Released: 1999
“Movas & Shakers” by Inspectah Deck is a head-nodding anthem to the hustlers and the dreamers, those doing what they can to survive while holding on to their dreams of a better life. It also offers an ode to the hard-core hip-hop lifestyle, invoking scenes of the urban landscape, late-night escapades, and the relentless grind for success.
Inspectah Deck sets the tone in the opening lines. “This goes out to all my niggas/Spendin’ they last on gas, grass and ass,” is a shoutout to the everyday hustlers. In hip-hop parlance, ‘niggas’ is a term of endearment and camaraderie among black men. “gas, grass and ass” is American street slang, expressing the belief that nothing is free in life. ‘Gas’ is car fuel, ‘grass’ is marijuana, and ‘ass’ represents sexual exploits.
The hook: “Keep on, ya don’t stop, if ya don’t stop maybe ya won’t stop/If ya won’t stop maybe ya can’t stop”, serves as an anthem of resilience. The repetitive nature of this hook implies a relentless pursuit of goals and dreams. It’s a call to keep pushing, keep grinding, keep thriving — no matter what.
Inspectah brings his A-game lyrically with lines like “My poems were found next to dinosaur bones/Perform by the elders before the kings throne”. Here, he’s declaring his lyrical skill as a rapper is ancient and revered, suggesting a heavy, timeless impact.
The verse “We trip the light, ride to the rhythms of the night,/Skin tight honeys show me love at first sight” presents a vivid picture of nightlife and attraction. ‘Honeys’ is a colloquial term for attractive women, in this case, drawn to the charisma of the rapper.
When Inspectah says, “When ya livin’ it we all deserve the finer things/Like foreign cars fancy clothes and diamond rings”, he’s acknowledging the aspirations of those in the struggle. Luxury desires represent the dreams of escaping poverty and alluding to the material successes associated with making it in the music industry.
The concluding verse, “Last call for alcohol bartender two kahlua’s and milk/With crushed ice in the blender” takes us to an intimate moment in a club, commanding the bartender’s attention. It concludes the narrative perfectly, encapsulating the complete storyline of dreaming big, hustling hard, and celebrating little victories in the journey.
Inspectah Deck’s “Movas & Shakers” is a potent hip-hop artifact. It’s brimming with vivid storytelling, metaphoric lyricism, and anthemic hooks that resonate with the core of the hip-hop demographic – the everyday hustlers, dreamers, and everyone in between. It’s these elements that make “Movas & Shakers” much more than a song; it’s a triumphant ode to resilience and ambition. Keep on, ya don’t stop.
