Words by Bryant Bowens (@arete88)
At FSD, we feel it is our duty to provide our faithful readers with musical content that’s entertaining but also innovative. In 2012, Chicago has become the “it” city in hip-hop. But with all the accolades came criticism. Some critics concluded that Chicago’s success was solely based on the Drill scene — which is not completely true. The scene is a lot more well-rounded than some would lead you to believe. That being said, we’ve created a new FSD Feature entitled “Lyrics to Go,” where we dissect verses from some of our most well-respected lyricists, where they discuss their best bars.
First up is Soul Trap creator MC Tree. We chop it up with the Sunday School graduate to discuss his favorite verse of 2012, the triumphantly titled, “Best.” Proceed with caution.
Tree “B.E.S.T.”
Fuck they gon tell me when it’s over
I make classics, bastards, and soldiers
Little nigga wouldn’t shoot, I got him high and then we took him to the roof
Fuck they gon tell me
I get locked motherfuckers better bail me
I’m in that strip club place they filmed Belly at
Going off in the county where my Pelle at?
850 gone, I just bought a zone
That’s 1300 niggas can’t stomach
Haven’t seen him in a year like he running from me
Said he could have been the king he just wanted money
Fuck the fame and the game got a run from it
Get ya change in exchange whatever yall wanted
Old G’s now dead I can hear them speaking
In 88 38, a couple Puerto Ricans
My poppa was a dope fiend we had to hustle for the dope things
Take shit muscle no protein
S curl nigga light skin gold links
FSD: What was the motivation behind this particular verse?
Tree: The motivation behind the song was me wanting to express why I’m the best—if not the best. The motivation behind it is, I do reality rap. I don’t talk about diamonds or sipping lean. I pretty much give you what I see and hear everyday in our neighborhood. It takes a certain intellect to actually put it on paper and put it in a form of a verse and make it rhyme. Also, I wanted to hit emotional spots with people that listen to the music.
I wanted people to say “Man this guy is real, did he just say that?” So my whole motivation behind writing this verse was a.) That I am the best b.) To give you a healthy dialogue in the verse c.) Spit like no other.
FSD: Who were some of your influences coming up?
Tree: 2Pac, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, and the whole No Limit. I listened to a lot of Mac, Mystikal, and Fiend. People that struck emotion in the listeners ear.
FSD: How did those rappers influence you in developing your style?
Tree: Me being a music connoisseur, and knowing what I like, and knowing what was cold as opposed to the gimmick rappers. Rappers like Nas and 2Pac, they instilled in me the quality of being real. They came across lyrically, and they gave you that wow factor like “God damn he cold.” So that’s what I got from all the music I listened to. As far as my style, I try not to sound like nobody. My voice is different — my approach is different than the average rapper. What I learned from the legends was being different.
My writing is from my own personal stories. I was great at literature in high school, so I was writing a story and making them juicy. I garnered the realness in their music, but as far as my music and how I come across, I would have to give that credit to myself.
[Click Below For Next Page]