How We Do by The Game Lyrics Meaning – Peeling Back the Layers of Street Cred and Club Anthems
Lyrics
We make a move and act a fool while we up in the club
This is how we do
Nobody do it like we do it so show us some love
This is how we do
We make a move and act a fool while we up in the club
This is how we do
Nobody do it like we do it so show us some love
Fresh like, uh, Impala, uh
Chrome hydraulics, 808 drums
You don’t want none, nigga betta run
When beef is on I’ll pop that trunk
Come get some, pistol grip pump
If a nigga step on my white Air Ones
It’s red rum, ready, here it come
Compton, uh, Dre found me in the slums
Sellin’ that skunk, one hand on my gun
I was sellin’ rocks when Master P was sayin’, “Uhh”
Buck, pass the blunt
It’s G-Unit, girls just wanna have fun
Coke and rum, got weed on the ton
I’m bangin’ with my hand up her dress like, uh
I’ll make her cum, purple haze in my lungs
Whole gang in the front in case a nigga wanna stunt
I put Lamborghini doors on that Escalade
Low pro so low look like I’m riding on blades
In one year, man, a nigga’s so paid
I’ll have a straight bitch in the telly goin’ both ways (ah)
Touch me, tease me, kiss me, please me
I give it to you just how you like it, girl
You’re now rockin’ with the best
Tre pound on my hip, Teflon on my chest
They say I’m no good ’cause I’m so hood
Rich folks do not want me around
‘Cause shit might pop off and if shit pop off
Somebody gon’ get laid the fuck out
They call me “new money”, say I have no class
I’m from the bottom, I came up too fast
The hell if I care, I’m just here to get my cash
Bougie-ass bitches, you can kiss my ass
This is how we do
We make a move and act a fool while we up in the club
This is how we do
Nobody do it like we do it so show us some love
This is how we do
We make a move and act a fool while we up in the club
This is how we do
Nobody do it like we do it so show us some love
I put gold Daytonas on that cherry ’64
White walls so clean, look like I’m ridin’ on Vogues
Hit one switch, man, that ass so low
Cali got niggas in New York ridin’ on hundred spokes
Touch me, tease me, kiss me, please me
I give it to you just how you like it, girl
You’re now rockin’ with the best
Fo’ pound on my hip, gold chain on my chest (ah)
50, uh, Bentley, uh
Em came and got a nigga fresh out the slum
Automatic gun, fuck a one-on-one
We wrap up your punk ass, stunt and you’re done
Homie, it’s Game time
You ready? Here it come
Call Lloyd Banks and get this motherfucker crunk
It took two months but 50 got it done
Signed with G-unit, had niggas like, “Huh?”
Don’t try to front, I’ll leave yo’ ass slumped
Thinkin’ I’m a punk, get your fuckin’ head lumped
50 got a gun
Ready? Here it come
Got a sick vendetta to get this cheddar
Meet my Beretta, the drama setter
Sip Amaretto, my flow sounds better
Than average, on tracks I’m a savage, I damage
Any nigga tryna front on my clique (G-Unit)
In a fusion of braggadocio and street realism, The Game’s ‘How We Do’ reverberates as a cultural touchstone that encapsulates the early 2000s West Coast hip-hop scene. The track, featuring and produced by fellow rapper 50 Cent, is a brash declaration of their lifestyle, both an ode to hedonism and a stark portrait of the urban struggle. Yet, while it flaunts the grandeur of newfound fame and wealth, the foundation rests upon an authenticity deeply rooted in their respective histories.
What might first appear as a standard club banger laced with the trappings of success and excess, upon closer inspection reveals layers of identity, survival, and defiance. The lyrics are a tableau of inner-city life painted with the broad strokes of mainstream crossover appeal, and it’s this duality that secures ‘How We Do’ a place in the annals of hip-hop essential tracks.
The Soundtrack to a West Coast Renaissance
The hydraulic bounce of ‘How We Do’ is more than a beat; it’s a revival of the West Coast sound that dominated the ’90s. The Game, stepping onto the scene, represents the second coming of this cultural wave. His voice, when paired with 50 Cent’s sharp delivery, creates a canvas where every ‘uh’ and ‘ah’ paints pictures of the sun-drenched but dangerous streets of Compton—a locale that’s as much a character in the song as the artists themselves.
With a foundation built on an 808 drum machine and punctuated by the sound of chrome hydraulics, the production by Dr. Dre is a deliberate throwback, conjuring images of lowriders and palm-laden boulevards, while simultaneously serving as a modern-day anthem for the club.
Every Line a Stroke of Rebellion and Opulence
‘How We Do’ marries the gritty, relentless essence of street life with the opulent spoils of chart-topping success. Each bar comes charged with a mix of bravado and luxury, from boasting about customizing Escalades with Lamborghini doors to casually mentioning bi-coastal street influence. It is this brazenness, coupled with unfettered confidence, that defines the song’s swagger.
Lyrics about wearing bulletproof vests and carrying tre pounds all while partying in the club, are unusual juxtapositions that reflect their lived realities—where the glamor and danger are never far apart. The imagery conjured up by The Game’s verses is not only cinematic but declarative; it’s a redemption song that announces his arrival from the slums to the heights of music celebrity.
Decoding the Hidden Meaning Behind the Hype
The heart of ‘How We Do’ isn’t just in its catchy chorus or its synth-driven beat, but in its subtext. When The Game raps about the transition from selling rocks to becoming a household name, he’s outlining a narrative of transformation and empowerment—a rebuke to systemic barriers. There’s a critique embedded within the bravado, shedding light on the socio-economic climate that shaped him.
Moreover, the instances of violence and bravado can be interpreted as a defense mechanism against a world that’s both fetishized and scorned their culture. The Game and 50 Cent, through their verses, challenge the stereotypes and assumptions about the gangster lifestyle, simultaneously embracing and criticizing the glorification of the hardships that come with the territory.
Memorable Lines that Captured an Era
It’s the unforgettable lines like ‘I’m from the bottom, I came up too fast’ and ‘Rich folks do not want me around’ that resonate profoundly with listeners. They capture the social mobility that The Game experienced, but also suggest a deeper unrest regarding class divisions and the isolation that comes with breaking through from poverty to wealth.
Furthermore, lines like ‘Cali got niggas in New York ridin’ on hundred spokes’ indicate The Game’s crossover appeal, showing that his influence extends far beyond his own city, shaping tastes and trends across coasts. It is in these moments that we truly digest the historical significance of ‘How We Do’ in its testament to the unifying power of music amidst diversity.
From Club Bangers to Cultural Conversations
‘How We Do’ is more than an infectious rhythm and parade of ostentatious lyrics; it’s a medium of cultural exchange. As The Game and 50 Cent trade verses, they invite the listener into a dialogue about fame, identity, and the inescapable reality of street life. It’s a portal into the psyche of two artists who have navigated the treacherous waters of the music industry, emerging with a definitive sense of self.
As much as it invites you to dance, it demands you to acknowledge the undercurrents of struggle, triumph, and the relentless pursuit of self-preservation. This song is a cultural artifact, encapsulating a pivotal moment when hip-hop was forging new frontiers in the mainstream while never turning its back on the streets from which it sprung.
