Grand Puba (born William Dixon March 4, 1966) is a rapper best known as a m… Read Full Bio ↴Grand Puba (born William Dixon March 4, 1966) is a rapper best known as a member of the group Brand Nubian. He debuted with the group Masters of Ceremony. Their album Dynamite (1988) was hailed by critics, but probably due to lack of sales the group soon disbanded, and Puba emerged as the lead rapper of Brand Nubian. After their innovative and versatile debut album One For All (1990) - covering areas from reggae-influenced rap to new jack swing - Puba left the group and embarked on a solo career. He became a member of the group again in 1998, in time for the album The Return. In 1999, Puba and groupmate Sadat X performed on the track "Once Again" on Handsome Boy Modeling School's concept album So How's Your Girl. . . . Following the group's 2004 effort Fire In The Hole, a rejuvenated Puba appeared on tracks with Beanie Sigel ("Bread and Butter", also featuring groupmate Sadat X), Missy Elliott ("My Struggles" featuring his onetime collaborator Mary J. Blige), and Ugly Duckling ("Party Goin' Down Tonight")

Dreams
Grand Puba Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Uh, uh, yeah, ya-yeah
Ready, ready, ready, ready, uh

[Hook]
Now everybody wants to be rich (Yeah)
Nobody wants to be poor (Uh huh)
Every day ya hope ya hit the lotto (Uh)
So you don't have to slave no more (Yeah, yeah)

In the hood we flip things to them fiends (Uh huh)
Cause even hood niggas got dream (Yeah)
Every day we get caught up in the struggle (Uh)
So we can live life, love, and bubble

[Verse 1]
Some jump up in the music game to get the green
Some do the acting thing to blow up on the movie screen
Some play ball hope they're drafted by a pro team
Some say "man I'ma play the hood and serve the fiends"
Some go to school and after that do that college thing
Some drop out, get high, play the hood and bang
Some do the Wall Street, investors, stocks and bonds
Some don't do shit and still home chilin' with their moms
Some move faster, get their Master's
Doctors, lawyers, self-employors
Some do Mickey-D's or some food spots
Some be radio jocks and slice niggas at barber shops
You got blue-collar cats, you got white-collar cats
You got no-collar cats tryin' to stack a stack
You got cats who spend all day sippin'
And you got cats who just layin' back pimpin'

[Hook]

[Verse 2]
Now you got some who play the store and boost gear
And you got some who hustle heads doin' here
And you got some who secretary, bank tellers
And you got some who just look good for they fellas
You got some who's independent, doin' they thing now
And you got some who want to be they just don't know how
You got some who babysit, daycare and shit
And you got some who hate they job and want to quit
You got some who housewives, want to stay at home
And you got some who's big bosses like Sylvia Rome
You got some who shake for dollars, slide down a pole
And you got some who stressed, playin' the mommy-daddy role
You got some who spend their whole life savin'
You got some who's lookin' for that rest haven
And you got some who tell that boss to kiss they ass
And you got some who think makin' sellin' ends

[Hook]

[Verse 3]
Somebody tried to tell you Heaven or Hell is when ya die
Got chu' guessin' there's a better place up in the sky
See I see Heaven and Hell right here on this planet Earth
But mostly Hell ever since my first day of birth
I've seen Heaven from a distance, use my persistence
Overcome resistance and get me some
Ain't no money trees sittin' outside ya front door
Get up and handle yours if ya tired of bein' poor

[Hook x2]

Overall Meaning

The song "Dreams" by Grand Puba explores the aspirations and struggles people face in their pursuit of a better life. The hook emphasizes the common desire for wealth and escape from poverty. It highlights the hope that winning the lottery could provide freedom from the daily grind. In the hood, even those involved in illegal activities have dreams of success.

Verse 1 discusses the various paths people take to achieve their dreams. Some enter the music industry or become actors, hoping to make it big. Others focus on sports, aiming to be drafted into professional teams. Some choose a life of crime, serving the needs of their community. There are those who prioritize education, going to college or pursuing higher degrees. Some give up and stay stagnant, relying on their parents for support. The verse emphasizes the diverse ways individuals strive for success.

Verse 2 dives deeper into the different roles and professions that people take on. Some resort to stealing or hustling to make ends meet. Others work as secretaries, bank tellers, or focus on their appearance to please their partners. Some strive to be independent, while others feel trapped in jobs they hate. From housewives to powerful businesswomen, everyone has their own dreams and desires. There are also those who resort to stripping or other forms of sex work, while others struggle with the responsibilities of being a parent. Some save their whole lives, while others defy authority and prioritize their own happiness.

In Verse 3, the song challenges the traditional notion of Heaven and Hell. It suggests that Heaven and Hell can be experienced on Earth, with Hell being the prevalent reality for many. The lyricist acknowledges that finding Heaven is difficult, but perseverance and resistance to obstacles can lead to personal growth and success. The lyrics reject the notion that money will magically solve all problems, urging listeners to take action and strive for a better life if they are tired of being poor.

Overall, "Dreams" highlights the diverse dreams, struggles, and aspirations of individuals from different backgrounds. It encourages listeners to actively pursue their dreams and challenges the societal norms that perpetuate inequality and poverty. The song emphasizes the importance of determination, resilience, and individual agency in the pursuit of a better life.

Line by Line Meaning

Now everybody wants to be rich (Yeah)
Everyone desires wealth and success

Nobody wants to be poor (Uh huh)
No one wants to live in poverty

Every day ya hope ya hit the lotto (Uh)
Each day, there is a hope of winning the lottery and escaping financial struggles

So you don't have to slave no more (Yeah, yeah)
To be free from the constant struggle and hard work associated with poverty

In the hood we flip things to them fiends (Uh huh)
In impoverished neighborhoods, we sell drugs to addicts

Cause even hood niggas got dreams (Yeah)
Even those from disadvantaged backgrounds have aspirations

Every day we get caught up in the struggle (Uh)
Every day, we find ourselves trapped in the hardships of life

So we can live life, love, and bubble
To be able to enjoy life, find love, and achieve success

Some jump up in the music game to get the green
Some pursue a career in music to make money

Some do the acting thing to blow up on the movie screen
Some aim to become famous actors in movies

Some play ball hope they're drafted by a pro team
Some aspire to play professional sports and be selected by a team

Some say 'man I'ma play the hood and serve the fiends'
Some choose to stay in their neighborhood and sell drugs to addicts

Some go to school and after that do that college thing
Some attend school and pursue higher education

Some drop out, get high, play the hood and bang
Some leave school, engage in drug use, and participate in gang activities

Some do the Wall Street, investors, stocks and bonds
Some become involved in finance, investing in stocks and bonds

Some don't do shit and still home chilin' with their moms
Some do nothing productive and still live with their mothers

Some move faster, get their Master's
Some excel academically and attain a Master's degree

Doctors, lawyers, self-employors
Some pursue careers as doctors, lawyers, or become self-employed

Some do Mickey-D's or some food spots
Some work at fast-food restaurants or other food establishments

Some be radio jocks and slice niggas at barber shops
Some become radio DJs and engage in arguments or conflicts at barber shops

You got blue-collar cats, you got white-collar cats
There are individuals who work in manual labor jobs (blue-collar) and those in professional or managerial positions (white-collar)

You got no-collar cats tryin' to stack a stack
There are individuals without formal employment trying to accumulate money

You got cats who spend all day sippin'
There are people who spend their time drinking

And you got cats who just layin' back pimpin'
There are individuals who live a leisurely lifestyle, exploiting others

Now you got some who play the store and boost gear
Some engage in shoplifting and stealing merchandise from stores

And you got some who hustle heads doin' here
Some sell drugs to addicts, making a profit

And you got some who secretary, bank tellers
Some work as secretaries or bank tellers

And you got some who just look good for they fellas
Some focus on their appearance to impress their partners

You got some who's independent, doin' they thing now
Some are self-reliant, pursuing their own endeavors

And you got some who want to be they just don't know how
There are individuals who desire success but lack the knowledge or means to achieve it

You got some who babysit, daycare and shit
Some work as babysitters or in daycare facilities

And you got some who hate they job and want to quit
Some dislike their current job and desire to resign

You got some who housewives, want to stay at home
Some choose to be housewives and prefer to be homemakers

And you got some who's big bosses like Sylvia Rome
Some have achieved high positions of authority, similar to Sylvia Rome

You got some who shake for dollars, slide down a pole
Some work as strippers, dancing and earning money

And you got some who stressed, playin' the mommy-daddy role
Some experience stress while taking on the responsibilities of being a mother or father

You got some who spend their whole life savin'
Some dedicate their entire lives to saving money

You got some who's lookin' for that rest haven
Some are searching for a peaceful haven or refuge

And you got some who tell that boss to kiss they ass
Some confidently express their defiance towards their boss

And you got some who think makin' sellin' ends
Some believe that making money by any means leads to success

Somebody tried to tell you Heaven or Hell is when ya die
Somebody attempted to explain that Heaven or Hell is experienced after death

Got chu' guessin' there's a better place up in the sky
Created uncertainty about the existence of a better place in the sky

See I see Heaven and Hell right here on this planet Earth
I perceive both Heaven and Hell in the world we live in

But mostly Hell ever since my first day of birth
However, I have experienced mostly hardships and difficulties since the day I was born

I've seen Heaven from a distance, use my persistence
I have observed moments of happiness, but I work hard to achieve them

Overcome resistance and get me some
To overcome obstacles and attain success

Ain't no money trees sittin' outside ya front door
There are no opportunities for easy wealth waiting at your doorstep

Get up and handle yours if ya tired of bein' poor
Take control of your life and work towards escaping poverty if you are tired of it