The Message
Dr. Dre Mary J. Blige Rell Lyrics

This one is for my brother, Tyree, R.I.P
Dedication to the memory of the artist's late brother

A message to God
The song's lyrics are a message to God about the artist's feelings towards his brother's death

Since you finishin' 'em early, what posessed you to start him?
Questioning why God would take his brother away at a young age

We made a vow later we'll regret 'til death do us part
The artist made a promise with his brother that he now regrets potentially until his own death

Lord, I thought we was made for each other
Believing that the artist and his brother were meant to be together

You shouldn't connect those, made to be taken away from each other
Expressing that it's unfair for God to connect people who are destined to be separated

Now what I'm supposed to do? I'm only half the man that I was
Feeling lost and incomplete without his brother

I'll never last, 'cause my better half is up there with you
Feeling like he cannot survive without his brother as he was his better half

You knew what you was doin' when you made us; so with all due respect
Acknowledging that God knew what he was doing when he created them, but still expressing disappointment and sadness

You coulda forgave him, you didn't have to take him
Questioning why God didn't forgive his brother and instead took him away

He can take the game with him, 'cause he defines the word
Recognizing his brother's talents and how he helped define the music genre

The one who puts the G in it, who you think put me in it?
Acknowledging his brother's contribution to the genre and how he inspired the artist to pursue his own music career

I'm feelin like my whole world is blinded wonderin' why
Feeling lost and confused, questioning why this happened

Cryin', pourin' out my heart, pourin' out liquor behind it
Expressing sadness through crying and consuming alcohol as a way to cope with the loss

We fought like brothers, somethin' we never should do
Acknowledging that his brother and he had their disagreements or conflicts, but they shouldn't have fought as they were siblings

We coulda used time spent arguin tellin' the truth
Regretting not spending more time together and using that time to share the truth

He had talent too, I had plans on watchin' him grow
Recognizing his brother's own talent and how the artist wished to see him flourish

Don't know what hurts more - seein' him leave, or watchin him go
Questioning which is more painful, seeing his brother leave or realizing he is gone

If you wonder why (why I live my life)
Explaining why the artist lives the way he does

The way that I do ('cause I got to get this money)
The reason behind the artist's hustle is to make money

So don't worry about me (don't worry, don't worry worry)
Asking others not to worry about him and his hustle

I'm just hustlin' everyday, runnin this race, makin this paper
Expressing his daily routine of hustling and working hard to make money

You'se a soldier, you're probably packin heat up there
Believing that his brother is in heaven and probably carrying a weapon, as he was a soldier or tough person

Met up with homies from the street, and got deep up there
Thinking that his brother has met up with his friends from the street and is involved in deep conversations

If you only knew the way I felt before they ruined the crew
Referring to the negative events that occurred within their music group, N.W.A., that affected him

I thought I learned from Eazy, now I'm goin through it with you
Comparing his brother's death to his former bandmate, Eazy-E's death and his struggles in coping with it too

We lost a thug, a son, and a father
Describing his brother as a thug, but also acknowledging that he was a son and father too

I spoke to your son, the other day, and told him Uncle Dre got him
Having talked to his brother's son and promised to take care of him

The Lord must be accidentally pulling your file
Suggesting that it was an accident that God took his brother's soul

Cause I'm still paging you, 911, straight in denial
Trying to reach out to his brother even though he is gone, and finding it hard to accept that he is no longer alive

Prayin' you get it, but no man can choose the card he was dealt
Hoping that his brother somehow gets his message, but realizing that everyone has their own fate that they cannot control

You either quit, or you gon' play 'em like you get it
Either giving up or continuing to live and act as if everything is okay

I done been through all emotions, from in shock, to keepin a poker face
Having experienced all kinds of emotions, from being shocked to putting on a poker face as a way of hiding his sadness

To straight breakin down and showin' all emotions
Breaking down and letting his emotions show

I'm anxious to believe in real G's don't cry
Having previously believed that real gangsters do not cry, but now realizing that it may not be true

If that's the truth, then I'm realizin I ain't no gangsta
If real gangsters do not cry, then he is not one

It's just not me, but you know I'mma always ride wit you
Admitting that this is not his true nature, but he will always support his brother

I miss you, sometimes I wish I just died wit' you
Expressing how much he misses his brother and wanting to be with him, even if it means dying too

Listen
Recurring call to listen to the message conveyed through the song

Brother brother
Addressing his late brother directly one last time