In New Orleans, "swagger" is that grimy, ghetto mojo, the murderous magic m… Read Full Bio ↴In New Orleans, "swagger" is that grimy, ghetto mojo, the murderous magic muscle that makes a gangsta stand upright when the weight and work of the game have doubled wimps over. It's the stunna strut, marking a G who knows what he wants and is gon' get it. It's the heart of a hustler with a knot in his pocket and right now, Gator AKA Kwame Gates' swagger is most definitely on swole.

There is no question he can hustle when you hear him, this young wordsmith who can rap circles around most artists on the radio today. A pimp's slang, knockout punchlines and passion weave a tale so cinematic, any director would covet the film rights. Not to mention, his nasty ability to ride a rhythm like a baby on a bigwheel and the game stays on his tongue like Now & Later colors.

If a hustler is only as good as his last hustle, Gator should be king. A quick lick ago, he was known in the hood as "Hustle Man," when two-way pagers and cell phones, throwback jerseys, watches, and anything else you wanted, but wouldn't pay full price for, were only a press of his trunk remote-key away. At age 18, too ambitious to stay local, Gator took his hustle nationwide. With the drive of a mogul and a "mouthpiece" that could talk a bent penny from a gum machine, he soon had an all-star host of clients and could easily be seen hobnobbing with the elite, partying in music videos, and chillin' at award shows. But, his high profile lifestyle by less-than-legal means came at a price.

"In November '03, after pulling all kinds of white collar crimes and scandals, I got popped in New York," Gator says through his signature slippery lisp. "I was sitting in a jail cell, like, man I can't be doing this forever. Ya feel me? I gotta make a way.

"I always knew I had the talent, but I never took it serious. And that moment right there, I said, man, I'm 'bout to get it with rapping. Believe dat." Gator is a man of his word. Applying the same mind and muscle he would to any other hustle, his musical exploits became things of legend. Like the time he "strong-armed" Lil Wayne's Squad 5 mixtape two days before the release date and reburned it to include three songs of his own, then sold it to the bootleggers. Or the time he made the K. Gates vs. 50 Cent mixtape, with him and the New York rapper's pictures on the cover, and managed to get it shown on camera right before the G-Unit's BET Spring Bling performance. The dude is a brilliant, mad scientist, lunatic, master gamesman. Relentless, Unstoppable.

Raised, without a TV or a father, by a revolutionary mother with a Ph.D. who "decided to sacrifice her life to the community" and not for the betterment of the family's financial gain, and an underground hip-hop-head, older brother who exposed him to the music that would eventually save his life, Gator endured a constant tug-of-war raging within, between "truth, light, and love" and his "fetish for the lavish lifestyle." The outside forces usually won. The swagger ain't going nowhere no time soon. It's tattooed to his legs like a pair of Gucci socks.

Regardless of what Dame Dash's ill-fated reality series showed, Gates IS the Ultimate Hustler. To the shock and awe of everyone who knows him, the uber-opportunist was ousted from the show on the 3rd episode for challenging Swizz Beats to a dice game during a recording session. It was a travesty. How could this be? Throw off, who? Not Gator Gates. This man was driving a brand new Jaguar S-type Sedan before his nineteenth birthday. Who hustles harder than him? A TV show, several N.Y. radio appearances, a potential movie, and 5 mixtapes later, BET will undoubtedly grace his face again. His upcoming album, "New Orleans' Savior," virtually guarantees it. Gates loves the city that made him and he shows that love at every chance he gets. And the city shows love back. His whole album expresses, in a variety of ways, his desire to "save" New Orleans. Laid on a plate of music by Mannie Fresh, Jazze Pha, and Dani Kartel (the producer for Juvenile and Soulja Slim's "Slow Motion"), Gator's street-life monologues might lift the city up onto dry land.

His motto, "Have a million dollar day," the creed he lives by, is baller Bible verse, in a world where lesser hustlers die, trying. It dares his niggaz to realize their dreams, to hustle hard, now, and come with laughter, after. It paints a blueprint for a new New Orleans, where shaking haters is done to a soundtrack. And the "swagger" is an I.D. and Gator's "hustle" has made him mayor cuz that's the way it ought to be.

Freeze
K. Gates Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Freeze hands up
Bring smoke to the road get banged up
Get washed up dried up hanged up
Talking smoke to the bro's get ganged up
Freeze hands up
Bring smoke to road get banged up
Get washed up dried up hanged up
Talking smoke to the bro's get ganged up

Bad b said she put me on her playlist
Few K views and she thinks I'm famous
But I ain't complaining I've got her on her knees and she's giving man brainage
Mouth shut when I'm up in that station won't speak up about the p's I'm making
Real talk I'm a G no faking got that brown and that white not racist
But I gotta couple bro's on payslip so if I get bagged then I know they won't say shit
if they do then I'm in and out basic have me in the G wing filling up basins
Alhamdulillah got me chilling with Asians
Whole wing tryna chat about shavings
See I rahh would've been in them places
If it wasn't for my G's that
Saved it
True say I bros that blaze it
I ain't broke on the roads but I still make more than your average joe on a day shift
How you gonna ask for a lend ask for lend when you know you can't pay shit
See I ain't collecting no debt
Man I'll just run up in his pad n take it
Freeze hands up
Bring smoke to road get banged up
Get washed up dried up hanged up
Talking smoke to the bro's get ganged up
Freeze hands up
Bring smoke to road get banged up
Get washed up dried up hanged up
Talking smoke to the bro's get ganged up
I'm in a whip with thugs and demons you don't wanna know about the drills we been in
See the shank in my waist has feelings so you know your bro's gotta keep it gleaming
But these are the streets I'm cleaning
Roll with a mask no trick no treating
Walk straight in the room no greeting
Do what I say I go catch this beating
I'm Cold to the bone no feelings do what I can so I keep on eating
Go jump in the whip I'm speeding straight to the drop imma get that green in
That's mine so leave it
Nah you don't wanna get left bleeding
Mans back in the ends im dealing give that pack to my friends then
Retrieve it get the money in I count it up n then I leave it
You don't know bout the bodies that I'm feeding
How you gonna come n try n run up in the deep end
You don't know about the struggles that I been in
I got brothers that are gunning for a reason
You got brothers that I wouldn't wanna be with shit goes south them boys retreating
Freeze hands up
Bring smoke to road get banged up
Get washed up dried up hanged up
Talking smoke to the bro's get ganged up
Freeze hands up
Bring smoke to road get banged up

Get washed up dried up hanged up
Talking smoke with to bro's get ganged up

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Freeze" by K. Gates paint a vivid picture of life on the streets, filled with violence, crime, and loyalty. The repeated refrain of "Freeze hands up, Bring smoke to the road get banged up" sets the tone for the dangerous and unforgiving environment the singer finds himself in. The imagery of getting washed up, dried up, and hanged up conveys the harsh and brutal consequences that come with living a life of crime. The mention of talking smoke to the bros getting ganged up emphasizes the importance of loyalty and sticking together in such a dangerous world.

The lyrics also touch on themes of status and power within this environment. The singer boasts about being on a girl's playlist and having a few thousand views, indicating a level of fame and recognition within his circle. Despite the illegal activities he engages in, he expresses a sense of pride and control over the situation, particularly when he mentions having a girl on her knees giving him "brainage." The reference to making money and having connections who won't betray him further emphasizes his influence and reputation on the streets.

The verses also delve into the harsh realities of living a life filled with crime and violence. The singer talks about being in a car with dangerous individuals and the need to constantly be prepared for confrontations. The mention of carrying a weapon and the importance of keeping it clean implies a constant state of vigilance and readiness for dangerous situations. The references to running up in someone's pad and taking what is owed without hesitation highlight the ruthless nature of survival in this world.

Overall, the lyrics of "Freeze" by K. Gates provide a raw and unapologetic portrayal of the violent and tumultuous world of street life. The constant imagery of danger, crime, and loyalty underscores the harsh realities faced by those living on the edge of society. Through these lyrics, K. Gates captures the complexity and brutality of this lifestyle, shedding light on the struggles and challenges faced by individuals navigating a world filled with violence and crime.

Line by Line Meaning

Freeze hands up
Be compliant and raise your hands in surrender

Bring smoke to the road get banged up
Engage in risky behavior that leads to trouble or violence

Get washed up dried up hanged up
End up being defeated, exhausted, and punished severely

Talking smoke to the bro's get ganged up
Gossiping or spreading rumors to friends causing them to turn against someone

Bad b said she put me on her playlist
A woman praised me by adding my music to her playlist

Few K views and she thinks I'm famous
A small number of views made her believe I'm a celebrity

But I ain't complaining I've got her on her knees and she's giving man brainage
I am not complaining as I have her under my control, participating in explicit activities

Mouth shut when I'm up in that station won't speak up about the p's I'm making
Keeping quiet while under police interrogation to avoid revealing the amount of money I am earning

Real talk I'm a G no faking got that brown and that white not racist
Honestly, I am a gangster without pretending, dealing with both brown drugs (heroin) and white drugs (cocaine)

But I gotta couple bro's on payslip so if I get bagged then I know they won't say shit
Having friends on the payroll who won't snitch if I get caught by the authorities

Alhamdulillah got me chilling with Asians
Thank God for allowing me to relax in the company of Asian friends

Whole wing tryna chat about shavings
The entire group is discussing acts of violence with knives

See I rahh would've been in them places
Indeed, I could have been involved in those dangerous situations

If it wasn't for my G's that saved it
If it weren't for my gangster friends who prevented it

True say I bros that blaze it
It's true that my friends smoke marijuana

I ain't broke on the roads but I still make more than your average joe on a day shift
I may not be poor on the streets, but I still earn more than the average person on a regular job

How you gonna ask for a lend ask for lend when you know you can't pay shit
Why would you borrow money when you are aware that you won't be able to repay it?

See I ain't collecting no debt man I'll just run up in his pad n take it
I am not waiting to be repaid, I will just break into his house and take what I am owed

I'm in a whip with thugs and demons you don't wanna know about the drills we been in
I am in a car with dangerous individuals, engaging in situations you do not want to hear about

See the shank in my waist has feelings so you know your bro's gotta keep it gleaming
I carry a knife with emotional attachment, ensuring my friends maintain it in pristine condition

But these are the streets I'm cleaning
These streets are my territory which I control and maintain

Roll with a mask no trick no treating
Wearing a mask to conceal my identity, not for Halloween festivities

Walk straight in the room no greeting
Enter a room confidently without bothering to greet others

Do what I say I go catch this beating
If you defy my orders, you will face consequences in the form of physical punishment

I'm Cold to the bone no feelings do what I can so I keep on eating
Emotionally detached, focusing on survival and success to sustain myself

Go jump in the whip I'm speeding straight to the drop imma get that green in
Quickly jump into the car, rushing to the designated location to acquire money

That's mine so leave it
What belongs to me, do not touch or claim it

Nah you don't wanna get left bleeding
No, you do not want to end up injured and bleeding at my hands

Mans back in the ends im dealing give that pack to my friends then
I have returned to my neighborhood to engage in illicit activities, distributing drugs to my associates

You don't know bout the bodies that I'm feeding
You are unaware of the illegal activities I am involved in, including violent acts

How you gonna come n try n run up in the deep end
Why would you attempt to confront me in dangerous or risky situations?

You don't know about the struggles that I been in
You lack understanding of the difficult situations I have faced

I got brothers that are gunning for a reason
I have friends who are willing to engage in violent actions for a specific purpose

You got brothers that I wouldn't wanna be with shit goes south them boys retreating
Your associates are not dependable, they will abandon you if the situation becomes critical

Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Kai Lyon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS