Copycat feat Fashawn
20syl Lyrics

C-O-P-Y-C-A-T
The artist is spelling the word 'copycat' to introduce the theme of the song.

C-O-P-Y-C-A-T
Repeating the spelling of 'copycat' for emphasis

Uh
An interjection to start the first verse

Your flow far from authentic
The artist is criticizing someone's rap style for not being original

Mm - you're all gimmicks
The artist is suggesting that the person's style is shallow and cheap

Seen too many small niggas get large
The artist has seen many up-and-coming rappers become successful

Augmented
The artist is suggesting that some rappers have relied on artificial means to gain popularity

I increase and inflict scars on all nemeses
The artist is saying that he beats all of his opponents with his superior skills

With these thoughts I'm scribbling
The artist is expressing that he is writing lyrics based on his personal observations and ideas

Shawn the mortician it is
The artist is referring to himself as someone who kills careers (like a mortician) with his rhymes

Critical you're style's original
The artist is looking for more originality in others' rap styles

Nah, folk wouldn't make it to wax, you digital
The artist is saying that some rappers would not be successful in a pre-digital age

Cats bite you like the shit's allowed
Other rappers copy you like it's acceptable

I send 'em down, show 'em how to rip a crowd
The artist beats other rappers in live performances

And then grip a crown
The artist wins the admiration of fans (symbolized by a crown)

King
The artist sees himself as a king of hip hop

With this hip-hop thing
The artist is referring to rap music

You had a fling
The artist is saying that some rappers have not been fully committed to their craft

Me? I'm like holy matrimonies and wedding rings
The artist is saying that he is fully committed to his rap style, like a marriage

Married to the craft
The artist is saying that he is devoted to his craft

Your catalog I bury in a flash
The artist is saying that other rappers' music is inferior to his

Remind me of Jim Carey in The Mask
The artist is comparing other rappers to a character who wears masks to hide his true identity

Perpetrating and pretending to rap
The artist is saying that some rappers are faking their style

That ain't being innovative, that's identity theft, nigga
The artist is saying that copying someone else's style is not original, but rather stealing their identity

Get your own
The artist is encouraging other rappers to develop their own, original style

I'm sort of like Oprah
The artist is comparing himself to a well-known television personality who is influential

Dropping meteors on those who mediocre
The artist's rhymes are so powerful that they destroy mediocre rappers

C-O-P-Y-C-A-T, why are you living a lie?
The artist is returning to the theme of the song, asking why some rappers are not original

Everybody wanna be somebody else
The artist is suggesting that some rappers are not true to themselves, but copy others

When you're doing you, you don't need nobody's help
The artist is saying that being true to yourself is more important than copying others

Don't be a
The artist is repeating the refrain of the song

No, don't be a copycat
The artist is saying that copying others is bad

Nah, don't be a
The artist is repeating the refrain again

Don't be a copycat
The artist is emphasizing the message of the song

If I wasn't the letter F
The artist is introducing a hypothetical situation where he is a different letter of the alphabet

I would probably be 20syl
The artist is saying that if he wasn't himself, he would be like the featured rapper on the song

20 years later I'd be dropping bombs still
The artist is saying that he and 20syl would still be making great music in 20 years

You honestly should pay homage and chill
The artist is suggesting that other rappers should respect him and 20syl

Or get grilled
The artist is saying that other rappers who don't show respect will be criticized

Like a omelet trying to climb in my field
The artist is using a metaphor to suggest that other rappers are trying to enter his area of expertise

You need to enhance your IQ
The artist is suggesting that other rappers need to be smarter to compete with him

To do what I do
The artist is saying that his style is very difficult to imitate

Purchase a passport and fly where I flew
The artist is suggesting that other rappers need to travel to learn and grow

Have some self-respect
The artist is saying that other rappers need to have more pride in themselves

Get some self-esteem
The artist is encouraging other rappers to have more confidence in themselves

Imagine
The artist is introducing an idea for self-reflection and self-improvement

Dream what nobody else could dream
The artist is encouraging other rappers to be more creative and imaginative

Impostors
The artist is referring to fake or fraudulent rappers

Won't get a slot on my roster
The artist is saying that he won't work with impostors

Reminder: You're not him and you're not her
The artist is reminding other rappers that they are not like him or 20syl

But that portrayal might just get you an Oscar
The artist is saying that people who pretend to be someone else might receive recognition, like an Academy Award

Tell me: are you a minister, or are you a mobster?
The artist is questioning others' authenticity, asking if they are true to themselves or playing a role

One minute you Muslim and the next you a Rasta
The artist is criticizing rappers who change their beliefs and style often

One second you're Weezy and the next you're Big Poppa
The artist is criticizing rappers who copy other famous rappers

Nah, don't even think of dropping a tape
The artist is saying that some rappers should not even try to release music

These cats don't cultivate, they just copy and paste
The artist is suggesting that some rappers have no original ideas and just copy others

It's like that
The artist concludes the song with a final statement on the subject