Down & Out
Cam'ron feat. Syleena Johnson Lyrics
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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
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
The song "Down and Out" is a collaboration between Cam'ron, Kanye West, and Syleena Johnson. The song is a reflection on their experiences with violence, drug use, and sex. Cam'ron kicks off the track with rhymes about his criminal history, including his involvement in premeditated murders. He describes himself as being experienced with "crooking" and "jooks", and paints himself as someone who is hesitant to commit violent acts. Later in the song, Kanye West takes over the mic and delivers some high-energy bars about his flashy lifestyle, complete with references to Air Ones, Louis Vuitton luggage, and animal skins. Syleena Johnson provides backing vocals on the chorus, which is a repetition of the line "they say he's down, but not out."
Line by Line Meaning
Ayo street mergers I legislated
I made the rules on the streets
The nerve I never hated
I always had the courage to do what I wanted
On murders pre-meditated
I thought about committing murder before I did it
Absurd! I hesitated
It's crazy, but I still had second thoughts
Observe: cock and spray
Watch as I shoot my gun
Hit you from a block away
I can shoot from far away
Drinking sake on a Suzuki we in Osaka Bay
I'm in Japan, drinking sake on a Suzuki in the bay
Playing soccer, stupid, stay in a sucker's place
Playing soccer is for fools, stick to your lane
Pluck ya ace, take ya girl, fuck her face
I'll steal your girl and have sex with her
She dealing with Killa so you love her taste
She's with me because she loves me
She swallowing Killa cause she love the taste
She's performing oral sex on me because she enjoys it
I got brought up with crooking
I was raised around criminal activity
Kitchen orders that I'm cooking
I'm cooking drugs in the kitchen
But got caught up with the jooks you woulda thought I was from Brooklyn
I got caught up in a robbery and people thought I was from Brooklyn
It gets boring just looking
It's mundane just watching
Did like Bill Cosby, pouring in the pudding
I'm like Bill Cosby, drugging women's food and drinks
Now the dashboard is wooden from a hard-tangled grammar
My car dashboard is made of wood, a reference to my metaphorical 'hard-tangled' rhymes
Interior, inferior, star-spangled banner
The interior is substandard, like a poorly made American flag
Car game bananas
My car game is crazy
My man Santana
My friend Santana
Guns everywhere, like the car came with hammers
I carry guns everywhere like they came with the car
They trying to say he (down, down)
They are trying to say he's a failure
I hear niggas saying he (down, but not out)
I hear people say he's down, but he's not completely finished
But our flow is the truest
Our music is authentic
The games in the nooses
The industry has us trapped
Our girls is the models
Our women are beautiful
They coochies the juiciest
Their vaginas are very pleasurable
I treat bitches straight up, like Simon Says
I tell women what to do and they do it like the game Simon says
Open vagina: put ya legs behind ya head
I have sex with women and they put their legs behind their heads
Cop me Air Ones, hon, lime and red
Buy me a pair of Air Force Ones in lime green and red
You got pets? Me too: mine are dead
You have pets? So do I, but mine are dead
Fox, minks, gators that's necessary
I wear fur coats made from fox, mink, and alligator because it's essential
Accessories, my closet's a 'Pet Sematary'
I have so many accessories in my closet, it's like a graveyard
I get approached by animal activists
People who advocate for animal rights confront me about my fur coats
I live in a zoo
My life is chaotic, like living in a zoo
I run scandals with savages
I engage in corrupt activities with dangerous people
All my niggas get together to gather loot
My friends and I come together to make money
Bodyguard for what? Dog, I'd rather shoot
Why do I need a bodyguard when I can just shoot someone myself?
I go to war, old Timbs, battered boots
I'm ready to fight, wearing old Timberland boots
Hand grenade, goggles and a parachute
I'm prepared for battle with a grenade, goggles, and a parachute
Ya'll don't even know the name of my flip
You don't know the slang term I'm using, and it's not 'Harlem Shake'
It was 'Touch Me, Tease Me' when Case was the shit
The slang term I'm using is from the song 'Touch Me, Tease Me' by Case
You don't know bout the cases I get:
You don't know about the legal problems I face
Court case, briefcase, suitcase, cases of Cris
I have legal problems, a briefcase full of money, a suitcase full of drugs, and cases of Cristal champagne
Ayo you dealing with some sure shit
You're dealing with someone who's confident and reliable
My bitches pure thick
The women I'm with are very curvy
Play razor tag, slice ya face, you're it!
I cut people with razor blades for fun, and now they're 'it'
It's I who come by drive-thru
I'm the one who comes through quickly
Gator-toed Mauri, three quarters, sky blue
I'm wearing sky blue Mauri shoes with alligator toes and a three-quarter length coat
Look at mami: eyes blue, 5'2''
Look at that woman, she has blue eyes and is 5'2'' tall
I approached her 'Hi boo, how you?
I said to her, 'Hello love, how are you?'
Pony skin Louis? Oh, you fly too
You have a pony skin Louis Vuitton purse? You're fashionable like me
You a stewardess? Good ma, I fly too
You're a flight attendant? Me too, we have something in common
Now a nigga got baking to bake
I have drugs to cook
Harlem Shake? Nah, I'm in Harlem shaking awake
I'm not dancing the Harlem Shake, I'm in Harlem waking people up
Shaking to bake, shaking the Jakes
I'm nervous about getting caught, so I'm shaking while I cook drugs and watching out for the police
Kill you, shoot the funeral up and Harlem Shake at your wake
I'll kill you, and at your funeral I'll shoot up the place and then dance the Harlem Shake
Just ya picture though, you still taped in a lake
I'll only kill you in a photograph, but you'll still end up drowned in the lake
I'm laughing; you couldn't wait to escape
I'm laughing at you because you wanted to get out of this situation so badly
For anyone who owed the dough, I had to load the fo
If someone owed me money, I had to load my gun
I hoped a nigga heard when I said 'I told you so'
I hope the person who owes me money heard me say 'I told you so'
Yeah, they say he (down, down)
People are saying he's not successful
Yeah, they say he (down, but not out)
But they also say he's not completely finished
'Cause Iβm back on my grind
I'm back to making music and working hard
Money back on my mind
I'm focused on making money
Ye' and Killa Cam', the world is mine
Kanye West and I are taking over the world
Lyrics Β© Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FREDDY BRIGGS, CAMERON GILES, BRIAN MILLER, KANYE WEST, Fred Briggs
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bbfitw2008
[Produced by Kanye West and Brian Miller]
[Intro: Cam'ron &Β Kanye West]
Uh, Killa! Baby!
Kanye, this that 1970s Heron flow, huh?
Yeah, let's speed it up
Uh, I'm back in
They don't know we finna kill the game this year
Uh, uh
Killa! 'Ye! C'mon!
[Verse 1: Cam'ron]
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 juxs
You would've 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, mob manning tanners
Guns everywhere, like the car came with hammers, he's back
[Chorus: Kanye West (Syleena Johnson)]
They trying to say he (I'm down, down)
I hear niggas saying he (I'm down, but not out)
But our flow is the truestΒ (oh)
The game's in the nooses (no no)
Our girls is the models (oh)
They coochies the juiciest (ooooh)
Yeah, they say he (I'm down, down)
Yeah, they say he (I'm down, but not out)
'Cause I'm back on my grind (oh)
Money back on my mind (no no)
Ye' and Killa Cam', the world is mine (oooh)
[Verse 2: Cam'ron]
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: mines are dead, doggy
Fox, minks, gators, that's necessary
Accessories, my closet's "Pet Sematary"
I get approached by animal activists
I live in a zoo,Β 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
Y'all don't even know the name of my flip
It wasΒ Touch Me, Tease MeΒ when Case was the shit
You don't know bout the cases I get:
Court case, briefcase, suitcase, cases of Cris', aaow!
[Chorus: Kanye West (Syleena Johnson)]
They trying to say he (I'm down, down)
I hear niggas saying he (I'm down, but not out)
But our flow is the truestΒ (oh)
The game's in the nooses (no no)
Our girls is the models (oh)
They coochies the juiciest (ooooh)
Yeah, they say he (I'm down, down)
Yeah, they say he (I'm down, but not out)
'Cause I'm back on my grind (oh)
Money back on my mind (no no)
Ye' and Killa Cam', the world is mine (oooh)
[Verse 3: Cam'ron]
Uh, Killa, yo, yo...
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:Β 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;Β you couldn't wait to escape
For anyone who owed the dough, I had to load the fo'
I hope a nigga heard when I said "I told you so"
Uh, Killa
[Chorus: Kanye West (Syleena Johnson)]
They trying to say he (I'm down, down)
I hear niggas saying he (I'm down, but not out)
But our flow is the truestΒ (oh)
The game's in the nooses (no no)
Our girls is the models (oh)
They coochies the juiciest (ooooh)
Yeah, they say he (I'm down, down)
Yeah, they say he (I'm down, but not out)
'Cause I'm back on my grind (oh)
Money back on my mind (no no)
Ye' and Killa Cam', the world is mine (oooh)
[Outro: Cam'ron]
Mine! Killa, you already know Harlem
Whole Midwest, Detroit, Naptown, St. Louis
Chicago of course
Westside, holla at me
Southside wild hundreds
You know what it is Ohio
Columbus, holla at ya boy
You know what else I do:
Dayton, Youngstown, Cleveland, Cincinnati
@UserLastName-dw2ux
i remember being in prison for my mistakes and poor life choices, walking the yard listening to "down and out" on the radio. I came home tha same year this album was released... while I was out on parole, looking for a job I stopped in the record store and bought purple haze. Purple Haze got me straight... aint been locked up since (knock on wood)
@beastmode4591
Godbless
@joshsoto2287
User 0001 Last Name stay up my brother
@marcusjohnsonsr.8336
User 0001 Last Name I know the feeling bro... Keep ya head up bro ββ
@Pjiggy
Respect.
@brooklynlos1973
2004daysπ
@LoveThatLead
god i love this song he just goes har core old school. unlike some of that modern day crap they play that repeats the same line every 2 seconds. props to him and kanye
@fall3n245
With that first verse you canβt help but instantly just start the track over as soon as it finishes
@lumpyloks
This album is underrated.. one of the best this decade.
@PokrPro21
Classic song! Kanye beats take songs to another level!