This track was the third official single off Game’s 2005 debut album, and, along with “How We Do,” helped Game’s The Documentary go double platinum, reaching the number one spot on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts in May 2005.
Hate It or Love It
Game Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uh huh
Comin' up I was confused, my mama kissin' a girl
Confusin' occurs, comin' up in the cold world
Daddy ain't around, probably out committin' felonies
My favorite rapper used to sing ch-check out my melody
I wanna live good, so shit I sell dope
Four-four fingering, one of them gold ropes
If I can move a few packs I'd get the hat, now that'll be dope
Tossed and turn in my sleep that night
Woke up the next mornin' niggas done stole my bike
Different day, same shit, ain't nothin' good in the hood
I'd run away from this bitch and never come back if I could
Hate it or love, the underdog's on top
And I'm gon' shine homie until my heart stops
Go ahead, envy me, I'm rap's MVP
And I ain't goin' no where so you can get to know me
Hate it or love, the underdog's ontop
And I'm gon' shine homie until my heart stops
Go ahead, envy me, I'm rap's MVP
And I ain't goin' no where so you can get to know me
I told Dre from the gate, I carry the heat fo' ya
First mixtape song, I inherited beef fo' ya
Gritted my teeth fo' ya, G-G-G'd fo ya (G-Unit)
Put Compton on my back when you was in need of soldiers
At my last show, I threw away my NWA gold
And had the whole crowd yellin' free Yayo
So niggas better get up outta mine
Before I creep and turn ya projects into Columbine
And I'm rap's MVP
Don't make me remind y'all what happened in D.C.
This nigga ain't Gotti, he pretend
Mad at us, cause Ashanti's got a new boyfriend
And it seems your little rat turned out to be a mouse
This beef shit is for the birds and the birds fly south
Even Young Buck can vouch, when the doubts was out
Who gave the West Coast mouth to mouth
Hate it or love, the underdog's ontop
And I'm gon' shine homie until my heart stops
Go ahead, envy me, I'm rap's MVP
And I ain't goin' no where so you can get to know me
Hate it or love, the underdog's ontop
And I'm gon' shine homie until my heart stops
Go ahead, envy me, I'm rap's MVP
And I ain't goin' no where so you can get to know me
From the beginnin' to the end
Losers lose, winners win
This is real, we ain't got to pretend
The cold world that we in
Is full of pressure and pain
I thought it would change
Its stayin' the same
How many hidden bowls is with'cha ya
When you had that little TV you had to hit on to get a picture
I'm walkin' with the snub, cause niggaz do a lotta slick talkin' in the club
Till they coughin' on the rug, ain't never had much but a walkman and a bud
My role model is gone, snortin' up his drug, bad enough they want me to choke
My boy just got poked in the throat, now its a R.I.P. shirt in my coat
Now I'm speedin' reminiscin', holdin' my weed hit never listen
If I see him then I'ma lift'em and maybe that'll even the score
And if not, then it'll be me on the floor
Hate it or love, the underdog's ontop
And I'm gon' shine homie until my heart stops
Go ahead, envy me, I'm rap's MVP
And I ain't goin' no where so you can get to know me
Hate it or love, the underdog's on top
And I'm gon' shine homie until my heart stops
Go ahead, envy me, I'm rap's MVP
And I ain't goin' no where so you can get to know me
I started out at fifteen, scared as hell
I took thirty off a pack and I made them sell
As a youth, man I used to hustle for loot
With that little deuce deuce and my triple fat goose
Sippin' easy Jesus rockin' the leases
My mama whipped me when she found my pieces
I look back on life and think God I bless
We the best on the planet so forget the rest
You know I'm still nice with my cook game
Look man, its a hood thing that's why I'm loved in Brooklyn
I handle mine just like a real nigga should
If I do some time, homie I'm still all good
Let me show what a thug bout born to die
I took the bullets outta 50, put 'em in my four five
And I ain't even got my feet wet yet
A seven figure nigga who ain't seen a royalty check
Hate it or love, the underdog's on top
And I'm gon' shine homie until my heart stops
Go ahead, envy me, I'm rap's MVP
And I ain't goin' no where so you can get to know me
Hate it or love, the underdog's on top
And I'm gon' shine homie until my heart stops
Go ahead, envy me, I'm rap's MVP
And I ain't goin' no where so you can get to know me
The lyrics of Hate It or Love It by Game featuring 50 Cent describe the rapper’s early life experiences in the United States. The first verse describes the lack of stability and guidance in his childhood, with his mother kissing a girl and his father committing felonies. He turned to rap music as an escape from the cold and dangerous world he grew up in. The lyrics narrate how he aspired to live a good life, but he ended up selling drugs to make ends meet. He remembers his grandmother promising him a sheepskin coat if he did well in school and how he dreamed of wearing a hat with gold chains. However, poverty and crime dominated his world, and he even had his bicycle stolen in the night. Despite the hardship, Game persevered and rose to the top of the rap industry. He acknowledges his status as the underdog but promises to keep shining until his heart stops.
The second verse highlights his loyalty to Dr. Dre and G-Unit, with whom he inherited beef, gritted his teeth, and carried the heat. Game boasts that he put Compton on his back and even threw away his NWA gold chain to garner support for his friend Yayo, who was in jail at the time. He confronts his rivals with the threat of violence and insinuates that he played a part in the DC snipers' capture, earning his reputation as rap's MVP. He also takes a dig at Irv Gotti and his associates for being mad at 50 Cent for dating Ashanti, calling him a pretend Gotti. The verse concludes with a message for his fans, emphasizing that he is unfazed by hate and ready to face any challenge.
In the final verse, Game reflects on his journey from being scared as hell at fifteen to becoming a seven-figure rapper. He recalls how he started hustling at a young age, selling packs for thirty dollars and wearing a triple fat goose jacket. Game admits that his mother whipped him when she found his stash, but he is grateful for the opportunities that came his way. He insists that he is a real thug and would handle himself in prison with confidence. He ends the song by bragging about his cooking skills and his popularity in Brooklyn, and dares anyone to challenge his status as the best in the game.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, let's take 'em back
Let's go back to the beginning, to my past that made me who I am.
Comin' up I was confused, my mama kissin' a girl
Confusin' occurs, comin' up in the cold world
Daddy ain't around, probably out committin' felonies
My favorite rapper used to sing ch-check out my melody
Growing up was hard, my mom was confused and my dad was absent. My escape was music, particularly hip-hop.
I wanna live good, so shit I sell dope
Four-four fingering, one of them gold ropes
Nanna told me if I pass I'll get a sheep skin coat
If I can move a few packs I'd get the hat, now that'll be dope
I want to live a good life, but selling drugs seems to be the quickest way to make money. I aspire to have nice things like a sheep skin coat or a gold rope, and I know I can get them by selling drugs.
Tossed and turn in my sleep that night
Woke up the next mornin' niggas done stole my bike
Different day, same shit, ain't nothin' good in the hood
I'd run away from this bitch and never come back if I could
Life is rough, and the cycle of violence and theft never ends. If I had the chance, I would leave this neighborhood and never look back.
Hate it or love, the underdog's on top
And I'm gon' shine homie until my heart stops
Go ahead, envy me, I'm rap's MVP
And I ain't goin' no where so you can get to know me
People may love or hate me, but I won't let that hold me back. I'll keep shining and being successful in the rap game, and those who envy me can get to know who I really am.
I told Dre from the gate, I carry the heat fo' ya
First mixtape song, I inherited beef fo' ya
Gritted my teeth fo' ya, G-G-G'd fo ya (G-Unit)
Put Compton on my back when you was in need of soldiers
I made a promise to Dr. Dre that I would carry the weight of the rap game on my back. I inherited beef from him as soon as I started out, and I stood strong and supported my team. I was ready to fight for my city, Compton.
At my last show, I threw away my NWA gold
And had the whole crowd yellin' free Yayo
So niggas better get up outta mine
Before I creep and turn ya projects into Columbine
Even though I loved NWA and what they stood for, I threw away my gold chain to show respect for my fellow rapper Yayo, who was imprisoned. I won't let anyone mess with me or my team, and I'll do whatever it takes, even if it means resorting to violence.
This nigga ain't Gotti, he pretend
Mad at us, cause Ashanti's got a new boyfriend
And it seems your little rat turned out to be a mouse
This beef shit is for the birds and the birds fly south
Not all rappers are as tough as they seem, and some beefs are just petty. This guy is mad at us because Ashanti, a singer we both know, has a new boyfriend. It turns out he's not as tough as he pretended to be, and this whole beef is a waste of time and energy.
Even Young Buck can vouch, when the doubts was out
Who gave the West Coast mouth to mouth
From the beginnin' to the end
Losers lose, winners win
Even my fellow rapper Young Buck can confirm that I saved the West Coast rap scene when it was struggling. Throughout everything, I know that losers will be losers and winners will always win.
This is real, we ain't got to pretend
The cold world that we in
Is full of pressure and pain
I thought it would change
Its stayin' the same
I don't need to pretend in my lyrics or my life - everything is real and raw. The world can be unforgiving and painful, and I thought it would get better over time. But it seems like nothing ever really changes.
How many hidden bowls is with'cha ya
When you had that little TV you had to hit on to get a picture
I'm walkin' with the snub, cause niggaz do a lotta slick talkin' in the club
Till they coughin' on the rug, ain't never had much but a walkman and a bud
I wonder how many drugs you have on you right now - you remind me of my old TV that never worked right. I have to carry a gun around because people in the club love to talk but won't back it up. I never had much growing up, just a Walkman and some pot.
My role model is gone, snortin' up his drug, bad enough they want me to choke
My boy just got poked in the throat, now its a R.I.P. shirt in my coat
Now I'm speedin' reminiscin', holdin' my weed hit never listen
If I see him then I'ma lift'em and maybe that'll even the score
And if not, then it'll be me on the floor
My biggest influence in life is gone, caught up in drug abuse. My friend was stabbed and killed, and I keep his memory close with a memorial shirt. I rush through life, smoking weed and not paying attention to my surroundings. If I see the person who killed my friend, I'll take revenge, even if it means risking my own life.
I started out at fifteen, scared as hell
I took thirty off a pack and I made them sell
As a youth, man I used to hustle for loot
With that little deuce deuce and my triple fat goose
I started selling drugs at a young age out of fear and necessity. I was able to make money by persuading others to sell for me, and I used to hustle for my own benefit. I always had a gun on me, but I also had nice clothes to show my success.
Sippin' easy Jesus rockin' the leases
My mama whipped me when she found my pieces
I look back on life and think God I blessed
We the best on the planet so forget the rest
I used to drink 'easy Jesus' and wear expensive, designer shoes. My mom was tough on me when she found out I was involved in drugs. But now, I look back and realize how blessed I am to be successful in the rap game. We are the best and don't need anyone else's validation.
You know I'm still nice with my cook game
Look man, its a hood thing that's why I'm loved in Brooklyn
I handle mine just like a real nigga should
If I do some time, homie I'm still all good
My 'cook game' is still strong, and I'm respected in Brooklyn for being a real, authentic hood rapper. I handle my business the way I should, and I won't let prison time bring me down.
Let me show what a thug bout born to die
I took the bullets outta 50, put 'em in my four five
And I ain't even got my feet wet yet
A seven figure nigga who ain't seen a royalty check
I'll prove to everyone what I'm made of - I have nothing to lose, I'm a natural born thug. I even took bullets out of my friend 50 Cent just to show I'm tough. And I'm already rich, even though I haven't even reached my full potential yet.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARVIN BERNARD, DAVID DARNELL BROWN, CHRISTOPHER CHARLES LLOYD, ALLAN WAYNE FELDER, NORMAN RAY HARRIS, RONALD BAKER, CURTIS JAMES JACKSON, JAYCEON TERRELL TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chicken
Its March 2024, let's see how many legends are listening to this incredible song💖
@kaylixmcvay8703
I read the same exact statement from 2 yrs ago as soon as I started listening
@wavysw1472
Here I love this song
@arizonacreature1902
Yes.
@Topic_____542
Still here 😅
@anti9520
old school
@arizonacreature1902
I really miss this era.. as kids and now fast forward we're adults now. I wish i can experience this again.
@michaelallen6088
Right times was similar was the end of wall mounted house phones corded and stuff 😞I was born in 04
@issandayizeye1576
😂
@samzergum2105
I experienced him