Everyday Struggle by The Notorious B.I.G. Lyrics Meaning – The Gritty Realities of Street Hustling Unveiled
Lyrics
I don’t wanna live no mo’
Sometimes I hear death knockin at my front do’
I’m livin everyday like a hustle, another drug to juggle;
another day, another struggle
[Notorious B.I.G.]
I know how it feel to wake up fucked up
Pockets broke as hell, another rock to sell
People look at you like youse the user
Selling drugs to all the losers, mad buddha abuser
But they don’t know about your stress-filled day
Baby on the way mad bills to pay
That’s why you drink Tanqueray; so you can reminisce
and wish, you wasn’t livin so devilish, ssshit
I remember I was just like you
Smokin blunts with my crew, flippin over 62’s
Cause G-E-D, wasn’t B-I-G
I got P-A-I-D, that’s why my moms hate me
She was forced to kick me out, no doubt
Then I figured out licks went for twenty down South
Packed up my tools for my raw power move
Glock nineteen for casket and flower moves
for chumps tryin to stop my flow
And what they don’t know will show on the autopsy
Went to see Papi, to cop me a brick
Asked for some consignment and he wasn’t tryin to hear it
Smoking mad Newports cause I’m due in court
for an assault, that I caught, in Bridgeport, New York
Catch me if you can like the Gingerbread Man
You better have your gat in hand, cause man
Chorus
[Notorious B.I.G.]
I had the master plan
I’m in the caravan on my way to Maryland
with my man Two-Tecs to take over this projects
They call him Two-Tecs, he tote two tecs
And when he start to bust he like to ask, “Who’s next?”
I got my honey on the Amtrak
with the crack in the crack of her ass
Two pounds of hash in the stash
I wait for hon to make some quick cash
I told her she could be Lieutenant, bitch got gassed
At last, I’m literally loungin black
Sittin back, countin double digit thousand stacks
Had to re-up; see what’s up with my peeps
Toyota Deal-a-Thon had it cheap on the Jeeps
See who got smoked, what rumors was spread
Last I heard I was dead with six to the head
Then I got the phone call, it couldn’t hit me harder
We got infiltrated, like Nino at the Carter
Heard Tec got murdered in a town I never heard of
by some bitch named Alberta over nickel-plated burners
And my bitch swear to God she won’t snitch
I told her when she hit the bricks I’ll make the hooker rich
Conspiracy, she’ll be home in three
Until then I looks out for the whole family
A true G, that’s me, blowing like a bubble;
in the everyday struggle
Chorus
[Notorious B.I.G.]
I’m seeing body after body and our mayor Guiliani
ain’t tryin to see no black man turn to John Gotti
My daughter use a potty so she’s older now
Educated street knowledge I’ma mold ‘er now
Trick a little dough buyin young girls fringes
Dealin with the dope fiend binges, seein syringes
in the veins; hard to explain, how I maintain
The crack smoke make my brain feel so strange
Breakin days on the set, no sweat
Drunk off Moet, can’t bag yet because it’s still wet
But when that dry, baggin five at a time
I can clock about nine on the check cashin line
I had the first and the third; rehearse that’s my word
Thick in the game, D’s knew my first name
Should I quit? Shit no! Even though they had me scared
Yo they got a eight, I gotta teck with air holes..
..and that’s just how the shit go in the struggle motherfucker
[Puff] Hah.. c’mon.. what you say?
Chorus 2X
[Notorious B.I.G.]
Uhh, uhh
Junior M.A.F.I.A., right (yeah..)
(rock on..)
(WOO! .. Biggie Smalls .. right ..)
The Notorious B.I.G., also known as Biggie Smalls, has left an indelible mark on the hip-hop landscape with his storytelling prowess and visceral lyricism. His track ‘Everyday Struggle’ situates listeners right into the heart of Biggie’s earlier reality—a world where survival is not guaranteed and the hustle is a necessity, not a choice. With each bar, Biggie weaves a tale of the dark undercurrents that plague urban life, stripping away any romanticism associated with the streets and revealing the harsh truth of the hustle.
The song resonates deeply with Biggie’s authenticity as a rapper who didn’t just witness the life he depicted but lived it. That reality, paired with his unique ability to paint vivid narratives, has elevated ‘Everyday Struggle’ to anthem status, serving as both a cautionary tale and a historical document of urban America’s unvarnished underside during the 1990s.
The Heartbeat of Brooklyn’s Pavements
Biggie’s ‘Everyday Struggle’ isn’t just a song, it’s a pulse. It’s the heartbeat of the Brooklyn pavements, the rhythmic thumping of a community that knows too well the weight of poverty and systemic oppression. The chorus captures the sentiment of a life spent in constant motion, fighting for a semblance of stability. There’s an existential weariness in Biggie’s confession that he doesn’t want to ‘live no mo’,’ a stark admission of the toll the streets can exact on the human spirit.
When Biggie raps about living every day ‘like a hustle,’ he sheds light on the relentless pressure of street economics. The pursuit of money through ‘another drug to juggle’ is not only about wealth but about survival. The song’s throbbing base and steady flow mimic the perpetual motion required to stay afloat in a system rigged against those at the bottom.
Unpacking the Protagonist’s Dilemma
At first glance, ‘Everyday Struggle’ reads like a narrative of crime and consequence. But B.I.G. isn’t glorifying the hustler’s lifestyle; he’s breaking down the barriers to understanding it. He delineates his journey from necessity-driven drug dealing to finding a way out through his lyrical skills. Each verse is a chapter, revealing the nuances of why one might get caught in the cycle of selling drugs ‘to all the losers,’ not from choice, but from the lack of options.
Biggie’s storytelling capacity shines as he recounts being kicked out of his home, finding creativity in illegality by figuring out ‘licks went for twenty down South,’ and dealing with the visceral reality of friends killed and the personal struggle that comes with such constant loss.
The Lyrical Prophet and His Hidden Sermons
There’s prophetic quality to Biggie’s lines; they’re not merely words but sermons from the streets. What listeners may miss on a cursory listen is the layered complexity of Biggie’s experience as an individual and a reflection of a larger demographic. The song’s hidden meaning lies in its portrayal of the systemic cycle that ensnares many young black men—a cycle of poverty, lack of opportunity, and the societal pressures that push them into illegal enterprises.
As ‘Everyday Struggle’ transcends its beats, it becomes an anthem for those whose voices are often unheard. It acts as a mirror to society, asking listeners to look beyond the surface and understand the systemic failures that create the everyday struggle.
Decoding the Memorable Lines: A Reflection on Urban Hardship
Among the song’s most poignant lines are those that capture the dichotomy between the perceived and lived reality of the hustler. When B.I.G. raps about the struggle to balance imminent fatherhood with ‘mad bills to pay,’ he not only humanizes his experience but also situates it within the universal theme of parental responsibility—a topic rarely associated with the stereotyped image of a drug dealer.
Furthermore, Biggie’s mention of the ill-fated Tec, who ‘got murdered in a town I never heard of,’ encapsulates the senselessness of the violence that plagues the street hustle. It’s a harsh reminder that the struggle isn’t just about living day-to-day; it’s also about dealing with the perpetual specter of death that hangs over those caught in the game.
Everyday Struggle: The Anthem of Resilience and Reality
Beyond the gritty tales of hustling and the hard-hitting beats, ‘Everyday Struggle’ stands tall as an anthem of resilience. It connects with listeners not just because of Biggie’s compelling narrative but because it speaks to the broader human experience of struggle and the search for meaning amidst chaos.
Biggie’s lyrical realism in ‘Everyday Struggle’ transcends time, continuing to resonate with generations of listeners who recognize the nuanced truths within its verses. Despite its release over two decades ago, the song remains a raw, unfiltered testament to the human condition, specifically within the marginalized communities of urban America.
