a lot Ft. J. Cole
21 Savage Lyrics

I love you
Sincere expression of affection

Turn my headphone down a little bit, yeah
Request to lower the volume of the headphones slightly

For so many reasons
There are many motives behind what he is about to say

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (I do), yeah, yeah yeah yeah
Reinforcing that he loves the person he addressed in the first line

How much money you got? (Straight up)
Straightforward question about the amount of money owned

How much money you got? (A lot)
Answer to the previous question, indicating that he has a lot of money

How many problems you got? (A lot)
Asks about number of issues/burdens carried by the person being addressed

How many people done doubted you? (A lot)
Inquires about the amount of people who have shown doubt in the person addressed

Left you out to rot? (A lot)
Asks if the person has been abandoned or ignored a lot

How many pray that you flop? (A lot)
Asks if many people want the person being addressed to fail or fall short

How many lawyers you got? (A lot)
Asks about the number of lawyers working for the person addressed

How many times you got shot? (A lot)
Inquires about the person's experience of being shot

How many niggas you shot? (A lot)
Asks about the amount of people the person has shot

How many times did you ride? (A lot)
Asks about the number of times he went on a ride, usually implying a crime

How many niggas done died? (A lot)
Asks about the number of people the person addressed lost in his life

How many times did you cheat? (A lot)
Inquires about the amount of times the person cheated, usually in relationships

How many times did you lie? (A lot)
Asks about the frequency of the person telling lies

How many times did she leave? (A lot)
Asks about how many times the person's significant other left

How many times did she cry? (A lot)
Asks about how many times the person's significant other cried

How many chances she done gave you?
Inquires about the amount of chances given from the person's significant other

Fuck around with these thots (A lot)
Warns the person about the dangers of getting involved with women of ill repute

Every day that I'm alive, I'ma ride with the stick
Promise to always be ready/armed

I'd rather be broke in jail than be dead and rich
He prefers poverty behind bars than wealth as a deceased person

Told my brothers take my breath if I turn to a snitch
He would rather die than become a snitch

But I'm 21 4L, ain't no way I'ma switch
He identifies himself with 21 4L, a gang, and promises to be loyal to them

Penitentiary chances just to make a couple bucks
The risks he was willing to take to earn money

My heart so cold I could put it in my cup
He feels emotionally detached or insensitive

Gang vs. the world, me and my dawg, it was us
Reference to the loyalty he had with his gang and members

Then you went and wrote a statement, and that really fucked me up
Someone wrote a statement against him and it affected him severely

My brother lost his life and it turned me into a beast
His brother's death changed him to become ruthless

My brother got life and it turned me to the streets
His brother's sentence to life imprisonment led him to pursue the life of the streets

I been through the storm and it turned me to a G
His hardships made him stronger and more capable

But the other side was sunny, I get paid to rap on beats
He persevered and succeeded in rap career

Yeah, I just came from the A
He came from Atlanta

I drove back home, six hour drive, six and a half
He drove home after visiting Atlanta and it took 6 hours

Before I left I stopped by to see my nigga 21 in the studio
He visited 21 Savage in the studio before he left Atlanta

He had two of his kids with him right in the studio, that's when I knew
21 Savage had his children with him while working, which impressed J.Cole

You a stand up nigga, I love seein' shit like that
J.Cole admires 21 Savage's responsible and family-oriented behavior

How many faking they streams? (A lot)
Asks about the frequency in which others fake streams/views for success

Getting they plays from machines (A lot)
Suggests that some artists buy views/streams using automated means

I can see behind the smoke and mirrors
He can see through the superficiality and illusions of the music industry

Niggas ain't really big as they seem (Hmm)
Artists often exaggerate their success and popularity

I never say anything (Nah), everybody got they thing (True)
He acknowledges that everyone has their own approach to success

Some niggas make millions, other niggas make memes (Hmm)
Artists make different amounts of money and some are more respected than others

I'm on a money routine
He is focused on generating income and maintaining success

I don't want smoke, I want cream
He wants financial success rather than conflict with others

I don't want no more comparisons
He does not want to be compared to others

This is a marathon and I'm aware
He sees his career as a long-term journey

I been playing the back from a lack of promotions
He has not received much media or promotional support

I never was one for the bragging and boasting
He is not the type to brag about his accomplishments

I guess I was hoping the music would speak for itself
He hoped that his music would be recognized and appreciated on its own merit

But the people want everything else
Fans often demand more from artists than just music

OK, no problem, I'll show up on everyone album
He is confident in his ability and is willing to collaborate with anyone

You know what the outcome will be
He knows that his verses will be of high quality and impressive

I'm batting a thousand
He has been successful in all of his ventures so far

It's got to the point that these rappers don't even like rappin' with me
His skill level has intimidated other rappers

Fuck it 'cause my nigga 21 Savage just hit me
He does not care that other rappers are intimidated, because a collaborator like 21 Savage has reached out to him

And told me he saved me a spot, on a new record he got
21 Savage has offered J.Cole a place on his upcoming song

He call it "a lot," I open my book and I jot
The song is called 'A Lot' and J. Cole writes down lyrics for it

Pray for Tekashi, they want him to rot
He prays for the jailed rapper 6ix9ine, who some wish harm upon

I picture him inside a cell on a cot
He imagines 6ix9ine in a prison cot

'Flectin' on how he made it to the top
He thinks about how 6ix9ine became successful

Wondering if it was worth it or not
J.Cole questions if the risks were worth 6ix9ine's success

I pray for Markelle 'cause they fucked up his shot
He prays for basketball player Markelle Fultz, whose career has had setbacks

Just want you to know that you got it, my nigga
He wants Markelle Fultz to know he has potential

Though I never met you, I know that you special
He believes that Markelle Fultz is talented and noteworthy

And that the Lord blessed you, don't doubt it, my nigga
He encourages Markelle Fultz to have faith in his talents and faith in God

Dennis Smith Jr., stay solid, my nigga
He gives support to basketball player Dennis Smith Jr. to stay committed and true

I'm on a tangent, not how I planned it
J.Cole went off on a tangent and did not intend to do so

I had some fans that hopped and abandoned ship
Some fans stopped supporting him when they thought he would not become successful

When they thought that I wasn't gon' pan out, I got a plan
He had a plan to become successful even when others thought he would not

They say that success is the greatest revenge, tell all your friends
Becoming successful is a way to show others who did not believe in him that they were wrong

Cole on a mission, cementin' the spot as the greatest that did it
He is on a mission to solidify his place as one of the greatest rappers of all time

Before it all ends, nigga
He is determined to reach his goals before he dies

I break it on down, I break it down
Recurring phrase emphasizing his intention to break it all down thoroughly

I break it down, I break it down, I br-
End of the song