Amsterdam

Album: God Forgives, I Don't (2012)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was inspired by the Dutch city of Amsterdam's De Wallen neighborhood, which is a designated area for legalized prostitution. The district contains several hundred small, one-room apartments rented by sex workers. The red light seen from outside through a window or glass door, is a sign of the activities within. "It's based around the red light district, but I kinda flipped it where being a boss you gotta get approval for a green light," explained Ross to MTV News. "I'm one of those people you can't green light. As long I've been in this game, there's been a lot of talk, but ain't nobody stepped on these 11 and a half's. The reason being: This is the red light district, you can't move on this side."
  • The Cardiak-produced track features vocals by Teedra Moses. The American R&B and soul singer-songwriter is best known for her 2004 debut album, Complex Simplicity, which peaked at #168 on the Billboard 200 and for penning Ciara's hit single, "Dip It Low." Moses signed to Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group as its first female artist on March 25, 2011.
  • Notorious actress Antonique Smith played Ross' leading lady in the Dre Films directed video. She also appeared in the visual for Nas' "Nasty."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Little Big Town

Little Big TownSongwriter Interviews

"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."

Millie Jackson

Millie JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In Songs

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In SongsSong Writing

Songs where something goes horribly wrong (literally or metaphorically), and help is needed right away.

John Lee Hooker

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.