Seventeen
Dave East Lyrics

Fuck you, fuck you
Aggressive expression of anger or frustration (repeated multiple times)

Thinkin' back when I was only seventeen
Reminiscing about the time when the artist was 17 years old

I was breakin' weed down in my basement
The artist used to break down marijuana in their basement

Attached to my gang, so I could never leave
The artist was involved with a gang that prevented them from leaving

I ain't givin' up no information (nah)
The artist refuses to give up any information

I been buying shit that I ain't never need
The artist has been buying unnecessary things

Them beats coming in and out another station
The artist is hearing music in their head or from another source

A Mayweather nigga that could never read
A reference to a boxer who cannot read

Said you seen the paperwork, so how he on probation? (How?)
Questioning how someone could be on probation despite having seen the related paperwork

I've been living with a curse, I ran out of patience
The artist feels cursed and has no more patience left

Jungle got me out the dirt, living life for what it's worth
A person named Jungle helped the artist get out of a bad situation and they are living their life to the fullest now

Nights sleeping in my shirt, thinking I won't make it
The artist went through tough times and was unsure if they would make it through

Now I got your favorite actress in here gettin' naked
The artist has gained success and is now with a famous actress

Pardon my back, 600 on land, like a shark it's all black
Apologizing for not facing the camera, followed by a reference to the expensive and invincible nature of a land vehicle

Don't talk 'bout my trap
Do not discuss the artist's drug dealing operation

Moment of silence, don't talk 'bout no violence
A call for a moment of silence and a warning against discussing any violent activity

My phone might be tapped
The artist suspects that their phone is under surveillance

I don't condone in no rats
The artist disapproves of snitches/informants

I done showed love when they hated on me (they hated)
The artist has shown love to people who previously showed hate towards them

Amiri's fit different, got some paper on me (you see it)
The artist is wearing designer clothing and has a lot of money

I'm smoking out the pack, Lisa paid the bond
The artist is smoking marijuana and Lisa paid for their bail

Chef up in the kitchen, got my apron on
The artist is cooking food

Hatin' ain't gon' help you make it, homie
Hating on others will not help you become successful

Take it to the grave, couple things I done seen, people changing on me (changing on me)
Some things seen by the artist should be kept secret and people have changed towards the artist

The love change when you find out that ain't your homie (changed)
People's love and loyalty towards the artist changes when it becomes clear that they are not true friends

The drug game not about to make you famous, homie (no)
The artist believes that drug dealing is not a path to fame or success

You couldn't tell me shit when I was seventeen (nah)
The artist was confident and would not take advice when they were 17 years old

Teachers told me I would never graduate
Teachers discouraged the artist and told them they would not graduate from school

Cuzzo touching money I had never seen
A cousin helped the artist make money they had never seen before

He told me, put me put my paper and never give my lasso up
The artist was advised by the cousin to protect their money and never give it up

So I got up out the hood, some niggas never leave
The artist was able to leave their neighborhood, while some others are not as fortunate

Remember Friday night, prayin' I wake up on Saturday
The artist was in dangerous situations and prayed to make it through the night

Loiter in buildings, no, I'd rather spoil my children
The artist would rather spoil their children than hang out in dangerous buildings

Can't be one of them dads that went that way
The artist does not want to end up like some other fathers who went down the wrong path

Dirty lil' nigga, room was never clean (right)
The artist was messy and their room was never clean

I had the cornrows like Bubba Chuck (AI)
The artist had cornrow hairstyle similar to the famous basketball player Allen Iverson

Tryna make it to the league on whoever team (whoever)
The artist was trying to make it to the professional basketball league, regardless of which team they played for

Them nightmares started comin' I could never dream
The artist started experiencing nightmares that were worse than anything they could imagine

Demons talking to me, God, please intervene
The artist is experiencing internal struggles and is asking God for help

I used to wear my new Jordans 'til the sole was ripped
The artist used to wear their new sneakers until they were worn down

Girls used to look at me like I was never clean (dirty lil' nigga)
Girls used to criticize the artist's appearance and call them dirty

Moving forward, I ain't bringing up no old shit (nah)
The artist is moving on from the past and does not want to bring up any old issues

I got a rental, we could go and take this road trip (we out)
The artist has rented a car and is ready to go on a road trip

Like a pill, I just want to get in motion
The artist wants to keep moving forward

The D's man to man, so we gotta run a motion
The artist is being watched by the police and must be careful

If I said I'm gon' be rich, you'd have thought that I was joking
People did not believe the artist when they said they would become wealthy

My hoop' ride was a Grande Cherokee, free crib with the key, go outside if you smoking (woah)
The artist's vehicle was a Jeep Grand Cherokee, they had a free place to live, and could smoke outside without any issues

You know what I'm saying, your first time tryna, squeeze some, some titties
A reference to adolescent experiences and sexual encounters

Get some ass or somethin' like that
Another reference to adolescent sexual experiences

Young days, nigga
Looking back on youthful and carefree days