“Back when I was nothin
You made a brother feel like he was somethin
That’s why I’m with you to this day boo no frontin“
—Method Man featuring Mary J. Blige, “You’re All I Need”
The Wu-Tang Clan is one of my favorite rap groups of all time. These guys were like the “Justice League” of hip hop during the 1990s and 2000s. Each member has a special power such as lyrical ability, producing skills or just stage presence. I have always resonated with their grungy, diggin’ in the crates, raw, passionate sound, especially Method Man’s.
Of course, I could not help but think about my affinity for Method’s song “You’re All I Need,” featuring the talented Mary J. Blige, as a meaningful and heartfelt rap “love” song. What initially draws listeners in is the chorus and sample from the original classic performed by Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell–bridging the gap between past and present generations. However, instead of selecting the memorable chorus to represent this song, I decided to go with lyrics from the song that echo the importance of being supportive towards one another unconditionally within a relationship.
Most women expect a lot from their men, and men have the right to expect a lot from their women as well. Nevertheless, from my observation, there appears to be an imbalance. Oftentimes, most women are willing to give their men the support they need; unfortunately, they are rarely acknowledged by their men for their unyielding encouragement. In “You’re All I Need,” Method gives praise and appreciates his woman’s actions, “Back when I was nothin you made a brother feel like he was somethin.”
Sadly, I also have witnessed some women tearing down and even emasculating their good, caring, hard working men. They utter scathing phrases such as, “You ain’t nothing!” “You can’t do nothing for me” “You’re such a loser,” etc. right in front of family and friends without hesitation. It’s much easier to be there for somebody who has everything than to be there for a person who is striving to obtain the better things in life and to accomplish concrete goals. Would you be more indebted to a person who is only there for you when you can give them all that they want or with a person who works with you and supports you even when everything may not go as planned? “That’s why I’m with you to this day boo no frontin.”
Please feel free to share your thoughts
~Anonomz aka Tanya Harris
Bonus English Lesson:
It is not uncommon for rap lyrics and many types of creative writing to drop the “ing” sound on a word to demonstrate use a specific type of vernacular or common day speech because it is the voice of the writer or the persona or it has a better flow or sound because of the syllables or meter in the line. In this instance, Method Man drops the “g” from “nothin,” “somethin” and “frontin.” Also, he uses the all too common slang word “boo” as a synonym for his “lady.” Keep in mind that many rappers who are well-versed and considered lyricists tend to familiarize themselves with the standard grammar rules prior to breaking the rules in their lyrics.
Journey of Anonomz 