For all of the controversy the lyrics of “Blurred Lines” generated when it was first released, reading them now, almost a decade later, may have you wondering where exactly is the beef. Maybe this confusion,...
As far as traditional African-American slang goes, ‘poppin’ sh*t’ is the same as talking junk, specifically of a braggadocios or threatening variety. For instance, if someone goes about exalting himself in a very prideful, undefeatable...
Let’s start off by focusing on this song’s title (“What You Know”). It serves as T.I.’s indirect way of putting forth that you may not know as much about him as you think. That then gives...
T.I. was unfortunate enough to have witnessed the murder of his best friend. In terms of the psychological toll, that tragedy was compounded by the fact that Tip actually feels said bullets were meant for him...
Swagger – or “swagga” as it is colloquialized in this song – is an attribute ascribed to those who display, shall we say individualized mannerisms founded in a palpable level of self-confidence. Possessing such...
At the time of the release of “What It’s Come To”, T.I. and his celebrity wife, Tiny Harris, are dealing with some legal issues. The pair have been formally accused of sexual misconduct such...
On “Respect the Code”, T. I’s lines seem to be directed at other guys possibly underground rappers, calling them out for acting as wimps in the face of money. As the song begins, the...
As you may have already deduced from the title, this song is a remake of a classic track of the same name Bobby McFerrin dropped back in 1988. And just like its predecessor, this updated...
This song isn’t lyrically complicated at all. What it is based on is the lyricist trying to seduce a woman, if you will, with his riches. At some points it reads as if he is now...
On 31 March 2019, L.A. gangsta rapper Nipsey Hussle was gunned down in his hometown. This resulted in an outpouring of sympathy from the overall hip-hop community that in reality was unprecedented in the history of rap music. However, Kodak...
