Smollett was born in Santa Rosa, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. He has three brothers and two sisters: Jake Smollett, Jocqui Smollett, Jojo Smollett, Jurnee Smollett and Jazz Smollett.Smollett began his acting career as a child, co-starring in films The Mighty Ducks (1992) and North (1994). On television, he starred alongside his six real life siblings in the short-lived ABC sitcom, On Our Own, during 1994 to 1995.
In 2012, Smollett returned to acting with the leading role in the LGBT comedy-drama film, The Skinny. He is also a singer, he released his first EP album, 2012's The Poisoned Hearts Club. He later guest starred on The Mindy Project and Revenge. In 2014, Smollett was cast opposite Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard in the Fox primetime soap opera, Empire.
Heavy
Jussie Smollett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They say heavy is the head that wears the crown, wears the crown
They say heavy is the head that wears the crown
Eehh (let's go)
They say heavy is the head that wears the crown (crown)
Always used to think that that was just some damn excuse
But now that I wear it I know that shit to be true
(No complainin' now)
Daddy raise a soldier whether he do it or not
He supplied the pain and put it in the music, made it hot
(Strong back, strong shoulders)
'Cause I'm holdin up a lot
I'm underneath this be supportin'
Same time I'm at the top! (Woooo!)
And I refuse to let my people down
I'm the boss, I'm the leader, dammit I'ma lead
Even though I'm startin' to feel the real weight of this crown
Not just the crown
Feelin' like this whole damn kingdoms sittin' on top of me yeah (ooh sittin' on top of me, sittin' on top of me)
Sit-sittin' on top of me (sittin' on top of me)
Feelin' like this whole damn kingdoms sittin' on top of me yeah (ooh sittin' on top of me)
And I'ma carry it on my back until victory (sittin' on top of me)
Even though this whole damn kingdom sittin' on top of me (ooh heavy)
Head in my hands, more frequent
I gotta make sure that my entire empire's eatin'
You can't explain defeat to somebody that's never been beaten (aww nah)
So that means no surrenderin' and no retreatin'
Every thing's on me (hey)
Everybody wonderin' what it's gonna be (hey)
Is he gonna fail, is he gonna succeed?
Everybody keep watchin' and watchin' carefully
I'ma show the world I'm strong (I'm strong)
And I'm holdin' up a lot
I'm underneath this be supportin'
Same time I'm at the top (woo!)
And I refuse to let my people down
I'm the boss, I'm the leader, dammit I'ma lead
Even though I'm startin' to feel the real weight of this crown
Not just the crown
Feelin' like this whole damn kingdoms sittin' on top of me yeah (ooh sittin' on top of me, sittin' on top of me)
Sit-sittin' on top of me (sittin' on top of me)
Feelin' like this whole damn kingdoms sittin' on top of me yeah (ooh sittin' on top of me)
And I'ma carry it on my back until victory (sittin' on top of me)
Even though this whole damn kingdoms sittin' on top of me (ooh sittin' on top, sittin' on top of me)
Sit-sittin' on top of me (ooh sittin' on top of me, sittin' on top of me)
Sit-sittin' on top of me (ooh sittin' on top of me, sittin' on top of me)
And I'ma carry it on my back until victory (ooh sittin' on top of me, sittin' on top of me)
Even though this whole damn kingdoms sittin' on top of me
The song "Heavy" by Jussie Smollett is an anthem about the pressures of being a leader and the weight that comes with it. The opening lines "All hail the King" set the tone for the lyrics that follow. The phrase "they say heavy is the head that wears the crown" is a well-known expression that means that those in positions of power have a great responsibility to bear. The lyrics tell the story of a person who has now assumed the role of a leader and is feeling the full weight of the job on their shoulders.
The verses detail the struggles that come with being a leader, with lines like "Daddy raise a soldier whether he do it or not" referring to the expectation for leaders to be strong and shoulder the burden of their followers. Smollett also touches on the pressure to succeed and the fear of failure, with lines like "Is he gonna fail, is he gonna succeed? Everybody keep watchin' and watchin' carefully." The chorus reinforces the central message that the weight of leadership can sometimes feel like an entire kingdom is sitting on top of a person's shoulders.
Overall, "Heavy" is a powerful song that speaks to the burden of leadership and the struggles that come with it. The lyrics are well-written and deliver a strong message that anyone can relate to, regardless of their position in life.
Line by Line Meaning
They say heavy is the head that wears the crown, wears the crown
Being a leader is a heavy responsibility and often comes with a lot of pressure and stress.
Always used to think that that was just some damn excuse
In the past, I thought that people who complained about the weight of leadership were just making excuses for their weaknesses.
Something that the weak say 'cause they couldn't hold it down (down)
I used to believe that only weak people complained about the burden of leadership because they couldn't handle it themselves.
But now that I wear it I know that shit to be true
Now that I am a leader myself, I realize that the weight of the crown is a real and heavy burden.
He supplied the pain and put it in the music, made it hot
My dad instilled the strength and resilience in me through music, and now I use music to express my own struggles and triumphs.
And I refuse to let my people down
I am committed to being a strong and responsible leader for my community, and will not let them down.
I'm the boss, I'm the leader, dammit I'ma lead
I am confident in my ability to lead and will not shy away from my responsibilities as a boss and leader.
Feelin' like this whole damn kingdoms sittin' on top of me yeah (ooh sittin' on top of me, sittin' on top of me)
The weight of leadership feels like the weight of an entire kingdom on my shoulders, and it can be overwhelming.
And I'ma carry it on my back until victory (sittin' on top of me)
Despite the stress and pressure, I am determined to carry the weight of leadership on my shoulders until I achieve victory.
Head in my hands, more frequent
I often feel stressed and overwhelmed by the weight of my responsibilities as a leader.
You can't explain defeat to somebody that's never been beaten (aww nah)
People who have never experienced failure cannot fully understand the pain and disappointment of defeat.
And I'm holdin' up a lot
I am carrying a heavy burden as a leader and it takes a lot of effort and strength to keep going.
Even though I'm startin' to feel the real weight of this crown, Not just the crown
The burden of leadership is even heavier than I originally thought, and it can be difficult to manage.
And I'ma carry it on my back until victory (ooh sittin' on top of me, sittin' on top of me)
Despite the challenges that come with leadership, I am determined to persevere until I achieve victory.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: VIRGINIA MCGRAIL, CHARLES K WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
yo_its_your_girl_jazz
This song describes how I feel as a single mom who works 3 jobs to not only survive but take care of my own little empire.
Kayla
i love this song! i felt the best vibes when Jamal was singing in the studio.
lovejangie1
+DiamondsAreNice I second that.
Londyn Love
Fell in love with this song right after I heard it. Love his voice!
Shon Woodley
his voice is hard
Londyn Love
Yes it is, he's amazingly talented! Shon Woodley
Shon Woodley
He needs to record a whole cd
coolguy61910 YOUNG!
me to i was obsessed with finding and wasn't anywhere to be found at first
Londyn Love
Yeah me too, I didn't know the name of the song, so I was typing in the lyrics on Google hopping it would pop up so I could find it on YouTube, lol. Taquay Young
Leonarklod
O my gosh!!! Another mind-boggling perf by Jussie Smollett who is as far as I'm concerned one of the most talented singer I've ever listened to (And God knows how numerous they are those I've listened to, thus far)... What a blessing to listen to such a great music! That's genuinely a stellar job, Mr. Smollett!