9th Wonder is a hip hop producer from Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.. He began his career as the main producer for the hip-hop group Little Brother, and has also worked with the likes of Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, Murs, and Destiny's Child. As part of Little Brother he gained widespread recognition and critical acclaim. He has since left Little Brother. 9th Wonder stated that as long as both Phonte and Big Pooh welcomed a reunion somewhere down the line, he would be completely open to the idea.
The duo released two albums. The first one, Chemistry in 2005 and the sophomore album titled The Formula in 2008.
Pat Em Down
9th Wonder & Buckshot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You take that nigga in, you might be outta bounds
So when you turn around, and you hear the click
Your movie is a skit, that’s sick
What’s up my nigga? Let me holla at you
Word on the street, I heard police is throwing dollars at you
They got you wired up, that got me fired up
Cause that’s fucked up, if it’s true
Duke, you Secret Service? You CIA?
Well, you see I ain’t nervous, and you see I don’t play
I put them cards on the table, three monte
You had the right connect, but you was bigging up the wrong state
Okay, listen
Now I’m looking at niggas, and I’m feeling real funny
It ain’t a joke, though
Why? Cause I’m peeling real money
Nigga, you bummy
Still live with your honey
Donnie Brasco fiasco eat, money
You still police, money
You better watch what you around, It might be going down
You take that nigga in, you might be outta bounds
So when you turn around, and you hear the click
Your movie is a skit, that’s sick
We did a few hustles, had a few scams
That’s why I’m looking like, nah, not you, fam
You used to shoot up in the air, I called you toucan
When police was coming, you was running tan blue van
You was my man, damn
Now all of a sudden, I hear you stuttering
When you see the black car no brothers in
Trying to front for BDI like you don’t fuck with them
My nigga, you bugged, but I’m saying you’re bugged from them
No wonder why I seen the whip the other night on the strip
I seen the cop who said alright, shot, trip
And I’ll be there when you fall like the Albee Square Mall
But I’ll be damned if I see you canned like tourists
Nigga, I’mma do me regardless
You better watch what you around, It might be going down
You take that nigga in, you might be outta bounds
So when you turn around, and you hear the click
Your movie is a skit, that’s sick
Ain’t no rules when you doing you
Anybody could get it
Some do it for the love, some do it for digits
Some want to get to the top by any means
If it means coming for your living or seeing prison
The song "Pat Em Down" by 9th Wonder and Buckshot addresses the idea of keeping yourself cautious of who you surround yourself with, as anyone can be a potential threat. The lyrics suggest that you should be careful not to take anyone in too quickly or blindly, as they might just be trouble waiting to happen. It warns that when you turn around and hear the click, your life might just be a skit, which is a sick reality to face. The song also delves into the issue of trust and loyalty, as it narrates a situation where a friend turned out to be working with the police. The lyrics touch on the idea of betrayal, as the narrating character feels betrayed by a supposedly trusted friend. Despite this, the song asserts that it is important to stay true to yourself, even if it means being at odds with others.
Overall, the song suggests that one should always be mindful of who they surround themselves with and be cautious of potential threats. The lyrics also advise listeners to stay true to themselves and not be swayed by others, even if it means facing challenging situations.
Line by Line Meaning
You better watch what you around, It might be going down
Be careful who you associate with, things might get dangerous
You take that nigga in, you might be outta bounds
If you hang out with the wrong people, you might get into trouble
So when you turn around, and you hear the click
When you hear a sudden sound or noise, be alert
Your movie is a skit, that’s sick
Your life is a joke, and it's not funny
What’s up my nigga? Let me holla at you
Hey, how's it going? Can I talk to you for a minute?
Word on the street, I heard police is throwing dollars at you
I've heard rumors that the police are paying you for information
They got you wired up, that got me fired up
I heard they've got you under surveillance, and it's making me angry
So listen up, I gotta see if they lying or what
I need to find out if the rumors are true
Cause that’s fucked up, if it’s true
If it's true, it's really messed up
Duke, you Secret Service? You CIA?
Are you a government agent?
Well, you see I ain’t nervous, and you see I don’t play
I'm not scared and I'm not joking around
I put them cards on the table, three monte
I'm being straightforward
You had the right connect, but you was bigging up the wrong state
You had the right information, but you were giving the wrong location
Now I’m looking at niggas, and I’m feeling real funny
I'm suspicious of people and it's making me uncomfortable
It ain’t a joke, though
This is serious and not a laughing matter
Why? Cause I’m peeling real money
I'm making a lot of money, and it's attracting unwanted attention
Nigga, you bummy
You're broke and unsuccessful
Still live with your honey
You still live with your girlfriend/wife
Donnie Brasco fiasco eat, money
You're a fake and a fraud who only cares about money
You still police, money
You're a police informer for money
We did a few hustles, had a few scams
We've been involved in some illegal activities
That’s why I’m looking like, nah, not you, fam
That's why I don't trust you anymore
You used to shoot up in the air, I called you toucan
You used to shoot your gun recklessly, and I nicknamed you after a bird that does the same
When police was coming, you was running tan blue van
When the police were around, you used to run away in your van
You was my man, damn
I used to trust you and consider you a friend
Now all of a sudden, I hear you stuttering
Now, I hear you hesitating and stumbling over your words
When you see the black car no brothers in
When you see a suspicious unmarked car with no other people in it
Trying to front for BDI like you don’t fuck with them
Trying to pretend like you don't associate with a particular group of people
My nigga, you bugged, but I’m saying you’re bugged from them
You're being watched, but I'm saying you're being watched by the same people you're pretending not to be associated with
No wonder why I seen the whip the other night on the strip
Now I know why I saw your car the other night on the street
I seen the cop who said alright, shot, trip
I saw the cop who gave you the go-ahead to do something illegal and then arrested you
And I’ll be there when you fall like the Albee Square Mall
I'll be there watching when you fail or get caught
But I’ll be damned if I see you canned like tourists
But I won't stand by and watch you get caught like a tourist who's been taken advantage of
Nigga, I’mma do me regardless
I'm going to do what I want, no matter what happens
Ain’t no rules when you doing you
When you're doing what you want, there are no rules to follow
Anybody could get it
Anyone can be a target
Some do it for the love, some do it for digits
Some people do illegal things for the thrill of it, while others do it for the money
Some want to get to the top by any means
Some people will do anything to be successful or rich
If it means coming for your living or seeing prison
Even if it means taking away your livelihood or going to jail
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind