Meaning and Lyrics of Can U Dig That? by DJ Premier

Song Lyrics meaning of Can U Dig That? by DJ Premier

About DJ Premier

DJ Premier, born Christopher Edward Martin, is a legendary hip-hop producer and DJ who has shaped the sound of East Coast rap for over three decades.

Born in Houston, Texas, in 1966, Premier rose to prominence as one half of the iconic duo Gang Starr, alongside the late MC Guru. Their collaborations produced classic albums like “Step in the Arena” and “Daily Operation,” cementing Premier’s status as a beatmaking genius.

Known for his signature boom-bap style, intricate scratch choruses, and masterful use of sampling, Premier has crafted beats for hip-hop’s elite, including Nas, Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G., and KRS-One. His production work on Nas’ “Illmatic” and Jay-Z’s “Reasonable Doubt” helped define the sound of 90s New York hip-hop.

While “Can U Dig That?” isn’t one of his most well-known tracks, Premier’s discography is filled with classics like “Mass Appeal,” “DWYCK,” and “N.Y. State of Mind.” His influence extends beyond hip-hop, having worked with artists like Christina Aguilera and Limp Bizkit.

Today, DJ Premier continues to produce, tour, and influence a new generation of artists, solidifying his place as one of hip-hop’s most revered and enduring figures.

Meaning of Can U Dig That? by DJ Premier

“Can U Dig That?” by DJ Premier offers a vivid portrayal of the famed Californian lifestyle, particularly focusing on the allure and complexities of the West Coast culture. The song opens with the inviting “Welcome to California” chorus, which sets the stage for a journey through the glitz and grit of the Golden State.

The first verse paints a picture of California’s allure, mentioning dazzling lights, beautiful women, dice games, and dominoes. References to President Obama, rivers teeming with tadpoles, nightclubs, and liquor stores convey a mix of glamour and street life. The lyrics highlight the hustle mentality prevalent in California, with mentions of selling drugs and navigating a lifestyle filled with danger and excess.

The chorus repeats the welcoming call to California, contrasting the allure of money with the harsh reality that “life is a bitch out here.” This juxtaposition captures the dual nature of the Californian dream, where success and struggles often coexist.

The second verse delves deeper into the West Coast culture, paying homage to iconic figures like Tupac, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, and others who have shaped the region’s rap scene. The lyrics celebrate the resilience and toughness of those who have grown up in California, emphasizing the importance of hard work and street smarts.

The outro further acknowledges the legacy of California’s music scene, with shoutouts to DJ Premier and Snoop Dogg as stalwarts of West Coast hip-hop. The mention of the West Coast being incomplete without the “E-S” highlights the significance of these artists in defining the region’s sound.

Overall, “Can U Dig That?” captures the essence of California’s dichotomous charm, blending glamour with grit, success with struggle, and celebrating the indomitable spirit of those who call the West Coast home.

Lyrics of Can U Dig That? by DJ Premier

Chorus
"Welcome to California"
Can you dig that?
"Welcome to California"
"Money the only thing that counts here"
"Welcome to California"
Can you dig that?
"Welcome to California"
"Life is a bitch out here"
Can you dig that?

Verse 1
The lights, the glimmer
Shooting stars and beautiful women (Wow)
Dice games and dominoes
Presidential Obama flows (Flows)
Rivers drip with tadpoles (What?)
Night clubs with bad hoes (Ooh)
Neighborhoods with liquor stores
And foes and baggy clothes
I gotta get this dope sold (Yeah, what?)
Bang, bang the lifestyle (Bang)
Too bright, we might turn your lights down
Cut off your water
Put him on the set just for startеrs (What up, cuz?)
Enjoy the trip, blaze up a spliff, ride down thе strip (Ayy, what up, n***a?)
Get you some Hen or get you some juice and mix it with gin
Send flicks to the pen

Chorus
Welcome to California"
Can you dig that?
"Welcome to California"
"Money the only thing that counts here"
"Welcome to California"
Can you dig that?
"Welcome to California"
"Life is a bitch out here"
Can you dig that?

Verse 2
Taught y'all the recipe
That West Coast mentality (West, West)
Tupac and Ice Cube
Short Dog and 40 water (Yeah)
Ice-T and Eazy-E
Quik put you on a B, I put you on a C
DPG, away with gunplay and let the beef cease
Peace to the gods (Peace)
And all the G's on the yard (What up, homie?)
Born raised to squab
Hustle hard and ball, it pays to be hard
Trickle down and pick it up
Pistol out, stick 'em up (Stick 'em up)
Yup, yup we got it
Cocked back my heat for the dearly departed
Tricks are for kids

Chorus
"Welcome to California"
Can you dig that?
"Welcome to California"
"Money the only thing that counts here"
Welcome to California"
Can you dig that? (West Coast)
"Welcome to California"
"Life is a bitch out here"
Can you dig that?

Outro
Dig that, DJ Premier
Big Snoop Dogg
Can't spell the West without the E-S, yessir
We been doing this shit, mane, 'bout twenty-five, twenty-six
Shit, I don't know, we just been doing it
It's a groove thang, mane

Discography DJ Premier

Beats That Collected Dust, Vol. 3 (Instrumental)

Release: 2023-09-22
Label: TTT
Popularity: 👏
1. WOOOWOOWOO (Instrumental)
2. Really (Instrumental)
3. Kelly B (Instrumental)
4. Eiht 45 (Instrumental)
5. Climbmax (Instrumental)
6. Here We Go (Instrumental)
7. HAYE (Instrumental)
8. Bah Dah (Instrumental)
9. Bogart (Instrumental)
10. Tha Can (Instrumental)
11. Dee Ell P (Instrumental)
12. DMX Bark ‘n Growl (Instrumental)
13. Spaced Dem Mo (Instrumental)
14. Shy Role (Instrumental)
15. Perc Pad (Instrumental)
16. Bobble (Instrumental)
17. In Moe (Instrumental)
18. Episode 207 (Instrumental)
Tracklist Collapse

2 Sides To Every Story

Release: 2023-06-30
Label: TTT
1. 2 Sides – Intro
2. Out the Gate
3. Contraband
4. 4 Tha Love
5. It Is What It Is (feat. Lil Fame)
6. Life in the FEDS
7. some of the fellas on the block – Interlude
8. Know Our Way Around (feat. M.O.P.)
9. No Fake Love (feat. DJ Eclipse)
10. Baby (feat. I-Fresh)
11. Hostile Takeover (feat. Benny The Butcher)
12. how it was – Interlude
13. The Thoro Side
14. Life in the FEDS – Remix
Tracklist Collapse

KoleXXXion

Release: 2022-06-28
Label: Year Round Records
l
1. My Thoughts
2. Shake the Room
3. B.a.P. (Bumpy and Premier)
4. EVrEEbOdEE
5. wEaRe aT WaR
6. P.a.I.n.E.
7. The Life
8. Fypau
9. D’ lah
10. More Levels (Street)
11. GrEaTnEsS
12. EyEnEvErPuTmY4cUsAwAy
13. Turn up the Mic (DJ Premier Remix)
14. The Key
15. OwNiT
16. The Gang Starr Bus
17. Word Iz Bond
Tracklist Collapse
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Beats That Collected Dust, Vol. 3 (Instrumental)

Release: 2023-09-22
Label: TTT
Popularity: 👏
1. WOOOWOOWOO (Instrumental)
2. Really (Instrumental)
3. Kelly B (Instrumental)
4. Eiht 45 (Instrumental)
5. Climbmax (Instrumental)
6. Here We Go (Instrumental)
7. HAYE (Instrumental)
8. Bah Dah (Instrumental)
9. Bogart (Instrumental)
10. Tha Can (Instrumental)
11. Dee Ell P (Instrumental)
12. DMX Bark ‘n Growl (Instrumental)
13. Spaced Dem Mo (Instrumental)
14. Shy Role (Instrumental)
15. Perc Pad (Instrumental)
16. Bobble (Instrumental)
17. In Moe (Instrumental)
18. Episode 207 (Instrumental)
Tracklist Collapse

2 Sides To Every Story

Release: 2023-06-30
Label: TTT
l
1. 2 Sides – Intro
2. Out the Gate
3. Contraband
4. 4 Tha Love
5. It Is What It Is (feat. Lil Fame)
6. Life in the FEDS
7. some of the fellas on the block – Interlude
8. Know Our Way Around (feat. M.O.P.)
9. No Fake Love (feat. DJ Eclipse)
10. Baby (feat. I-Fresh)
11. Hostile Takeover (feat. Benny The Butcher)
12. how it was – Interlude
13. The Thoro Side
14. Life in the FEDS – Remix
Tracklist Collapse

KoleXXXion

Release: 2022-06-28
Label: Year Round Records
Popularity: 👏
1. My Thoughts
2. Shake the Room
3. B.a.P. (Bumpy and Premier)
4. EVrEEbOdEE
5. wEaRe aT WaR
6. P.a.I.n.E.
7. The Life
8. Fypau
9. D’ lah
10. More Levels (Street)
11. GrEaTnEsS
12. EyEnEvErPuTmY4cUsAwAy
13. Turn up the Mic (DJ Premier Remix)
14. The Key
15. OwNiT
16. The Gang Starr Bus
17. Word Iz Bond
Tracklist Collapse
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