“Definition” is the first single from Black Star‘s 1998 album by the same name. It is produced by Hi-Tek, who samples “The P Is Free” by Boogie Down Productions for the track’s beat as well as “Stop the Violence” for the hook. The song’s lyrics in general deal with the necessity to stop violence in hip hop, and the lyrics also mention the recent deaths of 2Pac and Biggie Smalls, which rocked the hip-hop world at the time. The song is an underground hit, but it still reached #60 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (adapted from Wikipedia).
Brooklyn, New York City, where they paint murals of Biggie.
In cash we trust because it’s ghetto fabulous. Life look pretty.
Grammar: Infinitives of Purpose
One, two, three.
Mos Def and Talib Kweli.
We came to rock it on to the tip-top.
Best alliance in hip-hop. Y-O!
I said one, two, three.
It’s kind of dangerous to be an MC.
They shot 2Pac and Biggie.
Too much violence in hip-hop. Y-O!
An infinitive is the simple form of the verb, and it usually goes with to. For example:
- to eat
- to sleep
- to see
There are complex rules and many uses of infinitives, but we often use them to explain a person’s purpose, or why he or she does something. Consider these examples:
He’s going to San Francisco to learn English.
- What is he doing? He’s going.
- Where is he going? He’s going to San Francisco.
- Why is he going to San Francisco? To learn English. He’s going to San Francisco to learn English.
She’s leaving her apartment to meet her friend.
- What is she doing? She’s leaving.
- What is she leaving? She’s leaving her apartment.
- Why is she leaving her apartment? To meet her friend. She’s leaving her apartment to meet her friend.
Formal Writing and Describing Other People
To sound more formal and academic, you can also use in order (not) or so as (not) with the infinitive.
- He’s going to San Francisco in order to earn English.
- She’s leaving her apartment so as to meet her friend.
If you want to describe a purpose for another person, you can use for with the infinitive.
- I hid the key to my apartment under the flowers for you to get in.
- My father left his car for me to wash.
- She left the package for the intern to deliver.
Writing Task
Nearly 2 billion people are learning English right now. They all have different reasons for learning English. Why are you studying English? Please tell us in the comments below!