    D-Block, cheers!

  3. 10

    YEAH! Ah-ha-ha

    11

    I ain't mad, I don't wanna sound mad, I feel marvelous

    12

    D-Block, Double R, fuckin' faggots!

  4. 13

    [Verse]

    Multi-line diss block
    14

    We gon' handle this like grown men, you won't win

    15

    You don't even feel comfortable in your own skin

    16

    I rap my ass off, I'm fightin' the champ with the glass jaw

    17

    At the Garden or Nassau (Uh-huh)

    Block noteForces the dispute into a direct contest

    Target50 Cent

    MeaningWhat it means: In “We gon' handle this like grown men, you won't win,” Jadakiss addresses 50 Cent as an opponent who must prove the claims being made rather than rely on reputation. Why it was said: Jadakiss and Styles P entered the conflict after Jadakiss appeared on Ja Rule's ‘New York’ and 50 Cent attacked him on ‘Piggy Bank.’ Their responses challenge 50's street narrative, commercial leverage and use of the nine-shot survival story as a brand. The challenge narrows the argument to performance under pressure, where refusing or failing to answer can itself be presented as a loss for 50 Cent.

    ContextJadakiss and Styles P entered the conflict after Jadakiss appeared on Ja Rule's ‘New York’ and 50 Cent attacked him on ‘Piggy Bank.’ Their responses challenge 50's street narrative, commercial leverage and use of the nine-shot survival story as a brand.

  5. 18

    See me, couple hood niggas behind stars

    19

    I heard you put a couple good niggas behind bars (Preme!)

    20

    I might never sell that much

    21

    But you can bet your last two quarters I'll never tell that much

  6. 22

    Picture 'Kiss not come out swingin'

    Multi-line diss block
    23

    It's like goin' see 50 at a show and he don't come out singin' (C'mon!)

    24

    Yeah, you got a felony, but you ain't a predicate (Nuh-uh)

    25

    Never the King of New York, you live in Connecticut (Haha)

    Block noteClaims geographic legitimacy

    Target50 Cent

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Never the King of New York, you live in Connecticut (Haha),” Jadakiss uses place and local affiliation to decide who can credibly represent the scene challenged in the song. Why it was said: Jadakiss and Styles P entered the conflict after Jadakiss appeared on Ja Rule's ‘New York’ and 50 Cent attacked him on ‘Piggy Bank.’ Their responses challenge 50's street narrative, commercial leverage and use of the nine-shot survival story as a brand. The feud is presented as larger than two individuals, so the line asks listeners to treat 50 Cent as an outsider or a poor representative of the claimed community.

    ContextJadakiss and Styles P entered the conflict after Jadakiss appeared on Ja Rule's ‘New York’ and 50 Cent attacked him on ‘Piggy Bank.’ Their responses challenge 50's street narrative, commercial leverage and use of the nine-shot survival story as a brand.

  7. 26

    You don't be in the hood, you be in the woods

    27

    Fuckin' with me, it's where you really gon' be for good (Ugh)

    28

    I hold the 4-5 myself (Ch-chk)

    29

    And hop out the Range on 1-4-5 myself (What up!)

  8. 30

    This is a true fact

    31

    Since when has it become cool to get shot and not shoot back? (Never)

    32

    Trackmasters shelved you (Ugh) Bravehearts helped you (Ugh)

    33

    Then everybody felt you (Uh-huh), now I gotta melt you (Yeah)

  9. 34

    And don't try to pull rank on 'Kiss

    35

    ‘Cause the niggas I'ma send to do it ain't gon' miss

    36

    Be laid up stiff, I spit straight up piff

    37

    I did real songs with Big, no made-up shits (Ah!)

  10. 38

    And I don't got a problem with clout

    Multi-line diss block
    39

    You ain't get shot again yet

    40

    So what's your second album about? (Nothin'!)

    41

    Your raps are pre-school

    Block noteQuestions the target's judgment

    Target50 Cent

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Your raps are pre-school,” Jadakiss characterizes 50 Cent as unintelligent, careless, or unable to understand the situation being addressed. Why it was said: Jadakiss and Styles P entered the conflict after Jadakiss appeared on Ja Rule's ‘New York’ and 50 Cent attacked him on ‘Piggy Bank.’ Their responses challenge 50's street narrative, commercial leverage and use of the nine-shot survival story as a brand. The insult makes the target's decisions part of the evidence: a poor response can be framed not as strategy, but as proof that 50 Cent never understood the contest.

    ContextJadakiss and Styles P entered the conflict after Jadakiss appeared on Ja Rule's ‘New York’ and 50 Cent attacked him on ‘Piggy Bank.’ Their responses challenge 50's street narrative, commercial leverage and use of the nine-shot survival story as a brand.

  11. 42

    You made a lot of money, now be cool

    43

    'Fore I swell up your lips like seafood (Mmm)

    44

    Can I get a mic check?

    45

    You don't stand a chance at the dance with me, dawg

  12. 46

    Your steps ain't right yet (Uh-uh)

    47

    Block is just fine, homie, the D's straight (D-Block)

    48

    Most likely, your new CD is a weed plate (Haha)

    49

    Bunch of love songs, hundred percent pure garbage (Garbage)

  13. 50

    Just somethin' to break up buds on

    Multi-line diss block
    51

    You should just sell clothes and sneakers

    52

    ‘Cause outta your whole camp

    53

    Your flow's the weakest (Garbage)

    Block noteAttacks the target's ability to rap

    Target50 Cent

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Your flow's the weakest (Garbage),” Jadakiss challenges 50 Cent on writing, delivery, flow, or command of the microphone rather than relying only on a personal insult. Why it was said: Jadakiss and Styles P entered the conflict after Jadakiss appeared on Ja Rule's ‘New York’ and 50 Cent attacked him on ‘Piggy Bank.’ Their responses challenge 50's street narrative, commercial leverage and use of the nine-shot survival story as a brand. This goes to the qualification that gives 50 Cent standing in a rap battle; if the craft is weak, the reply loses authority before its other claims are considered.

    ContextJadakiss and Styles P entered the conflict after Jadakiss appeared on Ja Rule's ‘New York’ and 50 Cent attacked him on ‘Piggy Bank.’ Their responses challenge 50's street narrative, commercial leverage and use of the nine-shot survival story as a brand.

  14. 54

    I'm in the town where the young boys is clappin' (Clappin)

    Multi-line diss block
    55

    You runnin' around with the lieutenant and captain (Haha!)

    56

    It'll take a lifetime to see 'Kiss

    57

    You had to get shot nine times to be rich

    Block noteTurns money and possessions into leverage

    Target50 Cent

    MeaningWhat it means: In “You had to get shot nine times to be rich,” Jadakiss contrasts financial power or possessions with 50 Cent's alleged lack of money, access, or control. Why it was said: Jadakiss and Styles P entered the conflict after Jadakiss appeared on Ja Rule's ‘New York’ and 50 Cent attacked him on ‘Piggy Bank.’ Their responses challenge 50's street narrative, commercial leverage and use of the nine-shot survival story as a brand. The comparison converts status into material evidence and is meant to make 50 Cent's success claims look hollow beside something listeners can picture and measure.

    ContextJadakiss and Styles P entered the conflict after Jadakiss appeared on Ja Rule's ‘New York’ and 50 Cent attacked him on ‘Piggy Bank.’ Their responses challenge 50's street narrative, commercial leverage and use of the nine-shot survival story as a brand.

  15. 58

    [Chorus]

    59

    Rat-ass nigga, you's a animal

    60

    You's a motherfuckin' animal

    61

    Pig-ass nigga, you's a animal

    62

    You's a motherfuckin' animal

  16. 63

    Snake-ass nigga, you's a animal

    64

    You's a motherfuckin' animal

    65

    Matter of fact, you ain't no animal

    66

    I'ma show these motherfuckers how to handle you

  17. 67

    [Outro]

    68

    Ah-HA! D-Block!

    69

    I'm not a sucker, so I don't need a bodyguard!