21 Savage expresses support for Young Thug amid the Atlanta native’s racketeering and gang conspiracy trial. In 2022, Young Thug, Gunna, and twenty-six others were indicted for their affiliation to YSL (Young Slime or Stoner Life). The indictment alleges that YSL members committed violent crimes such as murder and armed robbery. While Thug stands trial for his charges, Gunna was freed from jail by entering an Alford plea agreement, pleading guilty to racketeering while maintaining his innocence.
In the second verse, 21 Savage seeks forgiveness for past sins and reflects on the journey from adversity to success. The outro reinforces the transient nature of setbacks in street life, urging resilience and emphasizing that adherence to street rules may not matter in the long run.
The song’s emotional lyrics, combined with soulful production, create a powerful and reflective listening experience. “letter to my brudda” is a raw and honest portrayal of personal struggles and the universal themes of loyalty, survival, and the pursuit of a better life.
letter to my brudda
21 Savage Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Once you cross that line, it ain't no tryin' to fix it
You want me to forgive you, let's be realistic
I can't kick it with your kind like I tore my meniscus
How you go from co-defendant to a fuckin' witness?
They'll stand on couches with you, but won't stand on business
WoahI watched everybody turn on my brother
Like he ain't have 'em out here flyin' jets and fuckin' bitches
This shit ridiculous
I feel your pain, my brother
I know you from the struggle
I know how hard you hustled just to take care of your mother
I know you took clothes off your back for niggas you call brother
I know how hard it get in this jungle
Tryna prevail without bein' tried like you no sucker
Huh, life's a motherfucker, yeah
I know ain't nobody perfect
But what's the point in makin' it out if all they do is cuff ya?
You know, we be comin' from, like
The worst conditions, the worst circumstances
The trenches, the gutter
And sometimes we be forced to make decisions that we don't even wanna make
It be about survival
At the end of the day, we be havin' good hearts
They just be in bad places
I guess that's life, though
Father God, forgive me for my sins
Take the mask off all my enemies that's out here actin' like my friends
Did some shit I'm prayin' I never gotta do again
I put blood, sweat, and tears inside this winIf I take care of my hood, the prosecutor call me Gotti
Turn my back on the hood, they probably kill me, probably rob me
It's a Catch-22, I'm bein' honest
Hard work, tryna keep the past behind me
I still be havin' flashbacks 'bout Johnny
Fast forward and the major label signed me
Had to hustle, had to focus, perseverance
Mama used to go to TJ Maxx and shop on clearance
Tayman and CJ, I can still feel they spirits
Skinny and Wanwan used to rap, I know they hear it
It ain't that easy, puttin' pain inside of lyrics
Send this up to Heaven so they can clear it
Y'all know, like, real street niggas gon' feel this shit
And I don't want niggas to get misunderstood
'Cause the rules we live by, don't even matter no more
Just a, just a setback for you to come back
Can't hold a nigga down forever
Know what I'm sayin'?
'Til then, we gon' hold this shit down, straight up
In the first paragraph of the lyrics, 21 Savage expresses his anger and disappointment towards someone who has crossed a line and betrayed him. He mentions that forgiving them is unrealistic because their actions have caused irreparable damage. He compares the situation to tearing a meniscus, a reference to a knee injury that is difficult to heal. Additionally, he questions how someone can change from being a co-defendant to becoming a witness against him, highlighting the lack of loyalty and trustworthiness. He also emphasizes how people may stand by him in social situations but fail to support him in business matters.
In the second paragraph, 21 Savage addresses his brother, connecting their shared experiences of struggle and hustling to support their family. He acknowledges his brother's sacrifices, including giving his own clothes to others he considered brothers. He understands the challenges they face in a hostile environment and the pressures of trying to succeed without being taken advantage of. The line "life's a motherfucker" conveys the harsh realities they face and the unfairness they encounter. He questions the purpose of achieving success if he will only be controlled or restrained by others.
The third paragraph is a prayer to God for forgiveness and protection. 21 Savage reflects on the actions he has taken and hopes to avoid making similar mistakes in the future. He reminds himself of the hard work he has put into achieving success, the sacrifices he has made, and the dedication he has shown. He acknowledges the conflicting situations he finds himself in, where taking care of his neighborhood can earn him respect and the title of "Gotti" but turning his back on the hood could result in harm or betrayal. He shares his struggles with moving forward from his past, dealing with traumatic memories, and the impact they have had on him. He also mentions friends or associates who are no longer alive but were present during his come up in the rap industry. He aims to convey the difficulty of expressing his pain and experiences through his lyrics and hopes to convey his emotions to them in heaven.
In the fourth and final paragraph, 21 Savage addresses the listeners directly. He explains that the lyrics and emotions in his song will resonate with those who have lived through similar experiences in the streets. He wants to ensure that his message is not misunderstood, highlighting the fact that the rules they live by may no longer hold significance in society. He encourages resilience and perseverance, assuring that setbacks are temporary and that they will eventually overcome adversity. He concludes by pledging to hold it down until they can rise above their circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Once you cross that line, it ain't no tryin' to fix it
Once you've committed a wrongdoing, there's no going back or repairing the damage.
You want me to forgive you, let's be realistic
You expect me to forgive you, but let's be honest about the situation.
I can't kick it with your kind like I tore my meniscus
I can't associate with people like you, it's as if I've damaged my own knee cartilage.
How you go from co-defendant to a fuckin' witness?
How did you transition from being a co-accused to becoming a witness against us?
They'll stand on couches with you, but won't stand on business
They will party and have fun with you, but they won't support your entrepreneurial ventures.
I watched everybody turn on my brother
I witnessed everyone betraying my brother.
Like he ain't have 'em out here flyin' jets and fuckin' bitches
As if he didn't provide them with expensive pleasures and sexual encounters.
This shit ridiculous
This situation is absurd and outrageous.
I feel your pain, my brother
I understand and empathize with your suffering, my brother.
I know you from the struggle
I know you've experienced hardship and adversity.
I know how hard you hustled just to take care of your mother
I know you put in tremendous effort to support and provide for your mother.
I know you took clothes off your back for niggas you call brother
I know you selflessly sacrificed for the friends you consider brothers.
I know how hard it get in this jungle
I understand the extreme difficulties faced in this challenging environment.
Tryna prevail without bein' tried like you no sucker
Attempting to succeed without being taken advantage of or seen as weak.
Life's a motherfucker, yeah
Life is extremely challenging and unpredictable.
I know ain't nobody perfect
I understand that nobody is flawless.
But what's the point in makin' it out if all they do is cuff ya?
What is the purpose of achieving success if they only restrain and control you?
You know, we be comin' from, like
You know, we originate from...
The worst conditions, the worst circumstances
The most unfavorable situations and backgrounds.
The trenches, the gutter
The violent and impoverished areas.
And sometimes we be forced to make decisions that we don't even wanna make
Occasionally, we are obligated to make choices we don't desire.
It be about survival
It's solely about surviving and staying alive.
At the end of the day, we be havin' good hearts
Ultimately, we possess kind and compassionate hearts.
They just be in bad places
Unfortunately, our good intentions are manifested in unfavorable circumstances.
I guess that's life, though
I suppose that's just the way life is.
Father God, forgive me for my sins
Dear God, please forgive me for the wrongs I've committed.
Take the mask off all my enemies that's out here actin' like my friends
Expose the true nature of those who pretend to be my friends but are actually my enemies.
Did some shit I'm prayin' I never gotta do again
Engaged in actions I sincerely hope to avoid in the future.
I put blood, sweat, and tears inside this win
I dedicated immense effort and sacrifice to achieve this victory.
If I take care of my hood, the prosecutor call me Gotti
If I provide for my community, the authorities label me as a criminal mastermind like John Gotti.
Turn my back on the hood, they probably kill me, probably rob me
If I abandon or betray my community, they might resort to violence or theft against me.
It's a Catch-22, I'm bein' honest
It's a difficult situation with no ideal options, honestly.
Hard work, tryna keep the past behind me
Working diligently to leave my troubled history behind me.
I still be havin' flashbacks 'bout Johnny
I still experience involuntary memories and thoughts about Johnny.
Fast forward and the major label signed me
After progressing quickly, a major record label signed me.
Had to hustle, had to focus, perseverance
I had to grind and remain determined with unwavering focus.
Mama used to go to TJ Maxx and shop on clearance
My mother would shop for discounted items at TJ Maxx.
Tayman and CJ, I can still feel they spirits
I can still sense the presence and influence of Tayman and CJ.
Skinny and Wanwan used to rap, I know they hear it
Skinny and Wanwan used to be involved in rap music, I believe they can hear my current success.
It ain't that easy, puttin' pain inside of lyrics
Expressing pain through lyrics is not a simple task.
Send this up to Heaven so they can clear it
I send this message up to Heaven so they can hear and understand it.
Y'all know, like, real street niggas gon' feel this shit
You all know that authentic street individuals will deeply relate to this.
And I don't want niggas to get misunderstood
I don't want people to misinterpret my words.
'Cause the rules we live by, don't even matter no more
Because the principles we abide by have lost their significance.
Just a, just a setback for you to come back
It's just a temporary obstacle for you to overcome and return stronger.
Can't hold a nigga down forever
You can't keep a person suppressed indefinitely.
Know what I'm sayin'?
Do you understand what I'm trying to convey?
'Til then, we gon' hold this shit down, straight up
Until then, we will maintain control and resilience, without a doubt.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, CREATE MUSIC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kavi Lybarger, Paola Madelaine Barba Amado, Paul Mingeon, She'yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, Tchakalla Anthony Romeo, Tyrese Clay Mcgriff, William Boyette
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Cwattsnyc
21 wasn’t rapping like this in 2016 he really grew as an artist
@doublec8069
As a man grows his mentality should reflect that
@Furyfrmdao
all good rappers do look at durk now he on too off his game
@TheGlowingOnee
His labels made him write music like that at the time to gain fame.
@Jay5898
Big facts
@SolisNewGod
😭😭😭😭
@bigjohnson721
21 always in his bag this is easily top 5 project he’s dropped in his career great way to start the first quarter of the year
@B4shXp
W 21🔥need a feat asap
@whatwedoinyah1614
bro barely got 5 lol
@Aimusikk_
How many projects he got?😂