Verified archive entry

Rasta Imposter (Wycelf Jean & Canibus Diss)

Rasta Imposter (Wycelf Jean & Canibus Diss) is a diss track by LL Cool J targeting Wyclef Jean and Canibus. The LL Cool J–Canibus feud began after Canibus referenced LL's microphone tattoo on “4,3,2,1”; altered verses and response records escalated the dispute.

Released1998
Annotated6
ExplicitYes
Addressable transcript

Lyrics & breakdown

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

  1. 01

    [Intro]

    02

    What you got to do with it? What the fuck you talkin about?

    03

    What the fuck you got to do with it? You stupid nigga? You stupid?

    04

    Did you see that video, nigga? Fuck wrong with you? Like you don't

    05

    You don't know what you go to do with it. Like your fuckin insane or

  2. 06

    Something. (You fuckin wack ass nigga)

    07

    (laughing in background)

  3. 08

    [Verse: 1]

    Multi-line diss block
    09

    Y'all faggots is weak, y'all starstruck niggas think shit is sweet

    10

    That busy signal bullshit is dead up in the street

    11

    Heard that garbage dough jam, made me reminisce

    12

    On when heard your man's wack shit and went to take up his

    Block noteMakes the confrontation explicit

    TargetWyclef Jean

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Y'all faggots is weak, y'all starstruck niggas think shit is sweet,” LL Cool J addresses Wyclef Jean directly and makes the situation described in the quoted line the point of confrontation. Why it was said: The LL Cool J–Canibus feud began after Canibus referenced LL's microphone tattoo on “4,3,2,1”; altered verses and response records escalated the dispute. Naming or plainly addressing Wyclef Jean removes the safety of a subliminal and makes the quoted claim something the target can either answer or leave standing.

    ContextThe LL Cool J–Canibus feud began after Canibus referenced LL's microphone tattoo on “4,3,2,1”; altered verses and response records escalated the dispute.

  4. 13

    Jealous faggot man cause I'm richer than y'all

    14

    When I load my desertees, I'm picturin y'all

    15

    On the streets of Queens where I was raised and born, hardcore

    16

    And stood on every corner like a liquor store

  5. 17

    Clips full of hollowtips, follow loose lips

    18

    Aimin at your clique and make em cough up my chips

    19

    Bitch, ya niggas wanna see if I'm ill?

    20

    Wanna see how many rappers can be killed, how much blood can spill?

  6. 21

    When I inject this lyrical drill, if I can't do it, the dumb-dumbs will

    22

    Tell that nigga to tell his man to tell that nigga

    23

    I send the wolves to kill that nigga

    24

    If you wanna know why, its cause I'm still that nigga

  7. 25

    Michael Jordan of all this rap shit, pullin the trigger

    26

    What the fuck? You on a mission to self-destruct

    27

    And have the nerve to let the chickenhead model cluck

    28

    Your swervin nigga, better follow the white lines

  8. 29

    Your up on the sidewalk, off course, read the sign

    Multi-line diss block
    30

    I'm so ill, y'all niggas is so wack

    31

    Your whole crew is such, y'all lack the hard impact

    32

    Far as your man go, I got young niggas that wanna get him

    Block noteMakes the confrontation explicit

    TargetWyclef Jean

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Your up on the sidewalk, off course, read the sign,” LL Cool J addresses Wyclef Jean directly and makes the situation described in the quoted line the point of confrontation. Why it was said: The LL Cool J–Canibus feud began after Canibus referenced LL's microphone tattoo on “4,3,2,1”; altered verses and response records escalated the dispute. Naming or plainly addressing Wyclef Jean removes the safety of a subliminal and makes the quoted claim something the target can either answer or leave standing.

    ContextThe LL Cool J–Canibus feud began after Canibus referenced LL's microphone tattoo on “4,3,2,1”; altered verses and response records escalated the dispute.

  9. 33

    Treat him like a Philly, wet'im and split'im

  10. 34

    [Chorus]

    35

    LL don't lose niggas, we can do it however you choose nigga

    36

    One on one or round up the crews nigga

    37

    But Can-I-Blast you out your shoes nigga

    38

    (You know the rules nigga!)

  11. 39

    LL don't lose niggas, we can do it however you choose nigga

    40

    One on one or round up the crews nigga

    41

    But Can-I-Blast you out your shoes nigga

    42

    (You know the rules nigga!)

  12. 43

    [Verse: 2]

    44

    Queens shit, give me cream so I can grab my dick

    45

    Sew that shit, what the fuck y'all niggas workin with?

    46

    Backwards, ass-jerk, jumpin up out the woodwork

    47

    Ridin my meat, tryin to critique my physique

  13. 48

    A real nigga wouldn't even mention my lips

    Multi-line diss block
    49

    Can't believe you went there, no I know you a bitch

    50

    Sugar-coated nigga, deep-throated nigga

    51

    Young guns take a pull before they quote a nigga

    Block noteReduces the target to a dismissive caricature

    TargetWyclef Jean

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Can't believe you went there, no I know you a bitch,” LL Cool J replaces Wyclef Jean's preferred identity with a degrading label intended to make the opponent look ridiculous or contemptible. Why it was said: The LL Cool J–Canibus feud began after Canibus referenced LL's microphone tattoo on “4,3,2,1”; altered verses and response records escalated the dispute. The label gives the audience a short, repeatable frame for the feud; repetition of that frame can shape how Wyclef Jean is remembered.

    ContextThe LL Cool J–Canibus feud began after Canibus referenced LL's microphone tattoo on “4,3,2,1”; altered verses and response records escalated the dispute.

  14. 52

    Yeah, I wrote it nigga for all my real live devoted niggas

    53

    I'm a true and livin lyrically ill poet nigga

    54

    So what you talkin bout? That shits supposed to be hot?

    55

    Y'all niggas on the warpath, y'all takin over my block?

  15. 56

    I think not, matter of fact your not aloud to rap no more

    57

    And if you hear this in the club sneak out the backdoor

    58

    And if you bumpin in your ride make sure your windows is up

    59

    And your tint's passed the limit

  16. 60

    So they don't know a faggot's in it!

    61

    I'm LL and I did this to you

    62

    Teflon waitin for every nigga runnin with you

    63

    Rhymes hit you, lace you up again and split you

  17. 64

    Niggas ain't official thats why Mom Dukes miss you

    65

    Tell your man bring it on, I'm only gettin warm

    66

    Never die, never quit, and my money's long

    67

    Punk ass crab nigga, talkin bout his lips

  18. 68

    Constantly involvin my name with that bullshit!

    69

    Why I diss you? You stepped up in the ring

    70

    Ice jinglin in the video like you the next Don King

    71

    And tell your man I know he got some lyrics in the stash

  19. 72

    But I'm the best that ever did it, now get this motheruckin ass

    73

    Mic's too hot to hold, leave it in the sand

    74

    So I can describe the picture with both hands

    75

    You must not understand who's in command

  20. 76

    I got all the flavor, but y'all niggas is mad bland

  21. 77

    [Chorus]

    78

    LL don't lose niggas, we can do it however you choose nigga

    79

    One on one or round up the crews nigga

    80

    But Can-I-Blast you out your shoes nigga

    81

    (You know the rules nigga!)

  22. 82

    LL don't lose niggas, we can do it however you choose nigga

    83

    One on one or round up the crews nigga

    84

    But Can-I-Blast you out your shoes nigga

    85

    (You know the rules nigga!)

  23. 86

    [Verse: 3]

    Multi-line diss block
    87

    I'll cut your fuckin head off and leave it on your mom's dresser

    88

    Then pay the pope a hundred thou to go and bless her

    89

    You wanna test a lyrical teacher and professor?

    90

    I bet y'all niggas fall off now that your under pressure

    Block noteMakes the feud personal through family

    TargetWyclef Jean

    MeaningWhat it means: In “I'll cut your fuckin head off and leave it on your mom's dresser,” LL Cool J brings a relative or family boundary into the exchange with Wyclef Jean, moving the dispute beyond music and into private life. Why it was said: The LL Cool J–Canibus feud began after Canibus referenced LL's microphone tattoo on “4,3,2,1”; altered verses and response records escalated the dispute. Family references explain why the conflict feels personal: they raise the emotional cost for Wyclef Jean and make the line more consequential than a routine comparison of rap skill.

    ContextThe LL Cool J–Canibus feud began after Canibus referenced LL's microphone tattoo on “4,3,2,1”; altered verses and response records escalated the dispute.

  24. 91

    I don't stress ya, yet still I must check ya

    92

    Extort niggas for gettin fucked up, stop and inspect ya

    93

    Fuck wrong with you nigga? You can't do nothin to me

    94

    If I put a slug in you on the low, you'd probably try to sue me

  25. 95

    Your girl blew me, I said "Now!" She said "Do me"

    Multi-line diss block
    96

    Bust a nut in her face on tape to let the crew see

    97

    Can't put dirt roll, nigga poppin shit

    98

    Underestimantin what Queens niggas'll do for chips

    Block noteUses a relationship to provoke the target

    TargetWyclef Jean

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Your girl blew me, I said "Now!" She said "Do me",” LL Cool J uses a romantic or sexual relationship to embarrass Wyclef Jean and challenge the target's control over a private narrative. Why it was said: The LL Cool J–Canibus feud began after Canibus referenced LL's microphone tattoo on “4,3,2,1”; altered verses and response records escalated the dispute. The reference is designed to provoke an emotional response and make the dispute publicly humiliating, where silence can be portrayed as acceptance.

    ContextThe LL Cool J–Canibus feud began after Canibus referenced LL's microphone tattoo on “4,3,2,1”; altered verses and response records escalated the dispute.

  26. 99

    I originated all this shit

    100

    The ice, the champagne, the bitches on the dick

    101

    That really don't apply to you crabs in a barrel

    102

    Mic's my staff sendin you a message like Pharaoh

  27. 103

    Leave it alone or get swallowed in the sea

    Multi-line diss block
    104

    The King of Hip-Hop is something you could never be

    105

    My crown you'll never see, I'll rule forever, G

    106

    I'll be goin platinum when you just a memory

    Block noteContests who deserves the top position

    TargetWyclef Jean

    MeaningWhat it means: In “My crown you'll never see, I'll rule forever, G,” LL Cool J turns rank, legacy, or leadership into the issue and argues that Wyclef Jean's claim to the position is undeserved. Why it was said: The LL Cool J–Canibus feud began after Canibus referenced LL's microphone tattoo on “4,3,2,1”; altered verses and response records escalated the dispute. The line identifies the prize behind the feud—control of reputation—and asks whose record supports the title rather than whose claim went unchallenged.

    ContextThe LL Cool J–Canibus feud began after Canibus referenced LL's microphone tattoo on “4,3,2,1”; altered verses and response records escalated the dispute.

  28. 107

    I'm the double L, capital C, double O

    108

    With the seven upside down jakes slayin the clown

  29. 109

    [Interlude]

    110

    What the fuck wrong wit y'all niggas? You out your mind nigga?

    111

    You better try to go beg Lauryn to come back or something

    112

    Fuck wrong with you?

  30. 113

    [Chorus]

    114

    LL don't lose niggas, we can do it however you choose nigga

    115

    One on one or round up the crews nigga

    116

    But Can-I-Blast you out your shoes nigga

    117

    (You know the rules nigga!)

  31. 118

    LL don't lose niggas, we can do it however you choose nigga

    119

    One on one or round up the crews nigga

    120

    But Can-I-Blast you out your shoes nigga

    121

    (You know the rules nigga!)