Loyalty
Ghostface Killah Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Like a plague, dope and them pushers, they'll destroy us, it's gunna get worse

Yeah fam listen, I'm ambitious
I'll leave a man missing
Plain and simple, taken under this transmission
Did my first hit 12 years old, pants sliddin'
A little place in Coney Island called the clam kitchen
I walk right up on the table where I can't miss em
And his bodyguard coming out of the can dissin'
The two waiters serving plates stood in a trance, shivering
I carried out the damn mission, that's loyalty
No regrets anything less will destroy the piece
A boss is a boss learn to respect loyalty
Run off with money get put down in the soil free
Now sit down and enjoy the feast, boys kabeesh
Been running here for 9 years, and believe me none of them con years
I done lost about 9 peers
Crime career never find fear
Soulless size my guys got a blind fear

My intuition told me play my position and stay loyal
You ain't got to get your hands dirty, I'll do it for you
I grew up on the crime side, the New York time side
And gave up on everything when my moms died
Perfected my craft on rooftops and staircases
Pulled robberies with no mask showing my bare face
Keep it G, low key, and never ball out
Got with a sick ass click and went all out
Gat for gat back to back we can ball out
Hundred deep run up in Macy's and aired em all out
Just give the ordering my niggas will come
Give me your gun, point em out and consider it done
The streets fathered me, so I'm considered its son
Keep it real stay sucker free and the figures will come




Live by the gun and put my life on the line
Anybody can get left bullets right through your mind

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Ghostface Killah's "Loyalty" are about the dangers of the drug trade and the importance of loyalty in criminal circles. The first verse warns that drugs and pushers will destroy communities, and that things will get worse before they get better. The second verse reveals the loyalty that exists within these circles and how it is earned and maintained. The rapper tells a story about doing his first hit at age 12, and how he was able to execute the mission with precision and determination. He stresses the importance of loyalty, saying that without it, everything will fall apart.


The overall message of the song seems to be that loyalty is the foundation of the criminal underworld. It is what keeps you alive and thriving, and without it, you are doomed to fail. The imagery used to describe the violence and danger of the drug trade is consistently vivid and disturbing, casting a dark shadow over the entire song.


Overall, "Loyalty" is a gritty and intense look at criminal life, told through vivid storytelling and powerful imagery.


Line by Line Meaning

Like a plague, dope and them pushers, they'll destroy us, it's gunna get worse
The spread of drugs and drug dealers will ruin our communities, and the situation will only deteriorate further


Yeah fam listen, I'm ambitious
Listen, I have big goals and aspirations


I'll leave a man missing
I'm not afraid to engage in violent acts, including murder


Plain and simple, taken under this transmission
I'm being direct and upfront about what I do


Did my first hit 12 years old, pants sliddin'
I committed my first murder at the young age of 12 and was wearing pants that were too big for me


A little place in Coney Island called the clam kitchen
The location where I committed the murder was a restaurant in Coney Island called the clam kitchen


I walk right up on the table where I can't miss em
I walked up to the table where my target was sitting, ensuring I wouldn't miss my shot


And his bodyguard coming out of the can dissin'
The target's bodyguard came out of the bathroom and started disrespecting me


The two waiters serving plates stood in a trance, shivering
The two waiters who were serving at the restaurant were too afraid to move or act when they saw what was happening


I carried out the damn mission, that's loyalty
I completed the task I was given, which demonstrates my loyalty to those I work for


No regrets anything less will destroy the piece
If I didn't complete the task or had any regrets, it could have led to problems and conflicts


A boss is a boss learn to respect loyalty
In this line, Ghostface is emphasizing the importance of loyalty and respect in relationships with bosses or other powerful figures


Run off with money get put down in the soil free
If you steal from the group or betray them in any way, you will suffer the consequences, including being killed and buried in the ground


Now sit down and enjoy the feast, boys kabeesh
Now that the task is completed, we can relax and enjoy our success


Been running here for 9 years, and believe me none of them con years
I have been involved in this criminal lifestyle for almost a decade, and I assure you, it has not been easy or glamorous


I done lost about 9 peers
I have lost almost ten of my friends and associates to this lifestyle and the violence that comes with it


Crime career never find fear
I have not let fear prevent me from pursuing a career in crime


Soulless size my guys got a blind fear
My crew may appear invincible, but deep down, they are still afraid of the dangers involved in this lifestyle


My intuition told me play my position and stay loyal
I listened to my instincts and stayed true to my role and commitment


You ain't got to get your hands dirty, I'll do it for you
I'm willing to do the dirty work so that others don't have to


I grew up on the crime side, the New York time side
I come from a rough background and grew up in the dangerous parts of New York City


And gave up on everything when my moms died
I was heartbroken and lost motivation after my mother passed away


Perfected my craft on rooftops and staircases
I honed my criminal skills through practice and trial-and-error in various settings


Pulled robberies with no mask showing my bare face
I was a bold criminal, committing robberies without trying to conceal my identity


Keep it G, low key, and never ball out
I always kept things authentic, low-profile, and didn't flaunt my wealth or success


Got with a sick ass click and went all out
I joined a powerful group and went all-in with my criminal activities


Gat for gat back to back we can ball out
We have each other's backs and can engage in criminal activities together without fear of betrayal


Hundred deep run up in Macy's and aired em all out
We entered Macy's with overwhelming force and attacked everyone inside


Just give the ordering my niggas will come
If I give the order, my crew will come and do whatever is necessary


Give me your gun, point em out and consider it done
Hand me your gun, show me the target, and I will take care of the rest


The streets fathered me, so I'm considered its son
I was raised by the streets and learned everything I know from them


Keep it real stay sucker free and the figures will come
If you stay honest and true to yourself, the money and success will follow


Live by the gun and put my life on the line
I am a violent criminal who is willing to risk my life for my criminal activities


Anybody can get left bullets right through your mind
I am capable of killing anyone who gets in my way by shooting them in the head




Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GINTAS JANUSONIS, JOSH D WERNER, NATHANIEL WILSON, TRAVIS JAMES DOYLE, WESLEY MINGUS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@tomthecat268

THIS TRACK IS SUPER AGGRESSIVE !πŸ’ͺ🏾πŸ’ͺ🏾☠

@theosiotic

I wish this had an instrumental, I'd love to be on this beat

@zechariasitchin2631

What a track. G Rap forever

@czlowiekmorda7079

hip-hop is back. thank you. peace

@frankmejia2874

God damn this goes hard

@g.a.s.s.teamllc.7847

THROWBACK !!!!!! This sounds like a song that could have been produced in the early to mid nineties

@ScumMoneyMusic

Real Raw Respect πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯🐲

@goonaffliated7

YouTube recommended me the sample β€˜Moon Bird’ and I used it for my videography reel. A couple months later I stumble across this and get goosebumps..

@JohnDoe-jb5ko

That beat. Yo. That beat.

@idivineclark6882

I agree,super duper facts!

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