Songfacts®:

• "C.R.E.A.M.," an acronym for Cash Rules Everything Around Me, is the third single from the hip-hop group's debut album. Method Man, Raekwon, and Inspectah Deck share their stories of survival growing up in the slums and running drugs on the streets, "livin' in the world no different from a cell," in the hope to "kick the truth to the young black youth."
• This song has had an enduring influence on rappers. Method Man's hook, "Cash rules everything around me, C.R.E.A.M., Get the money; dollar, dollar bill, y'all," and other references pop up in countless rap songs. Everyone from The Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac to Kanye West, Nas, and Drake have incorporated send-ups to the song on their own tracks. Eminem also included it on the soundtrack to this 2002 film, 8 Mile.
• This samples the Charmels' 1967 song "As Long As I've Got You."
• Fifteen years after its release, this song was certified gold in 2009.
• This also landed at #32 on the R&B charts and #17 on the Hot Rap Singles chart.
• This is referenced in Wyclef Jean's "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)," when guest Akon raps in the chorus: "I'mma tell you, like Wu told me, cash rules everything around me, singing dolla dolla bill y'all."