Knicks
Freddie Gibbs / Madlib Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pippen on the assist
I'm watching Jordan drop a double nickel on the Knicks
That was '95, couple of us ain't live til '96
Gangbanging, cane slanging had us caught up in a twist
We was middle school fools, life was rushing past me
Fresh up out a school bus fighting up at Pulaski
Uncle hit me off with a zip, now I get some cash, G
"When will you get some money for Nikes?" my mama asked me
I got it selling nickle bags
Stress, weed, million seeds, where the liquor at?
Mad Dog 20/20, kept a nigga loose
Murder was the case except a niggas taste the gin and juice
Cause then we gon' be riding on some bullshit
Shoot up a nigga crib, that's some hood shit
And I can give a fuck who in the house sleep
Waking up the neighbors, shoot my trey eight at the police, bitch

I got it selling nickel bags, bitch

Chilling with a bitch
Watching LeBron put a 56 on the Knicks
In 2005, police killed my nigga in 2006
Only thing he losing is his pension, ain't that 'bout a bitch
If I see that ho I got a slug for him
I wanna kill him slow like I ain't got no love for him
I wanna torture and burn him, drag him to hell with me
This for my nigga just lurking, working the scale with me
In these last days, on my last page
Fuck a job, I'm whipping this butter cause crime pays
In these last days, on my last page
Fuck a job, I'm serving these clunkers cause crime pays
I'm a lunatic by nature
Yeah, can't knock the family for this paper
Yeah, and if you make it through the day, bro
Yeah, pray to God I ain't stank ya, bitch





I got it selling nickel bags, bitch

Overall Meaning

In the first verse of Knicks, Freddie Gibbs alludes to the mid-1990s when he and his friends used to sell drugs and have a street lifestyle, revolving around gangbanging and cane slanging. The reference to the Knicks in this verse refers to a game that occurred on March 28, 1995, where Michael Jordan scored 55 points against the New York Knicks. Gibbs indicates that while the world moved on, they were still caught up in their fast-paced and dangerous lifestyle. When his uncle hands him a zip of drugs, he starts making money, and his mother asks him when he will get enough money to buy some new Nikes, a somewhat humorous moment. The reference to gin and juice and Mad Dog 20/20 is to getting drunk to go and commit violent acts, shooting up people's houses without regard for who is inside.


In the second verse, Gibbs references more recent events. He watches LeBron James: who scored 56 points against the Knicks in 2005, and Gibbs reflects on how his friend was killed by the police the following year. He expresses his desire to get revenge on the cop, torturing and burning him in hell. Gibbs, meanwhile, has turned to a life of crime, selling drugs instead of getting a job, declaring himself a 'lunatic by nature.' The final line of the verse is a warning to anyone who tries to cross him: 'pray to God I ain't stank ya, bitch.'


Overall, Freddie Gibbs Knicks is a gritty, violent portrayal of a life of crime and violence, with the Knicks serving as a backdrop to the narrative.


Line by Line Meaning

Pippen on the assist
The singer is comparing himself to Michael Jordan's teammate Scottie Pippen, implying that he too has someone helping him achieve his goals.


I'm watching Jordan drop a double nickel on the Knicks
The singer is reminiscing about a basketball game from 1995 where Michael Jordan scored 55 points against the New York Knicks.


That was '95, couple of us ain't live til '96
The singer is acknowledging that some of his friends did not live long enough to see the next year after the game took place.


Gangbanging, cane slanging had us caught up in a twist
The artist is describing how he and his friends were involved in dangerous activities such as gang violence and drug dealing.


We was middle school fools, life was rushing past me
The artist is reflecting on his younger years, recognizing that he made poor decisions and that time seemed to be moving quickly.


Fresh up out a school bus fighting up at Pulaski
The singer is recalling a fight that took place outside of a school in the Pulaski area.


Uncle hit me off with a zip, now I get some cash, G
The singer's uncle gave him a supply of drugs to sell, which enabled him to make money.


"When will you get some money for Nikes?" my mama asked me
The artist's mother is questioning when he will be able to afford a pair of Nike shoes.


I got it selling nickle bags
The artist is admitting that he sold drugs in small quantities to make a living.


Stress, weed, million seeds, where the liquor at?
The artist is describing the substances that are a part of his daily life, while also expressing the desire for alcohol.


Mad Dog 20/20, kept a nigga loose
Mad Dog 20/20 is a cheap wine that the singer drank to feel more relaxed.


Murder was the case except a niggas taste the gin and juice
The artist is referencing the title of the Snoop Dogg song 'Murder Was the Case' and suggesting that he is living a similar lifestyle. However, instead of drinking gin and juice he is consuming Mad Dog 20/20.


Cause then we gon' be riding on some bullshit
The singer is warning that if someone crosses him, he and his associates will retaliate with violence.


Shoot up a nigga crib, that's some hood shit
The singer is suggesting that he and his associates are capable of committing violent acts such as shooting up someone's home.


And I can give a fuck who in the house sleep
The singer does not care if innocent people are in the house when they carry out violent acts.


Waking up the neighbors, shoot my trey eight at the police, bitch
The artist is expressing a desire to engage in a gunfight with the police, even if it puts others in danger. He is using the term 'bitch' as a general insult.


Chilling with a bitch
The artist is spending time with a woman.


Watching LeBron put a 56 on the Knicks
The singer is watching a basketball game where LeBron James scored 56 points against the New York Knicks.


In 2005, police killed my nigga in 2006
The singer is mourning the loss of a friend who was killed by the police in either 2005 or 2006.


Only thing he losing is his pension, ain't that 'bout a bitch
The artist is angry that the person who killed his friend has only lost his pension and has not faced any other consequences.


If I see that ho I got a slug for him
The artist is threatening to shoot the person responsible for his friend's death, using the term 'ho' as a general insult.


I wanna kill him slow like I ain't got no love for him
The artist is expressing a desire to inflict extreme amounts of pain on the person responsible for his friend's death.


I wanna torture and burn him, drag him to hell with me
The singer is continuing to describe how he would like to kill the person responsible for his friend's death.


This for my nigga just lurking, working the scale with me
The artist is dedicating his actions to his deceased friend who used to help him sell drugs.


In these last days, on my last page
The singer is recognizing that he is approaching the end of his life.


Fuck a job, I'm whipping this butter cause crime pays
The singer is stating that he would rather make money by selling drugs than by working a job because it is more profitable.


Fuck a job, I'm serving these clunkers cause crime pays
The singer is describing his continued involvement in drug dealing, which he believes is more profitable than working a job.


I'm a lunatic by nature
The artist is claiming that he is naturally inclined towards behaving in an erratic and violent way.


Yeah, can't knock the family for this paper
The artist is saying that he cannot blame his family for his decision to sell drugs in order to make money.


Yeah, and if you make it through the day, bro
The singer is acknowledging that life can be difficult and is expressing hope that the listener will survive another day.


Yeah, pray to God I ain't stank ya, bitch
The singer is using the term 'stank' to mean 'hurt' and is warning the listener not to cross him, using the term 'bitch' as a general insult.




Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Otis Jackson, Fredrick Tipton

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@TheReese989

I swear to god this album better be a hip hop classic in the future. I can constantly listen to this entire album front to back a million times

@_DL77_

I hope it is too, honesty one of my favorite and most underrated albums of all time

@chasef1077

Reese NineEightNine same

@Scamp2x

Reese NineEightNine FAXTS

@Hvanudetfornoget

Sadly it won't, people can't appreciate it. This album is top 20 rap album of all time imo.

@AndreasFjord

Word! 5 years later and it's still bangin'!

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@dude45556

On the real, this stays on repeat everyday.

@TheRealSandorClegane

its JuJu good music doesn't get old thats why these radio rappers gotta put out tracks every other month cause their shit has no lasting appeal cause its weak and phony, the only things they usually have going for them is catchiness but no substance.

@jeffsoltero2234

Tyler Durden couldn't have put it better

@BombXXplosive

its JuJu Still on repeat?

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