From U-God in their book “Raw: My Journey into the Wu-Tang”

The realism on “C.R.E.A.M.” is what resonates with so many people all over the world. People everywhere know that sentiment of being slaves to the dollar. Cash is king, and we are its lowly subjects. That’s pretty much the case in every nation around the world, the desperation to put your life and your freedom on the line to make a couple dollars. Whether you’re working, stripping, hustling, or slinging, whether you’re a business owner or homeless, cash rules everything around us.

From Raekon in the article Raekwon Breaks Down His 25 Most Essential Songs

C.R.E.A.M.’ did a lot for my career personally. It gave me an opportunity to revisit the times where that cream meant that much to us. So, yeah, when I think of this record it just automatically puts me back into ‘87/’88 where we were standing in front of the building. It’s cold outside. We didn’t care. We’re out there, all black on trying to make dollars. Just trying to make some money and trying to eat. Survive.

All of Wu-Tang has been credited for writing C.R.E.A.M.

• Clifford Smith (Method Man)
• Corey Woods (Raekwon)
• David Porter
• Dennis Coles (Ghostface Killah)
• Gary Grice (GZA)
• Isaac Hayes
• Jason Hunter (Inspectah Deck)
• Lamont Jody Hawkins (U-God)
• Robert Diggs (RZA)
• Russell Jones (Ol’ Dirty Bastard)

As for Method Man’s hook, the hook is the key part of the song. The hook is theme of the song, which is money = power. Without the hook, it’s a personal story about Raekwon and Inspectah Deck’s youth, living in the rough part of the city, and their dreams. Method Man’s hook frames those stories as people trying to escape poverty through acquiring money as money = power. Hence why Method Man raps “cash rules everything around me”. This completely frames Raekwon and Inspectah Deck verses as story about chasing money through any money. As Inspectah Deck raps:

Neglected for now, but yo, it gots to be accepted. That what? That life is hectic

It’s an acknowledgment that money is the only that that matters. When it comes to humanitarian rights, unless you have money. Those in power don’t care. Israel has a powerful lobby that uses money to influence American politics. Israel isn’t shaping American policy through gifts, connections, or logical arguments. The influence is coming straight from money. As Method Man eloquently puts it “cash rules everything around me”. If American politicians actually cared about the plight they would be tell the Israel lobby to go fuck themselves and not take their money. It is the pursuit of the American politician getting money that is causing problems in Palestine.

Palestinians don’t have money to influence anything in American politics. It’s taking direct action for Palestinians to get support.

When Inspectah Deck raps in the hook:

Because you can’t just get by no more, Word up, you gotta get over, straight up and down