gun smoke by 21 Savage Lyrics Meaning – Dissecting the Flames of Street Realism
Lyrics
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah (Gun smoke)
Yeah (Gun smoke)
Yeah, yeah (Gun smoke)
Yeah, yeah, yeah (Gun smoke)
Yeah, yeah
One man army from the get-go (Get-go)
One man army pullin’ kick doors (Kick doors)
Talkin’ out yo’ neck get you tag toed (Tag toed)
I’m a killer whale, you a tadpole (Tadpole)
Nigga, you got asthma, you don’t want smoke (Straight up)
Who want cancer? I’m giving out smoke (Straight up)
I got too many bitches, I can’t trip bro (On God)
Most of the time, I be caked up with my stick bro (On God)
Yeah, AK make yo’ brotha do the limbo (On God)
Make this Glock “Shiggy Challenge” out the window (On God)
Savage, why you always rappin’ ’bout guns for? (Straight up)
‘Cause, bitch, I fell in love with the gun smoke (Straight up)
Gun smoke (Gun smoke)
Gun smoke (Gun smoke)
Gun smoke (Gun smoke)
Gun smoke (Gun smoke)
Yeah, gun smoke (Gun smoke)
Gun smoke (Gun smoke)
Gun smoke (Gun smoke)
Gun smoke (Gun smoke)
Put my Glock down, that’s a no-no (No-no)
When I wear my suit, I tote my .44 (.44)
Y’all ain’t killin’ shit, y’all niggas hoes-hoes (Hoes-hoes)
Cryin’ over pussy, you a broke joke (Broke joke)
Started with a deuce deuce, turned it to a .38
Then I got a Glock 9, turned it to a AK
First I was a leg shooter, now I’m hittin’ chest, face
She done caught rug burn, give that girl a neck brace
Shoot at me with a handgun, that’s an insult (Straight up)
We got plenty sticks, nigga, plus my M’s up (Straight up)
My young niggas ready to crash, they don’t give a fuck (Straight up)
Let it bang, let ’em hang, I’ma drop mine (Straight up)
I don’t need no shooter, everybody know I pop mine (On God)
I’m at Crucial on stage with a Glock 9 (On God)
I keep one in the head, I ain’t got time to cock mine (On God)
Murder Gang, nigga, I’m redder than a stop sign (On God)
You niggas know you need to cut out all that dickriding (Bitch)
Skinny capris, you think you finer than yo’ bitch, huh? (Lil’ bitch)
You niggas mad ’cause I keep throwin’ up Zone 6, huh? (Lil’ bitch)
Like “Look at Savage, lil’ bitch ass, he think he the shit, huh?” (Facts)
I think I am when I’m ridin’ with this stick, huh (21)
I think I am ’cause I just fucked that nigga bitch, huh (On God)
I swear to god my deal worth seven figures, not six, huh (Straight up)
You think you hard, you wanna get shot all up in yo’ shit, huh?
Gun smoke (Gun smoke)
Gun smoke (Gun smoke)
Gun smoke (Gun smoke)
Gun smoke (Gun smoke)
Yeah, gun smoke (Gun smoke)
Gun smoke (Gun smoke)
Gun smoke (Gun smoke)
Gun smoke (Gun smoke)
Put my Glock down, that’s a no-no (No-no)
When I wear my suit, I tote my .44 (.44)
Y’all ain’t killin’ shit, y’all niggas hoes-hoes (Hoes-hoes)
Cryin’ over pussy, you a broke joke (Broke joke)
21 Savage is not just a rapper; he’s a storyteller of the streets, a modern-day griot whose tales are woven with the threads of raw reality and unflinching truth. The song ‘Gun Smoke’ is a visceral portrayal of life on the edge, where violence isn’t just a threat – it’s a constant companion. With its hypnotic beats and Savage’s steely delivery, the song is a relentless confrontation with the daily struggles and survival tactics on the unforgiving streets.
Yet, beneath the surface of what might seem a glorification of gun culture, lies a deeper narrative, one that speaks to a life molded by surroundings, a tactician’s respect for his dangerous tools, and the tragic glamorization that often masks the brutal facts of a marginalized existence. ‘Gun Smoke’ is more than rhythm and rhyme; it’s a lens through which we view the complexities of street life and the ways it shapes the perceptions and choices of those who live it.
An Ode to the Warrior’s Path
At first glance, ‘Gun Smoke’ reads like a battle hymn for the hardened. ‘One man army from the get-go,’ Savage declares, presenting himself as the ultimate loner, a sentinel who is both protector and avenger. There’s a sense of pride that comes with survival, a merit badge earned in the face of adversity. But this isn’t the typical case of bravado; it is an acceptance of a role assigned by the necessity to thrive amidst chaos.
By wrapping his identity around the very emblem of conflict, Savage is peeling back layers of a psyche baptized in violence. The ‘gun smoke’ is not just the result of a trigger pulled – it is the incense of a sacred ritual in the church of the streets, where Savage preaches a doctrine of self-preservation and deterrence in a world that offers few exits.
Weapons as Extensions of Self
The evolution of firepower mentioned in the lyrics – from a ‘deuce deuce’ to an ‘AK’ – is a metaphor for growth and adaptation. Just as the weapons evolve, so too does the man wielding them. Savage documents his journey from amateur to adept, a transformation from ‘leg shooter’ to one who takes aim with deadly precision. The gun, in Savage’s narrative, is no mere tool; it is a symbol of maturation, power, and the right to stand tall in a life where stature is survival.
Indeed, Savage’s mastery of the gun is a representation of mastering his own fate. It is an extension of his will in a world where control is often wrested away by force. His proficiency with firearms speaks to a broader theme of taking charge, of being the author of one’s own destiny in a script that has far too often been pre-written by the circumstances of one’s birth.
The Dichotomy of Glorification and Survival
There’s an inherent irony lacing the lyrics of ‘Gun Smoke.’ Savage glorifies the gun – making his love affair with ‘gun smoke’ public – while simultaneously critiquing the very culture that this glorification breeds. The rapper delivers commentary on the absurdity of those who live for clout by mocking their misplaced priorities and affirming his authenticity with guttural ‘Straight up’ affirmations.
Savage juxtaposes his unapologetic embrace of the gun with skeptics who question his fixation. Yet his response – ‘Cause, bitch, I fell in love with the gun smoke’ – is more than a snub. It’s the acknowledgment of a bond sealed by necessity, a reluctant love story written in the ink of survival.
Confronting The Masquerade of Masculinity
Through ‘Gun Smoke,’ 21 Savage does more than recount a tale of guns and glory; he challenges the hyper masculinity often portrayed in hip hop culture. As he addresses his critics and naysayers, who mimic or question his mannerisms and success, Savage flips the script on traditional notions of masculinity. Instead of parading machismo, he broadcasts his own vulnerability and the futility of superficial bravado.
Lines such as ‘Skinny capris, you think you finer than yo’ bitch, huh?’ serve as a cynical retort to those who focus on outward appearances, suggesting that true power lies not in one’s clothes or swagger, but in one’s actions and achievements.
Unveiling the Song’s Hidden Meaning
‘Gun Smoke’ isn’t just a soundtrack for the streets; it’s 21 Savage’s manifesto on the role violence has played in shaping his worldview. Beyond the staccato of gunfire and the machinations of street warfare, there’s a philosophical undertone that grapples with existentialism and the human condition. The gun smoke is a metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life and power; it’s there, palpable and overwhelming, and then it vanishes into the air, leaving behind only the residue of actions and decisions.
The hidden meaning embedded within the song speaks to the fragility of existence and the lengths one must go to claim ownership of one’s journey, no matter how tumultuous. As listeners, we aren’t just bystanders to Savage’s experiences; we are invited to examine our own perceptions of violence, survival, and the ethos of the environment that nurtures such realities.
