DontGetIt

Album: Tha Carter III (2008)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This 10-minute album cut takes on civil rights and Wayne's arrests, and finishes with a rant against the Reverend Al Sharpton and others who have protested against hip-hop music.
  • This samples Nina Simone's "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" from her 1964 album Broadway-Blues-Ballads . It is not the first rap track to borrow from it, "Misunderstood" from Common's Finding Forever album also samples this song. English R&B act The Animals recorded the best known version of "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" in 1965.
  • This was produced by Rodnae & Mousa. Rodnae spoke to Rhapsody about producing this track: "Nobody else ever heard it. It was made for Wayne. I took my time because most of the music sampled was played live so it's not necessarily all the way on beat. I had to make sure everything lined up to where it was one tempo."

    Mousa added: "I listen to Nina Simone a lot. We got the sample from her song 'Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood.' By the time we sent it, [Wayne] was about to leave to go to Europe for this tour, and the album was going to be turned in before he got back. I sent the song three days before he was leaving. He recorded it and while he was in Europe, Baby was calling for the files [for mixing and mastering]. When I first heard it, I felt like I wished [Wayne] had rapped more. But then I realized that if he's talking, consumers are going to listen more."

Comments: 1

  • Alejandro from Sacramento, CaI like 99.99% of tha songz on THA CARTER III and this song is included! But who sings the intro to this song?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Fire On The Stage

Fire On The StageSong Writing

When you have a song called "Fire," it's tempting to set one - these guys did.

Tom Keifer of Cinderella

Tom Keifer of CinderellaSongwriter Interviews

Tom talks about the evolution of Cinderella's songs through their first three albums, and how he writes as a solo artist.

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

70s Music Quiz 1

70s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

The '70s gave us Muppets, disco and Van Halen, all which show up in this groovy quiz.

Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

Dave Pirner of Soul AsylumSongwriter Interviews

Dave explains how the video appropriated the meaning of "Runaway Train," and what he thought of getting parodied by Weird Al.

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy TalentSongwriter Interviews

The frontman for one of Canada's most well-known punk rock bands talks about his Eddie Vedder encounter, Billy Talent's new album, and the importance of rock and roll.