Know Yourself
Drake Lyrics

Hol', hol' it youte, hol' it, hol' it hol' it, hol' it, hol' it
Stop and listen up for a moment

No sleepin' in the streets!
No loitering or sleeping outside

(Yeah mon, mi tiyad mon)
(Yeah man, I'm tired)

Shaky warrior
Weak person pretending to be strong

Yeah, this that Oliver, 40, Niko shit man
Credits to the songwriters and producers: Oliver, 40, and Niko

15 Fort York shit, y'know?
Referring to a specific location in Toronto

Boi-1da, what's poppin'?
Shout-out to the producer Boi-1da

Runnin' through the 6 with my woes
Moving quickly through the city streets with my troubles

Countin' money you know how it goes
The usual routine of counting money after a successful hustle

Pray the real live forever man
Hope that the genuine people survive in this world

Pray the fakes get exposed
Hope that the fake people reveal their true nature

I want that Ferrari then I swerve
Desiring a luxurious car and driving it recklessly

I want that Bugatti just to hurt
Desiring an even more expensive car to show off and intimidate others

I ain't rockin' my jewelry that's on purpose
Intentionally avoiding wearing expensive jewelry to avoid unwanted attention or theft

Niggas want my spot and don't deserve it
People are envious of my success but haven't earned it

I don't like how serious they take themselves
Disliking people who take themselves too seriously or act arrogant

I've always been me I guess I know myself
Being authentic and true to oneself

Shakiness man I don't have no time for that
Avoiding people who are unreliable or untrustworthy

My city too turnt up I'll take the fine for that
Willing to endure the consequences of breaking the law to enjoy the lively atmosphere of Toronto

This been where you find me at
Staying true to his roots and staying in the same place where he grew up

That's been where you find me at
Emphasizing his loyalty to his hometown

I know a nigga named Johnny Bling
Referring to a person who is known for his flashy outfits and jewelry

He put me on to the finer things
Introduced him to the luxuries of life

Had a job sellin' Girbraud jeans
Referencing a brand of jeans that were popular in the '90s

I had a yellow TechnoMarine
Owning a luxury watch brand that was popular in the 2000s

Then Kanye dropped, it was polos and backpacks, damn
Referring to the influence Kanye West had on fashion in the mid-2000s

That was when Ethan was pushin' a Subaru hatchback
A reference to a friend of Drake's who can be considered as someone who had a more modest and practical lifestyle

Man I'm talkin' way before hashtags
Reminiscing about a time before social media became popular

Don't fuck with them niggas they too irrational, whoa
Advising to avoid people who act recklessly or erratically

This is that nasty flow
Referring to his style of rapping that is sometimes aggressive and vulgar

Top boy in this shit, I'm so international
Claiming his dominance in the rap industry and his worldwide appeal

Reps up in here got P Reign and Chubby and TJ and Winnie and whoa
Acknowledging his crew or team, which includes a number of people who are close to him

Yeah, and you know how that shit go
Expecting listeners to already know how he operates

I might declare it a holiday as soon as Baka get back on the road
Elevating his friend or colleague to a level of importance that is worth celebrating

They so irrational, they don't wanna patch it up
Describing how some people refuse to reconcile their differences

They wanna mash it up, whoa
Choosing to engage in conflict instead of resolving it peacefully

My nigga Jibba he whip it, I ride in the passenger
Referring to a friend who drives fast in his car, and Drake chooses to let him take the wheel.

I'm way up, I stay up, I'm two up, I'm three up
Emphasizing his financial success by using metaphors and phrases that suggest being high up in the sky or in a skyscraper.

I had to get back to you, whoa
Returning to his roots through his music and expressing his love for the city of Toronto.

I'm turnin' into a nigga that thinks about money and women
Acknowledging that financial success and romantic interests are becoming his main priorities

Like twenty-four seven, that's where my life took me
Describing how he is consumed by his pursuit of wealth and love

That's just how shit happened to go
Accepting that this is simply the direction his life has taken

Shell out, all if yuh eye nuh big
A warning to be cautious and on alert

Always haffi look out, yuh no know if yuh head book out
Stressing the importance of being aware of your surroundings and not becoming too complacent

Dun know, a de Unruly boss, dis man
Referring to his Jamaican roots and highlighting his status as a boss

No bomboclat, otha
An exclamation of affirmation or agreement, similar to saying 'for sure'

And if a boy nuh like OVO or Chromatic
Warning against people who are not fans of his hip-hop group, OVO, or his DJ crew, Chromatic

Yuh can jus suck yuh mada
An expletive expressing disdain and disrespect

With no apology, if you nuh like we, we nuh like you neither youte
Stating plainly that if someone does not like him or his crew, then he will not like them back.

Your girl a say we cute, if you diss you will get execute
Threatening anyone who disrespects him or his crew by suggesting that their romantic partners are attracted to them.

That's the truth, OVO Unruly
Emphasizing his authenticity and connection to his group, OVO Unruly.

With my woes
Again acknowledging the presence of his problems or difficulties in his life.