Rakim Athelaston Mayers, known professionally as A$AP Rocky, is an American… Read Full Bio ↴Rakim Athelaston Mayers, known professionally as A$AP Rocky, is an American rapper, record producer and record executive. Born and raised in Harlem, he embarked on his musical career as a member of the hip hop collective A$AP Mob, from which he adopted his moniker. In August 2011, Rocky's single "Peso" was leaked online and within weeks began receiving radio airplay. Rocky released his debut mixtape Live.Love.A$AP, later that year to widespread critical acclaim. The success of what is considered his breakout project led to a joint venture record deal with Polo Grounds Music and Sony Music's RCA Records.

His debut studio album Long.Live.A$AP (2013) debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was later certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 2015, Rocky released his second album, titled At.Long.Last.A$AP. The album was Rocky's second consecutive album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 and received mostly positive reviews from music critics. In 2018, Rocky released his third album, Testing, which peaked in the top five of several countries, including the Billboard 200.

Rocky has won a BET Award, two BET Hip Hop Awards, an MTV Video Music Award Japan and an MTVU Woodie Award, as well as being nominated for two Grammy Awards, six World Music Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards and two MTV Europe Music Awards. Rocky has also directed music videos for himself, Danny Brown, and other A$AP Mob members. Furthermore, he produces records under the pseudonym Lord Flacko.

Rich Nigga Problems
A$AP Rocky Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

'Bout twelve bad hoes in my section like Vegas
A few of 'em strangers, a few of 'em famous
But when that ain't enough and black ain't enough
Man, I'm done actin' up, let's hit the crib and get faded
When you don't drink champagne but you orderin' cases
All your friends hangin' 'cause they know that you payin'
When them bills backin' up and black ain't enough
And them checks addin' up, you just don't wanna be famous

Got a mink doormat that say, "Nigga, we made it"
Got all white neighbors and most of 'em racist
They put your name and faces when you goin' in places
Then black ain't enough, you just don't wanna be famous
Real talk, real rap, look, I can't deny shit
Couldn't afford shit, but always was attracted to fly shit
Guess that's why I buy, won't invest or capitalize
But expectin' to die rich, just a rich nigga mindset
That's why I'm packin' up my shit, like I'm back at the mom's crib
Like I'm back on my grind, like it's a nine-to-five shift
'Cause nothin' was handed to me, uh, go in and hand it to me
Like I'm Puffy in '96 (gimme the loot, gimme the loot)
Let's hope that she really for me, most hoes couldn't handle me
I'm postponin' a family, work hard so they know what I stand for
Just have 'em, the GRAMMY, me, damn, have 'em, GRAMMY, me?
Damn, just don't wanna be famous

'Bout twelve bad hoes in my section like Vegas
A few of 'em strangers, a few of 'em famous
When that ain't enough and black ain't enough
Man, I'm done actin' up, let's hit the crib and get faded
You don't drink champagne but you orderin' cases
Your friends like hangin' 'cause they know that you payin'
When them bills backin' up and black ain't enough
And them checks addin' up, you just don't wanna be famous

Uh, look at me, get what you see, envision me
Brazen chains, is he Pusha T or Mr. T?
No hookah smoke, no niggas, please, no liquor, please
A different me, I'm in this bitch and I'm sippin' tea
Uh, but never spill the tea, most of you niggas sick of me
What would she do to get to me? Get off the tip of the dick of me, please
Another victory, be flawless like the skin on me, please
Don't compare him and me, you offendin' me
This ain't a diss and we ain't enemies
They concerned with breakin' hits, I'm more concerned with makin' history
Loudest nigga in the room the weakest
Them quiet dudes just probably need better speakers
This ain't a modest way of livin', I ain't hungry
Just did a demolition to my kitchen, it was ugly
Cash rules everything around me, get the money, funny
How they got twenty-twenty vision but don't see a nigga vision 'til 2020? (Wow, uh)

'Bout twelve bad hoes in my section like Vegas
A few of 'em strangers, a few of 'em famous
When that ain't enough and black ain't enough
Man, I'm done actin' up, let's hit the crib and get faded
You don't drink champagne but you orderin' cases
Your friends like hangin' 'cause they know that you payin'
When them bills backin' up and black ain't enough
And them checks addin' up, you just don't wanna be famous

Woo, this some bullshit

Yeah
Three, three, three, two, one, cut

Overall Meaning

The song 'Rich Nigga Problems' by A$AP Rocky is a commentary on the struggle of balancing fame and fortune, and the desire for a stress-free life. The song starts by describing the lavish lifestyle of having multiple women in the rapper's section, some of whom are famous and some of whom are strangers. The lyrics convey the idea that even with all of these material possessions, the singer is still not content and desires more, as evidenced by his excessive and expensive ordering of champagne.

Later in the song, the lyrics shift towards the experiences of being a wealthy black man in America, discussing how the singer has all-white neighbors who are often racist towards him. The message of the song can be interpreted as a plea to be recognized for one's accomplishments and hard work without being overshadowed by fame and the constant pressures that come with it. The final stanza urges the listener to focus on the long term goals and achievements, rather than just making hits and maintaining relevance.

Line by Line Meaning

Bout twelve bad hoes in my section like Vegas
I have about twelve attractive women in my area who are like the ones you might expect to see in Las Vegas

A few of 'em strangers, a few of 'em famous
Some of these women are new acquaintances, while some are well-known in the public eye

But when that ain't enough and black ain't enough
Even with these women around, I feel empty and unfulfilled. My African American identity alone isn't enough to make me happy

Man, I'm done actin' up, let's hit the crib and get faded
I'm tired of putting on a front and behaving in a certain way, let's go home and get drunk or high

When you don't drink champagne but you orderin' cases
Even if I don't enjoy champagne, I'm still ordering large quantities of it to show off my wealth

All your friends hangin' 'cause they know that you payin'
My supposed friends only stick around because they want to take advantage of my money and fame

When them bills backin' up and black ain't enough
When my bills are piling up and my identity as a black person isn't enough to make me happy

And them checks addin' up, you just don't wanna be famous
With all the money I'm earning, I don't want to just be famous for the sake of fame

Got a mink doormat that say, "Nigga, we made it"
I have a fancy doormat that boasts about my success and affluence

Got all white neighbors and most of 'em racist
I live in a predominantly white area where many of the residents hold racist views

They put your name and faces when you goin' in places
When I go out to events or places, people are always taking pictures of me and sharing them online

Then black ain't enough, you just don't wanna be famous
Even with my black identity, fame alone isn't enough to make me happy or fulfilled

Real talk, real rap, look, I can't deny shit
I'm being honest and upfront, I can't deny the truth of the situation

Couldn't afford shit, but always was attracted to fly shit
I used to be poor, but I always had an eye for expensive and extravagant things

Guess that's why I buy, won't invest or capitalize
I go ahead and buy these expensive things, but I don't invest or use them for monetary gain

But expectin' to die rich, just a rich nigga mindset
I have this mindset that I will end up wealthy, but it's more of a superficial desire for wealth rather than a deeper goal or plan

That's why I'm packin' up my shit, like I'm back at the mom's crib
I'm moving and packing up my possessions like I did when I lived at my mom's house

Like I'm back on my grind, like it's a nine-to-five shift
I'm working hard and hustling like someone who has a regular nine-to-five job

'Cause nothin' was handed to me, uh, go in and hand it to me
I didn't inherit my wealth or success, so I have to work hard to achieve it

Like I'm Puffy in '96 (gimme the loot, gimme the loot)
I'm focused on making money and emulating the success of Sean 'Puffy' Combs when he was at the peak of his career

Let's hope that she really for me, most hoes couldn't handle me
I hope that the woman I'm with is truly interested in me, as many women can't handle my lifestyle or personality

I'm postponin' a family, work hard so they know what I stand for
I'm putting off starting a family because I want to focus on my career and show my future children the values I stand for

Just have 'em, the GRAMMY, me, damn, have 'em, GRAMMY, me?
I don't care if it's me or someone else, I just want to win a Grammy award

Damn, just don't wanna be famous
I don't want to be famous just for the sake of being famous

'Bout twelve bad hoes in my section like Vegas
I have about twelve attractive women in my area who are like the ones you might expect to see in Las Vegas

A few of 'em strangers, a few of 'em famous
Some of these women are new acquaintances, while some are well-known in the public eye

When that ain't enough and black ain't enough
Even with these women around and my black identity, I still feel empty and unfulfilled

Man, I'm done actin' up, let's hit the crib and get faded
I'm tired of putting on a front and behaving in a certain way, let's go home and get drunk or high

You don't drink champagne but you orderin' cases
Even if I don't enjoy champagne, I'm still ordering large quantities of it to show off my wealth

Your friends like hangin' 'cause they know that you payin'
My supposed friends only stick around because they want to take advantage of my money and fame

When them bills backin' up and black ain't enough
When my bills are piling up and my identity as a black person isn't enough to make me happy

And them checks addin' up, you just don't wanna be famous
With all the money I'm earning, I don't want to just be famous for the sake of fame

Uh, look at me, get what you see, envision me
I'm being transparent and honest about who I am, and I want people to see me as I am

Brazen chains, is he Pusha T or Mr. T?
I'm wearing flashy chains and accessories, like rapper Pusha T or Mr. T from the A Team

No hookah smoke, no niggas, please, no liquor, please
I don't want to smoke hookah, be around certain people, or drink alcohol

A different me, I'm in this bitch and I'm sippin' tea
I'm a changed person who is present in this situation and drinking tea

Uh, but never spill the tea, most of you niggas sick of me
I'm not going to gossip or share secrets, as many people are already tired and annoyed of me

What would she do to get to me? Get off the tip of the dick of me, please
I'm curious what a particular woman would do to impress me, but I don't want her to be overly flirtatious or aggressive

Another victory, be flawless like the skin on me, please
I want to achieve another success and be just as immaculate as my own skin

Don't compare him and me, you offendin' me
It's insulting to compare me to someone else

This ain't a diss and we ain't enemies
I'm not trying to insult or harm anyone, we're not enemies

They concerned with breakin' hits, I'm more concerned with makin' history
Other people are focused on creating popular songs, but I want to make a lasting impact on the music industry

Loudest nigga in the room the weakest
The person who talks the most or is the most boastful is often the person who is the weakest or most insecure

Them quiet dudes just probably need better speakers
The people who are the quietest might simply not be good at speaking up, but they still have valuable things to say

This ain't a modest way of livin', I ain't hungry
I'm not living modestly and I'm not struggling financially

Just did a demolition to my kitchen, it was ugly
I recently tore apart my kitchen, but it wasn't a pretty sight

Cash rules everything around me, get the money, funny
Money is the most important thing in life and it's ironic how people who don't have it often struggle to get it

How they got twenty-twenty vision but don't see a nigga vision 'til 2020? (Wow, uh)
People can have perfect vision but still not understand or see the value in what a person is trying to accomplish until much later