C-Quel

Annotation

The C-Quel (Canibus) rap. minor reference to Vietnamese "Whoever grabs the mic after me'll get booed Get everything in the club thrown at you and ya' crew I'm the illest nigga alive, watch me prove it I'll snatch ya' crown with ya' head still attached to it I battle you the respect, I'll battle you over a blank check I'll battle you with a gun to my neck Ambushin' emcees, jumpin' out the trees like Vietnamese In fatigues covered with leaves Next year, you'll be walkin' around the "How Can I Be Down Conference with a laminate, that said "I Got Shitted-On By Canibus"

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Rap / Hip Hop Songs

Canibus, born Germaine Williamson 9 December 1974 in Kingston, Jamaica, his career was based in New York, part of the East Coast Hip Hop / Hardcore Hip Hop scene, finding minor success and known for freestyle and battle raps. This album contained three references to Vietnam. The song "The C-Quel" (Universal Music # 012 159 054-2) described one of these rap battles, using Vietnam as a metaphor for being a jungle guerilla, taking on MCs on a verbal battle: "I'll battle you with a gun to my neck, ambushin' emcees, jumpin' out the trees like Vietnamese in fatigues covered with leaves". The song "Horsementality" continued the theme: "and my lyrics be the atomic rockets, cosmic vomic - spittin', hittin' at y'all Vietnam vets", as did the song "100 Bars", presenting an image of guerilla warfare as a metaphor: "duckin' down low like we in 'Nam fightin' the Viet Cong, screamin' 'incoming' when I see a bomb".

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

Rapper born 9 December 1974 in Kingston, Jamaica, raised in the US. [Source: Wikipedia]

Themes

Violence Metaphor · Rap Battle · Vet · VC

In collections

Rap / Hip Hop Songs