The Message
DR. DRE FT. MARY J. BLIGE RELL Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

This one is for my brother, Tyree, R.I.P
A message to God

Since you finishin' 'em early, what posessed you to start him?
We made a vow later we'll regret 'til death do us part
Lord, I thought we was made for each other
You shouldn't connect those, made to be taken away from each other
Now what I'm supposed to do? I'm only half the man that I was
I'll never last, 'cause my better half is up there with you
You knew what you was doin' when you made us; so with all due respect
You coulda forgave him, you didn't have to take him
He can take the game with him, 'cause he defines the word
The one who puts the G in it, who you think put me in it?
I'm feelin like my whole world is blinded wonderin' why
Cryin', pourin' out my heart, pourin' out liquor behind it
We fought like brothers, somethin' we never should do
We coulda used time spent arguin tellin' the truth
He had talent too, I had plans on watchin' him grow
Don't know what hurts more - seein' him leave, or watchin him go

Listen
Listen
Listen
Listen

If you wonder why (why I live my life)
The way that I do ('cause I got to get this money)
So don't worry about me (don't worry, don't worry worry)
I'm just hustlin' everyday, runnin this race, makin this paper

You'se a soldier, you're probably packin heat up there
Met up with homies from the street, and got deep up there
If you only knew the way I felt before they ruined the crew
I thought I learned from Eazy, now I'm goin through it with you
We lost a thug, a son, and a father
I spoke to your son, the other day, and told him Uncle Dre got him
The Lord must be accidentally pulling your file
Cause I'm still paging you, 911, straight in denial
Prayin' you get it, but no man can choose the card he was dealt
You either quit, or you gon' play 'em like you get it
I done been through all emotions, from in shock, to keepin a poker face
To straight breakin down and showin' all emotions
I'm anxious to believe in real G's don't cry
If that's the truth, then I'm realizin I ain't no gangsta
It's just not me, but you know I'mma always ride wit you
I miss you, sometimes I wish I just died wit' you

Listen
Listen
Listen
Listen

If you wonder why (why I live my life)
The way that I do ('cause I got to get this money)
So don't worry about me (don't worry, don't worry worry)
I'm just hustlin' everyday, runnin this race, makin this paper

Yeah, yeah, ah oh listen
Mm
If you don't know why I, you gotta listen up right now
Listen, listen, listen, listen
Ooh
Listen, listen
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah
Yeah
Listen
Listen, children listen
I'm tryin' to tell you somethin' good
Don't get caught up in the hood
Yeah hah, yeah hah, aooh
If you don't know why




You gotta find out the reason why
Brother brother

Overall Meaning

The Message by Dr. Dre feat. Mary J. Blige & Robert Hall Jr., is a song about loss, grief and coping with it. The lyrics are a message from Dr. Dre to his deceased brother Tyree. He is expressing his pain and confusion about why his brother had to leave him so soon. He is asking God why he had to take his brother away and how he is supposed to go on without him. Dre also talks about his regrets and how he will never be the same again without his brother. He also talks about how he copes with his pain by hustling and making money. Dre misses his brother and wishes he could have joined him in the afterlife.


The message of the song is clear, it is about grief, loss, and pain. But at its core, it is also a tribute to the unconditional love between brothers, and how death can't break the bond they share. The song highlights how individuals cope with the unexpected loss of a loved one and how they try to move forward while keeping the memory of the person alive. It is a heartfelt message to Tyree and a reflection of how much Dre loves him.


Line by Line Meaning

This one is for my brother, Tyree, R.I.P
Dedication to Dr. Dre's deceased brother Tyree


A message to God
The song is a message to God


Since you finishin' 'em early, what posessed you to start him?
Questioning God's decision to take Tyree, while he was still young


We made a vow later we'll regret 'til death do us part
Dr. Dre and Tyree made a vow together which they regret now due to Tyree's death


Lord, I thought we was made for each other
Dr. Dre believed that he and Tyree were meant to be together in life


You shouldn't connect those, made to be taken away from each other
Dr. Dre is questioning God's decision to create brothers that are meant to be separated by death


Now what I'm supposed to do? I'm only half the man that I was
Dr. Dre feels incomplete after Tyree's death


I'll never last, 'cause my better half is up there with you
Dr. Dre thinks that he won't last without Tyree, his better half, who is now with God


You knew what you was doin' when you made us; so with all due respect
Dr. Dre acknowledges God's power in creating human beings with a purpose


You coulda forgave him, you didn't have to take him
Dr. Dre wishes that God had spared Tyree's life instead of taking him away


He can take the game with him, 'cause he defines the word
Tyree was instrumental in defining the rap music industry (the game) and his legacy lives on


The one who puts the G in it, who you think put me in it?
Tyree was the one who helped Dr. Dre establish his career in rap music


I'm feelin like my whole world is blinded wonderin' why
Dr. Dre feels lost and confused after Tyree's death and is wondering why it happened


Cryin', pourin' out my heart, pourin' out liquor behind it
Dr. Dre is grieving Tyree's death by crying and pouring his emotions into liquor


We fought like brothers, somethin' we never should do
Dr. Dre and Tyree had their disagreements and fought like brothers, which they shouldn't have done


We coulda used time spent arguin tellin' the truth
Dr. Dre regrets wasting time fighting with Tyree and wishes they had spent that time telling each other the truth


He had talent too, I had plans on watchin' him grow
Tyree had his own talent and Dr. Dre was looking forward to seeing him grow


Don't know what hurts more - seein' him leave, or watchin him go
Dr. Dre is unsure which hurts more - witnessing Tyree's death or dealing with the aftermath of it


If you wonder why (why I live my life)
Dr. Dre is about to explain why he lives his life a certain way


The way that I do ('cause I got to get this money)
Dr. Dre hustles every day to make money


So don't worry about me (don't worry, don't worry worry)
Dr. Dre tells others not to worry about him


I'm just hustlin' everyday, runnin this race, makin this paper
Dr. Dre is focused on hustling and making money


You'se a soldier, you're probably packin heat up there
Dr. Dre addresses Tyree, as if he's a soldier in heaven carrying a gun


Met up with homies from the street, and got deep up there
Dr. Dre imagines Tyree meeting up with other deceased friends and deepening their bonds in heaven


If you only knew the way I felt before they ruined the crew
Dr. Dre regrets the way he felt before the feud that ruined the rap group N.W.A.


I thought I learned from Eazy, now I'm goin through it with you
Dr. Dre expected to have learned from Eazy-E's death, yet he's still grieving for Tyree


We lost a thug, a son, and a father
Tyree is described as a thug, a son, and a father who was lost after his death


I spoke to your son, the other day, and told him Uncle Dre got him
Dr. Dre assures Tyree's son that he will take care of him from now on


The Lord must be accidentally pulling your file
Dr. Dre questions whether God accidentally took Tyree's life


Cause I'm still paging you, 911, straight in denial
Dr. Dre is in denial and is paging Tyree as if he's still alive


Prayin' you get it, but no man can choose the card he was dealt
Dr. Dre prays that Tyree receives his message, but acknowledges that no one has control over destiny


You either quit, or you gon' play 'em like you get it
Dr. Dre believes that people either quit or play their cards to the best of their ability


I done been through all emotions, from in shock, to keepin a poker face
Dr. Dre has experienced all kinds of emotions after Tyree's death, ranging from shock to keeping a straight face


To straight breakin down and showin' all emotions
Dr. Dre also broke down and showed his emotional side during this time


I'm anxious to believe in real G's don't cry
Dr. Dre wants to believe that tough guys don't cry


If that's the truth, then I'm realizin I ain't no gangsta
Dr. Dre acknowledges that he isn't as tough as he thought he was


It's just not me, but you know I'mma always ride wit you
Dr. Dre may not be a gangsta who doesn't cry but he will always be loyal to Tyree


I miss you, sometimes I wish I just died wit' you
Dr. Dre misses Tyree and wishes he had died with him


Listen
A call to listen


If you don't know why I, you gotta listen up right now
Dr. Dre urges the listener to pay attention and understand why he lives his life this way


Listen, listen, listen, listen
Repeated call to listen


If you don't know why
Reminder to focus on understanding the message


You gotta find out the reason why
Dr. Dre encourages the listener to find out the reason behind his actions


Brother brother
Closing call to brotherhood in memory of Tyree




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gerrell Gaddis, Ryan Montgomery, Robert Hall, Crystal Jeanell Johnson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@plan-bgroup5605

[Dr. Dre]
This one is for my brother, Tyree, R.I.P.
.. [Mary J. Blige sings in the background] ..
A message to God
.. [Mary J. Blige sings in the background] ..

[Dr. Dre]
Since you finishin em early, what posessed you to start him?
We made a vow - later we'll regret til death do us part
Lord, I thought we was made for each other
You shouldn't connect those, made to be taken away from each other
Now what I'm supposed to do? I'm only half the man that I was
I'll never last, cause my better half is up there with you
You knew what you was doin when you made us; so with all due respect
you coulda forgave him, you didn't have to take him
He can take the game with him, cause he defines the word
The one who puts the G in it, who you think put me in it?
I'm feelin like my whole world is blinded - wonderin why
Cryin, pourin out my heart, pourin out liquor behind it
We fought like brothers, somethin we never should do
We coulda used time spent arguin tellin the truth
He had talent too - I had plans on watchin him grow
Don't know what hurts more - seein him leave, or watchin him go

[Mary J. Blige]
Listen listen listen.. (listen) whoahh (listen)
Listen listen listen.. (better listen) whoahh-oahhh-oahhh
Listen listen listen.. [harmonizing]
Listen.. mmm-mmm-mmm

[Rell + (Mary)]
If you wanna know why.. (why I live my life)
The way that I do.. (cause I got to get this money)
So don't worry about me.. (cause I know my way around)
I'm just hustlin everyday, runnin this race, makin this paper

[Dr. Dre]
Youse a soldier, you're probably packin heat up there
Met up with homies from the street, and got deep up there
If you only knew the way I felt before they ruined the crew
I thought I learned from Eazy, now I'm goin through it with you
We lost a thug, a son, and a father
I spoke to your son, the other day, and told him Uncle Dre got him
The Lord must be accidentally pulling your file
cause I'm still paging you, 911, straight in denial
Prayin you get it, but no man can choose the card he was dealt
You either quit, or you gon' play it like you get it
I done been through all emotions, from in shock, to keepin a poker face
to straight breakin down and showin all emotions
I'm anxious to believe in real G's don't cry
If that's the truth, then I'm realizin I ain't no gangsta
It's just not me, but you know I'ma always ride wit you
I miss you, sometimes I wish I just died wit you

[Mary J. Blige]
Listen listen listen.. (listen) whoahh (listen)
Listen listen listen.. whoahh-oahhh-oahhh
Listen listen listen.. [harmonizing]
Listen.. eyy-eyy-eyy-yeah-yeahh

[Rell + (Mary)]
If you wanna know why.. (why I live my life)
The way that I do.. (cause I got to get this money)
So don't worry about me.. (don't worry, don't worry worry)
I'm just hustlin everyday, runnin this race, makin this paper

[Mary J. Blige]
yeah, yeah, ahhh-oooh-oahahahhhhh.. listen..
mmmmmmmmmhmhmhmmmmmm..
if you don't know why I.. you gotta listen up right now
lis-ten, lis-ten, lis-ten, lis-ten..
oooooooooh... oahahoooohhh ooooha ohhhhh
lis-ten, lis-ten
ahhhowooooo yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah
yeah-ehh-yeah, yeah-ooeooooh
yahhooooohahhooooh listen
lis-ten, children lis-ten
I'm tryin to tell you somethin good
Don't get caught up in the hood
Yeahhh-hah, yeahhh-hah, aooooooh
if you don't know why..
you gotta find out the reason why..
brother.. brother..



All comments from YouTube:

@snowtime5500

Still the best Hip-Hop album ever made in my opinion.

@Scepticool1

Facts

@scorpionxp139

Facts 👌🏿

@lisashaw5235

Absolute classic album. We just don’t hear music like this anymore.

@abrahampalmer8761

Sad but true imo late 90s/early 00s was the last golden era of hip hop before extreme trash completely took over in recent years.

@backyardbasketball1748

Как же я с вами согласен, это печально

@Pinksgul

one of the very few albums i listen from start to finish without skipping a track

@nikomukabelniy

Very true)

@markbalogh9655

@@abrahampalmer8761 man I wish they still made music released on a monthly basis like this. sadly never will probably. not just rap even the hip hop, the rap, the rock, metal, even techno and regae were better in the 90s early 2000s all genres took a nose dive in qaulity.

1 More Replies...

@stevemaroos3574

I cnt believe music used to be this good

More Comments

More Versions