The Hated
Dave East Lyrics

We gotta get it
We must work hard and strive to achieve our goals.

They hated Esco
People shown hate and disapproval towards Nas, who is also known as Esco.

They hated Escobar
Pablo Escobar, a notorious drug lord, is used as a metaphor to represent Nas and the hatred shown towards him.

I'm still here
Despite the hate and obstacles, Nas continues to survive and persevere in the game.

Dave East talk that talk
Dave East speaks truthfully and openly about the harsh realities of street life.

Streets need that
The streets require truthful and authentic representation through music and art.

NYC, L.A., Chicago, Detroit, the whole world
The message and struggle represented in the song is not exclusive to a specific location, but resonates with people from all over the world.

I had a basic plan, get out the projects and never look back
The artist's goal was to escape the impoverished community he came from and never return.

Could still smell the aroma from when my uncle would cook crack
The memory and stench of drug addiction and drug cooking still lingers in the artist's mind and environment.

One conversation between homies, better yet brothers
Two close friends have a crucial conversation about their lives and future.

That used to spend the night with each other
The two friends used to have sleepovers as kids.

They moms was best friends
The mothers of the two friends were also best friends.

One name was Anthony, the hood called 'em Ant Live
One of the friends was named Anthony and had a nickname given to him by the community.

Kept his pistol on 'em, so he bought a bigger pant size
He always carried a gun on him and had to buy bigger pants to accommodate it.

He got a little colder the moment he watched his man die
His demeanor changed significantly after witnessing his friend's death.

That was ten years ago
The death of his friend happened a decade ago.

Baby-face, wishing that his beard would grow
The artist is referring to himself, with a baby-face and hoping to age and mature with a beard.

Now he throw a set up anywhere he go
He shows his gang affiliation no matter where he is.

He just a product of his environment
The singer is a result of the environment he grew up in.

Told me he'd rather die than ever go to Rikers again
He would rather die than go back to Rikers Island prison, which he has previously been to.

Did a bid, his celly was blood, he studied five percent
He served time in prison, and his cellmate was a member of the Bloods gang. During this time, he learned about the Five Percent Nation.

Came home, like let niggas see me, I'll never ride with tint
After being released from prison, he refused to tint his windows and wants people to see him for who he is.

Cory was his right-hand man, his mother up North
Cory was his closest friend and his mother moved to the northern part of the country.

She was busting checks with the wrong nigga
His mother was engaging in illegal activity with the wrong person.

He popped Xannys and he just want him some strong liquor
He takes prescription pills and craves strong alcohol.

Lose the attitude, he miserable
He needs to lose his negative disposition because he is unhappy.

For years he tried to get a lick or two
For years he attempted to pursue a life of crime, but ultimately failed.

Moms begging he finish school, but non-sense he get into
His mother begged him to complete his education, but he was more interested in troublemaking and illegal activities.

Ant' met Cory when they was kids with innocence
Antony met Cory when they were children, and their friendship was pure and innocent.

Ant' hated his dad around 'cause that nigga was militant
Antony was not fond of his father's strict and controlling behavior.

Cory found a hoe to pass, some cash, they could triple it
Cory found a way to make money by using women to transport drugs, which he and Anthony would triple the profits of.

Double it, stack it up, Cory ain't never want to spend
Cory chose to double and stack their profits instead of wasting the money on frivolous things.

Ant' was blowing money fast, big Meeching when he shopped
Antony was spending his money recklessly and extravagantly on shopping and living a flashy lifestyle, inspired by hip hop artist Big Meech.

Flashy nigga, body wrapped in diamonds, necklace, and the watch
Antony flaunts his wealth by wearing lots of diamonds on his body, as well as a necklace and an expensive watch.

They hated Jesus, hated Malcolm, hated Martin
The people who are hated and criticized often are those who possess power, inspire change, and challenge the status quo.

(They gon' hate) Eight niggas living in a two-bedroom apartment
Despite being oppressed by society's racial inequality and injustices, a group of eight African American individuals survive in a cramped living situation.

No lights up in the crib, I guess I came up out the darkness
The living conditions are poor, but the singer has risen above the circumstances.

Mood change when I spark it, new Range, now I park it
The singer's mood changes when he smokes weed, and he is now able to afford a new Range Rover and park it wherever he likes.

Ant' and Cory set up a trap, fiends in and out of that
Antony and Cory created a trap house, where drug addicts come and go.

No mask, stocking cap, they robbed him, but he got it back
They robbed a client, but he was able to retrieve his stolen possessions, despite them not wearing any masks.

Six in the morning with baggies on him was a way of life
Having drug bags on him at the early hour of 6am was an everyday habit.

Streets will teach you quick, ain't nothing free, pay the price
The streets can teach you valuable lessons, but everything comes with a price.

Eviction notice in the kitchen, your bitch will stay the night
An eviction notice serves as a constant reminder of their unstable living situation, but the singer's girlfriend still spends the night.

Cory had the sour with him, Ant' fuck with 'yola
Cory had marijuana with him, while Antony dealt with cocaine.

Got kicked out his moms crib, she found a couple boulders
Antony was kicked out of his mom's house after she discovered some rocks of cocaine.

Locked up with killers up North, he rubbed a couple shoulders
Antony was incarcerated with dangerous criminals in a Northern prison, but he made connections with them.

Cory told Ant' on the V I the block was changing
Cory informed Antony, during a phone conversation, that the community was changing.

Ant' told Cory be grateful, freedoms' amazing
Antony reminds Cory to be appreciative and value their freedom.

Three and half light bid, Ant' stayed in drama
Antony spent three and a half years in prison and was heavily involved in prison drama.

He was light skinned, outside before you niggas was typing
Antony used to hang out outside before social media and online chatting became popular.

No MySpace
The mention of MySpace is used as a reference to an outdated form of social media.

Cory and Ant' had butter rockin'
Cory and Antony had a flourishing drug business.

The other younger niggas from the block, just loved to watch him
The younger individuals from the neighborhood were fascinated by Cory and Antony's success.

Couple haters, but nothing major, they knew the streets
They had a few detractors, but overall they were very knowledgeable about the community.

Niggas caught Cory, made him take off that new Philippe
Criminals robbed Cory of his newly purchased Philippe watch.

Cory took it on the chin, he wasn't new to beef
Cory was accustomed to conflict and took the loss without a fuss.

Killers kill you for talking, all you gotta do is speak
Using your speech and words irresponsibly can lead to dangerous repercussions.

Thats a man down, Ant' told Cory have the fam 'round
Someone was killed, and Antony advised Cory to surround himself with family and loved ones for support.

And keep on shitting on niggas until your pants brown
Keep thriving and using your success to show up others until you are unstoppable.

They hustle low, so much evidence that can't found
Their business is conducted quietly with minimal evidence to incriminate them.

Cory got nervous whenever they spun that Van 'round
Cory became anxious whenever he was pulled over in their company van.

They snatched him and he talked about the way he got it
Cory was coerced into confessing about his involvement in the drug business.

Broke the code, that was snitchin', it ain't no way around it
Cory betrayed the unspoken rule of not snitching and became an informant to the authorities.

Ayo' East
Nas's way of addressing Dave East in a casual, colloquial form.

It's your man, Nas Esco'
Nas refers to himself as Esco, which is his nickname inspired by drug lord Pablo Escobar.

Keep doin' what you do
Nas encourages Dave East to continue creating music and representing the streets truthfully.

Peace be on to you my young brother
Nas wishes Dave East inner peace and tranquility in his personal and professional life.

Young king
Nas addresses Dave East in a reverential manner, referring to him as royalty and someone who has power and influence in the game.