Under Pressure
Jay-Z feat. Dr. Dre Lyrics

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[Dr Dre]
The long-awaited Detox, trick
'Cause maybe I don't wanna stop, maybe I don't wanna quit
Maybe I like hoes, maybe I don't want a wife, maybe I'm psycho
Maybe I'm crazy, maybe I'm strapped right now, just maybe
Maybe it's a relapse, maybe I'm high right now, where the weed at?
Maybe this is ER, maybe I'm a real doc and this is CPR
Maybe we need to breathe some life in this shit

Maybe we are the life of this shit
... Maybe I'm just crazy (Crazy)
What they say? (What they say?)
Sak pase (Sak passe)
Nap boule (nap boule)

[Jay-Z]
Dre, I think I need my sponsor
I'm just outta contro-o-ol
Maybe I got hoes, every little city I go, like Paco
We tryna grow, but I just can't seen her
I'm havin' trouble cleanin' up, I'm like FEMA
All these little haters got me back with the nina
Got me bringin' guns to work, Gilbert Arenas
Unh, I don't know if it's the Goose talkin'
But you know they say the liquor get your truth talkin'
Maybe I should be somewhere in the group talkin'
I'm addicted to coupes and takin' roofs off 'em
I'm addicted to watches, Heckler and Koches
Them bow-legged girls from the projects
It's Bed-Stuy in this bitch (Bed-Stuy!)
Dre, what's up? (It's Westside over here)
I'm in this party, I'm up to no good
And I should be duckin' these clubs, Tiger Woods

[Dr. Dre]
I smoke (I smoke)
I drink (I drink)
I'm supposed to stop, but I can't
Nigga, don't ask why (Ask why)
I get high (I get high)
I'm just livin' my mo'fuckin' life
So what? I'm drunk (I'm drunk)
And I'm a weedhead (Weedhead)
And I'ma treat every day like the weekend
Headfirst off the deep end

Yeah, you know what's happenin'
I'm just relapsin'.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jay-Z feat. Dr. Dre's song Under Pressure depict the internal struggles and pressures that come with being a successful artist. Dr. Dre starts his verse by discussing the long-awaited Detox, which was his third and final album. He then talks about potentially being addicted to women and drugs, which could be hurting him both personally and professionally. The line "Maybe we need to breathe some life in this shit, Maybe we are the life of this shit" may suggest that Dre believes he and Jay-Z are the only hope to revitalize hip hop.

Jay-Z's verse delves into his personal struggles as an artist in the spotlight. He admits to potentially having affairs with women in every city he visits, and he's struggling to clean up his image. He mentions the difficulty of growing as an artist while dealing with haters and distractions. He also talks about his addiction to material possessions and the risks they come with. The line "And I should be duckin' these clubs, Tiger Woods" could be referring to the scandal that caused Tiger Woods' career to plummet.

Overall, the lyrics of Under Pressure explore the challenges that come with fame and success, particularly the struggle to stay true to one's self and avoid falling off the tracks.

Line by Line Meaning

The long-awaited Detox, trick
The much-anticipated album Detox is coming soon, but it might be a deception.

'Cause maybe I don't wanna stop, maybe I don't wanna quit
Possibly, I don't want to quit doing certain things I enjoy.

Maybe I like hoes, maybe I don't want a wife, maybe I'm psycho
Probably, I have an affection for women and do not desire to have a wife, and I might be insane.

Maybe I'm crazy, maybe I'm strapped right now, just maybe
Perhaps I am insane, and I could be carrying a weapon.

Maybe it's a relapse, maybe I'm high right now, where the weed at?
Mayhap I am experiencing a recurrence of addiction, and I currently am under the influence of marijuana.

Maybe this is ER, maybe I'm a real doc and this is CPR
Possibly, this situation requires emergency intervention, and I might be qualified to provide it as a doctor performing CPR.

Maybe we need to breathe some life in this shit
Perhaps we need to revitalize this situation.

Maybe we are the life of this shit
Possibly we are the vitality of this situation.

... Maybe I'm just crazy (Crazy)
Perhaps I am truly insane.

What they say? (What they say?)
What are they claiming or suggesting?

Sak pase (Sak passe)
How are you doing? (in Haitian Creole)

Nap boule (nap boule)
We are good. (in Haitian Creole)

Dre, I think I need my sponsor
Dre, I believe I require the help of my sponsor to overcome addiction.

I'm just outta contro-o-ol
I am unable to control myself properly.

Maybe I got hoes, every little city I go, like Paco
Possibly, I have women in every city I visit, similar to the character Paco from the film Carlito's Way.

We tryna grow, but I just can't seen her
We are attempting to develop, but I cannot seem to locate her.

I'm havin' trouble cleanin' up, I'm like FEMA
I am having difficulty cleaning up my mess, akin to the struggles of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

All these little haters got me back with the nina
These people who dislike me have caused me to use my pistol again.

Got me bringin' guns to work, Gilbert Arenas
I now carry firearms to my workplace, similar to the situation with basketball player Gilbert Arenas.

Unh, I don't know if it's the Goose talkin'
I am not sure if the Goose (Grey Goose vodka) is causing me to say this.

But you know they say the liquor get your truth talkin'
However, it is often said that alcohol can make you more truthful.

Maybe I should be somewhere in the group talkin'
Perhaps I should participate in group counseling sessions.

I'm addicted to coupes and takin' roofs off 'em
I have a habit of acquiring coupes and then removing their tops.

I'm addicted to watches, Heckler and Koches
I have a compulsion for watches and Heckler and Koch firearms.

Them bow-legged girls from the projects
These bow-legged women from the low-income housing complexes.

It's Bed-Stuy in this bitch (Bed-Stuy!)
This is Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, and we are living in it.

Dre, what's up? (It's Westside over here)
Dre, how are you? (I am over here on the Westside)

I'm in this party, I'm up to no good
I am currently at a party, doing something mischievous.

And I should be duckin' these clubs, Tiger Woods
I am aware that I should not be frequenting these places, much like Tiger Woods who got into trouble for his extramarital affairs.

I smoke (I smoke)
I smoke cigarettes.

I drink (I drink)
I consume alcoholic beverages.

I'm supposed to stop, but I can't
I am required to quit, but I am unable to do so.

Nigga, don't ask why (Ask why)
Don't inquire as to why I am behaving this way.

I get high (I get high)
I use drugs to obtain a feeling of euphoria.

I'm just livin' my mo'fuckin' life
I am simply living my life, damn it.

So what? I'm drunk (I'm drunk)
Big deal, I am currently intoxicated.

And I'm a weedhead (Weedhead)
And I am a weed enthusiast.

And I'ma treat every day like the weekend
And I am going to enjoy every day, as if it were the weekend.

Headfirst off the deep end
I am diving headfirst into dangerous and risky situations.

Yeah, you know what's happenin'
Yes, you are aware of what is going on.

I'm just relapsin'.
I am experiencing a relapse of addiction.