May 1997, Juvenile released "Solja Rags" locally in New Orleans, which instantly became an underground classic thanks to "Solja Rag" as its first single. Summer of '97, people from Uptown to the Westbank were wearing a camouflage rag (bandanna) on their head or around their neck, solja rags had the whole city wearing camo clothing like Atlanta was doing the year before.
The start of the third verse was so catchy that Juvie later made it the chorus to his 1998 smash single "Ha" off of the album 400 Degreez. '97, people lost their minds at Black Greek step shows when they first heard the helicopter intro to the song, the beat courtesy of Mannie Fresh.
Lyrics:
Intro: [helicopter sound effects]
You 'bout that paper?
You on top?
You handlin' business?
You doin' swell?
Down with yo' ni**as to da finish?
Are you willin'
To hit da streets up and make a killin'?
Are you a villain
Pushin' a Bentley makin' millions?
Do you do your time
Without rattin' on your partners?
Do you kill your beef
With a pistol or a chopper?
Is you da man?
Do you pay all of your bills?
Did you make a plan?
And won't stop 'til its fulfilled?
Can you handle coke?
Can you handle dope?
Ain't afraid to go
Even though you know -
Look... Lil' Daddy...
Do you take care of yo' kids?
Is it clean in yo' crib?
Can't you stand to eat some ribs?
Aint it scandalous how we live?
You ball with Cash Money?
Do you like Mannie track?
Aint it shive (shob) how I rap?
Puttin' New Orleans on the map!
You brush ya teeth?
You on them hoes?
You got dem Rees [Reeboks] on ya feet?
With them Girbauds?
Chorus1: 4X
Then you a SOLJA ni**a, put up a solja rag!
Put up a soljah rag
Put up a soljah rag
Now what's happenin' wit' you?
You knockin' dem heads off too?
You do what a playa do?
You f**k in the Rochambeau?
You ain't scared to blast?
When you got dat iron witcha
Do you bust his a**?
You acts a a**?
You got ya ski mask?
And ya solja rag?
Look...
You ready to blow a bag?
Can you hustle like it's legal?
Can you avoid da people?
And hotwire your Regal?
You 'bout dat evil?
Look...
You on some ignorant s**t?
When that hoe get flip
Now can you punish da b**ch?
You like dem Beamers?
You like dem Benz 500s?
You like dem Hummers?
You like dem big fine womens?
You a playa ain't ya?
None of these b**ch ni**as could fade ya!
The ghetto made ya!
Dope fiends and junkies raised ya!
Do you sleep in suites?
Do you go shopping every week?
When you hit da streets
You got them Reeboks on your feet?
Chorus 2:
Is you a paper chaser?
You got your block on fire
Remainin' a G
Until the moment you expire?
You know what it is?
To make nothin' outta somethin'?
You handle your biz?
And don't be cryin' and sufferin'
Your ni**as is in ya?
You got your girlfriends witcha?
Since you was a kid
You was a instant wig-splitter?
You twinkle your slug [gold tooth]?
You ain't no b**ch huh?
You stompin' ya box in the mud?
A Hot Boy microwave oven
Ta tooted up, booted up
None of you b**ches lovin'
Your windows are tinted?
You got a g and a half and you ready to spend it?
You don't f**k with them Nike tennis?
You play with Barettas?
You sleep in the Royal Sonesta?
You won't f**k Vanessa?
You got choppers up on ya dresser?
You believe in GOD?
But can you handle it when its hard?
And represent your ward?
You be stalkin' the boulevard?
Chorus 3:
Other spellings for the track include Soldier Rags, Solja Ragz, and Soldja Rag.
Tags: Juvenile Juvie Solja Rag Rags Ragz Soldier Mannie Fresh New Orleans Rap 3rd Ward Cash Money Magnolia Nolia Projects
