D’Evils by Jay-Z Lyrics Meaning – A Bedeviled Descent into the Underworld of Ambition
Lyrics
Illuminati want my mind, soul and my body
Dear God, I wonder, can you save me?
Secret society, tryna keep they eye on me
Dear God, I wonder, can you save me?
Illuminati want my mind, soul and my body
Dear God, I wonder, can you save me?
I can’t die, I can’t die, I can’t die
This shit is wicked on these mean streets
None of my friends speak, we all tryna win
But then again, maybe it’s for the best though
‘Cause when they’re sayin’ too much
You know they’re tryna get you touched
Whoever said illegal was the easy way out
Couldn’t understand the mechanics
And the workings of the underworld, granted
Nine-to-five is how you survive, I ain’t tryna survive
I’m tryna live it to the limit and love it a lot
Life ills poisoned my body, I used to say fuck mic skills
I never prayed to God, I prayed to Gotti
That’s right, it’s wicked, that’s life, I live it
Ain’t askin’ for forgiveness for my sins, ends
I break bread with the late heads
Pickin’ their brains for angles on all the evils that the game’ll do
It gets dangerous, money and power is changin’ us
And now we’re lethal, infected with D’evils
Dear God, I wonder, can you save me?
Illuminati want my mind, soul and my body
Dear God, I wonder, can you save me?
Secret society, tryna keep they eye on me
Dear God, I wonder, can you save me?
Illuminati want my mind, soul and my body
Dear God, I wonder, can you save me?
I can’t die, I can’t die, I can’t die
We used to fight for building blocks
Now we fight for blocks with buildings that make a killin’
The closest of friends when we first started
But grew apart as the money grew and soon grew black-hearted
Thinkin’ back when we first learned to use rubbers
He never learned, so in turn I’m kidnappin’ his baby’s mother
My hand around her collar, feedin’ her cheese
She said the taste of dollars was shitty, so I fed her fifties
About his whereabouts I wasn’t convinced
I kept feedin’ her money ’til her shit started to make sense
Who could ever foresee?
We used to stay up all night at slumber parties
Now I’m tryna rock his bitch to sleep
All the years we were real close
Now I see his fears through her tears
Know she’s wishin’ we were still close
Don’t cry, it is to be, in time
I’ll take away your miseries and make it mine, D’evils
Dear God, I wonder, can you save me?
Illuminati want my mind, soul and my body
Dear God, I wonder, can you save me?
Secret society, tryna keep they eye on me
Dear God, I wonder, can you save me?
Illuminati want my mind, soul and my body
Dear God, I wonder, can you save me?
I can’t die, I can’t die, I can’t die
Yeah, my flesh no nigga could test, my soul is possessed
By D’evils in the form of diamonds and Lexuses
The Exorcist got me doin’ sticks
Like, “Homie, you don’t know me but the whole world owe me, strip!”
Was thought to be a pleasant guy all my fuckin’ life
So now I’m down for whatever, ain’t nothin’ nice
Throughout my junior high years it was all friendly
But now this higher learning got the Remy in me
Liquor’s invaded my kidneys
Got me ready to lick off, Momma, forgive me
I can’t be held accountable, D’evils beatin’ me down, boo
Got me runnin’ with guys, makin’ G’s, tellin’ lies that sound true
Come test me, I never cower
For the love of money, son, I’m givin’ lead showers
Stop screamin’, you know the demon said it’s best to die
And even if Jehovah witness, bet he’ll never testify, D’evils
Dear God, I wonder, can you save me?
I can’t die, I can’t die, I can’t die
Jay-Z’s ‘D’Evils’ is a masterpiece engraved in the pantheon of hip-hop, not merely for its lyrical prowess but for the chilling confessional that it is. In this mid-nineties gem, extracted from his debut album ‘Reasonable Doubt’, HOV navigates the muddied waters of morality, urban warfare, and the insatiable hunger for power and wealth.
With a title that both plays on the word ‘devils’ and suggests the ‘evils’ of ‘D’—dollars, deception, and desire—the song is a stark portrayal of the transformation undergone by a soul enticed by the materialistic sheen of street success. This investigative dive into ‘D’Evils’ reveals layers of conflict, self-awareness, and existential questioning, woven skillfully into a narrative that has resonated with listeners for over a quarter-century.
An Invocation of the Divine in a Godless Quest
From the onset, ‘D’Evils’ uses religious language to frame a life of sin, as Jay-Z launches into a plea to a seemingly distant God. The omnipresent threat of the Illuminati, a trope in hip-hop symbolizing invisible high-power forces, serves to illustrate the helplessness against a system designed to entrap.
By juxtaposing spiritual motifs with the secular hustles, Jay-Z paints a dichotomy between the path of righteousness and the ‘mean streets’ where survival dictates allegiance to a different creed. It’s not just a cry for salvation but a candid acknowledgment of his own entrenchment in this dark world.
The Seductive Lure of a Diamond-Encrusted Path
The emblem of ‘D’evils’, represented by diamonds and luxurious cars, is an all-too-familiar mark of success within the hip-hop narrative. Jay-Z doesn’t shy away from admitting his desires are possessed by material gain—a motif that denunciates the very elements that both define and destroy.
These objects of vanity are not just symbols of achievement but are portrayed as malevolent forces with the power to possess and propel one towards actions that go against one’s fundamental nature. The rapper becomes a modern Faust, whose pact with the devil is imbued with gold and glitter but comes at the price of his soul.
Friendships Fractured on Fortune’s Wheel
The allure of ‘D’evils’ is toxic not just to the self, but to the bonds that once held firm. Jay-Z weaves a tale of friendships torn asunder by the gravitational pull of money and power. What starts as camaraderie in innocence and poverty crumbles into jealousy and betrayal when fortunes change.
In this crumbling of relationships, we’re given juxtaposed memories of youthful innocence against a present-day of hardened hearts. Jay-Z’s storytelling gives a visceral account of the metamorphosis from brotherhood to rivalry, a somber reflection on the cost of ambition.
Revelation of a Conscience in Conflict
Arguably the most potent undercurrent of ‘D’Evils’ is Jay-Z’s introspection and self-reckoning. His consciousness is still intact enough to question his actions, seeking absolution for sins only to find the confessional booth empty.
‘D’Evils’ is more than a narrative of crime; it’s a psychological study of what happens when wealth and ethics are at odds. The MC’s internal conflict is palpable as he grapples with his learned instincts for survival versus the remnants of a moral compass now overwhelmed by the whispers of ‘D’evils’.
Unforgettable Visions: The Memorable Lines that Define ‘D’Evils’
Imagery in ‘D’Evils’ is cutting and memorable. There are lines that resonate through their raw truthfulness, such as the stark depiction of a friendship’s downfall in ‘We used to fight for building blocks / Now we fight for blocks with buildings that make a killin” or the hardened acceptance of life’s ills in ‘I never prayed to God, I prayed to Gotti’.
Jay-Z’s linguistics is loaded with dual meanings and clever wordplay, crafting an exploration into the underworld that lingers with the listener. He’s not just a rapper but a modern-day urban poet, vivisecting the reality of the street’s Faustian bargains with a razor-sharp pen.
