Kari Faux is an American rapper/singer based out of Little Rock, Arkansas; … Read Full Bio ↴Kari Faux is an American rapper/singer based out of Little Rock, Arkansas; she is best known for her flamboyant dress, and conversational style of rap. Her songs are most commonly characterized as "internet rap;" with repetitive hooks, minimal production, and an emphasis on clever wordplay.[1] Being a product of the new age internet rap, her subject matter usually boasts her unique style and social status among social media that had made her popular. In 2014, Faux released her debut mixtape, Laugh Now, Die Later, which had been received somewhat well from critics, landing a spot on Pitchfork's "Most Overlooked Mixtapes of 2014. The EP would most notably gain the attention of rapper Donald Glover, also known as Childish Gambino. Glover remixed Faux's "No Small Talk," and featured it on his own mixtape, "STN MTN." Currently, Kari Faux is located in Los Angeles, California; having moved from Little Rock, in order to further develop her career and produce more music.

McGrady
Kari Faux Lyrics

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When you′re down and out it feel like nobody watching
They all in your face you they see you on and popping
I'm getting to the money and I′d rather keep my options
I had to shake a bitch like McGrady with the Rockets

When you're down and out it feel like nobody watching
They all in your face you they see you on and popping
I'm getting to the money and I′d rather keep my options

I had to shake a nigga like McGrady with the Rockets

Like McGrady with the Rockets, I told that bitch to stop it
If you keep on pocket-watching you gon′ meet my pocket rocket
New fit, hair did, and the shoes match the polish
I step in the time chamber and I'm feeling hyperbolic
Looking hella righteous, bitches wanna fight us
You cannot be like us, I′m not being biased
I'm eating got the itis, look like you in a crisis
Everything I touch is gold, you know I got the Midas touch

Run this shit just like a track meet
Flex up like an athlete
I′ve been ready to blow just like a fire to a gas leak
Staying at my granny's used to only eat that canned meat
Now it′s seafood dinners where we only eat that crab meat
Starched down and creased up from the head down to the feet
We was throwing bows in the living room like the rappers did on TV

Now every day is the summer, I'm the #1 stunna
That Dewey truck that's mounted up and the driveway for that Hummer

Overall Meaning

Kari Faux's song "McGrady" talks about the struggles of being an artist and dealing with people who try to take advantage of your success. The song title is a reference to Tracy McGrady, a former NBA player who played for the Houston Rockets. The first verse talks about feeling like nobody is watching when you're down and out, but as soon as you start achieving success, people crowd around you. The song stresses on the importance of keeping your options open and not being distracted by the fake people around you. Kari Faux is determined to make it in the music industry and is willing to do what it takes to succeed.

The chorus explains why the song is called "McGrady." Kari Faux had to "shake" someone off like McGrady with the Rockets. This could be interpreted in two ways. Firstly, the basketball reference could mean that Kari Faux had to move fast to get away from someone who was trying to trap her. Secondly, McGrady was a top scorer on his team, so by using his name, Kari Faux is suggesting that she is a top scorer in the music industry. The second verse includes a reference to a "pocket rocket", which is slang for a gun. Kari Faux warns anyone who may be watching her money to stop before they meet her pocket rocket.

Overall, the song is an anthem for anyone who is struggling to make it in any industry. Kari Faux's message is that you have to stay focused on your goals and avoid distractions. It's a reminder not to trust everyone around us and to be careful of those who try to latch onto our success.

Line by Line Meaning

When you're down and out it feel like nobody watching
Feeling low can make you feel invisible and overlooked

They all in your face you they see you on and popping
But when you're successful and popular, everyone wants to be around you

I'm getting to the money and I′d rather keep my options
I am focused on making money and want to have many possibilities for my future

I had to shake a nigga like McGrady with the Rockets
I had to distance myself from someone who was holding me back, similar to how an athlete might shake off a defender to make a play

Like McGrady with the Rockets, I told that bitch to stop it
I used the comparison to McGrady with the Rockets to emphasize how I shut down someone who was causing problems

If you keep on pocket-watching you gon′ meet my pocket rocket
Continuously scrutinizing how much money I make will lead to confrontation

New fit, hair did, and the shoes match the polish
I am dressed to impress and look put together

I step in the time chamber and I'm feeling hyperbolic
I feel like I'm entering a new dimension or level of success

Looking hella righteous, bitches wanna fight us
My confidence and self-assurance attracts attention and jealousy from others

You cannot be like us, I′m not being biased
I acknowledge that others cannot match my level of success for various reasons

I'm eating got the itis, look like you in a crisis
I am full and content, while others appear to be struggling

Everything I touch is gold, you know I got the Midas touch
My successes have been consistently fruitful and profitable

Run this shit just like a track meet
I am in control and dominating my field

Flex up like an athlete
I am showing off my success and abilities

I′ve been ready to blow just like a fire to a gas leak
I have been waiting for my moment to shine and take off

Staying at my granny's used to only eat that canned meat
I come from humble beginnings where canned meat was all we could afford

Now it′s seafood dinners where we only eat that crab meat
Now, my success allows me to enjoy expensive, high-quality meals

Starched down and creased up from the head down to the feet
I am impeccably dressed, with all my clothes carefully ironed and spotlessly clean

We was throwing bows in the living room like the rappers did on TV
My friends and I used to act like the rappers we saw on TV, playfully fighting and pretending to be tough

Now every day is the summer, I'm the #1 stunna
My success allows me to live luxuriously and confidently, feeling like the best

That Dewey truck that's mounted up and the driveway for that Hummer
I have expensive and flashy cars to show off my wealth

Writer(s): Kari Rose Johnson, Pier Danio Forni

Contributed by Eva C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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