21 refers to money as “Dead people” because of the deceased president’s face on each of the bills. In this song 21 raps:
"I been hangin' with the dead people
All my pockets full of dead people
I done fell in love with dead people"
Those lines refer to all of the cash in his pocket and his love for the money.
Dead People
21 Savage Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
S600 big body and it's tinted, just to handle business
Percocets they got me in my feelings
I drive that Range Rover like it's rented
Hit 'em in the face, 'fore you turn state
Gotta beat the case, we gon' fuck your bae
We gon' beat her face
Walked out of Wells Fargo and ran to Chase
Young Savage, I was trappin' on the back street
All in traffic with that ratchet on the backseat
From the gutter, fake models don't attract me
Got a project bitch, she love to get nasty
I been drinkin' syrup since Denny's
Gotta keep it on me, niggas schemin'
Right pocket full of dead people
I been hangin' with the dead people
I been hangin' with the dead people
I been hangin' with the dead people
All my pockets full of dead people
I done fell in love with dead people
Bitch you gettin' comfortable, I don't need you
You come around the gang, we might G you
She say don't nobody fuck her like we do
You know I share everything with my people
My jewelry twinkle twinkle
Doin' donuts in the foreign while it sprinkles
You keep callin', I'm ignoring, bitch I'm single
You keep callin', bitch I'm single like a Pringle
You know I'm fly like G4
Bitch you riding in a Pinto
Bitch you know your nigga lame like the Winslows
I'm 21 but you know PDE my kin folk
I been drinkin' syrup since Denny's
Gotta keep it on me, niggas schemin'
Right pocket full of dead people
I been hangin' with the dead people
I been hangin' with the dead people
I been hangin' with the dead people
All my pockets full of dead people
I done fell in love with dead people
In "Dead People," 21 Savage raps about his experiences growing up in Atlanta and running with the wrong crowd. He portrays himself as a successful gangster, stating that he can handle business and drive a S600 big body with tinted windows without worrying about the law catching up with him. He also talks about his drug use, specifically his love for Percocets and syrup. He further boasts about his exploits with women, claiming he can take any woman he wants and beat up anyone who tries to stop him.
The chorus of "Dead People" repeats the phrase "I've been hanging with the dead people" repeatedly, which is an eerie and haunting way of referring to the money he's made through a life of crime. He brags about the right pocket of his trousers being full of cash from dead people, implying that he has killed people to accumulate his wealth. However, it could also be a metaphor for the dead presidents that adorn American currency.
The hook's repetition of the phrase is also a nod to the song's title, which has a double meaning. On one hand, it could represent the stacks of cash and the wealth that 21 Savage has accumulated after making it to the top of the rap game. On the other hand, it could represent the death and destruction that 21 Savage has witnessed and experienced in the life of crime he's chosen.
Line by Line Meaning
I'mma handle business
I am going to take care of my business.
S600 big body and it's tinted, just to handle business
I drive a large, tinted car to take care of my business.
Percocets they got me in my feelings
I have taken Percocet painkillers and they are affecting my emotions.
I drive that Range Rover like it's rented
I drive my Range Rover as if I do not own it.
Hit 'em in the face, 'fore you turn state
You should hit someone in the face before they become a state's witness.
Gotta beat the case, we gon' fuck your bae
We need to win the legal case and then sleep with your significant other.
We gon' beat her face
We are going to physically assault her.
Walked out of Wells Fargo and ran to Chase
I left Wells Fargo bank and went to Chase bank.
Hopped out a Bentley truck and jumped inside a Wraith
I left a Bentley truck and entered a Rolls-Royce Wraith car.
Young Savage, I was trappin' on the back street
I, 21 Savage, used to sell drugs on the less-populated streets of the city.
All in traffic with that ratchet on the backseat
I carried a gun in my car while driving in traffic.
From the gutter, fake models don't attract me
I come from the lowest parts of society, and I do not like fake, superficial women.
Got a project bitch, she love to get nasty
I have a woman from the projects, and she likes to engage in sexual activities.
I been drinkin' syrup since Denny's
I have been consuming cough syrup with codeine since I was young.
Gotta keep it on me, niggas schemin'
I need to keep my gun with me because people are always trying to plot against me.
Right pocket full of dead people
I have money in my right pocket that has been obtained through illegal or violent means.
I been hangin' with the dead people
I have been spending my time with people who have died due to violence.
All my pockets full of dead people
All of my pockets are filled with money obtained through illegal or violent means.
I done fell in love with dead people
I have grown to love the lifestyle that comes with obtaining money through illegal or violent means.
Bitch you gettin' comfortable, I don't need you
I do not want you to get too comfortable around me because I do not need you.
You come around the gang, we might G you
If you hang around our group, we might eventually kill you.
She say don't nobody fuck her like we do
She claims that no one is better at sex than us.
You know I share everything with my people
I share everything with my close friends and associates.
My jewelry twinkle twinkle
My jewelry is very shiny and sparkly.
Doin' donuts in the foreign while it sprinkles
I am driving a foreign car and doing spinning maneuvers on wet pavement.
You keep callin', I'm ignoring, bitch I'm single
You keep trying to contact me, but I am ignoring you because I am single and do not need you.
You keep callin', bitch I'm single like a Pringle
You keep trying to contact me, but I am single and not interested in a relationship.
You know I'm fly like G4
I am very fashionable and fly, like a Gulfstream IV (G4) private jet.
Bitch you riding in a Pinto
You are driving a cheap and outdated car, like a Ford Pinto.
Bitch you know your nigga lame like the Winslows
You know that your man is boring and unimpressive, like the Winslow family from the TV show Family Matters.
I'm 21 but you know PDE my kin folk
Even though I am only 21 years old, I am still closely associated with my gang, PDE.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jacob Brian Dutton, Joshua Luellen, Samuel Wishkoski, Shayaa Bin Abraham-Joseph
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dimitri9631
My mom died when this song came out and I was really fucked up on drugs bad at the time used to bump this song. Sad but I’m in a much better place now and so is she 🕊
@godsson1603
I'm tryna leave that place now 🤦🏾♂️
@godsson1603
@@mrvo4269 preesh bro 💯
@dimitri9631
@@mrvo4269 I am in school to become a pharmacist now, things have been going well. You just have to keep going and never give up!
@dimitri9631
@@godsson1603 have faith in yourself, you can push through it.
@godsson1603
@@dimitri9631 congrats bro 💯✊🏾 and will do 🙏🏾
@YMPCash
damn southside this beat wanna make me cry and dance at the same time
@outlawbeatz1237
This comment makes me wanna dab everytime i blink
@tyoe2316
s/o to sizzle for dis masterpiece goddamn
@sumyute712
Well this is good for a funeral.