Broken
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib Lyrics
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Curse over blessing, pray it be heaven sent
Forgive me, my dirty deeds was desperate
Fuck the government, I got my own deficit
Death to me the only thing that's definite
Money rule the world, but when you dead that shit's irrelevant
Fingers numb from coka selling, no vote, but out for presidents
Granny found my dope, I told her I would stop for selling it
Empty promises left them all broken
She said Jamel, I can tell your perspective out of focus
You too obsessed with the liquor, bitches and weed smoking
A young nigga that's been thugging since the old days
Promise I've done seen everything but old age
Pray my demons never catch up from my old ways
Keep the heat cause I was going through a cold phase
Uh yeah
Keep the heat cause I was going through a cold phase
Promise I've done seen everything but old age
Surviving off cold cuts and cold Spam
Can't see eye to eye with my old man
Hiding my insecurities with this gang flag
We both despise the police, but he wore the same badge
And as I child I admired that, now I wonder how
He was a pig, but you was barely making 20 thou
I guess that's why you put me on that lick for 20 pounds
A life of crime is all we ever shared from then to now
And I'm a crook and you crooked, that's all we got in common
He chunked the deuce to my mama, so much for family bonding
But how could something so destined to be just get demolished?
Running through groupies and whoppers, I guess I got it honest
And honestly I know I'm out here fucking up
Seven grams of rock, I stuff 'em in my nuts
And seven bucks an hour wasn't good enough
Cause seven days a week I'm living in a rush
Seven days a week I'm living in a rush
Seven grams of rock, I stuff 'em in my nuts
And the money was the root to what the evil is
It's mandatory for me to live
I hustle harder than the next dude
Remember, everybody is out to get you
Niggas don't respect to live and let live
So I pack a .40 caliber 'cause that's how shit is
Out here, no fear, fuck feelings
Trigger man rule, that's the art of drug dealing
I'm trying to stack my money to the ceiling
No new friends, don't wanna talk about old business
Sex on the beach, sipping Guinness
With a bitch so thick she can't take no dick
Imagine working grave-yard shifts
Lost friends steady talking that shit
A million a day is for minimum wage
Work a nigga like a slave 'til he put him in his grave
Frail moments, same page
(Seven days a week I'm living in a rush
Seven grams of rock, I stuff 'em in my nuts)
In Freddie Gibbs & Madlib's song "Broken," Gibbs provides his perspective on a life of crime and the impact it has had on him. He starts off by invoking Allah and reflecting on the balance of good and bad in his life - he prays for a heaven-sent blessing to counterbalance the curses he's experienced due to his "dirty deeds." He laments the government's ineffectiveness and the inevitability of death, and notes how money only matters in life but is irrelevant in death. Despite these heavy themes, Gibbs maintains a hardened exterior, noting his numb fingers from selling cocaine and his lack of faith in political leaders. He even lies to his grandmother, who knows he's not being truthful, showing just how disconnected he is from the concept of honesty and accountability.
Gibbs continues to reflect on his life, sharing how he has survived off meager necessities like cold cuts and cold Spam, and how he can't see eye to eye with his dad despite them both sharing a disdain for police officers. He acknowledges that he's a crook just like his dad, and how they both only have their commitment to crime in common. He further reveals that he's had a rough life, working long and low-paying hours, feeling constantly rushed and high strung, and even stuffing drugs in his nuts to avoid getting caught. The final verse is perhaps the most revealing, as Gibbs describes how it's a dog-eat-dog world out there and how he has to protect himself with a gun. He acknowledges he's trying to make money to improve his life, but the constant grind means no new friends and no time for old business. And despite fleeting moments of community with others experiencing similar struggles, Gibbs knows deep down he's on his own.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, Allah the merciful, the beneficent
Beginning the song by praising Allah as the merciful and beneficent.
Curse over blessing, pray it be heaven sent
Preferring curses over blessings and wishing for Allah's guidance.
Forgive me, my dirty deeds was desperate
Asking for forgiveness for past desperate actions.
Fuck the government, I got my own deficit
Expressing frustration with the government and acknowledging one's own financial problems.
Death to me the only thing that's definite
Recognizing that death is the only certainty in life.
Money rule the world, but when you dead that shit's irrelevant
Acknowledging that money is important in life, but ultimately becomes irrelevant after death.
Fingers numb from coka selling, no vote, but out for presidents
Hands are numb from selling cocaine and not participating in voting, but interested in the actions of those in power.
Granny found my dope, I told her I would stop for selling it
Grandmother discovering drug dealing and making an empty promise to stop.
Nigga please -- she knew I was lying before I even spoke it
Grandmother doesn't believe the promise to stop drug dealing.
Empty promises left them all broken
Reflecting on the past and how broken promises affected relationships.
She said Jamel, I can tell your perspective out of focus
Grandmother pointing out that life priorities are out of alignment.
You too obsessed with the liquor, bitches and weed smoking
Grandmother criticizing obsession with alcohol, women, and smoking weed.
A young nigga that's been thugging since the old days
Growing up tough and being involved in street activities since a young age.
Promise I've done seen everything but old age
Having experienced many dangerous situations but still being alive.
Pray my demons never catch up from my old ways
Hoping that past actions don't come back to haunt him.
Keep the heat cause I was going through a cold phase
Carrying a gun for protection during a tough time in life.
Surviving off cold cuts and cold Spam
Struggling to make ends meet and surviving on cheap food.
Can't see eye to eye with my old man
Having a strained relationship with one's father.
Hiding my insecurities with this gang flag
Using gang affiliation as a way to hide inner struggles and insecurities.
We both despise the police, but he wore the same badge
Sharing a hatred for law enforcement, despite the father being a police officer.
And as I child I admired that, now I wonder how
Reflecting on the past admiration for one's father's work, now questioning his actions.
He was a pig, but you was barely making 20 thou
Father being a corrupt cop, while the family was still struggling financially.
I guess that's why you put me on that lick for 20 pounds
Father involving son in a criminal activity to make money.
A life of crime is all we ever shared from then to now
Father and son bonding over a life of crime and continuing these actions.
And I'm a crook and you crooked, that's all we got in common
Recognizing that both father and son are criminals and that is the only thing they have in common.
He chunked the deuce to my mama, so much for family bonding
Father abandoning the family, negating any sentiment of family bonding.
But how could something so destined to be just get demolished?
Questioning why a family that was supposed to be close and supportive fell apart.
Running through groupies and whoppers, I guess I got it honest
Following in father's footsteps and indulging in promiscuous behavior.
And honestly I know I'm out here fucking up
Acknowledging that actions are detrimental.
Seven grams of rock, I stuff 'em in my nuts
Hiding drugs in one's pants for security purposes.
And seven bucks an hour wasn't good enough
Working for minimum wage and struggling to make ends meet.
Cause seven days a week I'm living in a rush
Living a fast-paced life and always in a hurry.
It's mandatory for me to live
Acknowledging the importance of making money to survive.
I hustle harder than the next dude
Working harder than others to make a living.
Remember, everybody is out to get you
Maintaining a cautious attitude towards others.
Niggas don't respect to live and let live
Not everyone respects the concept of living and letting others live.
So I pack a .40 caliber cause that's how shit is
Carrying a gun for self-defense in a dangerous environment.
Out here, no fear, fuck feelings
Navigating a harsh world without fear and emotions.
Trigger man rule, that's the art of drug dealing
Following the code of conduct in the drug dealing world.
I'm trying to stack my money to the ceiling
Working hard to accumulate wealth.
No new friends, don't wanna talk about old business
Not interested in making new friends and avoiding discussions about past experiences.
Sex on the beach, sipping Guinness
Enjoying sexual experiences and drinking alcohol.
With a bitch so thick she can't take no dick
Being with a woman who is sexually desirable, but doesn't want to engage in sexual activity.
Imagine working grave-yard shifts
Reflecting on the difficult jobs some people have to make a living.
Lost friends steady talking that shit
Losing friends due to differences and drama.
A million a day is for minimum wage
Expressing the struggle of making a living with minimum wage jobs.
Work a nigga like a slave 'til he put him in his grave
Being overworked and exploited to the point of death.
Frail moments, same page
Acknowledging one's moments of weakness and still being in the same situation as before.
(Seven days a week I'm living in a rush
Continuation of the same previous line.
Seven grams of rock, I stuff 'em in my nuts)
Continuation of hiding drugs in one's pants for security purposes.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Otis Jackson, Fredrick Tipton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jzsson2283
Lyrics:
(verse 1)
Yeah, Allah the merciful, the beneficent
Curse over blessing, pray it be heaven sent
Forgive me, my dirty deeds was desperate
Fuck the government, I got my own deficit
Death to me the only thing that's definite
Money rule the world, but when you dead that shit's irrelevant
Fingers numb from coka selling, no vote, but out for presidents
Granny found my dope, I told her I would stop for selling it
Nigga please -- she knew I was lying before I even spoke it
Empty promises left them all broken
She said Jamel, I can tell your perspective out of focus
You too obsessed with the liquor, bitches and weed smoking
A young nigga that's been thugging since the old days
Promise I've done seen everything but old age
Pray my demons never catch up from my old ways
Keep the heat cause I was going through a cold phase
Uh yeah
Keep the heat cause I was going through a cold phase
Promise I've done seen everything but old age
(verse 2)
Surviving off cold cuts and cold Spam
Can't see eye to eye with my old man
Hiding my insecurities with this gang flag
We both despise the police, but he wore the same badge
And as I child I admired that, now I wonder how
He was a pig, but you was barely making 20 thou
I guess that's why you put me on that lick for 20 pounds
A life of crime is all we ever shared from then to now
And I'm a crook and you crooked, that's all we got in common
He chunked the deuce to my mama, so much for family bonding
But how could something so destined to be just get demolished?
Running through groupies and whoppers, I guess I got it honest
And honestly I know I'm out here fucking up
Seven grams of rock, I stuff 'em in my nuts
And seven bucks an hour wasn't good enough
Cause seven days a week I'm living in a rush
Seven days a week I'm living in a rush
Seven grams of rock, I stuff 'em in my nuts
(Scarface)
And the money was the root to what the evil is
It's mandatory for me to live
I hustle harder than the next dude
Remember, everybody is out to get you
Niggas don't respect to live and let live
So I pack a .40 caliber cause that's how shit is
Out here, no fear, fuck feelings
Trigger man rule, that's the art of drug dealing
I'm trying to stack my money to the ceiling
No new friends, don't wanna talk about old business
Sex on the beach, sipping Guinness
With a bitch so thick she can't take no dick
Imagine working grave-yard shifts
Lost friends steady talking that shit
A million a day is for minimum wage
Work a nigga like a slave 'til he put him in his grave
Frail moments, same page
(Seven days a week I'm living in a rush
Seven grams of rock, I stuff 'em in my nuts)
@SuprSilvr
I love how the flow is slow enough that you can sometimes hear Scarface hitting the blunt between bars.
@chaseshort7331
Whoa didnt hear that
@bennbo
+SuprSilvr scarface only smokes zig zags bruv
@TzaTed
Never noticed that, thank you
@joelgarcia5325
Scarface killed the song
@uhlovely7651
good catch lmao
@andrewesqueda1125
there isnt a single bad song on this album. I can't believe I slept on this for 6 years smh shame on me.
@khadeem56
Not the only one…
@luny2nez281
Heard it in 2016. Still listen to this album to this day
@deletdis6173
I barely found it in 2022, I feel lame af.