American Dream
Jeezy feat. J. Cole & Kendrick Lamar Lyrics

(Cryin', cryin', cryin', cryin') Yeah, what's up? (Yeah, what's up?)
The song begins with Jeezy asking what's up. The cryin' in the background may imply that America is not all it's cracked up to be.

Welcome to America baby (uh)
Jeezy welcomes the listener to America.

Home of the brave, American dream, you know? (yeah) (dream baby)
Jeezy references the American dream of prosperity and success.

Uh, uh, yeah, let's go
Jeezy urges listeners to come on a journey with him.

I just want a big ol' bag of money when I see my jeweler (yeah)
Jeezy wants to acquire wealth to the point where he can walk into a jewelry store and buy whatever he wants.

Get a hard-on when I'm countin' up that mula (what's up?)
Jeezy finds it exciting to count all his money.

Scarface, into livin' life like a king (yeah)
Jeezy looks up to Scarface as a symbol of the luxury lifestyle he aspires to.

Every day eatin' good with my team (the American dream) (what's up?)
Jeezy and his team are living the American dream by enjoying good food every day.

First they said I wouldn't, but I knew that I would make it (I knew it)
Jeezy persevered through adversity because he believed in his own success.

Copped my first pie, yeah, I knew that I could bake it (what's up?)
Jeezy bought his first drug shipment and knew he could successfully sell it.

Scarface vision, livin' life like a king (hey)
Jeezy repeats his admiration for Scarface's luxurious lifestyle.

Every day grindin' hard with my team (the American dream) (yeah, oh)
Jeezy and his team work hard every day to achieve the American dream of success.

You either good or you great
Jeezy believes that you are either successful or not in life.

You either real or you fake
Jeezy thinks people are either genuine or pretentious.

That's why I stay spittin' the real
Jeezy remains authentic and honest in his music.

Because the real ones relate
Jeezy's authentic music resonates with his real fans.

Y'all must was raised by some haters
Jeezy insults people who were raised by negative influences.

You niggas go 'head and hate
Jeezy encourages people to hate on him because it motivates him to succeed.

Four car garage for the 'Rari, that bitch came with the estate
Jeezy has a car collection that includes a Ferrari that came with a garage in a mansion he owns.

I swear them streets get so tricky, glad I ain't fall for the bait
Jeezy avoided the pitfalls of the streets and is glad he didn't fall into traps.

So focused and I'm determined, can see that shit in my face
Jeezy's strong work ethic and determination is visible on his face.

Lil' bitch, ain't shit 'bout me basic
Jeezy is not basic and does not want to be treated like a nobody.

Hit a lick on them bitches and went and iced out the bracelet
Jeezy stole from someone and bought an expensive bracelet with his illegal earnings.

Never let my flaws and my past come get the best of me (never)
Jeezy does not let his past mistakes define his future.

Turn a two fifty to a half, I got the recipe
Jeezy has a recipe to turn a $250 investment into a $500 profit.

First my president was black, now my president is wack (wack)
Jeezy is very disappointed with the current president of the U.S.

I ain't never goin' broke, what's American in that? (hey, let's go)
Jeezy takes pride in never going broke while living the American dream of financial success.

Got money to make, blow out the candles then cut up the cake
Jeezy has money to earn and is ready to celebrate every financial milestone.

Then I put it on plate, I'm runnin' the game, you runnin' in place
Jeezy boasts that he is running the game and others are not making moves as fast.

Still a youngin' at heart, but mentally, bitch I'm a hundred and eight
Jeezy is youthful but mature in his thinking.

Like Pun in the late nineties, my niggas is jugglin' weight
Jeezy's crew is like the late rapper Big Pun, who was known for selling drugs.

Runnin' from state to state, gunnin' up ways to safety
Jeezy's crew travels and makes deals all over the country while staying safe with weapons.

I'm on a paper chase, whatever it takes to make me
Jeezy is focused on earning money by any means necessary.

A millionaire, silly 'cause how many really get there?
Jeezy acknowledges that becoming a millionaire is rare, but he still wants to achieve this level of success.

I mean, how many niggas is Jeezy?
Jeezy believes he is unique and not easily replaceable.

Y'all make this shit sound so easy
Jeezy thinks that others make it seem easy to be successful.

Breezy, turn on the TV, see these niggas that trap on the CD
Jeezy is frustrated by rappers who talk about trapping on their albums but do not actually live that lifestyle.

Meanwhile, back home, my niggas sell crack at the BP (slide)
Jeezy's crew sells drugs at a local convenience store rather than just rapping about it on a CD.

Hopin' one day they can be the (slide)
Jeezy's crew hopes to one day be as successful as he is.

Niggas that's there on the screen (slide)
Jeezy's crew wants to be successful enough to be on TV and in other media.

'Cause that's the American dream (slide)
Jeezy believes that becoming successful despite the odds is the essence of the American dream.

Now here go the thing, listen
Jeezy wants listeners to pay attention and take his message seriously.

Hysterical screams, comin' from mothers that buried their kings
Jeezy describes the grief felt by mothers who have lost their sons to violence.

Or the unbearable pain of watchin' them walk out with the sheriff in chains
Jeezy acknowledges the pain of being arrested and imprisoned and the impact it has on families.

Becomin' a number, they no longer care bout the name
Once someone is in prison, they are treated as a number and not as a person.

White folks been gettin' rich off of cocaine
Jeezy reminds listeners of the role that white people play in the drug trade and how they profit from it.

Through some underhanded methods, I don't got time to explain
Jeezy believes that there are covert and unethical ways that white people profit from the drug trade.

Out of fear that I won't reach 'em and since preachin' ain't my thing
Jeezy is hesitant to explain because he fears people will not listen and because preaching is not his style.

I just drop a gem or two within a few verses I sing
Jeezy uses his music to convey messages and wisdom to his listeners.

For all my real niggas trapped inside the game, you know that already
Jeezy addresses those who are trapped in a life of crime and poverty and knows they understand his message.

(Yeah yuh)
Jeezy makes an adlib to his own song.

These streets made for ballin' (yeah yuh)
Jeezy thinks that the streets are meant for hustling and getting money.

Ten toes ain't for fallin' (yeah yuh)
Jeezy advises listeners to be steady and focused.

I hear the world callin'
Jeezy hears the rest of the world hoping for his success.

Tell me if ya all in (tell me if ya all in)
Jeezy wants to know if his listeners are also willing to work hard for success.

Look, look, I gotta eat, I gotta, make money with
Jeezy reiterates his need for money and financial success.

I gotta feast, I gotta rely on what is known to the travelin' man
Jeezy has to work hard and use his knowledge of the streets to be successful.

Set his own, got my Bible and my rifle in my hand, oh yeah
Jeezy is self-sufficient and ready for anything with his bible and gun in hand.

I gotta eat, I gotta, make money with
Jeezy repeats his need for money and financial success.

I gotta feast, I gotta rely on what is known to the travelin' man
Jeezy repeats that he has to work hard and use his street knowledge to be successful.

(Cryin', cryin', cryin', cryin')
The song ends with the same crying sounds it began with, perhaps to remind listeners of the less glamorous aspects of the American dream and the struggle that comes with it.