Knicks
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib feat. Ab-Soul & Polyester The Saint Lyrics


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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 "Knicks," rapper Freddie Gibbs reminisces about his rough upbringing in Gary, Indiana, as he watches basketball games and reflects on his life. Gibbs references the 1995 game between the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks, where Michael Jordan scored 55 points. Gibbs notes that some of his friends did not live to see the following year, citing the dangers of gangbanging and drug dealing that plagued his community. Gibbs himself started selling nickel bags of weed as a teenager to make some money, recounting how his uncle gave him some weed to sell so he could afford to buy Nikes. Gibbs also alludes to the violence that often accompanied drug dealing, rapping about how he and his crew were willing to shoot up someone's house and even the police if needed.


Later in the song, Gibbs switches his attention to more recent events, namely the killing of his friend by a police officer. Gibbs expresses his anger and desire for revenge against the officer, rapping about wanting to torture and burn him and drag him to hell. Gibbs also highlights the struggles of making a living in his area, recognizing that crime pays better than any other job. Despite the bleak outlook, Gibbs implores listeners to persevere and pray to avoid his wrath.


Line by Line Meaning

Pippen on the assist
Freddie Gibbs references the iconic Chicago Bulls duo Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, with Pippen delivering an ‘assist’ pass to Jordan.


I'm watching Jordan drop a double nickel on the Knicks
Jordan scoring 55 points in a single game against the New York Knicks in 1995.


That was ‘95, couple of us ain’t live til '96
Gibbs reflects on growing up in a difficult environment and the brief moment of happiness witnessing Jordan's game.


Gangbanging, cane slanging had us caught up in a twist
Gibbs describes the lure of gang violence and drug dealing in his area.


We was middle school fools, life was rushing past me
Gibbs acknowledging that he was naïve in his youth and that life often felt like it was moving too quickly for him.


Fresh up out a school bus fighting up at Pulaski
Gibbs describes how his school bus rides would frequently become the site of violent altercations among students.


Uncle hit me off with a zip, now I get some cash, G
Gibbs' uncle gave him a zip of marijuana to sell, which provided him with needed income.


"When will you get some money for Nikes?" my mama asked me
Gibbs' mother is concerned about his lack of money to buy new shoes.


I got it selling nickle bags
Gibbs repeats his earlier line, emphasizing that he earned money by selling small amounts of marijuana.


Stress, weed, million seeds, where the liquor at?
The chorus highlights some of the negative aspects of life in the ghetto, including stress and excessive drug use.


Mad Dog 20/20, kept a nigga loose
Gibbs references a specific cheap high-alcohol content brand of alcohol that was common in poor areas.


Murder was the case except a niggas taste the gin and juice
Gibbs jokes that while others may commit murder, he will likely just continue to drink and smoke.


Cause then we gon' be riding on some bullshit
If someone threatens Gibbs or his accomplices, they will turn to violence.


Shoot up a nigga crib, that's some hood shit
Gibbs acknowledges the violent tendencies within his community, where shooting someone's house is seen as an acceptable form of revenge.


And I can give a fuck who in the house sleep
Gibbs disregards the safety of innocent people, including children, when seeking to enact violence on someone else.


Waking up the neighbors, shoot my trey eight at the police, bitch
Gibbs boasts about his willingness to shoot at police officers, even if it endangers others in the vicinity.


Chilling with a bitch
A transition from the previous verse, Gibbs brags about spending time with women.


Watching LeBron put a 56 on the Knicks
In contrast to the previous Jordan reference, Gibbs now references a game where LeBron James scored 56 points against the Knicks.


In 2005, police killed my nigga in 2006
Gibbs references the death of a friend at the hands of police officers.


Only thing he losing is his pension, ain’t that ‘bout a bitch
Gibbs criticizes the fact that even when police officers act wrongly, they only receive minor punishments, such as the loss of a pension.


If I see that ho I got a slug for him
Gibbs expresses a desire to kill the police officer who killed his friend.


I wanna kill him slow like I ain't got no love for him
Gibbs’ desire to have the officer suffer parallels the violence he witnesses and participates in daily.


I wanna torture and burn him, drag him to hell with me
Gibbs’ desire for revenge is intense and without limits.


This for my nigga just lurking, working the scale with me
Gibbs dedicates this verse to his friend who was killed, who worked with him in the drug trade.


In these last days, on my last page
Gibbs is aware of the precarious situation he is in, considering his high-risk lifestyle.


Fuck a job, I'm whipping this butter cause crime pays
Gibbs has decided that the reward of easy money from drug dealing outweighs the risks.


Fuck a job, I'm serving these clunkers cause crime pays
A repetition of the previous line, emphasizing the same sentiment of making quick money through illegal means.


I'm a lunatic by nature
Gibbs acknowledges that his violent tendencies are a part of his natural personality.


Yeah, can't knock the family for this paper
Gibbs recognizes that his family may be implicated in his illegal activities, but it is the financial gains of the drug trade that are most important.


Yeah, and if you make it through the day, bro
Gibbs knows that the drug trade is risky, and hopes his comrades will survive another day.


Yeah, pray to God I ain’t stank ya, bitch
A threat to those who might betray him, Gibbs will not hesitate to enact punishments for disloyalty.




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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