Picture the excitement and rush of energy one would feel at the start of a championship sports event. Then picture it as a song that knocks out all competition while also making you feel enlightened. With what starts off like a fighting bout, with a screaming release of energy filled with a touch of hysteria, 2 Five Da Raptor blows listeners minds completely away and makes them think deeper in his hit single, “Limitless”.
Delivering fire lyrically, blow after blow, with the precision of his flow, as he spits with the stagger of a champion who is already at the finish line, but is inherently aware of the climb to get there, the creative work begins with a subtle yet prominent reminder that he is also an artist who is straight out of the Dirty South. The screw-style ineuendo at the :31 mark would make most Houston hip hop heads and screw fans alike immediately think of DJ Screw. This is even more solidified with his “Driving slow” remark later in the song. The exquisitely placed respects are prominent, as well as his knowledge and appreciation of various music tastes, as 2 Five also pays tribute to the legendary funk group Zapp at 1:03.
Hailing from Eastside San Antonio, TX, 2 Five Da Raptor takes the listener on a lyrical journey through the mind of a winner in “Limitless”. With lyrics like,
I’m a Mister Danny Glover / My shot a Lethal Weapon
lead the band beat the drum
My only vision is a win
Tunnel vision as we climb
My bars break bets no give backs
We felt that in this synopsis, it’s important to grab lyrics scattered throughout the song in order to fully capture the overall meaning that is portrayed throughout, because the melodic punches do not stop at just one verse. In this single, 2 Five demonstrates that he is the leader of the “band” (other rappers at his level), marching at the beat of his own drum; his skillfully crafted bars are what will solidify his wins now and in the future, as he climbs to the top of his musical career.
As we all know, what comes with wins are also lots of hardships along the way, including mental blockers that may discourage progression:
Finding solace in the company accumulated as I roam
Beat PTSD that’s a must
With the hard work will make the best of time, well we trying
If my only life was flawless
But the then again we probably wouldn’t have all this
A wealth in the pieces of the mind
Simply being guided by divine intervention
He reminds the listener that life’s hardships will always be there but that they can be overcome. 2 Five adds a spiritual undertone here as well, that there is a divine presence guiding the way. There is encouragement here for those who may feel lost, to also remember that if we didn’t have the hardships that come with this thing called “life”, that maybe we wouldn’t have anything. It’s a reminder to be grateful for life and that whatever is weighing you down can be overcome, and that it is a must to do so.
The song relates on many levels of depthness to any music fan. He reminds the listener of this as he also speaks on family:
Family is family whether good or bad
Through a good or sad
Through a good or sad
Through good times, and bad times, family will go through things, but blood is blood, family is family. Don’t disown someone in the family just from a disagreement or because times are bad, because they are still family.
That verse hits deep to many, especially in social media times, as many people are quick to give up on family over one disagreement or something they see online. 2 Five puts that in the spotlight here as he repeats it twice, maybe possibly as a reminder to himself.
Let’s highlight a couple of lyrical references he makes towards his hometown of San Antonio:
Some know when Alamo reppin
San Antonio shinin
San Antonio is well-known to be a tourist city, with the historic Alamo being one of the top tourist attractions. San Antonio is also a highly slept on city in the nation when it comes to hip hop. He shouts out his city here with a mention, eluding to its shine that stems from not only his lyrical skills, but also serves as his acknowledgment of other talented artists in the city.
He breaks the barriers placed by society mentally here with:
Height limitless typical limit / We a testing this
This line basically means, haters be scared, because 2 Five is coming for you! Don’t play with 2 Five, he is the underdog from San Antonio, TX that just might win!
“Limitless” encompasses the epitome of what has been missing in Hip Hop. Hip hop fans often forget about the culture aspect of hip hop, and this song has a nostalgic aura that reminds the listener. The old school Nintendo mention was also present to help remind older hip hop fans of the type of music that was popular at that time. The deep underground retro flavor on the Origami Beat reflects this.
“Limitless” is definitely a song to listen to in full, with bass on blast. It’s a dose of hip hop that the culture desperately needed.
Salute, 2 Five Da Raptor!
“Limitless” lyric video:
2 Five Da Raptor:
Website: www.2fivedaraptor.com
