Bas first previewed J. Cole’s portion of the song on July 15, 2018, during his set at the 2018 Woo Hah! Festival. He previewed his own contributions on August 6, 2018, on his Instagram story. He later released a trailer on August 17, 2018, featuring footage from the studio recording session.
“Zum-Zum” by Edu Lobo is the basis of the instrumental.
"I would say it’s a journey on the whole album, ‘Milky Way,’ where it’s kind of me finding my path. I think when you’re an artist, this day and age, there’s so many external pressures and factors, and that could start to weigh on you over time and you could start to spot yourself changing or you could feel almost just some kind of angst inside or anxiety or whatever the case may be. And I think there’s probably a lot of people in whatever professions they’re in, just anyone who’s got goals and trying to achieve them, and you may feel slept on, you may feel undervalued, underappreciated, or whatever the case may be. But I kind of have to catch myself and really ground myself in all the amazing things that were happening in my life. You know what I mean? I think you kind of always gotta remember to smell the roses and I think the most potent way to do that is to ground yourself in love of others, of self. People that come in your life and inspire to be like, “Wait.” You could have the world, but some people just make you feel a way. That’s more powerful than that, that’s stronger than that."
"Well clearly it’s about a girl. But it was also twofold. It’s definitely about a girl that kind of humbled me, in a sense. And it kind of unlocks something. You start to look at everything else through a bit different of a lens, even if it has nothing to do with her. You know what I mean? You start to look at your friends, your family, the things you’re kind of sleeping on or undervaluing in your life. And when you focus on those things, you’re gonna find happiness. You’re gonna find fulfillment. It’s not making it in a materialistic sense, it’s making it kind of for the soul, for your well-being, for your mental and spiritual well-being, realizing that all this shit could be gone tomorrow. It’s not healthy to put so much emphasis and put so much of your spirit and your happiness into things that are just fleeting at the end of the day. No one’s here forever." - Bas
Tribe
Bas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This one's for you
I think I made it
I think I made it, I think I made it
'Cause I'm always smiling, and you are the reason now
Girl, I can't explain it
It's all in the timing, I had to get low
I had to get back, I had to report
I had to get facts 'cause you are just that, you that
Girl, you share your truths with me
And I find them true, amused, you in the booth with me
Can't spoil time on nickeling and diming
I got me a girl, she don't want no diamonds
A daily reminder to holler at God
Like where did you find her? Good looking, my nigga
Everything 'round me I took it
Did it with only the niggas I knew
And a few niggas I thought I knew better
There go my bitches, I always do better
But, you're more top echelon
My next probably be a step backwards
Niggas front when they get struck with love
Like in drama, they used to be the best actors
I'm done with all that tough acting
John Madden when I saw it happen, and so it happens
My niggas want life's good things, they still dreaming
And you deserve them too, I'ma do it just so it happens
I think I made it, I think I made it
'Cause I'm always smiling, and you are the reason now
Girl, I can't explain it
It's all in the timing, I had to get low, I had to get low
I had to get back, I had to report
I had to get facts 'cause you are just that, you that
You share your truths with me
And I find them true, amused, you in the booth with me
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la (this one's for you)
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la (this one's for you)
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la (I'm hella faded)
La, la, la, la, la (yeah)
La, la, la, la, la
I'm hella faded, I'm hella faded
These niggas been hating, I don't know the reason now
Sometimes I feel jaded
They don't see the real me
They only know Cole, they only know Co-ole
I had to get back, I had to resort to turning my back
I'm doing just that, true that
I thought He was through with me, but that wasn't true
The proof? You in the coupe with me
God shuffled the cards, dealt me a hand with impossible odds
Put an obstacle course up
Look, and I conquered them all (conquered them all)
With minimal effort I'm fresher than sock in your drawer (fuck)
They spinning my records so heavy, I'm topping the Forbes
Stuck in a rock in a hard place though
Is it true what they say? The higher you go, the longer the fall?
Well I dropped to the floor then knocking the door was on queue
I thought that I saw it all 'til I saw you
Now I call you when the sun shines and the rain dries up
I'm a pit bull, but for you I be on chain tied up (one more time)
In the backyard with a muzzle on tail wagging like Oregon Trail
Waiting on you to come through just like you do, well
I think I made it, I think I made it
'Cause I'm always smiling, and you are the reason now
Girl, I can't explain it
It's all in the timing, I had to get low, I had to get low
I had to get back, I had to report
I had to get facts 'cause you are just that, you that
You share your truths with me
And I find them true, amused, you in the booth with me
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la (this one's for you)
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la (this one's for you)
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la (this one's for you)
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la
I think I made it
I think I made it
I think I made it, I think I made it
'Cause I'm always smiling and you are the reason now
The song “Tribe” by Bas is an ode to the love of his life. Throughout the song, he expresses his love and gratitude for her and how she has helped him through his journey. Bas acknowledges that he had to go through difficult times in order to come out on top, but thanks to his partner, he was able to make it through.
In the first verse, Bas talks about how he’s always smiling now, and it’s all because of his partner. He feels like he’s made it, and he couldn’t have done it without her. She’s someone who shares her truths with him, and he finds her honesty amusing. He describes how he had to get low and report back with facts because of her - she’s that important to him.
In the second verse, Bas talks about how he’s hella faded and how some people have been hating on him. But he doesn’t let that get to him because he knows who he truly is, and now he has someone who sees that in him too. He acknowledges that he thought God was through with him, but then he met his partner, and his outlook changed. He compares himself to a pitbull, loyal and strong, but for his partner, he’s willing to be on a chain tied up. He’s waiting for her to come through because he knows that’s what she does - she supports him every step of the way.
Overall, “Tribe” is a powerful and emotional tribute to the love of Bas’s life. It speaks to the importance of having a partner who supports you through thick and thin and the value of true love.
Line by Line Meaning
This one's for you
Dedicated to the person listening to the song
I think I made it, I think I made it
I feel successful and accomplished
'Cause I'm always smiling, and you are the reason now
You bring me happiness and joy
Girl, I can't explain it
I can't put into words how you make me feel
It's all in the timing, I had to get low
I had to go through tough moments before reaching success
I had to get back, I had to report
I had to come back and share my journey with others
I had to get facts 'cause you are just that, you that
I had to gather information and details to describe how amazing you are
Girl, you share your truths with me
You open up to me and share your authentic self
And I find them true, amused, you in the booth with me
I connect with your honesty and enjoy creating music with you
Can't spoil time on nickeling and diming
We shouldn't waste time focusing on trivial things
I got me a girl, she don't want no diamonds
My girlfriend values things beyond material possessions
A daily reminder to holler at God
I remind myself to give thanks and praise to a higher power
Like where did you find her? Good looking, my nigga
People are impressed by my girlfriend's beauty
Everything 'round me I took it
I seized opportunities and made the most out of my surroundings
Did it with only the niggas I knew
I achieved success with the people I trusted
And a few niggas I thought I knew better
I also included some acquaintances whom I trusted
There go my bitches, I always do better
I outperform my previous romantic partners
But, you're more top echelon
You are in a class above all my past partners
My next probably be a step backwards
It will be difficult to find someone better than you
Niggas front when they get struck with love
People pretend not to care when they are smitten with someone
Like in drama, they used to be the best actors
They become great at pretending to not care about their feelings
I'm done with all that tough acting
I am over acting tough and avoiding my true feelings
John Madden when I saw it happen, and so it happens
I witnessed the connection between us and knew it was meant to happen
My niggas want life's good things, they still dreaming
My friends want success, but they are still hoping and imagining
And you deserve them too, I'ma do it just so it happens
You deserve success and I will make sure it happens for you
I'm hella faded, I'm hella faded
I am really drunk or high
These niggas been hating, I don't know the reason now
Some people dislike me for no apparent reason
Sometimes I feel jaded
Sometimes I feel discouraged and cynical
They don't see the real me
Some people only know me on the surface level
They only know Cole, they only know Co-ole
They only know my public persona, not my true self
I had to get back, I had to resort to turning my back
I had to go back to being myself and not trying to please others
I'm doing just that, true that
I am being true to myself
I thought He was through with me, but that wasn't true
I believed that God had given up on me, but that was not the case
The proof? You in the coupe with me
You being with me is evidence that God still favors me
God shuffled the cards, dealt me a hand with impossible odds
I was faced with difficult challenges in life
Put an obstacle course up, Look, and I conquered them all
I overcame all of these obstacles with ease and determination
With minimal effort I'm fresher than sock in your drawer
I look and feel good without trying very hard
They spinning my records so heavy, I'm topping the Forbes
My music is extremely popular and I am very successful
Stuck in a rock in a hard place though
I am in a difficult situation
Is it true what they say? The higher you go, the longer the fall?
Is it true that the further you succeed, the harder the failure hits?
Well I dropped to the floor then knocking the door was on queue
I experienced a major setback but quickly began to recover
I thought that I saw it all 'til I saw you
I thought I understood life until I met you and realized I still have much to learn
Now I call you when the sun shines and the rain dries up
I depend on you in good and bad times
I'm a pit bull, but for you I be on chain tied up (one more time)
I am fierce and stubborn, but willing to be loyal and committed to you
In the backyard with a muzzle on tail wagging like Oregon Trail
I am happy and excited to be with you
Waiting on you to come through just like you do, well
I rely on you to be there for me, and you never disappoint
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Abbas Hamad, Fernando Lobo, Jermaine Lamarr Cole, Markus Alandrus Randle, Paulo Valente Soledade
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@notmyrealnamep9218
Dallas Aho I’ll give you a few albums better that are actually widely known:
illmatic
SSLP
MMLP
Reasonable Doubt
Ready to die
The infamous
All Eyes On Me
Makaveli
Get rich or die tryin
I could go on for hours but this is a good list I’d say
@ELEVATOR_
This a vibe
@IshanII
Dreamville on top fr fr. I'm influenced by most of the artists on there hahaha. If y'all got time, check my new mixtape, I'm sure you'd like it, I've spent a year working on it :)
@westphillykidmizz
Agreed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixi0nT1WCrc
@AlbertvdBerg
Agreed
@darrylbanks7004
Damn right it is
@JeremiahJamesMusic
yup
@takayan_gorizal
I think I made it~~~♪💛
I listened to this song a lot with my cousin
@saidot.5160
Yeah Silento did the same thing
@parcivalnayuta
Wow, Takayan?
@duuled
bro same i listened this song with my cousin hella times