His second album, Round 2 was released on March 10, 2009, which peaked at number four on the Billboard 200. After the undergoing of label changes and several release delays, Holliday would finally release his third album, Guilty Conscience in January 2014. The album would only manage to peak at number forty-two on the US music charts.
Thug Commandments
J. Holiday Lyrics
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Don't sip on that gin pour a little out
Let your life relfect what comes outta ya mouth
And never pull out your piece unless you dumpin' out
Never fear no man but know when to run
Leave no man standing til the battle is won
And when its getting real good better pull it out
When niggas front don't give up my brother sweat it out
And don't smoke what you don't roll up
And act right if ya know you can't fight (take it easy)
Take a test if you unsure if its yours
Theres a 1 percent chance that it might be another mans.
And we know the life we been livin, one day we might fall
And the only choices we givin got our backs against the wall.
And I know we're all god's children
He's got love for us all
We been livin these thugs, these thug commandments
Stop cuffing that young girl let her breathe
Be a father to you kids let hell deceased
No do-rags in the lords house
Trust in the lord but keep a glock in your house
When you talking to a man look him dead in his eye
Never get high off your own supply
Gotta think fast stash a little cash
Watch them snake niggas they slither in the grass
And don't smoke what you don't roll up
And act right if ya know you can't fight (take it easy)
Take a test if you unsure if its yours
Theres a 1 percent chance that it might be another mans.
And we know the life we been livin, one day we might fall
And the only choices we givin got our backs against the wall.
And I know we're all god's children
He's got love for us all
We been livin these thugs, these thug commandments
We fall down but we get up
We sell out and we reup
And we keep watch from the rooftops for the cops
Hi snitches tap the telephone switches
We get paid but we wont stay
Right back slanging with a story to tell
And it goes round and round like a revolving wheel
It never changes thats how the game is
And you know the life that we live in that one day we might fall
And the only choices we've been givin got our backs against a wall
And we know we're all god's children
He's got love for us all
We've been livin these thug (these thug) these thug (these thug) commandments (we share)
We fall down but we get up
We sell out and we reup
And we keep watch from the rooftops for the cops
Hi snitches tap the telephone switches
We get paid but we wont stay
Right back slanging with a story to tell
And it goes round and round like a revolving wheel
It never changes its all a game kid
The lyrics of J. Holiday's song Thug Commandments provide advice and guidelines for living the thug life. The song opens with a warning not to choke on marijuana smoke while emphasizing the importance of self-expression and responsibility for one's words. J. Holiday then stresses the importance of being brave but knowing when to retreat if necessary, advising listeners to leave no one standing until the battle is won. He also counsels listeners to keep their weapons hidden unless they're prepared to use them and to never be afraid of any man.
The second verse of the song encourages listeners to abstain from drugs they did not buy themselves and to behave honorably, even when unable to fight. J. Holiday continues by warning listeners to be careful of romantic entanglements, reminding them to be fathers to their children and to avoid wearing do-rags in church. He also recommends speaking directly to people and avoiding getting high on their own supply. Finally, the song acknowledges the challenges of living the thug life and reminds listeners to stay close to family and to be cautious of snakes in the grass.
Overall, Thug Commandments highlights the struggles and realities of living life as a thug while emphasizing the importance of self-control, responsibility, and tough love.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't choke on that homeboy blow it out
Don't struggle with addiction, get rid of it
Don't sip on that gin pour a little out
Don't drink alcohol excessively
Let your life reflect what comes outta ya mouth
Your actions should speak louder than your words
And never pull out your piece unless you dumpin' out
Don't go for violence unless it is absolutely necessary
Never fear no man but know when to run
Don't be afraid of anybody but use your judgement to decide when to run away
Leave no man standing til the battle is won
Fight until you win and don't leave anyone standing
And when its getting real good better pull it out
If things are going well, be prepared for anything
When niggas front don't give up my brother sweat it out
If someone is fronting, don't give up, keep pushing
And don't smoke what you don't roll up
Don't rely on others and prefer to do things yourself
And act right if ya know you can't fight (take it easy)
Don't look for trouble if you can't handle it
Take a test if you unsure if its yours
Confirm what belongs to you before you claim it
Theres a 1 percent chance that it might be another mans.
There's always a small chance of things not belonging to you
And we know the life we been livin, one day we might fall
We understand that the way we're living might lead to our downfall
And the only choices we givin got our backs against the wall.
Our options are limited and we have few choices
And I know we're all god's children
Everyone is equal in God's eyes
He's got love for us all
God loves everyone, despite their flaws and mistakes
We been livin these thugs, these thug commandments
We've been living life following these rules, even though they're not ideal
Stop cuffing that young girl let her breathe
Don't control or suffocate someone, let them live their life
Be a father to you kids let hell deceased
Take responsibility for your children and be a good parent
No do-rags in the lords house
Respect the sanctity of religious places by dressing appropriately
Trust in the lord but keep a glock in your house
Have faith in God but be prepared for anything, including danger
When you talking to a man look him dead in his eye
Be confident when talking to someone, maintain eye contact
Never get high off your own supply
Don't consume your own products or believe your own hype
Gotta think fast stash a little cash
Be quick on your feet and always have some money saved
Watch them snake niggas they slither in the grass
Be wary of fake friends and people who deceive
We fall down but we get up
We might fail, but we keep fighting and persevering
We sell out and we reup
We might run out of stock, but we'll replenish and keep selling
And we keep watch from the rooftops for the cops
We're vigilant and cautious, always on the lookout for the police
Hi snitches tap the telephone switches
Be careful of snitches and watch out for wiretaps
We get paid but we wont stay
We might make money, but we won't settle and stop striving
Right back slanging with a story to tell
We might be dealing drugs, but we have experiences to share
And it goes round and round like a revolving wheel
Life keeps going in circles, repeating the same patterns
It never changes thats how the game is
The way things are and the game we're playing never change
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: VITO COLAPIETRO, NEELY DINKINS, FRANK OLIPHANT, TONY HESTER, BALEWA MUHAMMAD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind