Tough Guy
Hate Dept. Lyrics


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Hanging out in the tattoo shops, feeling kind of mean
I know a guy in the city who does my piercings for free

Kings of my peers, I've got no fear
The chicks all dig me and my cases of beer

Tough guy, what's the problem?
Tough guy, what up?
Tough guy, what's the problem?
You want a black eye or what?

Waxing up the ride makes me feel all warm inside
My dick gets hard when I peel away from a stop sign, yeah

This is my town, I drive real fast
I had aΒ ?, I died in a crash

Unto the street I represent




I'll bust your lip, I'll bust my gat,
I'll kick your ass, 'cause I'm tough like that

Overall Meaning

The song Tough Guy by Hate Dept. portrays toxic masculinity and a desire for power and control. The lyrics describe the singer hanging out in tattoo shops and getting piercings for free. He sees himself as the king of his peers and the chicks like him, probably due to his cases of beer. He considers himself a tough guy, with no fear and a desire to assert dominance over others. This is apparent in the lines, "You want a black eye or what?" and "I'll bust your lip, I'll bust my gat, I'll kick your ass, 'cause I'm tough like that."


The singer's sense of dominance extends to his car, which he waxes regularly and takes pride in driving fast. He mentions a previous crash, which may indicate a disregard for safety or a willingness to engage in risky behavior. Overall, the song seems to critique toxic masculinity and the glorification of violence and aggression.


Line by Line Meaning

Hanging out in the tattoo shops, feeling kind of mean
I am spending my time at tattoo shops with a feeling of aggression and roughness


I know a guy in the city who does my piercings for free
I have contacts with a piercer in the city who works for me without charging any fee


Kings of my peers, I've got no fear
I am fearless and the leader among my group of people


The chicks all dig me and my cases of beer
Girls are attracted to me and my beer cases


Tough guy, what's the problem?
What is bothering you, are you trying to find a fault in me?


Tough guy, what up?
What are you looking for, do you want to pick a fight?


Tough guy, what's the problem?
Tell me what's bothering you, do you want me to hit you?


You want a black eye or what?
Are you trying to test my toughness and want to end up with a bruised eye?


Waxing up the ride makes me feel all warm inside
Cleaning my car gives me inner satisfaction and happiness


My dick gets hard when I peel away from a stop sign, yeah
My car's speed and power gives me a sense of sexual satisfaction


This is my town, I drive real fast
I have a sense of ownership in this place and I drive fast to establish my dominance


I had aΒ ?, I died in a crash
Referring to an injury or accident that killed someone


Unto the street I represent
I am loyal to the street I grew up on and represent it with pride


I'll bust your lip, I'll bust my gat,
I am willing to harm you physically, either by hitting you or even using a gun


I'll kick your ass, 'cause I'm tough like that
I am capable of beating anyone because of my tough personality




Contributed by Caden G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Phyuck Yiu

Killer Tune Ya-Huh!!

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