Joell will release his street album called "The Brick (Bodega Chronicles)" April 24 on Koch Records. The album was recorded while Joell was trying to get signed and going through some tough times personally. Even though he is signed to Aftermath Entertainment, Dr.Dre allowed him to release the street album on Koch Records. The Brick will feature productions from DJ Premier, Showbiz, The Alchemist, Domingo, Ho Chi from Killahertz Productions, Lil' Fame of M.O.P., Novel, and Moss, among others. Guest spots will include Big Daddy Kane, Styles P, Big Noyd, M.O.P, Akon, Immortal Technique, Grafh, Ras Kass, Stimuli, and Novel.
He is currently part of the hip-hop supergroup Slaughterhouse
Better Than
Joell Ortiz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shakin' up, stickin', stickin' up
Anyone that would come through
I was livin' up, middle finger up
Still don't give a fuck 'bout it man it's
So I'm livin' better now coogi sweater now
Drop top the Benz i'm the man girlfriend
So when they ask me how I do
I'm doin better than I should
I know they all had me counted out
Gettin' all that illegal money
I would count it out
In front of a corner bodega
I was down and out
With a gun on my waist for the
Haters I would shout it out
"FUCK THE WORLD!" from the loudest mouth
And I meant every word of that
And that's without a doubt
Everyday it would never changed
Just the same old thing
Tryna come up with different ways for
Me to scrape some change ramen noodles
Beef patties from right up the block
Chicken wings
French fries from the Chinese spot
Good smoke, plastic cup filled up to the top
And dice games that I would stick
Up if I lost a lot
Say what y'all wanna say that's
Just how I was before this music popped
I was a different Yaowa cuz
Like, where you from? Who you
Know? Where you goin'?
Thank God that I can flow
I daydreamed about this on the stairs
With good weed smoke cloudin'
Up the hallway air
Brown paper bag coverin' the strongest beer
In my project lobby
Now my lobby got a concierge
I remember all the winters
Troopin' up the ave snow was everywhere
I'm tryin' not to bust my ass
Walk the furthest from the curb cause
With the luck I had
That disgusting splash used to soak me
When the bus would pass
Now the bus look like an
Ant when I'm takin' flight
And I could turn a boring
Day into a Vegas night
From that pint of E&J that
I would chase with Sprite
To them pretty bottles of Rosé
On the way with lights
I fantasized now i'm livin' out my fantasy
I know them haters mad at me like
"Yo how can this be?"
I fucked two bad bitches in a row
Everyday I thank God that I can flow
Thank God I found heaven yup peace sign
That's me throwin' my blessings up
Coulda been in that cell
Prayin' they let me up
Daydreamin' 'bout being free
I'm missin' much
Coulda been six feet, deep in a hole
Trapped in the game, the devil after my soul
Coulda been in back of
The car traffickin' blow
But I'm lion hearted
I found the yellow brick road
Now it's plenty liquor
Singles for these strippers
Goddamn right if she dime, I'm gon lick her
Young dope boys they screamin'
I'm that nigga
Ten bad bitches, me and my niggas
Thinkin' back on my worst days
Now we sip champagne when we thirsty, hey!
I guess I'm livin' like I should
When they ask me how I'm doin, I say
"Better than good"
The lyrics of Joell Ortiz's song "Better Than" speak to his journey from a difficult past to a more successful present. In the first verse, he reflects on his previous life in the hood, engaging in criminal activities and not caring about the consequences. However, he emphasizes that he is now living better, sporting a Coogi sweater, driving a drop-top Benz, and feeling like a boss. He acknowledges that he is doing better than he should, given his past actions and circumstances.
In the second verse, Ortiz talks about being counted out by others and relying on illegal means to make money. He mentions feeling downtrodden and resorting to expressing his frustration loudly. He describes his everyday struggles, scraping for change and relying on cheap food. However, he also expresses gratitude for his ability to rap and flow, which eventually paved the way for his escape from that lifestyle.
The third verse speaks to Ortiz's realization of how far he has come. He remembers daydreaming about a better future while smoking weed in the hallway of his building. Now, he has a concierge in his lobby, a sign of his elevated status. He reflects on the challenges he faced, walking cautiously to avoid the splash of passing buses. But now, he can soar above it all, turning a dull day into a glamorous Vegas night. He acknowledges that his success seems unlikely to those who doubted him, but he is grateful for his ability to fulfill his fantasies now.
Overall, "Better Than" is a song that highlights Joell Ortiz's journey from a troubled past to a more prosperous present. It conveys themes of gratitude, resilience, and the transformative power of music in his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Coulda been still up in the hood
I could have remained in the impoverished neighborhood
Shakin' up, stickin', stickin' up
Engaging in criminal activities like robberies
Anyone that would come through
Targeting anyone who happened to pass by
I was livin' up, middle finger up
I was rebellious and unapologetic about my lifestyle
Still don't give a fuck 'bout it man it's
I still don't care about societal expectations
So I'm livin' better now coogi sweater now
Now I'm living a more luxurious life with expensive clothing
Drop top the Benz i'm the man girlfriend
Driving a convertible Mercedes Benz, showing off my success to others
So when they ask me how I do
When people inquire about my well-being
I'm doin better
I am doing significantly well
I'm doin better than I should
I am surpassing expectations and achieving greater success
I know they all had me counted out
People assumed I would never succeed
Gettin' all that illegal money
Earning income through illicit activities
I would count it out
I would carefully tally the cash
In front of a corner bodega
In the presence of a neighborhood convenience store
I was down and out
I was struggling and lacked opportunities
With a gun on my waist for the
Carrying a firearm to protect myself from
Haters I would shout it out
My detractors who I would vocalize my defiance towards
"FUCK THE WORLD!" from the loudest mouth
Expressing my frustration and rebellious outlook on life
And I meant every word of that
I genuinely believed and stood by my words
And that's without a doubt
There was no hesitation or uncertainty
Everyday it would never changed
Every day was monotonous and repetitive
Just the same old thing
Nothing exciting or different
Tryna come up with different ways for
Attempting to find new methods to
Me to scrape some change ramen noodles
Earn money to afford basic necessities like instant noodles
Beef patties from right up the block
Buying inexpensive food items from nearby
Chicken wings
Affordable food option
French fries from the Chinese spot
Purchasing cheap fast food from a Chinese restaurant
Good smoke, plastic cup filled up to the top
Enjoying marijuana and filling a disposable cup to its brim
And dice games that I would stick
Participating in gambling activities where I would cheat
Up if I lost a lot
Robbing others if I faced significant losses
Say what y'all wanna say that's
People can say whatever they want, but it
Just how I was before this music popped
Reflects my previous lifestyle before gaining success in the music industry
I was a different Yaowa cuz
I had a distinct personality and identity
Like, where you from? Who you
Questions about my origin and
Know? Where you goin'?
Future aspirations and plans
Thank God that I can flow
Expressing gratitude for my ability to rap
I daydreamed about this on the stairs
I fantasized about my current success while sitting on the staircase
With good weed smoke cloudin'
Surrounded by the smoke of high-quality marijuana
Up the hallway air
Filling the hallway with the scent of marijuana
Brown paper bag coverin' the strongest beer
Concealing a bottle of potent beer with a brown paper bag
In my project lobby
Within the common area of my low-income housing complex
Now my lobby got a concierge
My building now has a doorman to provide assistance
I remember all the winters
Recalling the memories of past winters
Troopin' up the ave snow was everywhere
Walking along the avenue where snow covered everything
I'm tryin' not to bust my ass
Striving to avoid slipping and falling
Walk the furthest from the curb cause
Walking away from the edge of the sidewalk since
With the luck I had
Due to my unfortunate circumstances
That disgusting splash used to soak me
Avoiding getting splashed by dirty water from passing vehicles
When the bus would pass
As buses drove by
Now the bus look like an
Now, when I see a bus
Ant when I'm takin' flight
It appears small and insignificant compared to my achievements
And I could turn a boring
I have the ability to transform a mundane
Day into a Vegas night
Day into an exciting and eventful experience
From that pint of E&J that
Starting from a small bottle of E&J brandy
I would chase with Sprite
Drinking Sprite to accompany the brandy
To them pretty bottles of Rosé
Progressing towards drinking attractive bottles of Rosé wine
On the way with lights
Illuminated by flashy lights
I fantasized now i'm livin' out my fantasy
My dreams have become reality, and I now live the life I once imagined
I know them haters mad at me like
I am aware that my detractors are envious of my success
"Yo how can this be?"
They express disbelief and confusion about my achievements
I fucked two bad bitches in a row
I had sexual encounters with two attractive women consecutively
Everyday I thank God that I can flow
Expressing gratitude to a higher power for my rapping abilities
Thank God I found heaven yup peace sign
Expressing gratitude for finding a peaceful and fulfilling life
That's me throwin' my blessings up
Symbolically offering my blessings to the universe
Coulda been in that cell
I could have ended up in prison
Prayin' they let me up
Hoping and praying to be released
Daydreamin' 'bout being free
Imagining a life of freedom and liberation
I'm missin' much
I realize how much I would have missed out on
Coulda been six feet, deep in a hole
I could have ended up dead and buried
Trapped in the game, the devil after my soul
Stuck in a dangerous lifestyle with constant temptations
Coulda been in back of
Could have been involved in
The car traffickin' blow
Illegally transporting drugs in a vehicle
But I'm lion hearted
I possess courage and boldness
I found the yellow brick road
I discovered a path to prosperity and success
Now it's plenty liquor
Now I have an abundance of alcohol
Singles for these strippers
Throwing single dollar bills at exotic dancers
Goddamn right if she dime, I'm gon lick her
Emphasizing my attraction to attractive women and being willing to engage in sexual activities with them
Young dope boys they screamin'
Young drug dealers expressing
I'm that nigga
Their belief that I am highly successful and influential
Ten bad bitches, me and my niggas
Accompanied by ten attractive women and my close friends
Thinkin' back on my worst days
Reflecting on the most challenging and difficult times in my life
Now we sip champagne when we thirsty, hey!
Now we indulge in champagne when we desire it
I guess I'm livin' like I should
I believe my current lifestyle aligns with what I deserve
When they ask me how I'm doin, I say
When people inquire about my well-being
"Better than good"
I respond by saying I am doing exceptionally well
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind