Triumph
Wale Lyrics

Ladies and gentlemen
The singer is addressing the audience respectfully.

I ain't tryin to be politically correct
The singer wants to speak his mind candidly without concern for political correctness.

But I won't rest 'til I'm givin' my respect
The singer will keep striving until he receives the recognition and respect he feels he deserves.

And my vision isn't set on the money I get
The artist is not motivated solely by financial gain but by a greater objective.

But more less the vets, I'm comin' for y'all neck
The artist is inspired by veterans to surpass their quality of work and become successful in the industry.

I ain't ?, just feelin' how you felt when you came more or less
The singer is trying to put himself in the shoes of the veterans who came before him and understand their struggles.

The change is imminent
The singer foresees and hopes for changes in the industry and his role in it.

I asked Mr. West for a little bit of help
The artist sought mentorship or guidance from Kanye West, a veteran in the industry.

Realized us new niggas got to get it ourself
The artist acknowledges that newcomers like himself must work hard to achieve their goals, and not rely on others to pave the way for them.

So I dreamed of presentin' myself
The artist dreams of presenting himself in the industry with his unique style and vision.

And the only thing I fear is I being shelved
The singer is afraid of being overlooked, dismissed, or ignored by the music industry.

The cocky, lobbyist for nobody
The artist has self-confidence in his skills but does not represent or show loyalty to any particular group.

Book so many bitches should of been a Cum Laude
The singer has had many women and implies he should have gotten a degree for it.

Fuck the camaraderie with B rate artists
The singer is not interested in forming friendships with subpar artists in the industry.

I'm ballin', you niggas is Arliss, so watch this
The singer is very successful and superior to his competition, and it's time for them to watch his ascent.

Always knew where the pot was
The artist is confident in his ability to find success and money in the industry.

With no receivers had the pickin' of a option
The artist has many choices and no limits in his pursuit of success.

Tommie Frazier on the motherfuckin' one or two's
The singer references former college football quarterback Tommie Frazier, comparing his skills to being a disc jockey on a turntable.

Or Michael Vick if y'all bark nigga, y'all through
The singer uses a football analogy again, comparing himself to Michael Vick, who was known for running quickly and successfully. If others try to catch up, they'll fail.

Yeah, 25, 25, 25, can I get 30?
The artist is asking for a higher level of success.

My side Jones is fat and my freak Jones is purdy
The artist is surrounded by attractive women.

Why? 'Cause I Mac like (Bernie)
The artist is skilled in attracting women, and compares himself to a Mac (player) like Bernie Mac, a comedian.

And she swallow everything like (Kirby)
The singer is implying that his sexual partners are willing to do whatever he wants.

Not Puckett but I hit it then I duck a bitch
The artist has sexual experiences with women and then moves on afterward.

And older women put a nigga on their Bucket List
The singer has been with older women and they consider their encounter with him noteworthy or a bucket list item.

'Cause you (Slumdog) and I'm the (Millionaire)
The singer is comparing himself to the singer of the movie Slumdog Millionaire, suggesting that he is on a path to success while others are struggling.

Their buzz internet and mines internat-
The singer acknowledges that others have gained fame and success through the internet, and he hopes to gain his success internationally.

Ional, wearin' that, Chanel fitted cap
The artist is representing his city while showing that he has a taste for luxury.

I know they suck, I'm just showin you where my city at
The artist implies that other artists in his city are not as talented as he is, and he aims to put his city on the map by highlighting its music scene.

Where fiends always on that water like a lily pad
The singer's city is a place where drug addicts constantly seek drugs or ‘water’ like a lily pad, which is a metaphor for their addictions.

But since Mark put a nigga on that Lily track
The singer references producer Mark Ronson's song 'Lily Allen', which gave him a boost in his profile.

I had the British hoes talkin 'bout bring him back
The artist gained popularity with British women who wanted him to return or visit again.

'Cause I've been drinkin' to the point that I'm a Dizzie Ra-
The artist has been drinking to the point of intoxication like British rapper Dizzee Rascal.

Scal, fix up, look sharp Joe
The artist quotes Dizzee Rascal and tells himself to get it together and look sharp.

'Cause I'm a look that part until I'm all broke, yeah
The singer will never stop putting himself together with looks and confidence, even if he loses money or success.