Peak
60
Weeks
16
Score
772
Chart Year
1994
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."
What that nigga want God? Word up, look out for the cops (Wu-Tang five finger shit) (Cash Rules) Word up, two for fives over here baby Word up, two for fives them niggas got garbage down the way, word up Know what I'm sayin'? (Cash Rules Everything Around Me C.R.E.A.M. get) Yeah, check this ol' fly shit out Word up (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) Take you on a natural joint (C.R.E.A.M. get the money) Here we here we go (Dolla dolla bill y'all) Check this shit, yo! I grew up on the crime side, the New York Times side Staying alive was no jive Had second hands, moms bounced on old men So then we moved to Shaolin land A young youth, yo rockin' the gold tooth, 'Lo goose Only way, I begin to G off was drug loot And let's start it like this son, rollin' with this one And that one, pullin' out gats for fun But it was just a dream for the teen, who was a fiend Started smokin' woolas at sixteen And running up in gates, and doing hits for high stakes Making my way on fire escapes No question I would speed, for cracks and weed The combination made my eyes bleed No question I would flow off, and try to get the dough all Sticking up white boys in ball courts My life got no better, same damn 'Lo sweater Times is ruff and tuff like leather Figured out I went the wrong route So I got with a sick ass click and went all out Catchin' keys from across seas Rollin in MPV's, every week we made forty G's Yo nigga respect mine, or here go the TEC-9 Ch-chick-POW! Move from the gate now Cash, Rules, Everything, Around, Me C.R.E.A.M. Get the money Dollar, dollar bill y'all Cash, Rules, Everything, Around, Me C.R.E.A.M. Get the money Dollar, dollar bill y'all It's been twenty-two long hard years, I'm still strugglin' Survival got me buggin', but I'm alive on arrival I peep at the shape of the streets And stay awake to the ways of the world 'cause shit is deep A man with a dream with plans to make C.R.E.A.M. Which failed I went to jail at the age of 15 A young buck sellin' drugs and such who never had much Trying to get a clutch at what I could not The court played me short, now I face incarceration Pacin' going upstate's my destination Handcuffed in back of a bus, forty of us Life as a shorty shouldn't be so rough But as the world turns I learned life is hell Living in the world no different from a cell Everyday I escape from Jakes givin' chase, sellin' base Smokin' bones in the staircase Though I don't know why I chose to smoke sess I guess that's the time when I'm not depressed But I'm still depressed, and I ask what's it worth? Ready to give up so I seek the Old Earth Who explained working hard may help you maintain To learn to overcome the heartaches and pain We got stickup kids, corrupt cops, and crack rocks And stray shots, all on the block that stays hot Leave it up to me while I be living proof To kick the truth to the young black youth But shorty's running wild smokin' sess drinkin' beer And ain't trying to hear what I'm kickin' in his ear Neglected, for now, but yo, it gots to be accepted That what? That life is hectic Cash, Rules, Everything, Around, Me C.R.E.A.M. Get the money Dollar, dollar bill y'all Cash, Rules, Everything, Around, Me C.R.E.A.M. Get the money Dollar, dollar bill y'all Cash, Rules, Everything, Around, Me C.R.E.A.M. Get the money Dollar, dollar bill y'all Cash, Rules, Everything, Around, Me C.R.E.A.M. Get the money Dollar, dollar bill y'all
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 12, 1994 | 96 | 30 |
| 2 | Mar 19, 1994 | 96 | 30 |
| 3 | Mar 26, 1994 | 87 | 39 |
| 4 | Apr 2, 1994 | 80 | 46 |
| 5 | Apr 9, 1994 | 74 | 52 |
| 6 | Apr 16, 1994 | 66 | 60 |
| 7 | Apr 23, 1994 | 60 | 66 |
| 8 | Apr 30, 1994 | 60 | 66 |
| 9 | May 7, 1994 | 68 | 58 |
| 10 | May 14, 1994 | 70 | 56 |
| 11 | May 21, 1994 | 76 | 50 |
| 12 | May 28, 1994 | 81 | 45 |
| 13 | Jun 4, 1994 | 86 | 40 |
| 14 | Jun 11, 1994 | 93 | 33 |
| 15 | Jun 18, 1994 | 92 | 34 |
| 16 | Jun 25, 1994 | 100 | 26 |