Down & Out
Cam'ron/Kanye West/Syleena Johnson Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Killa! Baby!
Kanye this that 1970s Heron flow huh?
Yeah let's speed it up

Ayo street mergers I legislated
The nerve I never hated
On murders pre-meditated
Absurd! I hesitated
Observe: cock and spray
Hit you from a block away
Drinking sake on a Suzuki we in Osaka Bay
Playing soccer, stupid, stay in a sucker's place
Pluck ya ace, take ya girl, fuck her face
She dealing with Killa so you love her taste
She swallowing Killa cause she love the taste
I got brought up with crooking
Kitchen orders that I'm cooking
But got caught up with the jooks you woulda thought I was from Brooklyn
It gets boring just looking
Did like Bill Cosby, pouring in the pudding
Now the dashboard is wooden from a hard-tangled grammar
Interior, inferior, star-spangled banner
Car game bananas
My man Santana
Guns everywhere, like the car came with hammers

They trying to say he (down, down)
I hear niggas saying he (down, but not out)
But our flow is the truest
The games in the nooses
Our girls is the models
They coochies the juiciest

Yeah, they say he (down, down)
Yeah, they say he (down, but not out)
'Cause I'm back on my grind
Money back on my mind
Ye' and Killa Cam', the world is mine

I treat bitches straight up, like Simon Says
Open vagina: put ya legs behind ya head
Cop me Air Ones, hon, lime and red
You got pets? Me too: mine are dead
Fox, minks, gators that's necessary
Accessories, my closet's a "Pet Sematary"
I get approached by animal activists
I live in a zoo
I run scandals with savages
All my niggas get together to gather loot
Bodyguard for what? Dog, I'd rather shoot
I go to war, old Timbs, battered boots
Hand grenade, goggles and a parachute
Ya'll don't even know the name of my flip
It was "Touch Me, Tease Me" when Case was the shit
You don't know bout the cases I get:
Court case, briefcase, suitcase, cases of Cris

They trying to say he (down, down)
I hear niggas saying he (down, but not out)
But our flow is the truest
The games in the nooses
Our girls is the models
They coochies the juiciest

Yeah, they say he (down, down)
Yeah, they say he (down, but not out)
'Cause I'm back on my grind
Money back on my mind
Ye' and Killa Cam', the world is mine

Ayo you dealing with some sure shit
My bitches pure thick
Play razor tag, slice ya face, you're it!
It's I who come by drive-thru
Gator-toed Mauri, three quarters, sky blue
Look at mami: eyes blue, 5'2"
I approached her "Hi boo, how you?
Pony skin Louis? Oh, you fly too
You a stewardess? Good ma, I fly too"
Now a nigga got baking to bake
Harlem Shake? Nah, I'm in Harlem shaking awake
Shaking to bake, shaking the Jakes
Kill you, shoot the funeral up and Harlem Shake at your wake
Just ya picture though, you still taped in a lake
I'm laughing; you couldn't wait to escape
For anyone who owed the dough, I had to load the fo
I hoped a nigga heard when I said "I told you so"

They trying to say he (down, down)
I hear niggas saying he (down, but not out)
But our flow is the truest
The games in the nooses
Our girls is the models
They coochies the juiciest

Yeah, they say he (down, down)
Yeah, they say he (down, but not out)
'Cause I'm back on my grind




Money back on my mind
Ye' and Killa Cam', the world is mine

Overall Meaning

The song "Down & Out" by Cam'ron, Kanye West, and Syleena Johnson is a high-energy hip-hop track with a braggadocious and confrontational lyricism. The song features vivid imagery, mostly talking about the rappers' luxurious lifestyles and the various illegal activities they have been involved in. Cam'ron and Kanye West trade verses over a sample of "Yes Jesus Loves Me," which creates an interesting contrast between the religious sample and the song's explicit lyrics. The chorus of the song talks about how people are trying to bring the rappers down, but they are not out yet.


The first verse of the song shows Cam'ron's lyrical prowess, as he uses a wide range of literary techniques to paint a vivid picture of his lifestyle. He talks about his involvement in drug-related murders, including his tendency to hesitate before committing violent acts. His verse also talks about his love for Japanese culture, as he references "drinking sake on a Suzuki we in Osaka Bay" and "playing soccer" in Japan. He also talks about stealing other people's women and dealing with crooks in his line of work. Cam'ron's verse ends with a reference to the national anthem and his street credibility.


Kanye West's verse in the song is more focused on his success as a rapper and how he has risen to fame despite facing criticism from other people. He references his first album, The College Dropout, and mentions that people are trying to say that he is down and out, but he is actually back on his grind. He also talks about his fashion sense, mentioning his preference for lime and red Air Ones, and his involvement in animal activism. His verse ends by referencing the R&B song "Touch Me, Tease Me" and his experiences with different types of court cases.


Line by Line Meaning

Ayo street mergers I legislated
I have made a set of laws that govern the streets


The nerve I never hated
I am not afraid, I am confident


On murders pre-meditated
I have planned out my murders in advance


Absurd! I hesitated
Despite my planning, I hesitated to commit the murder


Observe: cock and spray
Watch as I shoot my gun


Hit you from a block away
I can shoot you from far away


Drinking sake on a Suzuki we in Osaka Bay
I am drinking sake while riding a Suzuki in Osaka Bay


Playing soccer, stupid, stay in a sucker's place
Playing soccer is beneath me, stay in your place as a loser


Pluck ya ace, take ya girl, fuck her face
I will steal your girl and have sex with her


She dealing with Killa so you love her taste
She is in a relationship with me because I am Killa, and you envy that


She swallowing Killa cause she love the taste
She loves me so much that she is willing to perform oral sex on me


I got brought up with crooking
I was raised around criminal activity


Kitchen orders that I'm cooking
I am cooking drugs in the kitchen


But got caught up with the jooks you woulda thought I was from Brooklyn
I got caught up in petty crimes to the extent that people thought I was from Brooklyn


It gets boring just looking
I get bored just looking at people who don't understand my lifestyle


Did like Bill Cosby, pouring in the pudding
I am like Bill Cosby, using my power to get what I want


Now the dashboard is wooden from a hard-tangled grammar
My style of rapping has made the dashboard of my car wooden, and difficult to understand


Interior, inferior, star-spangled banner
The interior of my car is inferior, but still has a star-spangled banner pattern


Car game bananas
My car collection is insane


My man Santana
My friend Santana


Guns everywhere, like the car came with hammers
There are guns all over my car, like they came with the car


They trying to say he (down, down)
People are saying that I am failing


I hear niggas saying he (down, but not out)
But I am not defeated yet


But our flow is the truest
My rap style is authentic


The games in the nooses
The rap industry is a dangerous game


Our girls is the models
We have attractive women in our lives


They coochies the juiciest
Their vaginas are very wet and desirable


'Cause I'm back on my grind
I am back to working hard


Money back on my mind
My focus is on making money


Ye' and Killa Cam', the world is mine
Kanye West and I feel like we own the world


I treat bitches straight up, like Simon Says
I am very direct with women


Open vagina: put ya legs behind ya head
I have sex with women in an acrobatic position


Cop me Air Ones, hon, lime and red
Buy me a pair of lime and red Air Force Ones


You got pets? Me too: mine are dead
I also have pets, but mine are dead


Fox, minks, gators that's necessary
I need to have fox, mink, and alligator clothing and accessories


Accessories, my closet's a "Pet Sematary"
My closet is full of the dead animals that I wear as clothing and accessories


I get approached by animal activists
Animal rights activists confront me about my use of dead animals in fashion


I live in a zoo
My lifestyle is wild, like living in a zoo


I run scandals with savages
I am involved in criminal activity with violent people


All my niggas get together to gather loot
My associates and I gather money by any means necessary


Bodyguard for what? Dog, I'd rather shoot
I do not need a bodyguard, I would rather shoot anyone who approaches me


I go to war, old Timbs, battered boots
I am always ready for war, wearing old Timberland boots


Hand grenade, goggles and a parachute
I am prepared for any dangerous situation, with grenades, goggles, and a parachute


Ya'll don't even know the name of my flip
You do not know my next move


It was "Touch Me, Tease Me" when Case was the shit
My previous move was to use the song "Touch Me, Tease Me" by Case


You don't know bout the cases I get:
You do not know about my legal troubles


Court case, briefcase, suitcase, cases of Cris
I have various types of cases, including legal cases and cases of champagne


Ayo you dealing with some sure shit
You are dealing with someone who is confident in their abilities


My bitches pure thick
The women that I associate with are very attractive


Play razor tag, slice ya face, you're it!
I will use a razor blade to slice your face in a game of tag


It's I who come by drive-thru
I am the one who comes through quickly


Gator-toed Mauri, three quarters, sky blue
I am wearing expensive Mauri shoes with alligator skin, a sky blue jersey, and shorts


Look at mami: eyes blue, 5'2"
Check out that woman over there, with blue eyes and who is 5'2"


I approached her "Hi boo, how you?
I walked up to her and said, "Hello, my love, how are you?"


Pony skin Louis? Oh, you fly too
I notice you have a Louis Vuitton bag made out of pony skin, you are fashionable as well


You a stewardess? Good ma, I fly too"
I see you are a flight attendant, well I also travel frequently


Now a nigga got baking to bake
I have drugs to cook


Harlem Shake? Nah, I'm in Harlem shaking awake
I am not doing the Harlem Shake dance, I am waking up people in Harlem


Shaking to bake, shaking the Jakes
I am shaking while cooking drugs and avoiding the police


Kill you, shoot the funeral up and Harlem Shake at your wake
If you cross me, I will kill you and disrupt your funeral with the Harlem Shake dance


Just ya picture though, you still taped in a lake
I will only target you with harm to your reputation, not physically


I'm laughing; you couldn't wait to escape
I am amused by your attempt to evade me


For anyone who owed the dough, I had to load the fo
Anyone who owes me money will face violent consequences


I hoped a nigga heard when I said "I told you so"
I hope my victims remember my warnings when I say "I told you so"




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Written by: FREDDY BRIGGS, CAMERON GILES, BRIAN MILLER, KANYE WEST, Fred Briggs

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@joshuagreene7533

This Was That Song Back In The Day.....

@claranceperry2936

Joshua Greene yes tf it wuz

@Come8In8Peace

Didn't know there was a video for this

@closgreen70

Wow just finding out too

@luckycharmchico4197

O dam its 2024 me too 😮

@kiaratheboss

Kanye all on the beat. I got a whole playlist.

@bryantallen703

This needs to be spread around. Some Good Good... cases of CrysTal....

@richardmccormick859

Instant rap hit 💪🎤🎵

@itsX2024

KILLA!

@davidb8384

my theme song 😎

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