Some Examples Of The Line "We Don't Die. We Multiply" In African American Culture

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Revision: May 24, 2024

This pancocojams post presents information about the saying "We don't die, we multiply" (or a similar version of that line) in African American culture from the early 20th century on.

This post also documents two examples of the use of the line "We don't die. We multiple" in a Reggae song, and in a Filipino Rap record.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, socio-cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to all those who are featured in this showcased video. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
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Pancocojams Editor's Note: All forms of what is now referred to as "the n word" are partly written in this post although that word is fully spelled out in those songs' lyrics.

Italics are used for the featured line "We don't die. We multiple" (or forms of that line) to highlight those lines.

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EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY AFRICAN AMERICAN SOURCE OF THE LINE "WE DON'T DIE WE MULTIPLE"
The earliest form of the line "We don't die. We multiply" that I have found is from a song that is included in Negro Folk Rhymes: Wise Or Otherwise, a 1922 collection by Fisk University professor & folklorist Thomas W. Talley.

NEGROES NEVER DIE
Ni&&er! Ni&&er never die!
He gits choked on Chicken pie.
Black face, white shiny eye. Ni&&er! Ni&&er!

Ni&&er! Ni&&er never knows!
Mashed nose, an' crooked toes;
Dat's de way de Ni&&er goes. Ni&&er! Ni&&er!

Ni&&er! Ni&&er always sing;
Jump up, cut de Pidgeon's wing;
Whirl, an' give his feet a fling. Ni&&er! Ni&&er!
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"Negroes Never Die" is the song title that Thomas W. Talley gave to this example.

This is an example of an insult song in which some lighter skinned Black people "rip on" (diss) darker skinned Black people.

In this song the featured line implies that dark skinned Black people don't die honorably, but instead die in a demeaning way by chocking on chicken pie.

Because the word "n&&ers" in this song is a referent for darker skinned Black people, this song is an early example of "colorism".
"Colorism is a practice of discrimination by which those with lighter skin are treated more favorably than those with darker skin." http://racerelations.about.com/od/understandingrac1/g/definitionofcolorism.htm

The phrase "cut de [the] Pigeon's wing" refers to a type of social dance originating with and performed by Southern United States Black people.

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The words  "Ni&&er" never die" used to be a putdown. However, notice in the section below in this post that an update of that saying by the historically Black Greek letter fraternity Omega Psi Phi, the words "Ques don't die, they multiply has become a proud and assertive statement.

1. IN A STAND UP COMEDY ROUTINE, ANIMATED MOVIE, AND DOCUMENTARY MOVIE ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICAN COMEDIAN ROBIN HARRIS
The line "We don't die. We multiple" was popularized by the comedy routine and subsequent American movie starring African American comedian Robin Harris. "We don't die. We multiple" was voiced by an unruly kid in the 1992 movie Bebe's Kids. In the movie Bebe's Kids the character Pee Wee says the quote "We don't die. We multiple" that Robin Harris previously had made famous in his stand up comedy act. A core meaning for that saying is "In spite of your attempts to get rid of us [or do us harm], we just get stronger".

Here's information about the 1992 movie "Bébé's Kids" from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9b%C3%A9's_Kids
"Bébé's Kids (released on home media as Robin Harris' Bébé's Kids) is a 1992 American animated comedy film produced by Reginald Hudlin and Hyperion Pictures, directed by Bruce W. Smith, and released on July 31, 1992 by Paramount Pictures.

The first animated feature to feature an entirely African-American main cast, the film is based upon comedian Robin Harris' "Bébé's Kids" stand-up comedy act."
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In this movie Robin meets Jamika at a funeral and arranges to take her and her mild mannered son Leon to an amusement park. Unbenownst to Robin, Jamika brings along on that date three extremely unruly children Kahlil, LaShawn, and Pee-Wee, who are the children of her girlfriend Bébé. “Upon entering the park, the kids are set loose and promptly wreak havoc.

As a result of this comedy routine and animated film, the phrase among African Americans the words "Bebe's kids" has become a referent for very unruly children-particularly very unruly Black children.

In Robin Harris' stand up comedy routines and in the animated movie with that title, "We don't die we multiply" means "You'll never get rid of unruly kids". There will always ve kids like that in the world.

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From http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/we_dont_die_we_multiply_the_robin_harris_story/
"We Don't Die, We Multiply: The Robin Harris Story (2004) [actual release date to theaters 2006]

Movie Info
Robin Harris was one of the best-respected African-American comedians of his day; after making his way up the ladder the hard way by playing club gigs around the country while working day jobs, he gained his first major break when he became the master of ceremonies at the Comedy Act venue in Los Angeles. Harris' sharp wit and old-school approach earned gained the attention of a number of filmmakers, and in the late '80s he scored showy roles in Do the Right Thing, Mo' Better Blues, and House Party. However, just as Harris seemed poised to make a major career breakthrough, he died of a respiratory ailment in 1990 at the age of 37. The Robin Harris Story: We Don't Die, We Multiply is a documentary which examines Harris' short but memorable career, and includes interviews with such friends and fans as Bernie Mac, Cedric the Entertainer, Martin Lawrence, and Robert Townsend."

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2. IN SEVERAL HIP HOP RECORDS
"We Don't Die/We Multiple" is a floating verse in a number of Rap [Hip Hop] songs. One example of the use of a form of the line "We Don't Die We Multiply" is Snoop Dogg's "10-lil-crips"

[Hook: Snoop Dogg]
Ten little Crip ni&&as runnin outside
All from the turf and they bangin out lives
Far from a scrub cuzz from the Eastside
Where they don't die they just multiply
So.. don't give them ni&&as a reason
To turn it into spray season
Don't give them ni&&as a reason
Because they'll turn it into Crip season

Track 11 on Tha Blue Carpet Treatment [Release date: November 21, 2006]
Source: http://rapgenius.com/Snoop-dogg-10-lil-crips-lyrics#note-120479
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A published comment about that song indicates that it is "A shout out to [rapper] Ice-T and his famous quote: “We don’t die, we just multiply”.
Ice-T was also a [member of the] crip [gang]."
http://rapgenius.com/120479/Snoop-dogg-10-lil-crips/Where-they-dont-die-they-just-multiply

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In several other Hip Hop songs

2Pac in The Notorious B.I.G. – Hot 95 Freestyle Lyrics -
"No matter how you try, ni&&as never die
We just retaliate with hate, then we multiply"
[release date 1995]

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 "Ride" by Master P - ""Real ni&&as don't die we multiply" [1998]

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Kendrick Lamar - untitled 03 | multiply
(Performed live on the Colbert Report on December 16th, 2014)

[...]

What the black man say?
Tell 'em we don't die, tell 'em we don't die
Tell 'em we don't die, we multiply
Tell 'em we don't die, tell 'em we don't die
Tell 'em we don't die, we multiply
Tell 'em we don't die, tell 'em we don't die
Tell 'em we don't die, we multiply
Tell 'em we don't die, tell 'em we don't die
Tell 'em we don't die, we multiply


[Hat tip to Anonymous December 18, 2014 for alerting me to that example]

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3. IN A FRATERNITY STEPPIN CHANT
Ques don't die
They multiple
They go yah ha ha ha ha

[Repeat the entire chant several times while doing a steppin routine.]
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I recall this Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. step chant from step shows [in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania] in at least the mid 1990s.

I haven't been able to find a video of this chant as performed by Ques [men associated with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.] or as performed by other historically Black (African American) Greek lettered fraternities or sororities. If you know of any such YouTube videeos, please share those links in the comment section of this post. Thanks!

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NON-AFRICAN AMERICAN USE OF THE LINE "WE DON'T DIE. WE MULTIPLE"

1.A JAMAICAN REGGAE SONG

Ini Kamoze - HERE COMES THE HOTSTEPPER
Hit It!
Na, na na na na, na na na na
Na na na, na na na, na na na na

Here comes the hot stepper, murderer
I'm the lyrical gangster, murderer
Pick up the crew in-a de area, murderer
Still love you like that, murderer

No no we don't die, yes we mul-ti-ply
Anyone test will hear the fat lady sing
Act like you know Rico, I know what Bo don't know
Touch them up and go, uh-oh! Ch-ch-Chang Chang

Here comes the hot stepper, murderer
I'm the lyrical gangster, murderer
Excuse me mister officer, murderer
Still love you like that, murderer

Extraordinary, juice like a strawberry
Money to burn baby, all of the time
Cut to fade is me, fade to cut is she
Come juggle with me, I say every time

Here comes the hot stepper, murderer
I'm the lyrical gangster, murderer
Dial emergency number, murderer
Still love you like that, murderer

Na, na na na na, na na na na
Na na na, na na na, na na na na
It's how we do it man
Na, na na na na, na na na na
Na na na, na na na, na na na na

Start like a jackrabbit, finish in front of it
On the night is jack , that's it, understand?
I'm the daddy of the mack daddy, his are left in gold, maybe
Ain't no homie gonna play me, top celebrity man

Murderer, I'm the lyrical gangster, murderer
Excuse me mister officer, murderer
Still love you like that, murderer
No no we don't die, yes we mul-ti-ply
Anyone test will hear the fat lady sing
Act like you know, G go, I know what Bo don't know
Touch them up and go, uh-oh! Ch-ch-Chang Chang

Here comes the hot stepper, murderer
I'm the lyrical gangster, murderer
Dial emergency number, murderer
Still love you like that, murderer
Na, na na na na, na na na na
Na na na, na na na, na na na na

Yeah man
Na, na na na na, na na na na
Na na na, na na na, na na na na, right
Here comes the hot stepper, murderer
I'm the lyrical gangster, murderer
Big up all crew bow ya, murderer
Still love you like that, murderer

Here comes the hot stepper, murderer
I'm the lyrical danger, murderer
Pick up the crew in-a the area, murderer
Still love you like that, murderer

Here comes the hot stepper
I'm the lyrical gangster
I'm a live in-a me danger
Still love you like that

Hey
Da da da da
Da da da da
Da da da da
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Songwriters
Remi, Salaam / Kenner, Christopher / Kamoze, Ini / Nix, Kenton
Release date- April 18, 1995

Source: http://www.metrolyrics.com/here-comes-the-hotstepper-lyrics-ini-kamoze.html

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2. AS THE TITLE OF A PINOY (FILIPINO) RAP SONG
The Filipino Rap group 187 Mobstaz released a song whose title is "We Don't Die We Multiply"
[release date: Jan 2013]
Note: "Section 187" is the California Penal Code section for murder.

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