Beastie Boys
Triple Trouble
slang cultural references grammar/contractions
Note: Some Standard English phrases have been translated to simpler language for the benefit of non-native speakers
Original Explanation of Slang

CHORUS
If You
If You
Wanna Know
Wanna Know
The real deal about the three
Well let me tell you
We're triple trouble ya'll
We're gonna bring you up to speed




Wanna want to

The real deal about the three the truth about the Beastie Boys

ya'll you
gonna going to bring you up to speed give you the information so that you are current with our history and activities

'Cause I'm a specializer, rhyme reviser
Ain't selling out to advertisers
What you get is what you see
And you won't see me out there advertising
See I like to party not drink Bacardi
'Cause I'm not looking to throw up on nobody
Known for my spiel - wheelie one wheel
'Cause this is like having a delicious meal

Moving the crowd, well that's a must
I got some words that apply to us and that's
Mesmerizing, tantalizing
Captivating, we're devastating

CHORUS

'Cause because
Ain't selling out to advertisers I'm not sacrificing my art to make money by appearing in advertisements
What you get is what you see play on traditional saying "What you see is what you get"

See understand Bacardi brand of rum
I'm not looking to throw up on nobody I don't want to vomit on anyone
spiel persuasive talking wheelie one wheel the trick of raising the front wheel of the bicycle off the ground while riding. The whole phrase means "I rap skillfully."

Moving the crowd, well that's a must It's necessary to get the crowd enthusiastic

Here's one for the bleachers and the upper tier
Versatile like All-Temp-A-Cheer
If you wanna drink call Mr. Belvedere
Run this rap game like a brigadier
I got kicks on the one, seven and eleven
Snares on the five and thirteen
Rhymes on time and that's the given
We're hot on the disco scene check it a check it
Slow down with I-me, got to stop stingin'
The source of the problem is at the origin
You've got lyrics that have got me cringin'
You're like a fish-wife, quit your damn whingein'

CHORUS

   the bleachers and the upper tier the cheap seats in the stadium or auditorium
All-Temp-A-Cheer brand of laundry detergent
Mr. Belvedere nickname of Belvedere, an expensive Polish vodka and the name of an English butler on an 1980s television comedy series.
Run this rap game like a brigadier control the rap like a brigadier general
kicks...thirteen drum machine settings: kicks are bass drums, snares are higher pitched drums.
Rhymes on time and that's the given You can assume that our rap will rhyme on the beats
We're hot on the disco scene check it a check it Our songs are popular at discos (also a possible reference to Ch-check It Out, another song from the same CD, To the Five Boroughs)
stingin' this is not a Standard English word or slang word, but given the pronunciation (which rhymes with cringing, below) it is probably an invented verb form of the Standard English adjective stingy (not wanting to spend money because you are cheap)

You've got lyrics that have got me cringing Your lyrics are terrible (standard English)
You're like a fish-wife fishwives are literally women who sell fish. However, the usual meaning is from the stereotype that such women use a lot of angry and/or swear words. damn used for emphasis whingeing complaining (mostly used by British people, though here, the usual American synonym whining, which rhymes with dining, would not rhyme.

Hey yo, Bam! Supernature, God damn
Cerrone on the microphone I am
Adrock a.k.a Sharp Cheddar
My rhymes are better
What the Helen of Troy is that?
Did I hear you say my rhymes is wack?
I'm beautiful you can't touch me
If you pick a rose, well you might just bleed

 Hey yo, Bam! Pay attention. Wow! Supernature 1977 dance music album by Cerrone
Cerrone Popular disco artist whose songs have been sampled by many musicians, including his 1978 track "Rocket in the Pocket", which was sampled by the Beastie Boys on their 1989 album Paul's Boutique (on "59 Chrystie Street")
Adrock nickname of Beastie Boy Adam Horowitz a.k.a. also known as

What the Helen of Troy cutely polite way to say "what the hell?" (the hell is an expression used for emphasis)
my rhymes is wack my rap is bad
you can't touch me I am completely superior to you

We're originators you can't feign
Ignorance or pass the blame
'Nuff rhymes coming out the brain
'Nuff beats to drive you insane
'Nuff moves to make your neck crane
'Nuff skill to make the rhymes ingrain
'Nuff heat to leave you in flames
'Nuff style that you can't defame

You see I walk like Jabba The Hutt
With the style so new y'all be like what?
Turn the party out like a bon vivant
With the skill at will that I know you want
On a hot day with the iced latte
Devious like Wylie Coyote
Hot to trot-tay or maybe not-tay
'Cause little did they know there was a baby in her body

Mesmerizing, tantalizing, captivating, devastating

CHORUS

Roses are beautiful to look at, but they're thorny
Stems may cause them to be difficult to handle
thus making their beauty a bit awkward

 We're originators you can't feign ignorance You can't pretend that you don't know we are originators (Standard English)
'Nuff enough
beats musical rhythms
moves dances to make your neck crane to make you look around (Standard English)
'Nuff skill to make the rhymes ingrain We rap so well that the words will be permanently in your mind (Standard English)
'Nuff heat to leave you in flames We are very exciting (Standard English)
'Nuff style that you can't defame You can't say anything bad about our great style (Standard English)

Jabba The Hutt large, ugly, slug-like villain in the movie Star Wars VI, Return of the Jedi
y'all be like what? you'll be surprised or confused
Turn the party out like a bon vivant This will be a great party because I know how to enjoy myself (bon vivant is especially about enjoying food and wine, but here it appears to be more general)


Wylie Coyote Warner Brothers cartoon character whose elaborate plans to catch the Road Runner (a desert bird) always fail. Note: The Standard American English pronunciation of this word is kai-YO-tee, unlike the pronunciation in this song.
Hot to trot-tay hot to trot means eager to have sex or maybe not-tay or maybe not