Smif-N-Wessun exist in that opaque state of high where the smallest action has the deepest meaning; where words are part of some lost subtext. Their connection to ganja provides them with insight into the war around them. "The struggle is always on," states Steele. "It's a war of survival and elevation. We're doing battle with snakes, police, and fake motherf#ckers." In a world where brothers are "too leery to live and them nah want die" the representatives of the Boot Camp Clik know that the impending Armageddon will come. They rely upon each other in order to combat the uneasy peril of one's own life, forming a brotherhood of mutual respect. "We've been through mad obstacles," asserts Steele. "It's our ability to communicate. [It's] a bond we wrekonize and embrace. When you shine people will know that you know something." Indeed, there is a continuation of thought between the two, a shinin' which allows Tek to jump in where Steele leaves off.... "My family knows his family. We go back to when we was robbing motherf#ckers. We gotta show and prove."
Tek expresses the struggle to come up as 'basic training', providing insight into the metaphorealical existence of the Boot Camp Clik -- a battalion including Black Moon, Heltah Skeltah, OGC and Champagne. Steele explains that they are 10 strong, "knowledging our circumference and coming to a circle. There wasn't no confrontation, no destruction." Adding that, "Each way we go it's construction. We shine a light." The unabashed connection that Tek and Steele express and the force of their words is not so much gun talk but a warning, an understanding that without pride and force (Mass acceleration intelligence), there will be no progress in life. Their bond is an example for brothers who consider their situation to be critical. In "Stand Strong" Steele rhymes: "Individuals who choose to use life for granted/What you gonna do when it's demanded?" When n!ggas see us forming they'll think, 'Damn. Maybe we should link up.'" When people really look at Smif-N-Wessun, they'll find that there's a much deeper meaning beyond their words. - OneNut '95. Art: Torre Pentel.
