This song exemplifies the complex relationship between rap music and artists with religion– particularly the islam (as both Busta Rhymes and Q-Tip are muslim). In this song, rappers brag about their luxurious lifestyles filled with promiscuity, expensive jewelry, drugs and alcohol.These are things that one wouldn’t typically associate with a humble follower of God. Yet, according to the song’s hook, the artists clearly attribute their success, riches, and all the drugs, money and women in their lives to their “heavenly father” whom they thank for everything. This implies that today there is a more post-modern idea of what it is to be a christian and what type of personal relationship you can have with God. This sort of go-against-the-grain, quest for new ideas on religion, politics, and philosophy began during the time of the Enlightenment. As a result,religion has become more fluid thereby easier to accommodate in the lives of worshipers.
It is also interesting this is meeting of two veterans from two relatively new labels (YMCMB and G.O.O.D. Music) and they are both introduced by their bosses, Lil Wayne and Kanye West respectively. Busta stated that he wanted the collaboration to settle any rumours about beef between the YMCMB and G.O.O.D. Music camps.
The sample included in the hook and the instrumental of this song is from Alicia Myers' 1981 hit “I Want to Thank You”: