This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
We in between heaven and hell
Fuck your nine to five, I'd rather end up either dead or in jail
American ninja to these obstacles
No stoppin' me, we on the move
Your mouth runnin' like a prostitute's
Keep your head to yourself
I work harder than anybody you know
I'm done with tricks, don't need no money to blow
Deadly aim, self contained
Superstar, they yell the name
Blood diamonds, finna go to hell for my chain
The P fitted on my head though
I'm too high, you can't reach me with the cell phone
No goodbyes, no hellos
You don't want this life I live
You'd rather have the wife and kid
Shootin' dice with Jesus Christ, put 20 on the midnight
To everyone to sell me drugs
Don't mix it with that bullshit I hopin' not to join the twenty seven club
Just want the coke dealer house with the velvet rug
Fuck the world there's no one else but us
Everything we think we love
It ain't nothing but a brand name
To everyone but us
Ain't nothing but a brand name, nothing but a brand name
Ask her what she wearing, say it's nothing but a brand name
Baby, this right here is hand made
I got brothers I don't need no friends
My shoes off I'm comfortable, I'm chillin' smokin' weed again
I'm from the berg not the burbs
Investigating my nation, homie we ain't concerned
We're from the 412 out to the 310
We're from the pavement in my basement to 'em yellow brick roads
See, I was on my Ps & Qs like L-M-N-O
But kickin' bitches out my crib, somebody tell 'em to go home, I don't know
I was in the crib with my different shit
Simple livin', I'm a hypocrite
'Cause I'm filthy rich, I got business
Been had wifey's, have mistresses
Been tryna tell you what my vision is, but y'all still ain't listening
The war they winnin', it's just beginnin'
And I've been 'bout Sparta like Michigan
I got stats, they got opinions, I got facts
The bro left home, but he came back
This what raised me, made me rap
PA's baby, I ain't been to PA lately
See, I left and they call me shady
I'm a white rapper, they always call me shady
Got no idea what I'm contemplatin', I guess
It ain't nothing but a brand name
To everyone but us
It ain't nothing but a brand name, nothing but a brand name
Ask her what she wearing, say it's nothing but a brand name
Baby, this right here is hand made
Everyday we love, love
Good morning (La, la, la, la)
Good morning
And everyone but us, us
Good morning (La, la, la, la)
Good morning
Yeah
Fuck your nine to five, I'd rather end up either dead or in jail
American ninja to these obstacles
No stoppin' me, we on the move
Your mouth runnin' like a prostitute's
Keep your head to yourself
I work harder than anybody you know
I'm done with tricks, don't need no money to blow
Deadly aim, self contained
Superstar, they yell the name
Blood diamonds, finna go to hell for my chain
The P fitted on my head though
I'm too high, you can't reach me with the cell phone
No goodbyes, no hellos
You don't want this life I live
You'd rather have the wife and kid
Shootin' dice with Jesus Christ, put 20 on the midnight
To everyone to sell me drugs
Don't mix it with that bullshit I hopin' not to join the twenty seven club
Just want the coke dealer house with the velvet rug
Fuck the world there's no one else but us
Everything we think we love
It ain't nothing but a brand name
To everyone but us
Ain't nothing but a brand name, nothing but a brand name
Ask her what she wearing, say it's nothing but a brand name
Baby, this right here is hand made
I got brothers I don't need no friends
My shoes off I'm comfortable, I'm chillin' smokin' weed again
I'm from the berg not the burbs
Investigating my nation, homie we ain't concerned
We're from the 412 out to the 310
We're from the pavement in my basement to 'em yellow brick roads
See, I was on my Ps & Qs like L-M-N-O
But kickin' bitches out my crib, somebody tell 'em to go home, I don't know
I was in the crib with my different shit
Simple livin', I'm a hypocrite
'Cause I'm filthy rich, I got business
Been had wifey's, have mistresses
Been tryna tell you what my vision is, but y'all still ain't listening
The war they winnin', it's just beginnin'
And I've been 'bout Sparta like Michigan
I got stats, they got opinions, I got facts
The bro left home, but he came back
This what raised me, made me rap
PA's baby, I ain't been to PA lately
See, I left and they call me shady
I'm a white rapper, they always call me shady
Got no idea what I'm contemplatin', I guess
It ain't nothing but a brand name
To everyone but us
It ain't nothing but a brand name, nothing but a brand name
Ask her what she wearing, say it's nothing but a brand name
Baby, this right here is hand made
Everyday we love, love
Good morning (La, la, la, la)
Good morning
And everyone but us, us
Good morning (La, la, la, la)
Good morning
Yeah
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
Brand Name Lyrics as written by Jeremy Kulousek David Jordan
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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