What If
50 Cent Lyrics


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Yeah, I'm f***in' wit' dis
It's that classic s***
That gangsta s***, yeah

Man I watched the sun go up but come down, sayin' what if?
Man I watched the tide roll in and roll out, sayin' what if?
Homey I play the block tryin' to get my packs off, sayin' what if?
Man if I get a shot, I could make it to the top, damn what if?

If I got on some pretty boy s*** like Puffy
N****z in the hood, man they just wouldn't love me
If I wore a suit every day like Jay-Z
N****z would think I blew up my f***in' head and went crazy

If I put diamonds in my teeth like Baby
I wouldn't stand a chance of tryin' to sell like Shady
If I put out bulls*** joints like AZ
Every chance n****z get, they'd try and play me

But I move around with a little 380
A n**** try to stunt, a n**** get sprayed be
If I smoked weed all day like Snoop do
I'd see the world different through my dilated pupils

If I bust dance moves on you like Usher
N****z did say, "50 that ain't gangsta, f*** ya"
Man I'ma just keep doin' what I do
'Cause n****z can't do me, better than I do, ha, ha

Man I watched the sun go up but come down, sayin' what if?
Man I watched the tide roll in and roll out, sayin' what if?
Homey I play the block tryin' to get my packs off, sayin' what if?
Man if I get a shot, I could make it to the top, damn what if?

What if I had blockbuster flicks like Will Smith?
And all the backpack n****z loved me like Mos Def
I'd probably be a cool a** n**** like Ice Cube
Picture me in this flick right now lookin' so cool

What if I was a low key n****, just laid back?
Hustle to keep a homey 'round, somebody to hold the gat
Man what if Halle Berry was my next baby moms?
S*** I'd give that child support up with no problems

If I caught a case and jumped bail I'd get caught
'Cause I'm that n**** everybody know from New York
But if I was the new rap n**** you didn't know
You'd be sayin', "Damn that kid got a sick flow"

What if I just cruised through your hood on 22's
Bumpin' Curtis May field or Marvin, somethin' smooth
And if I let the top down on the Azure
Yeah that'd make you sick to your stomach I'm sure, ha, ha

Man I watched the sun go up but come down, sayin' what if?
Man I watched the tide roll in and roll out, sayin' what if?




Homey I play the block tryin' to get my packs off, sayin' what if?
Man if I get a shot, I could make it to the top, damn what if?

Overall Meaning

In this song, 50 Cent reflects on the many "what ifs" in his life and imagines what his life would be like if he made certain choices. He considers the various paths he could have taken in his career and in his personal life. He muses on what it would be like if he were a different kind of rapper, if he had a child with Halle Berry, if he cruised on 22s and listened to Curtis Mayfield or Marvin Gaye. In each verse, he imagines a new scenario and ponders what it would be like to be in that situation.


The song is emblematic of 50 Cent's fascination with the trappings of success and his longing for a life that is different from his own. While he has achieved great success as a rapper, he is still haunted by the sense that there is something more that he could have achieved. Through his lyrics, he grapples with these feelings of longing and dissatisfaction, and tries to make sense of the choices he has made in his life.


Overall, "What If" is a reflective and introspective song that showcases the depth and complexity of 50 Cent's worldview. It is a testament to his ability to explore the many facets of his own psyche and to offer a nuanced and insightful take on the world around him.


Line by Line Meaning

Yeah, I'm f***in' wit' dis
I am enjoying and feeling this music


It's that classic s***
This is a classic style of music


That gangsta s***, yeah
This is a type of music associated with gangsters


Man I watched the sun go up but come down, sayin' what if?
I pondered the possibilities and what could have been throughout the day


Man I watched the tide roll in and roll out, sayin' what if?
I spent time thinking about various possibilities and what could have been while watching the ocean


Homey I play the block tryin' to get my packs off, sayin' what if?
I sell drugs on the street corners and think about what I could have done differently to not be in this position


Man if I get a shot, I could make it to the top, damn what if?
If I had the opportunity, I could become very successful


If I got on some pretty boy s*** like Puffy
If I adopted a more polished and soft style like Puff Daddy


N****z in the hood, man they just wouldn't love me
The people in the neighborhood would not respect me if I changed my style


If I wore a suit every day like Jay-Z
If I dressed in professional attire like Jay-Z


N****z would think I blew up my f***in' head and went crazy
People would think I lost my mind if I changed my style too drastically


If I put diamonds in my teeth like Baby
If I had a dental attachment with diamonds like Birdman


I wouldn't stand a chance of tryin' to sell like Shady
I would not be able to compete with Eminem


If I put out bulls*** joints like AZ
If I released low-quality music like AZ


Every chance n****z get, they'd try and play me
People would criticize and undercut me if I produced poor music


But I move around with a little 380
I carry a small handgun with me


A n**** try to stunt, a n**** get sprayed be
If someone comes at me aggressively, they will be shot


If I smoked weed all day like Snoop do
If I used marijuana frequently like Snoop Dogg


I'd see the world different through my dilated pupils
My perspective would change due to the effects of marijuana


If I bust dance moves on you like Usher
If I danced professionally like Usher


N****z did say, "50 that ain't gangsta, f*** ya"
People would criticize me for not being true to the gangster style


Man I'ma just keep doin' what I do
I will continue with my current style and behaviors


'Cause n****z can't do me, better than I do, ha, ha
I am the best at being myself


What if I had blockbuster flicks like Will Smith?
What if I starred in hit movies like Will Smith?


And all the backpack n****z loved me like Mos Def
If the conscious rap community respected me like they do Mos Def


I'd probably be a cool a** n**** like Ice Cube
I would have a similar public persona to Ice Cube


Picture me in this flick right now lookin' so cool
Imagine me in a movie looking fashionable


What if I was a low key n****, just laid back?
What if I had a more low-key and relaxed personality?


Hustle to keep a homey 'round, somebody to hold the gat
Work to have friends who can protect me, who also carry guns


Man what if Halle Berry was my next baby moms?
What if Halle Berry was the mother of my child?


S*** I'd give that child support up with no problems
I would financially support the child without any issues


If I caught a case and jumped bail I'd get caught
If I committed a crime and skipped bail, I would be caught


'Cause I'm that n**** everybody know from New York
I am well-known in New York City


But if I was the new rap n**** you didn't know
If I was a lesser-known artist


You'd be sayin', "Damn that kid got a sick flow"
People would admire my rap skills


What if I just cruised through your hood on 22's
What if I drove around in your neighborhood on large rims?


Bumpin' Curtis May field or Marvin, somethin' smooth
Playing smooth music by Curtis Mayfield or Marvin Gaye


And if I let the top down on the Azure
If I drove a convertible Azure and removed the top


Yeah that'd make you sick to your stomach I'm sure, ha, ha
People around me would be envious and upset, which is amusing to me


Man I watched the sun go up but come down, sayin' what if?
I thought about various possibilities throughout the day


Man I watched the tide roll in and roll out, sayin' what if?
I pondered different scenarios and what could have been while watching the ocean


Homey I play the block tryin' to get my packs off, sayin' what if?
I sell drugs on the street corners and think about what could have been different in my life


Man if I get a shot, I could make it to the top, damn what if?
If I had a chance, I could become very successful




Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Abkco Music Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DARRYL CARTER, LINDA COOKE, CURTIS JACKSON, CURTIS JAMES JACKSON, BOBBY WOMACK

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Ahmed El Sayed


on If I Can't

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