I'sa Playa

Misogynists anonymous,

That is the title of the track. It happened to be on a solo album by Pimp C back in the day and was re-released in a Greatest Hits CD, which thankfully was available in Amazon's MP3 store. The reason why I couldn't find it was because the original track had some girl singing the hook, while the more popular version (the only version I've heard) was with Z-Ro's killer hook.

The lyrics of more obscure songs follow the theory of cancer: lyrics websites copy other websites carelessly without considering the actual song, and eventually all their lyrics end up the same and flawed. So I searched for the hook, the only thing I remembered, but I couldn't find it because no website had the current hook. That is until now.

So after listening to the hook about 20 times, this is what I believe it to be:

Z-Ro

I'sa playa, I'sa mac

I love gettin [with] these ladies with not more than my paper stash

Now rule once, get your cash on, M-O-B

Less paper in my pocket, my n*gga P-I-M-P

Homie don't hate me mayne*, just hate the game

The only reason your woman diggin me cuz I play with thangs

Don't take it personal, my n*gga, I don't love her, I'm a playa

She just gonna keep me company while get nipped it(?) as I lay her

I'm still not entirely sure about the last line. You can listen to the complete song via Youtube (which is how I found the song). And the chopped and screwed version too. Notice when Twista is screwed (slowed down), he sounds like a normal person.

My favorite verse of the song (Pimp C):

But me, I lick ya where he don't, and suck real hard on yo nipple

My game is sharp as a sickle, she love my pickle

And if you gave her a dime, n*gga she gave me a nickel

It is almost a limerick! Okay, maybe not.

--

The unfortunate thing that happens to me when I listen to rap is that I feel slightly guilty. It isn't because of lack of entitlement. I moved to the suburbs but I'm from the ghetto, so I do relate to the songs from personal experience. And it's not like I bought a grill from Johnny Dang** and Paul Wall and am out pimping a throwback jersey and Astros ballcap with all white Air Force Ones; I know my place and the only person I try to emulate is the man I aim to be.

The guilt is that some of these songs are so misogynistic, or hateful of women. At the very least, they idealize women as objects of conquests. And when conquered, the women become immortalized as the losers in 'Playa' Ballads, such as the above.

So here's another bit of cognitive dissonance of mine (though significantly less dissonant than the hate-yourself-for-sake-of-family variety): How can I be the man I want to be when I listen to music which are not of my values?

Right now, it appears that I'm ignoring the songs' messages while mellowing on the throwback beats. But I think there may come a time when I retire all my UGK and Tupac. Some evidence to this prediction is that I'm beginning to enjoy classic light rock because I'm beginning to relate to it more.

--

*stylized southern spelling of 'man'

**Johnny Dang is hilarious, a jeweler to the stars. Someone (not me) needs to write a Wikipedia article on that guy. And to clarify the 'oriental', he's Viet and might be my cousin.