What You Need by Don Toliver Lyrics Meaning – Decoding the Desires in Don Toliver’s Hit Single
Lyrics
What you need, lil’ baby?
Tell me what you really, really need, lil’ bae (tell me what you)
Take you out and put you in Double C, lil’ bae
Hangin’ out of town and in them cheeks, lil’ bae (oh yeah)
Got you down and out and on your knees, lil’ bae (whoa-oh)
I like two when I’m in the cut
If I take you to my crib, I put that way down in your gut
Donny started talkin’, all you said is, “So what?”
Donny’s tired of talkin’, got them Xannys goin’ up
Shawty at the strip ’til the lease up
Tell me what you need, love
Tell me what you need, love
Cash on the table if you need some
Tell me what you need
Tell me what you need, love
Tell me what you need
Tell me just what you like
Gucci on her
Whatever you need
Whatever you need
Whatever you need
Tell me what you really, really need, lil’ bae (tell me what you)
Take you out and put you in Double C, lil’ bae
Hangin’ out of town and in them cheeks, lil’ bae (oh yeah)
Got you down and out and on your knees, lil’ bae (whoa-oh)
I like two when I’m in the cut
If I take you to my crib, I put that way down in your gut
Donny started talkin’, all you said is, “So what?”
Donny’s tired of talkin’, got them Xannys goin’ up
What’s the price? (What’s the price?) Or what’s the digits?
See you stackin’ all your money, all your chicken
Thought you was right, and I was spinnin’ (I was spinnin’)
Don’t you hop up in your car and get in your feelings (ooh-ooh)
I just wanted to be heard, but I made some millions
I done caught you late night in that club countin’ your Benjamins
I know you steady touchin’ on your body when you reminisce (you reminisce)
Whatever you want, count them dividends, yeah
Tell me what you really, really need, lil’ bae (tell me what you)
Take you out and put you in Double C, lil’ bae
Hangin’ out of town and in them cheeks, lil’ bae (oh yeah)
Got you down and out and on your knees, lil’ bae (whoa-oh)
I like two when I’m in the cut
If I take you to my crib, I put that way down in your gut
Donny started talkin’, all you said is, “So what?”
Donny’s tired of talkin’, got them Xannys goin’ up (got them Xannys goin’ up)
Donny’s tired of talkin’, got them Xannys
Donny’s tired of talkin’, got them Xannys goin’ up (Xannys goin’ up)
On the surface, Don Toliver’s ‘What You Need’ is an intoxicating blend of R&B rhythms with hip-hop flair that invites listeners into a world of escapism and hedonistic pleasure. The track is laced with Toliver’s signature auto-tuned crooning, creating an atmospheric soundscape that rumbles with desire and temptation.
However, beneath the catchy hooks and heady production value lies a deeper exploration of human connection, vulnerability, and the complex dynamics of providing for one’s partner. Toliver, through his lyrics, addresses themes of materialism, emotional fulfillment, and the often transactional nature of love in contemporary society.
The Echoes of Materialistic Romance
At first listen, ‘What You Need’ reads like a flashy display of Toliver’s ability to cater to a woman’s every material desire. With references to ‘Double C’—a nod to luxury fashion house Chanel—and the opulence of being able to provide monetary goods, Toliver paints a picture of a love language spoken through the currency of wealth.
Yet, there is an underlying tone that suggests this material offering is an inadequate substitute for deeper emotional needs. The repeated question, ‘Tell me what you need, love,’ can be interpreted as a desperate plea for a lover’s true desires, beyond the superficial answers that come with ‘cash on the table.’
A Dance of Power and Pleasure
Through the song’s verses, Toliver takes his audience to the strip club—a locale often associated with the exchange of money for pleasure. The inclusion of such a setting juxtaposes physical intimacy with financial transactions, prompting a reflection on how relationships, too, can become commodified.
This dynamic brings forth the question of power in a relationship. Who is really in control when one partner can seemingly dispense ‘whatever you need’ at a moment’s notice? Toliver brings a reflective lens to the experience, acknowledging his own place within the ever-spinning wheel of give and take.
Hidden Meaning: Beyond the Hedonism
To some, the repeated offers to provide what is needed might simply reflect the exuberance of a man smitten and eager to please. However, Toliver’s lyrics also touch on the deeper, more nuanced truth that what we think we want may not always align with what we truly need.
This song, with its sultry beats and murmured promises, nudges us to consider whether material comforts can fill the void of innate human desires for connection and acceptance. Behind its melodic allure, ‘What You Need’ is a contemplation of the balance between satisfying surface-level cravings and the quest to fulfill more profound emotional spaces.
Memorable Lines: Mirroring Society’s Illusions
A standout line, ‘I just wanted to be heard, but I made some millions,’ is a candid admission that success and its trappings may have come at the expense of genuine self-expression. This line acts as a self-aware commentary on the expectation to conform to society’s standards of wealth and stature.
Toliver reminds listeners that, in the end, the simple human desire to be listened to and understood is an invaluable commodity—one not easily quantified by riches. His own journey mirrors our collective struggle to reconcile personal worth with the external measurements of success.
The Allure of Nostalgia and Memory
In addressing the act of reminiscing, ‘What You Need’ hints at the power of memory to both haunt and comfort. Toliver’s words suggest that our past experiences and the longing for what once was can dictate our present needs and actions.
As he croons about late-night club encounters and counting Benjamins, there’s a sense that while living in those moments, there may have been something more meaningful that slipped away unacknowledged—leaving behind a craving for the intangible and a reliance on the tangible to soothe it.
