Gotta Have It
Jay-Z Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uh-huh, uh-huh
(What you need, what, what you need)
(I got what you need, what, what you need)
(What you need, what, what you need)
(I got what you need)
Money matrimony, yeah, they tryna break the marriage up
Who gon' act phonier? Who gon' try to embarrass ya?
I'ma need a day off, I think I'll call Ferris up
Bueller had a Mueller, but I switched it for a Miele
'Cause I'm richer, and prior to this shit was movin' freebase
Had a conference with the DJ's (yeah), Puerto Rico three-days
Poli' with the PDs, now they got our shit on replay
Sorry I'm in pajamas, but I just got off the PJ
And last party we had, they shut down Prive
(Ain't that where the Heat play?) Yep (niggas hate ballers these days) yup
Ain't that like LeBron James? (Ain't that just like D-Wade, wait)
(What you need, what, what you need)
(I got what you need, what, what you need)
(What you need, what, what you need)
(I got what you need)
What's up, what's up, what's up, what's up
What's up ma'fucka, where my money at? (what you need)
You gon' make me come down to your house where yo' mommy at (what you need)
Mummy wrap the kids, have 'em cryin' for they mommy back
Dummy that your daddy is, tell 'em I just want my racks
(Racks on racks on racks) racks
(Maybachs on bachs on bachs on bachs on bachs) who in that?
Oh shit, it's just blacks on blacks on blacks
(Hundred stack) how you get it? (Nigga, layin' raps on tracks)
I wish I could give you this feelin', I'm planking on a million
I'm riding through yo' hood, you can bank I ain't got no ceiling
(Made a left on Nostrand Ave) right (we in Bed-Stuy)
Made a right on 79th, I'm coming down South Shore Drive
(I remain Chi-town) Brooklyn 'til I die
(Take 'em on home, take 'em on home)
(Take 'em on home, take 'em on home)
(I got what you need, what, what you need)
(Take 'em on home)
(What you need, what, what you need)
(I got what you need, what, what you need)
(Take 'em on home, take 'em on home)
(Take 'em on home, take 'em on home)
(Tryna hurt my name, huh?)
The first part of the song "Gotta Have It" is an introduction that sets the tone for the rest of the song. The artists are asking for their headphones to be turned up, indicating that this is going to be a loud and energetic track. The repeated phrase "what you need" is likely a nod to the idea that Jay-Z and Kanye West are providing what the audience wants and needs in terms of music and entertainment.
The following verses address some societal issues the artists have faced as successful Black men. They call out the way that White America has tried to assassinate their character, likely referencing the way that successful Black people are often targeted and criticized by the media and society as a whole. They also mention money and marriage, possibly alluding to the fact that wealthy Black people are sometimes accused of abandoning their roots and cultural values. The line "who gon' act phonier?" suggests that others are pretending to be something they're not in order to fit in or gain success.
The later verses discuss the artists' wealth and success, referencing private jets and expensive cars. The chorus repeats the phrase "what you need" once again, perhaps reminding the listener that the artists have everything they need and want because of their success. The final line, "tryna hurt my name, huh?" could be interpreted as a challenge to those who would try to tear the artists down.
Line by Line Meaning
Turn my headphones up, louder
Please increase the volume of my headphones
Hello, hello, hello, hello, white America, assassinate my character
Addressing the racial bias in America's media and the attempt to defame his character
Money matrimony, yeah, they tryna break the marriage up
People are trying to disrupt the bond between him and his wealth
Who gon' act phonier? Who gon' try to embarrass ya?
Who will be the next person to act fake and shame him?
I'ma need a day off, I think I'll call Ferris up
He needs a break and is referencing the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Bueller had a Mueller, but I switched it for a Miele
Referencing the car in the movie, but he has upgraded to a Miele
'Cause I'm richer, and prior to this shit was movin' freebase
He is now wealthy and has moved on from his previous struggles with addiction
Had a conference with the DJ's (yeah), Puerto Rico three-days
He had meetings with DJs and took a three-day trip to Puerto Rico
Poli' with the PDs, now they got our shit on replay
Had discussions with the police department and now their music is getting more airplay
Sorry I'm in pajamas, but I just got off the PJ
Apologizing for being in his pajamas but he just got off his private jet
And last party we had, they shut down Prive
The previous party they had was shut down at the club Prive
Ain't that where the Heat play? Yep (niggas hate ballers these days) yup
The club is where the Miami Heat basketball team plays and people are jealous of wealthy sports players
Ain't that like LeBron James? (Ain't that just like D-Wade, wait)
Comparison between the previous line and superstar basketball players LeBron James and Dwyane Wade
What's up ma'fucka, where my money at? (what you need)
Asking where his money is
You gon' make me come down to your house where yo' mommy at (what you need)
Threatening to visit someone's home where their mother lives
Mummy wrap the kids, have 'em cryin' for they mommy back
The situation has become so dangerous that the kids need to be protected
Dummy that your daddy is, tell 'em I just want my racks
Insulting someone's father and stating that he only wants his money
(Racks on racks on racks) racks
Repeatedly mentioning the stacks of money he has
(Maybachs on bachs on bachs on bachs on bachs) who in that?
Listing luxury cars - Maybachs - and asking who would have that many
Oh shit, it's just blacks on blacks on blacks
Realizing that everyone in the car is black
(Hundred stack) how you get it? (Nigga, layin' raps on tracks)
Someone asks how he came across money and he responds with making music
I wish I could give you this feelin', I'm planking on a million
He wishes he could give others the feeling of being wealthy and is close to having a net worth of a million dollars
I'm riding through yo' hood, you can bank I ain't got no ceiling
He is driving through someone's neighborhood and there is no limit to how much money he has
(Made a left on Nostrand Ave) right (we in Bed-Stuy)
Naming the streets and neighborhoods he is driving through
Made a right on 79th, I'm coming down South Shore Drive
Continuing to name the streets and areas he is driving through
(Take 'em on home, take 'em on home)
Ending the song with a repeated lyric that is open to interpretation, possibly to take his listeners home
(Tryna hurt my name, huh?)
Ending with a rhetorical question, wondering who is out there trying to ruin his reputation
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: James Brown, Fred Wesley, St. Clair Pickney, Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, Shawn Carter, Joseph Roach
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pico2722
still cant believe the synths are actually cudis hums, absolute masterpiece
@0jaeden
No it isn’t, he’s just humming over the synths
@sipho9539
@@0jaeden he's right...they are Cudi's synths.
@0jaeden
@@sipho9539 bro u clearly don’t know what you’re talking about so I’m not gonna argue 😂😂
@ogsar
it's actually from Spectrasonics' Heart of Asia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox4BEfCYrc8
@andrewp9827
Nah its not
https://youtu.be/Kapkc5O6W9k
Go to 2:54:23
@_M3WTW0_
“Racks on racks on racks, maybachs on bachs on bachs on bachs on bachs” Till this day that is one of my favorite Kanye lyrics😂😂.
@soberasagofer6501
WHO IN THAT?
@GUNZANDBUTTER
@@soberasagofer6501 Oh shit…Its just blacks on blacks on blacks…
@sickfoo5506
Hunnid stacks, how you get it?
Nigga layin raps on tracks