Dominick Wickliffe, better known by his stage name Crooked I is an American… Read Full Bio ↴Dominick Wickliffe, better known by his stage name Crooked I is an American rapper from Long Beach, California. The name "Crooked I" comes from a shortened version of his original moniker, Crooked Intriago. It has nothing to do with the malt liquor. He is 1/4th of rap supergroup Slaughterhouse (with Joe Budden, Royce da 5'9" & Joell Ortiz), and is currently regarded as the best rapper on the west coast (because you know, Kendrick Lamar totally does not exist), after rising to hip-hop prominence with his freestyle series 'Hip-Hop Weekly', which he released a new freestyle over popular industry beats every week for 52 weeks. His first album 'Say Hi to the Bad Guy', originally intended to be released on Death Row Records recently leaked on the internet, and he plans to release his first official album 'B.O.S.S. (Beginning Of Something Serious)' as a free digital download in 2009. Crooked I is CEO of his own record label, Dynasty Entertainment, and Senior Vice President of Treacherous Records. Before he became his own boss, he was also signed to Virgin Records, and most notably, Death Row Records, where he spent four years working under the infamous Suge Knight.

Never Forget
Crooked I Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Crooked I)
I'm broker then a bitch and I'm sick and tired
I'm feeling like I'm walking in fire
I'm feelin like I'm jojo dancer before I expire
Can I get rich prior
I'm long beach them bullets wiz by ya
Clappa ain't a rappa still it spit fire
It ain't no jobs nobody gets hired

So to escape it junkies get higher
6 in the morning hustling on the corner
Tryin to get out that abyss
I was born and switch me with form
And rumble in the jungle piss me your gonna get
Mixed with no warning
Piss poor got my school clothes from the thrift store
Just a ghetto boy like the 5th ward
So I dropped out thinkin this war
Nigga get yours
Cash over bitches true religion
You see what's going on through the kitchen
We steppin on crack same drug broke
Your mothers back like the superstition
Me and the boys is sellin poison
Like we 3 members new edition
You said we'll die or get threw in prison
If I make a song about it who would listen

(Eddie Fontane)
I'm walkin down the street nigga broke as fuck
Looking for a deuce tryin to patch up
But the change is lose so as we sit down, no doubt
I was walkin down the street with my nigga skinny kinny on my side
Bitches passing by
Nigga won't let a nigga rise so he stuck
That's why I'm walkin down the street tryin to catch the bus
Just to catch the train headed to...
Tryin to to my thang 'cause I just can't stop I can't stop
And it's real as real as it gets

I struggled for years just to breathe in this bitch
So I never forget

(Crooked I)
Some of us die some got throw in prison
I wanna ride for a new position
I wanna make an album about my life but in this music
Business tell me who would listen?
Whatchu wanna hear the truth or fiction?
Petty niggas talkin about they movin shipments
Luke ups but you bs so your birds wouldn't know what to do with pigeons
Keep it 100 everytime I rock a beat
And I done it deep from the heart I sleep with a gun
I dream about peace but not the one under the pillow mothafucker
Glovk 9 rather rock mics put a stop sign
On the block life slingin hot lines
Over rock pipes then I got it signed
I'm in the spot light
Cl600 silver benz makin love to my dividens
Gettin calls from relatives I never knew it all
And niggas that never been my friends
Niggas that never been my friends

(Eddie Fontane)

I was ridin down the street with my top down
Got a bad bitch sittin on my side rubbin on my thigh
Wondering why I'm so mother fuckin fly and I smile cause she knows
I drop her off pick up one more everyday that's how it goes in every way that's how it goes
I'm ridin down the street with my nigga skinny kinny on my side
In that black on black lac sittin on them 62s man this money shit is addictive

And it's real as real as it gets
It's funny how shit flips so fuck you and that bitch I'll never forget

Overall Meaning

The song "Never Forget" by Crooked I addresses the struggles of growing up poor in Long Beach, California. The first verse is about the desperation he feels as he tries to escape poverty and violence. The line "Can I get rich prior?" is a reflection of the desire to escape an environment in which death and prison are the only two options. He highlights the lack of job opportunities, which drives people to sell drugs, and how success in the music industry appears unattainable.

The second verse is a reflection of Crooked I's past life. He talks about how his childhood was shaped by poverty, resulting in his family buying his clothes from thrift stores. He also touches on the fact that he sold drugs to get by, and the danger that came with it. Despite his success, he shows that he has not forgotten his past and the struggles that he and his community faced.

In the chorus, Crooked I reminds the listener of the struggles that he and others have faced: "Some of us die, some got thrown in prison / I wanna ride for a new position / I wanna make an album about my life but in this music business / Tell me, who would listen? / What you wanna hear, the truth or fiction?"

Overall, "Never Forget" is a heartfelt and raw reflection on the harsh realities of life for people growing up in Long Beach, California. It highlights the struggles of poverty, drug abuse, and lack of opportunities.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm broker then a bitch and I'm sick and tired
I am very broke and exhausted

I'm feeling like I'm walking in fire
I feel like I am in a dangerous or difficult situation

I'm feelin like I'm jojo dancer before I expire
I feel like I am a performer who is about to die

Can I get rich prior
Can I become wealthy before something bad happens

I'm long beach them bullets wiz by ya
I live in Long Beach, where gun violence is common

Clappa ain't a rappa still it spit fire
Although I'm not a famous rapper, I still have talent

It ain't no jobs nobody gets hired
There are no available job opportunities

So to escape it junkies get higher
People turn to drugs to escape their problems

6 in the morning hustling on the corner
I am hustling on the street corner at 6am

Tryin to get out that abyss
I am trying to escape a difficult situation

I was born and switch me with form
I was born into poverty

And rumble in the jungle piss me your gonna get
If you mess with me, there will be consequences

Mixed with no warning
I will retaliate without warning

Piss poor got my school clothes from the thrift store
I was so poor that I had to buy clothes from second-hand stores

Just a ghetto boy like the 5th ward
I am just a poor boy from the ghetto

So I dropped out thinkin this war
I dropped out of school because I thought life was a battle

Nigga get yours
Go out and get what you deserve

Cash over bitches true religion
Money is more important than relationships or faith

You see what's going on through the kitchen
You can tell what's happening in a place by looking at the kitchen

We steppin on crack same drug broke
We are using the same drugs that are destroying our community

Your mothers back like the superstition
You will have bad luck if you step on a crack

Me and the boys is sellin poison
My friends and I are selling drugs

Like we 3 members new edition
We are like a group or band

You said we'll die or get threw in prison
You said we would either die or end up in jail

If I make a song about it who would listen
Who would listen if I wrote a song about this?

I'm walkin down the street nigga broke as fuck
I am walking down the street extremely broke

Looking for a deuce tryin to patch up
I am looking for a small amount of drugs to buy

But the change is lose so as we sit down, no doubt
I don't have enough money to buy drugs and am disappointed

Bitches passing by
Women are walking past me

Nigga won't let a nigga rise so he stuck
Some people won't allow others to succeed

That's why I'm walkin down the street tryin to catch the bus
I am trying to catch a bus to get somewhere

Just to catch the train headed to...
I am trying to catch a train to go somewhere

Tryin to to my thang 'cause I just can't stop I can't stop
I am trying to do something because I can't stop

And it's real as real as it gets
This is as real as it gets

Some of us die some got throw in prison
Some people die, while others end up in prison

I wanna ride for a new position
I want a better life

I wanna make an album about my life but in this music
I want to make a music album about my life

Business tell me who would listen?
Who would listen to my music?

Whatchu wanna hear the truth or fiction?
Do you want to hear the truth or something made up?

Petty niggas talkin about they movin shipments
Small-time drug dealers bragging about their illegal activities

Luke ups but you bs so your birds wouldn't know what to do with pigeons
You are not knowledgeable enough to handle bigger drug transactions

Keep it 100 everytime I rock a beat
I always keep it real when I rap

And I done it deep from the heart I sleep with a gun
I am authentic and always prepared to defend myself

I dream about peace but not the one under the pillow mothafucker
I want peace, but not the kind that comes easily

Glovk 9 rather rock mics put a stop sign
I would rather rap than use a gun

On the block life slingin hot lines
I am selling drugs on the street

Over rock pipes then I got it signed
I started selling drugs, but then I signed a record deal

I'm in the spot light
I am famous

Cl600 silver benz makin love to my dividens
I am making a lot of money from my music

Gettin calls from relatives I never knew it all
I am hearing from family members I never knew existed

And niggas that never been my friends
People that were never my friends are now trying to be close to me

I was ridin down the street with my top down
I was driving with my convertible top down

Got a bad bitch sittin on my side rubbin on my thigh
I have a woman with me who is flirting with me

Wondering why I'm so mother fuckin fly and I smile cause she knows
She is amazed at how cool I am and I am flattered

I drop her off pick up one more everyday that's how it goes in every way that's how it goes
I drop off one woman after spending time with her, and pick up another one

In that black on black lac sittin on them 62s man this money shit is addictive
I am driving an expensive car and am addicted to making money

It's funny how shit flips so fuck you and that bitch I'll never forget
Life can change quickly, so I will not forget those who have wronged me

Contributed by Brooklyn V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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