Posted by Audio Two’s 1987 single “Top Billin” is a Hip Hop classic that’s been referenced and sampled by the likes of JAY-Z, Kanye West, 50 Cent, Method Man and countless others. But for decades, many fans have been getting the lyrics wrong.
As it turns out, Audio Two’s Milk Dee never said “suckers that’s down with me” on the track’s opening verse as widely assumed. What he actually said was “suckers that’s down with neither one of us.”
The confusion comes from the structure of Milk Dee’s bars, which split the word “neither” over two lines. Due to the rhyming trick and “nei” sounding so much like “me,” the misconception has existed for over 30 years.
Industry veteran Skillz, best known for his year-end “Rap Ups,” addressed the misquoted song in a social media clip posted on Monday (September 7).
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Milk Dee also reposted Skillz’s video on his Instagram and captioned it, “The Truth behind the Top Billin Lyrics.”
“I played this song for all of my friends,” Skillz said in the clip. “This was the look on their face when they found out what he was really saying.”
The veteran MC then shared the stunned reactions of 9th Wonder, Phonte, Rapper Big Pooh, Don Cannon, DJ Green Lantern, The Breakfast Club’s Charlamagne Tha God, comedian Affion Crockett and more. But he confirmed one person, Black Thought, always knew the correct lyrics.
Check out Skillz’s “Top Billin” epiphany below.
We all have been saying Top Billin WRONG for 33 years ???? pic.twitter.com/AVWej3I9En
— Mad Skillz (@SkillzVa) September 7, 2020