Jack began making and posting music online in 2017 while studying at a culinary school. In 2020, he moved to Washington D.C. and signed with the Columbia Records‘ label. Then, in January 2021, he released his debut album MIXED EMOTIONS, which included the singles MORBID MIND, BOTTOM OF THE BOTTLE and GIN N JUICE.
Music has always been in his family as his father and uncle are both musicians, so he developed an early love for music as both an art form and an outlet. Blending the genres of hip-hop, alternative, and folk, Jack sculpts his own sound with his touching stories. Through his songs, he shares honest accounts of his struggles, raising awareness about mental health, drug addiction, and redemption—all situations and obstacles he has personally faced and overcame.
Dirty money
Jack Kays Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Strugglin' for my survival
Stuck inside, I'm in a cycle
Goin' through it with my eyes closed
Three-Five in a Backwood
No weed, bring a pack through
Streets dry, had to trap good
Dirty money isn't that good
Dirty money isn't that good
Yeah
Yeah, four walls and a window
Get high but I been low
I been trynna stay ten-toed
I done had a lot of sins though
Every day I gotta cover up
Who I am, you isn't one of us
I could never be the runner up
I was down, I had to toughen up
Puttin' liquor in my Minute-Maid
Never had it, had to get it made
Workin' for it, never gettin' paid
Do it over every seven days
'Member how bad I was bleedin'
Made it through a lot of seasons
Feel like I ain't have a reason
Stuck in the mud, I was screamin'
I been feelin' suicidal
Strugglin' for my survival
Stuck inside, I'm in a cycle
Goin' through it with my eyes closed
Three-Five in a Backwood
No weed, bring a pack through
Streets dry, had to trap good
Dirty money isn't that good
I been feelin' suicidal
Strugglin' for my survival
Stuck inside, I'm in a cycle
Goin' through it with my eyes closed
Three-Five in a Backwood
No weed, bring a pack through
Streets dry, had to trap good
Dirty money isn't that good
Dirty money isn't that good
Yeah-yeah
The above lyrics from Jack Kays's song DIRTY MONEY paint a picture of a young man who is going through a tough time in his life. He is struggling with suicidal thoughts and is trying to survive. He is feeling stuck in a cycle and is going through life with his eyes closed. The mention of smoking Three-Five in a Backwood, which is a type of cigar, and bringing a pack through, which could refer to drugs, shows that he is trying to cope with his problems by self-medicating. However, he knows that the dirty money he earns from selling drugs is not good and is not the solution to his problems.
The second verse talks about how the singer is trying to cover up who he really is and seems to be ashamed of his past. He has had a lot of sins and is trying to stay on the straight and narrow. He has never been the runner-up, and despite being down, he had to toughen up. He drinks liquor in his Minute-Maid, which means he is using alcohol to escape his problems. He has to work hard every day to make ends meet, but never gets paid enough. Despite all his struggles, he has made it through a lot of seasons, and feels like he has no reason to be stuck in the mud, but he is.
Overall, the lyrics depict a young man going through a tough time in his life, struggling to make ends meet, and trying to cope with his problems through self-medication. He is aware that the dirty money he earns is not the solution and that he needs to get out of the cycle he is stuck in to survive.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been feelin' suicidal
I've been struggling with my mental health and have had thoughts about taking my life
Strugglin' for my survival
I've been trying to stay alive, both physically and mentally
Stuck inside, I'm in a cycle
I feel trapped in a pattern of negativity and can't seem to break free
Goin' through it with my eyes closed
I'm just trying to get through each day without really seeing what's happening around me
Three-Five in a Backwood
I'm smoking a cigar filled with 0.35 grams of marijuana
No weed, bring a pack through
I don't have any marijuana, please bring me some
Streets dry, had to trap good
There's a shortage of drugs in the area, so I had to resort to selling harder and riskier substances
Dirty money isn't that good
The money I make from selling drugs isn't worth the negative impact it has on my life and well-being
Yeah
An affirmation
Yeah, four walls and a window
I'm stuck in this room, surrounded by the same walls and only able to see outside through a window
Get high but I been low
Even though I use drugs to try and escape my problems, I still feel depressed and hopeless
I been trynna stay ten-toed
I've been trying to stay alert and aware of my surroundings and the dangers that come with this lifestyle
I done had a lot of sins though
I've made many mistakes and done things that I'm not proud of
Every day I gotta cover up
I have to constantly hide my true self and what I'm doing from others
Who I am, you isn't one of us
You wouldn't understand what I'm going through and the things I have to do to survive
I could never be the runner up
I have to be the best and most successful at what I'm doing because I have no other options
I was down, I had to toughen up
I was in a low place and had to become stronger mentally and emotionally to keep going
Puttin' liquor in my Minute-Maid
I mix alcohol with a type of juice to make it easier to drink and conceal my alcohol consumption
Never had it, had to get it made
I've never had an opportunity to succeed, so I have to make one for myself
Workin' for it, never gettin' paid
I'm working hard and putting in the effort, but I'm not seeing the financial or personal rewards
Do it over every seven days
I have to repeat this same cycle every week
'Member how bad I was bleedin'
I remember how much I used to struggle and how far I've come
Made it through a lot of seasons
I've survived through many difficult times and struggles
Feel like I ain't have a reason
I sometimes feel like there's no point in continuing to live this way
Stuck in the mud, I was screamin'
I felt like I was trapped and couldn't escape the negative cycle that I was in
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Chi'kah Washington-Kuwahara, Jack Kays, Travis Barker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tristinlaboucan6323
I been feelin’ suicidal
Strugglin’ for my survival
Stuck inside I'm in a cycle
Goin’ through it with my eyes closed
Three Five in a backwood
No weed bring a pack through
Streets dry had to trap good
Dirty money isn’t that good
Dirty money isn’t that good
Yeah
Four walls and a window
Get high but I been low
I been trynna stay ten toed
I done had a lot of sins though
Everyday I gotta cover up
Who I am you isn’t one of us
I could never be the runner up
I was down I had to toughen up
Puttin’ liquor in my Minute-Maid
Never had it had to get it made
Workin’ for it never gettin’ paid
Do it over every seven days
‘Member how bad I was bleedin’
Made it through a lot of seasons
Feel like I ain't have a reason
Stuck in the mud I was screamin’
I been feeling’ suicidal
Strugglin’ for my survival
Stuck inside I'm in a cycle
Goin’ through it with my eyes closed
Three Five in a back wood
No weed bring a pack through
Streets dry had to trap good
Dirty money isn’t that good
Dirty money isn’t that good
@SoulSerum
love you jack, thanks for letting us work on this 💜
@happytheatsz
I found Jack through you guys like a year ago. thank you, keep up the good work
@calebmahan1378
Glad I found you through jack before he blew up. Talent is off the charts of both parts 👏
@AndenGeorge
Y’all killed it
@itschristyleigh4586
I just found Jack wit y'all's ad and I'm so happy rn
@comronroodsari742
@itschristyleigh4🎮🖤 🛐❤️🔥😭📿
@cwg2017
You’re so unbelievably versatile man. This is a huge change from when I first heard you. Keep progressing & you’ll blow up. I’m glad ill be here to witness it all.
@TheLostmindz420
Saw him live and he is str8 raw fire talent. 🔥
@yungmathers4402
This is what true music is and it's him speaking truthfully. You can see this man is struggling with life itself but he keeps making music because it helps him with his great escape from reality. That's what makes this project very gifted and true. Big respect for you Jack Kay's I'd love to make a project with you someday.
@uncleanarchybeats
Same ❤