On April 7, 2017, he released his second studio album ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ under Pro Era Records and Cinematic Music Group. The album was supported by three singles: Devastated, Land of the Free and Temptation. ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ received generally positive reviews from critics and debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200.
Five years following the release of his second studio album ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$, he released the follow-up to his debut mixtape, 1999, ten years later on July 22, 2022. The name of this album, his third studio album, was 2000. During 2022, Joey released multiple singles to the album including Head High, Survivors Guilt, Zipcodes and 2 more. In the album, Joey goes over plenty of topic matters such as dealing with mental health, the passing of his friend Captial Steez and his cousin, Junior B, ten years later, and his overal life. 2000 debuted at No.18 on the Billboard 200 chart and sold roughly 22,000 album-equvialent units in its first week. The album was well perceived by fans and critcs, and was deemed to be a generally good lead up to his mixtape 1999.
Y U DON'T LOVE ME?
Joey Bada$$ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me why you don't love me
Why you always misjudge me?
Why you always put so many things above me?
Why you lead me to believe that I'm ugly?
Why you never trust me?
Why you treat me like I don't matter?
Why you never hearing my side to the story?
Never look me in my eyes, say sorry?
Why you can't recognize my stride
Always gotta minimize my pride
Always gonna criticize my moods
I can't make one mistake, it's no room
Feeling like I gotta leave real soon
I'mma say "namaste," and just bloom
But for now, let you runaway from the truths
Since you can do anything you want to, anyway
Know some things I ain't supposed to though
It's way deeper than just being emotional
Some things you just couldn't keep on the low
Now I'm freed by the truth, I can't be controlled, no more
Nothing like I used to be back before
No, it must hurt for you to see me evolve
Why you gotta kick me down on all fours?
Why you can't stand to see me stand tall?
Tell me why we got a war?
Why we gotta fight, why we always gotta spar for?
Why the cops always gotta get called?
Why you always tryna see me in trouble with the law?
I guess some things will never change
Locked in the cycle, tryna break the chains
Handcuffs so tight, nearly slit my veins
It's what tough love feels like, feel my pain
Uh
Tell me why you don't love me
Why you always misjudge me?
Why you always put so many things above me?
Why you lead me to believe that I'm ugly?
Why you never trust me?
Why you treat me like I don't matter?
Why you always kicking my ladder?
Why you never hearing my side to the story?
Never look me in my eyes, say sorry?
Because Amerikkka don't love me
Whole country turned on me
There's no love in the city for the homie
Just a gang of police, praying they don't ever catch it on me
'Cause Amerikkka don't love me
Whole country turned on me
There's no love in the city for the homie
Just a gang of police, praying they don't ever catch it on me
Amerikkka don't love me
Whole country turned on me
There's no love in the city for the homie
Just a gang of police, praying they don't ever catch it on me
America don't love me
Whole city turned on me
There's no love in the city for the homie
Just a gang of police, praying they don't ever catch it on me
Oh lord
Okay, Okay you red, white and blue
Now you no good Miss America
How you like this shit, huh?
Joey Bada$$'s song Y U DON'T LOVE ME? reflects the rapper's inner turmoil as he questions why his partner does not love him. The lyrics delve into a deep-seated insecurity that stems from being treated like he doesn't matter, despite trying to do his best. He is hurt and feels as though he's constantly being judged and criticized, with no room for error. Furthermore, he acknowledges that his problems run deeper than just emotional ones and that some issues cannot be kept on the low. He feels out of control, with no one recognizing his struggles, and he's left feeling hopeless and alone.
The chorus repeats the question "Tell me why you don't love me?" throughout the song, which emphasizes the theme of the song while cleverly intertwining it with a broader commentary on the state of America. Joey Bada$$ interchanges the line with "Because Amerikkka don't love me", which makes it clear that the artist is extending his personal insecurities to a broader concept of the country's systemic racism against him and his community. It's evident through lines such as "Whole country turned on me", and "Just a gang of police, praying they don't ever catch it on me," that Joey is speaking on the persistent systematic oppression that police and the country exercise against Black people in America.
Overall, Y U DON'T LOVE ME? is both about Joey's personal struggles and the systematic oppression of America. By combining these different themes throughout his lyrics, the rapper highlights the inescapability of discrimination in America while also making a compelling plea for love and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me why you don't love me
Joey is questioning why the person he is addressing doesn't love him.
Why you always misjudge me?
Joey is asking why the person always misunderstands him.
Why you always put so many things above me?
Joey is wondering why the person always prioritizes other things over him.
Why you lead me to believe that I'm ugly?
Joey questions why the person made him believe he is not attractive.
Why you never trust me?
Joey is wondering why the person never trusts him.
Why you treat me like I don't matter?
Joey is asking why the person treats him like he is insignificant.
Why you always kicking my ladder?
Joey is questioning why the person always brings him down and impedes his progress.
Why you never hearing my side to the story?
Joey is asking why the person never listens to his perspective.
Never look me in my eyes, say sorry?
Joey is wondering why the person never apologizes sincerely in person.
Why you can't recognize my stride
Joey is questioning why the person can't acknowledge his individuality.
Always gotta minimize my pride
Joey is saying that the person always tries to belittle his sense of dignity.
Always gonna criticize my moods
Joey is saying that the person always finds fault with his emotions or feelings.
I can't make one mistake, it's no room
Joey feels like he can't make any mistakes because the person will judge him harshly.
Feeling like I gotta leave real soon
Joey is expressing that he feels like he needs to get away from the person soon.
I'mma say "namaste," and just bloom
Joey is referencing the phrase 'namaste' which means to honor the divine in others, and saying that he will just continue to grow without the person's validation.
But for now, let you runaway from the truths
Joey is saying that for now he will let the person avoid the truth.
Since you can do anything you want to, anyway
Joey is acknowledging that the person has the freedom to do as they please.
Know some things I ain't supposed to though
Joey is implying that he knows some things about the person that he shouldn't know.
It's way deeper than just being emotional
Joey implies that the issue is much deeper than just having emotional problems.
Some things you just couldn't keep on the low
Joey is suggesting that the person tried to hide something but was unable to do so.
Now I'm freed by the truth, I can't be controlled, no more
Joey says that he has been liberated by the truth and cannot be manipulated anymore.
Nothing like I used to be back before
Joey is saying that he has changed from his previous self.
No, it must hurt for you to see me evolve
Joey says that the person must be hurting to see him change and mature.
Why you gotta kick me down on all fours?
Joey is asking why the person has to knock him down and make him feel inferior.
Why you can't stand to see me stand tall?
Joey is wondering why the person can't stand to see him successful and confident.
Tell me why we got a war?
Joey is questioning why there is conflict between him and the person.
Why we gotta fight, why we always gotta spar for?
Joey is asking why there is always conflict and struggle between him and the person.
Why the cops always gotta get called?
Joey is wondering why the police are called when there is conflict between him and the person.
Why you always tryna see me in trouble with the law?
Joey is asking why the person wants to see him get into trouble with the law.
Because Amerikkka don't love me
Joey implies that he feels that America as a nation does not love him.
Whole country turned on me
Joey believes that the nation has turned against him.
There's no love in the city for the homie
Joey is saying that he feels like he has no support or love from his city.
Just a gang of police, praying they don't ever catch it on me
Joey is suggesting that the police are waiting for him to make a mistake so they can arrest him.
Okay, Okay you red, white and blue
Joey is making a reference to America's national flag.
Now you no good Miss America
Joey is criticizing America and its values.
How you like this shit, huh?
Joey is expressing his disdain for America and its issues.
Cause Amerikkka don't love me
Joey is emphasizing the idea that he feels unloved by America.
Whole country turned on me
Joey reiterates that the whole country has turned on him.
There's no love in the city for the homie
Joey emphasizes that he feels unsupported and unprotected by the city or community.
Just a gang of police, praying they don't ever catch it on me
Joey is saying that the police are waiting for him to slip up and get into trouble.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ADAM PALLIN, POWERS PLEASANT, JO-VAUGHN VIRGINIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind