Nostalgia
Kendrick Lamar ft. Pusha T Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

20 plus years of selling Johnson & Johnson
I started out as a baby face monster
No wonder there's diaper rash on my conscience
My teething ring was numbed by the nonsense
Gem Star razor and a dinner plate
Arm and hammer and a mason jar, that's my dinner date
Then crack the window in the kitchen, let it ventilate
Cause I let it sizzle on the stove like a minute steak
Nigga, I was crack in the school zone
Two beepers on me, Starter jacket that was two toned
Four lockers, four different bitches got their mule on
Black Ferris Bueller, cutting school with his jewels on
Couldn't do wrong with a chest full of chains and a arm full of watches
What I sell for pain in the hood, I'm a doctor
Zhivago tried to fight the urge like Ivan Drago
If he dies he dies, like Doughboy to Tre
If he rides he rides, throwing punches in his room
If he cries he cries, we don't drink away the pain
When a nigga die we add a link to the chain
Inscribe a nigga name in your flesh
We playing on a higher game of chess
Once you delegate his bills who's gone fuck his bitch the best?
A million megapixels of the Pyrex
Started on the scale digital, my only Timex
Nigga, this is timeless, simply cause it's honest
Pure as the fumes that be fucking with my sinus
Nigga this is Simon says, Simon red
Blood on your diamonds til you dying; dead

You better change what comes out your speaker

You wanna see a dead body?
Instrumentals from my mama's Christmas party
Troubles on my mind, I still smell crime
My little brother crying
Smokers repeatedly buying my Sega Genesis
Either that or my auntie was stealing it
Hit the pipe and start feeling it
Oh wee, cut me some slack, weed never did that
This was different, geez, Louise please help me relax
Quantum physics could never show you the world I was in
When I was ten
Back when nine ounces have got you ten
And nine times out of ten niggas don't pay attention
And when there's tension in the air nines come with extensions
My daddy dumped a quarter piece to a four and a half
Took a L, started selling soap fiends bubble bath
Broke his nails misusing his pinky to treat his nose
Shirt buttoned open, taco meat land on his gold
I said "daddy, one day I'mma get you right with 36 zips
1000 grams of cocaine then your name will be rich
Now you can rock it up or sell it soft as leather interior
Drop some ice cubes in it, Deebo on perimeter"
He said "son, how come you think you be my connect?"
Said "pops, your ass is washed up with all due respect"
He said "well nigga, then show me how it all makes sense"
Go figure, motherfucker, every verse is a brick
Your son dope, nigga
Now reap what you sowed, nigga
Please reap what you sowed, nigga
I was born in '87, my grand daddy a legend

Now the same shit that y'all was smoking is my profession

Let's get it

You better change what comes out your speaker




They must be on the dick of who?
They must be on the dick of who?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Kendrick Lamar's Nostalgia paints a picture of his life, particularly as a drug dealer. He recounts how he started out, and how it has affected him by saying that he started as a "baby face monster," and now he suffers from "diaper rash on my conscience." It's essentially a representation of how he started as an innocent kid, but the business he got into negatively impacted him. He talks about using a Gem Star razor to cut and a dinner plate to measure, and he compares crack on the stove to a minute steak. Kendrick goes on to illustrate the flashy, materialistic side of his lifestyle, saying that he had four lockers and four different girls, a chest full of chains, and an arm full of watches. Despite this, the consequences of his actions linger on and once someone dies, they add a link to the chain. The song is a reflection of his past and how it has influenced him, and it serves as a reminder that excessive greed and materialism is often not worth the consequences.


The collaboration with Pusha T in the song also adds to the narrative, as he raps about his own memories and experiences with similar concepts of drug-slinging as Lamar. However, the story is different, as Pusha T speaks about more of his grandfather's history with drug-dealing, as well as the disapproving reaction of others in his community towards the lifestyle he was trying to pursue. In the end, the song comes together to emphasize the cyclical nature and vicious cycle of drug use, and the negative toll it has on one's life and the people around them.


Line by Line Meaning

20 plus years of selling Johnson & Johnson
I have been selling drugs for over two decades


I started out as a baby face monster
Even when I was young and innocent-looking, I was already involved in drug dealing


No wonder there's diaper rash on my conscience
My guilt weighs heavily on me


My teething ring was numbed by the nonsense
I was exposed to the harsh realities of life at a young age


Gem Star razor and a dinner plate
I used to cook and package drugs, using a razor and a dinner plate


Arm and hammer and a mason jar, that's my dinner date
I would mix drugs with baking soda (Arm and Hammer) in a mason jar to create crack cocaine


Then crack the window in the kitchen, let it ventilate
I would open the window in the kitchen to let out the smell of drugs being cooked


Cause I let it sizzle on the stove like a minute steak
I would cook drugs on the stove until they sizzled, just like cooking a steak


Nigga, I was crack in the school zone
I sold crack cocaine near schools, endangering children


Two beepers on me, Starter jacket that was two toned
I carried two pagers and wore a two-toned Starter jacket to show off my wealth


Four lockers, four different bitches got their mule on
I had four lockers in school, and used each one to sell drugs to different girls


Black Ferris Bueller, cutting school with his jewels on
I was like Ferris Bueller from the movie, skipping school and flaunting my jewelry


Couldn't do wrong with a chest full of chains and a arm full of watches
I felt invincible with all my expensive jewelry


What I sell for pain in the hood, I'm a doctor
I consider myself a doctor, as I provide drugs to ease people's pain in the hood


Zhivago tried to fight the urge like Ivan Drago
Zhivago tried to resist the temptation of drugs, like Ivan Drago from Rocky IV tried to resist taking steroids


If he dies he dies, like Doughboy to Tre
If Zhivago dies from drug use, it's no different than Doughboy dying in the movie Boyz n the Hood


If he rides he rides, throwing punches in his room
If Zhivago keeps using drugs, he'll suffer the consequences of his actions


If he cries he cries, we don't drink away the pain
If Zhivago is sad or struggling with addiction, we don't drink alcohol to cope


When a nigga die we add a link to the chain
When someone dies, we honor them by adding a link to our chain as a symbol of remembrance


Inscribe a nigga name in your flesh
We show our respect for the dead by getting their name tattooed on our body


We playing on a higher game of chess
We're playing a dangerous and complex game of life, like playing chess


Once you delegate his bills who's gone fuck his bitch the best?
Once someone dies, we wonder who will take care of their affairs, and also who will sleep with their partner


A million megapixels of the Pyrex
The glassware used to cook drugs is so clear that it looks like it has a million megapixels


Started on the scale digital, my only Timex
I started weighing drugs on a digital scale, which was my only means of keeping track of time


Nigga, this is timeless, simply cause it's honest
This song is timeless because it's honest and speaks the truth about the drug culture


Pure as the fumes that be fucking with my sinus
The drug fumes are pure, but they are negatively affecting my health and causing sinus problems


Nigga this is Simon says, Simon red
I'm calling the shots, and anyone who disobeys me will face consequences (like in the children's game Simon Says)


Blood on your diamonds til you dying; dead
The diamonds on your jewelry will reflect the blood of people you've hurt, until your dying day


You better change what comes out your speaker
You better watch what you say, because your words can have consequences


You wanna see a dead body?
Do you want to see the aftermath of gang violence?


Instrumentals from my mama's Christmas party
The beat of this song comes from music played at my mother's Christmas party


Troubles on my mind, I still smell crime
I can't escape my past, the troubles of my life still haunt me


My little brother crying
The pain I have caused has affected my own family


Smokers repeatedly buying my Sega Genesis
People would trade me their Sega Genesis gaming console for drugs


Either that or my auntie was stealing it
Perhaps my aunt was stealing the Sega Genesis, instead of people trading it for drugs


Hit the pipe and start feeling it
Smoking crack cocaine would give me an immediate high


Oh wee, cut me some slack, weed never did that
I'm asking for some leniency, because smoking weed never caused me as many problems as crack cocaine


This was different, geez, Louise please help me relax
Crack cocaine was different from anything I had ever experienced, and I needed help to relax


Quantum physics could never show you the world I was in
The world of drugs and violence that I lived in was beyond anything that could be understood through science


When I was ten
I was exposed to this world of drugs and violence at a very young age


Back when nine ounces have got you ten
Back when you could buy nine ounces of drugs for $10


And nine times out of ten niggas don't pay attention
Most of the time, people aren't paying attention to the danger and consequences of drug use


And when there's tension in the air nines come with extensions
When there's tension or danger, people will carry guns with extended clips


My daddy dumped a quarter piece to a four and a half
My father had to throw away a quarter of drugs (a quarter piece) that was short by 4.5 ounces


Took a L, started selling soap fiends bubble bath
After losing money on drugs, my father started selling soap to people who were trying to pass drug tests


Broke his nails misusing his pinky to treat his nose
My father's drug addiction caused him to break his nails while using his pinky finger to snort drugs


Shirt buttoned open, taco meat land on his gold
My father would have his shirt unbuttoned, and food would spill onto his gold jewelry


I said "daddy, one day I'mma get you right with 36 zips
I promised my father that one day I would provide him with a large amount of drugs (36 zips)


1000 grams of cocaine then your name will be rich
If I give my father 1000 grams of cocaine, he will become wealthy and well-known in the drug world


Now you can rock it up or sell it soft as leather interior
My father can either turn the cocaine into crack (rock it up) or sell it in its powder form (soft as leather interior)


Drop some ice cubes in it, Deebo on perimeter"
Adding ice cubes to drugs (to make crack) is like Deebo (from the movie Friday) watching over the area


He said "son, how come you think you be my connect?"
My father questioned how I could become his drug supplier


Said "pops, your ass is washed up with all due respect"
I told my father that he was no longer a successful drug dealer, with respect for his position


He said "well nigga, then show me how it all makes sense"
My father wanted me to explain how I would become his drug supplier


Go figure, motherfucker, every verse is a brick
Every line of this song is like a brick of drugs, building up the story of my life in drugs


Your son dope, nigga
I am a successful drug dealer, just like my father was


Now reap what you sowed, nigga
Now my father must face the consequences of his prior involvement in drugs


Please reap what you sowed, nigga
I want my father to face the consequences of his actions


I was born in '87, my grand daddy a legend
I was born in 1987, and my grandfather was a respected figure in the drug world


Now the same shit that y'all was smoking is my profession
The drugs that my grandfather and father sold are now my livelihood and career


Let's get it
Let's go make some money selling drugs


They must be on the dick of who?
Who are these people trying to undermine or criticize us?




Contributed by Max R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@ganjalf6165

LYRICS:

20 plus years of selling Johnson & Johnson
I started out as a baby face monster
No wonder there's diaper rash on my conscience
My teething ring was numbed by the nonsense
Gem Star razor and a dinner plate
Arm and hammer and a mason jar, that's my dinner date
Then crack the window in the kitchen, let it ventilate
Cause I let it sizzle on the stove like a minute steak
Nigga, I was crack in the school zone
Two beepers on me, Starter jacket that was two toned
Four lockers, four different bitches got their mule on
Black Ferris Bueller, cutting school with his jewels on
Couldn't do wrong with a chest full of chains and a arm full of watches
What I sell for pain in the hood, I'm a doctor
Zhivago tried to fight the urge like Ivan Drago
If he dies he dies, like Doughboy to Tre
If he rides he rides, Throwing punches in the room
If he cries he cries, we don't drink away the pain
When a nigga die we add a link to the chain
Inscribe a nigga name in your flesh
We playing on a higher game of chess
Once you delegate his bills who's gone fuck his bitch the best?
A million megapixels of the Pyrex
Started on the scale digital, my only Timex
Nigga, this is timeless, simply cause it's honest
Pure as the fumes that be fucking with my sinus
Nigga this is Simon says, Simon red
Blood on your diamonds til you dying, dead, yah!
You better change what comes out your speaker
You wanna see a dead body?
Instrumentals from my mama's Christmas party
Troubles on my mind, I still smell crime
My little brother crying
Smokers repeatedly buying my Sega Genesis
Either that or my auntie was stealing it
Hit the pipe and start feeling it
Oh wee, cut me some slack, weed never did that
This was different, geez, Louise please help me relax
Quantum physics could never show you the world I was in
When I was ten
Back when nine ounces have got you ten
And nine times out of ten niggas don't pay attention
And when there's tension in the air nines come with extensions
My daddy dumped a quarter piece to a four and a half
Took a L, started selling soap fiends bubble bath
Broke his nails misusing his pinky to treat his nose
Shirt buttoned open, taco meat land on his gold
I said "daddy, one day I'mma get you right with 36 zips
1000 grams of cocaine then your name will be rich
Now you can rock it up or sell it soft as leather interior
Drop some ice cubes in it, Deebo on perimeter"
He said "son, how come you think you be my connect?"
Said "pops, your ass is washed up with all due respect"
He said "well nigga, then show me how it all makes sense"
Go figure, motherfucker, every verse is a brick
Your son dope, nigga
Now reap what you sowed, nigga
Please reap what you sowed, nigga
I was born in '87, my grand daddy a legend
Now the same shit that y'all was smoking is my profession
Let's get it
They must be on the dick of who?
They must be on the dick of who?



@assortedfruit904

Pusha's verse is also a brick broo
20 plus years of selling Johnson & Johnson
I started out as a baby-faced monster
No wonder there's diaper rash on my conscience
My teething ring was numbed by the nonsense

Gem Star razor and a dinner plate
Arm and hammer and a mason jar, that's my dinner date
Then crack the window in the kitchen, let it ventilate
'Cause I let it sizzle on the stove like a minute steak

Nigga, I was crack in the school zone
Two beepers on me, Starter jacket that was two toned
Four lockers, four different bitches got their mule on
Black Ferris Bueller, cutting school with his jewels on
Couldn't do wrong with a chest full of chains and a arm full of watches

What I sell for pain in the hood, I'm a doctor
Zhivago, tried to fight the urge like Ivan Drago
If he dies he dies, like Doughboy to Tre
If he rides he rides, throwing punches in his room
If he cries he cries, we don't drink away the pain
When a nigga die we add a link to the chain
Inscribe a nigga name in your flesh

We playing on a higher game of chess
Once you delegate his bills who gone fuck his bitch the best?
A million megapixels of the Pyrex
Started on the scale digital, my only Timex
Nigga, this is timeless, simply 'cause it's honest
Pure as the fumes that be fucking with my sinus
Nigga this is Simon says, Simon red
Blood on your diamonds 'til you dying, dead


                                         20
Ventilate sounds like =8
60 secs in a minute.  =60
                                         2
                                         2
                                         4
                                      + 4
                                         100
Timex- sounds like times x
X= 10  in Roman numerals
Timex= ×100

100×10 =1000

1000g is 36 zips/ounces which is also a brick or kilogram



@G0_N8

Two versus of 36 bars each.

“When I was 10
Back when 9 ounces had got you 10
And 9 times out of 10, n****s don't pay atTENtion (10)
And when there's TENsion (10) in the air, 9’s come with exTENsions (10)”
10+9+10+9+10+10+10+9+10= 87

Later in the verse: “I was born in ‘87, my granddaddy a legend. Now the same shit that y’all was smoking is my profession ” 🤯



All comments from YouTube:

@marlowstanfield6815

This video looks like one of Drakes nightmares

@young_speculator9144

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣💀💀💀💀

@keledele

Y’all need to let the RnB singer live! 😬

@therealdannyfenton

I can see this goin over some peoples heads 😂😂😂

@thegascompany1051

Is hating drake In style or the popular thing to do bra I’m confused

@Nachomoney7q

@@thegascompany1051 nah we been doing since 2010 playa

202 More Replies...

@maverickREAL

Pusha murdered the track, then Kendrick came in, resurrected it Frankenstein style, and killed it again.

@rosinros

omori profile pic spotted

@KyleRoberts22

Drake better

@Ike_of_pyke

@@KyleRoberts22 you alone out here...go home ,aubery ain't worth it

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