Slidin by 21 Savage Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Raw Streets and Hard Truths
Lyrics
Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh, yeah
Yeah-yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah
It’s the big stepper (stepper), 4L repper (repper)
Hit him with a twenty-piece, ranch lemon pepper (pepper)
Black Air Force 1s, dancin’ with the devil
(If young Metro don’t trust you, I’m gon’ shoot you, 21, 21, 21)
His wifey trouble, thot was finna cut her, I pulled out a rubber
Opps tried to slide on my brother, had to up that cutter
When it’s smoke, we huddle, so many shots, damn near shot each other
AR st-st-stutter, Draco brown, look like peanut butter
Don’t play tic-tac-toe or tit-for-tat, nigga, this ain’t that (21, 21)
He was talkin’ gangster on them tracks ’til I got him whacked
Glizzy with the switch and it go splat, ain’t no duckin’ that
Y’all be smokin’ make believe opps, we be smokin’, facts
We be smokin’ gang after gang, cock it back and bang
21 4L, that’s what I claim, let your nuts hang
We don’t shoot at houses, we hit brains, y’all lil’ niggas lame
Fell in love with them chopper sounds, Waka Flocka Flame
Slidin’
Lookin’ for the opps, they been hidin’
I grew up ’round drugs, sex, and violence
We turned off they street, we heard sirens
Since a juvenile, I been wildin’
Chrome Heart jeans got me stylin’
Said he wanted smoke, now he joggin’
While you was in college I was robbin’
(If young Metro don’t trust you, I’m gon’ shoot you)
(Brrt, bop bop)
Everybody run to they car (21)
You ain’t gon’ make it that far (21)
Walk down with an AR (straight up)
We keep shit in the street (on God)
They gon’ put it on the bar (on God)
Y’all niggas talkin’ on pillows
All my Glocks got dildos (21)
Take your bank like Cee-lo (21)
Draco bite, mosquito (21)
Y’all niggas corny, Frito (pussy)
Kel-Tec hot, it shoot Cheeto (pussy)
Y’all be talkin’ that rah-rah (pussy)
You ain’t finna rob-rob me, though (pussy)
He went against me, he gone
Step on him, I put my feet on him (21)
I just made an opp do the runnin’ man (runnin’ man)
Keep an FN in my Cullinan (Cullinan)
Still ain’t met a bitch that I’d cuff again (21, 21)
Still ain’t met a bitch that I’d kiss (on God)
He was talkin’ crazy, he got blick (straight up)
Savage keep a token, John Wick (John Wick)
Shoot him in the back like he Rick (Ricky)
Playin’ freeze tag, niggas it (sticky)
Slidin’
Lookin’ for the opps, they been hidin’
I grew up ’round drugs, sex, and violence
We turned off they street, we heard sirens
Since a juvenile, I been wildin’
Chrome Heart jeans got me stylin’
Said he wanted smoke, now he joggin’
While you was in college I was robbin’
(If young Metro don’t trust you, I’m gon’ shoot you)
“When your vision is crystal clear, they say it’s razor-sharp
A focused mind is said to be like a knife, but the scalpel is wisdom
All one can do is accept that life is a double-edged sword
Stay on the edge”
Within the charged bars of ‘Slidin’ by 21 Savage lies a raw, unvarnished portrayal of the rapper’s relationship with the streets. 21 Savage, an artist known for his brutally honest lyrics and somber delivery, offers ‘Slidin’ as a narrative steeped in his personal experiences and the harsh realities of the environment that molded him.
The track weaves a tale of violence, retribution, and unapologetic self-awareness that beckons listeners into a world where the rules are different, and survival is the ultimate art. This article delves into the profound meanings behind the lyrics of ‘Slidin” and explores the wider landscape of 21 Savage’s artistry, where every line is heavy with significance.
An Ode to the Stepper’s Stride: The Persona of 21 Savage
In ‘Slidin’, 21 Savage assumes the persona of the ‘big stepper,’ a motif that represents dominance and assertiveness in one’s own life and turf. The lyrics ‘Hit him with a twenty-piece, ranch lemon pepper’ serve as a hard-hitting metaphor for his precision and flair – a direct nod to Atlanta’s culture, where lemon pepper wings are a culinary staple and 21 Savage’s stomping grounds.
Sporting ‘Black Air Force 1s, dancing with the devil,’ the symbolism in his choice of footwear further feeds the narrative of a man who treads a fine line between danger and survival, enticing the devil himself with a masterful two-step that can only come from lived experience.
The Theater of Retribution: Decoding the Language of Violence
The visceral and sometimes unnerving imagery of violence in ‘Slidin” is not for shock value but is a glimpse into the retaliatory nature of street life. Phrases like ‘When it’s smoke, we huddle’ and ‘We don’t shoot at houses, we hit brains’ illustrate a tactical and almost militaristic response to threats, painting a stark picture of a world where vendettas are settled in blood.
This brutal honesty is a signature of 21 Savage’s storytelling. It strips away the glamour often associated with gangster rap and replaces it with a graphic truth that resonates with those who know this life and serves as a cautionary tableau to those who don’t.
The Hidden Meaning Behind ‘Draco brown, look like peanut butter’
Even lines that seem simple at first glance carry weight. ‘Draco brown, look like peanut butter’ could be interpreted as a touch of grim humor, juxtaposing a deadly weapon’s appearance with something as everyday and benign as peanut butter.
But the concealed meaning runs deeper – it is perhaps a reflection on the commonplace nature of firearms in certain communities, or the routine and desensitization towards brutal elements of street life. The Draco, a frequent mention in rap lyrics, is transfigured from a mere tool of warfare into an everyday accessory.
Contrasts and Comparisons: A Lament for Lost Innocence
21 Savage’s juxtaposition of his life with that of others who chose different paths reveals a profound contemplation on destiny. ‘While you was in college I was robbin” isn’t just a line about the disparity of experiences; it’s a raw reflection on the limited choices facing some youths and the divergence of life’s paths based on circumstance.
The recurring theme of growing up surrounded by ‘drugs, sex, and violence’ is more than an expression of hardship; it’s a eulogy for the innocence lost to the streets and the predetermined life trajectories imposed on many young people.
A Philosophical Outro That Cuts Deep
Ending on a contemplative note, the philosophical outro provides a stark contrast to the hard realism that pervades the track. The wisdom of staying ‘on the edge’ suggests a perpetual state of readiness, a life turned survivalist philosophy.
Not only does this closing statement resonate as a maxim for the lifestyle 21 Savage emerged from, but it also presents wisdom as a tool for clarity and survival. It implies that through understanding and embracing the double-edged nature of life, one can navigate its intricacies without succumbing to them.
