Go Hard
LIL WAYNE & NICKI MINAJ Lyrics

Yo, SB (Holiday Season, nigga)
Hey, SB (referring to the producer DJ Holiday)

Ha (go hard)
Expressing excitement (laughter) and emphasizing going hard

I think it's my time, you know why? (Go hard)
I believe it's my moment to shine, do you know why? (going hard)

My tears have dried
I have overcome my past sadness and moved on

And I know that no weapon formed against me will prosper (go hard)
I have the confidence that any obstacles or negativity directed towards me won't succeed (going hard)

(We make it look easy)
We make it appear effortless and smooth

And I truly believe that my haters are my motivators (oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
I genuinely believe that the people who dislike me are the ones who push me to succeed

Young Money (Holiday Season)
Referring to the record label Young Money and acknowledging DJ Holiday's involvement

If you could, you would get rid of me
If you had the opportunity, you would eliminate me

Fuck you gon' do when a bitch try to go hard?
What are you going to do when a woman tries to excel and give her best?

But I won't let you get to me (to me)
I won't allow you to affect or intimidate me

You should already figure I'ma go hard
You should already expect that I will work extremely hard

If you was as real as me
If you were as genuine and authentic as me

You would never let another girl sit in your throne
You would never allow another woman to replace you as the top and most influential figure

I done put the chokehold
I have exerted control and dominance

Now they screamin', "Nicki leave me alone!" (Hard)
Now they are begging and pleading for Nicki to stop overpowering them (going hard)

I am (hard), I'm still (hard), the one to beat (go hard)
I am determined and resilient, still remaining the one everyone wants to surpass (going hard)

Ain't in a rush for mainstream, I am the street (go hard)
I am not in a hurry to appeal to the mainstream, as I am already deeply rooted in street credibility (going hard)

I am gettin' it in until the end
I am putting in the effort and persevering until the very end

I gotta go (go), go (go), go (oh)
I have to keep moving, keep pushing forward (going hard)

Gotta go, lemme get the car key
I have to leave, let me grab the car keys

You don't want it with the Harajuku Barbie
You don't want to confront or challenge the fierce and confident persona of Nicki Minaj

Keep a marquee, everything sparkly (man down)
Maintaining a prominent presence, everything around me shines and stands out (a reference to Rihanna's song 'Man Down')

Hit him on the walkie-talkie
Contacting someone through a walkie-talkie

Hit 'em, hit em, knock-knock, tell 'em let me in
Repeatedly knocking on someone's door, demanding to be let inside

My name ring bells, bitch, buzz me in (bzz)
My name is so well-known and respected that people are buzzing to let me in

And I only stop for pedestrians (oh)
I only pause or pay attention to people who are important or on my level

Or a real, real bad lesbian
Or a exceptionally confident and fearless lesbian

Hit 'em with the MAC, hit 'em with the TEC-9
Using a MAC-10 and TEC-9 firearm to attack enemies

Hit 'em with the Ruger, by the intersect sign
Using a Ruger firearm near a road intersection

Hit 'em with a Tommy, so my niggas call me Pammy
Using a Tommy Gun, a nickname from my friends is 'Pammy' (reference to Pam Grier, an actress known for her roles involving firearms)

And I always keep the jammy
I always carry a loaded firearm

In a truck or in a Lamby
In a large vehicle like a truck or a luxury Lamborghini

Put my whole borough on my back and I'm gooder (gooder)
Representing and carrying the weight of my entire neighborhood, and I excel at it

I don't wanna hear what you woulda, what you coulda
I have no interest in listening to your hypotheticals or excuses

I represent all the girls that stood up (uh)
I am a symbol and role model for all the girls who stood up for themselves and made a name

Used to drink water with a little bit of sugar (oh)
I used to have humble beginnings, drinking water with a small amount of sugar

Now I'm in the gym with my squats and my sit-ups (one, two)
Now I dedicate my time to working out, performing squats and sit-ups

Doing the scissor-leg, on the mat, with my foot up
Engaging in a specific exercise routine involving scissor-leg movements with one foot raised while on a mat

Young black pin-up, all of my bitches did up
A young African-American idol, all of my female friends are impeccably styled

Now I'm tellin' LA Reid to step his bid up
I am demanding that LA Reid (music executive) improves his efforts

And I'm tellin' President Carter he picked a winner
I am informing President Carter (possibly referring to Jay-Z) that he has chosen a successful and talented individual (Nicki Minaj)

Bitches like Nelly and Kelly got a dilemma (uh)
Women like Nelly and Kelly (possibly referring to Nelly Furtado and Kelly Rowland) are faced with a difficult decision or problem

These birds all fly south in the winter (uh)
These individuals, often referred to as 'birds,' migrate to warmer regions during the winter

Fuck I look like? Chompin' on a chicken dinner?
What do I seem like? Eating a chicken dinner hungrily? (expressing how absurd that would be)

You can hate me, but why knock my hustle?
You can dislike me, but why criticize or undermine my hard work and determination?

I'ma be the queen, no matter how they shuffle
I will always be the queen regardless of how people try to rearrange or undermine me

Skirts with the ruffle (yeah)
Wearing skirts with ruffles as a fashion statement

Louis on the duffle (yeah)
Having Louis Vuitton bags as a symbol of wealth and success

I'm a bad bitch, no muzzle
I am a confident and assertive woman, not held back or silenced

What you wanna do, do, do? (No muzzle, kyuh)
What do you want to accomplish? (No restraint or censorship, emphasizing strength)

Bitches is softer than Al Dente
Other women are less resilient or tough than pasta cooked al dente

Cut from a different kente
Distinctive and unique, like fabric from the Kente tribe in Ghana

Tell 'em I'm the ninja, Weezy is my Sensei
Inform them that I am the skilled martial artist, with Weezy (Lil Wayne) as my mentor

So I call him Splinter (Splinter)
Comparing Lil Wayne to the character Splinter, a rat sensei from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Faster than a sprinter (sprinter)
Quick and agile like a sprinter

Gimme my chopsticks, I'll have these rap bitches for dinner (dinner)
Give me my tools (symbolized by chopsticks), I will easily defeat these inferior female rappers

This is for my gentlemen in button-ups, and khakis
This is dedicated to the classy and well-dressed men wearing button-up shirts and khaki pants

This is for my nigga, Seven Up, in Catsaki
This is for my friend named Seven Up, driving a Cadillac made by Maserati (playfully merging the names Catsaki)

This is for my niggas wheelie-in' them Kawasakis
This is for my friends who stunt and perform wheelies on their Kawasaki motorcycles

Shout out to the Vackee's, saltfish ackees (ackees)
Acknowledging and greeting the people from the Vackee community, well-known for their salted fish ackees (a Caribbean fruit)

Kisses to my fans unless I'm feelin' kinda cocky (cocky)
Sending my love and appreciation to my fans, unless I am feeling overly confident and arrogant

Winter Wonderland is on my hand, it's kind of rocky (rocky)
I am wearing a luxurious and dazzling winter-themed jewelry piece on my hand, but it has a rough texture (likely referring to a ring)

I am Nicki (Nicki)
I am the one and only Nicki Minaj

Minaj or Lewinski (Lewinski)
Similar to Monica Lewinsky (former White House intern), I have made a significant impact and have a scandalous reputation

Pump's on the clutch, right hand, on the 6-speed (6-speed)
I am in control, my right hand on the gearshift of a six-speed car transmission

Write my own raps, I gotta go, I gotta get me (gotta get me)
I write my own lyrics, and I have to continue working hard to achieve success

From slap-and-cry you start to die
From enduring hardships and facing challenges, you begin to lose your fight and determination

So I must go harder
That's why I have to push myself even further and give my all

Gotta make these bitches know me
I have to make these other women recognize and acknowledge my presence

Just like Bobby know water
Similar to how Bobby (referring to someone familiar with the world of drugs) knows the value of water (a metaphor for understanding something deeply)

Better yet, like Bubba know shrimp
Even better, like how Bubba (a character from the movie Forrest Gump) knows about shrimp (showing expertise in a subject)

But he don't say shit when the gun on his lip
But he doesn't say anything when a gun is placed against his lips (indicating silence and fear)

And I don't say shit, put the gun on my hip
And I don't say anything, I have a gun holstered by my side (indicating confidence and readiness for any situation)

If you don't wanna drown, don't come on my ship
If you don't want to be overwhelmed or overpowered, don't get involved with me

Check out how them bitches just run on my dick
Observe how these women are obsessed and attracted to me

And me, I'm nasty as a son of a bitch
And personally, I am sexually explicit and explicit in general

I still got that bitch cum on my lips
I still have that woman's sexual satisfaction on my lips (creating controversy and emphasizing sexual prowess)

If you ain't got money, don't come on my strip
If you don't have money, don't come around my area or try to associate with me

And if you got money, don't come on my strip
And if you have money, you still shouldn't come around my area or try to take advantage of me

I wear that metal, no Olympic
I possess firearms, but it's not like I'm participating in the Olympics (highlighting a different kind of skill)

But I can still make you tumble and flip
However, I am still capable of making you fall and flip over (showcasing physical dominance and supremacy)

You fuckin' with me if you fuckin' with Nic'
You are engaging with me if you are dealing with Nicki (a warning about confrontations or challenges)

They ain't fuckin' with me, they ain't fuckin' with Nic'
They aren't able to withstand or compete with me, they can't handle Nicki

Your girlfriend her decision is split
Your girlfriend is unsure or divided in her choices (possibly referring to having an attraction to both me and you)

'Cause she wanna fuck me and she wanna fuck Nic'
Because she desires to have sex with both me and Nic (emphasizing sexual appeal)

They wonder if he be fuckin' Nic', as long as she be fuckin' rich
They question if he (possibly referring to the partner) has sex with Nic, as long as she is rich (highlighting the influence of wealth)

That's why I keep my luggage 'cause I swear y'all's a fuckin' trip
That's why I maintain my independence because dealing with all of you is a crazy and chaotic situation

Young Money dungeon, bitch, my swagger just punched ya bitch
Young Money (record label) serves as a fortress, my confidence and style have a profound impact on others

And I shoot like I'm from overseas, so call my gun "Gunović"
My shooting skills are comparable to someone from a foreign country, so my gun is nicknamed "Gunović" (playfully emphasizing proficiency)

Weezy F Baby and the 'F' is for a bunch of shit
Weezy F Baby, and the 'F' represents a variety of things (playfully mocking the obscurity or lack of clarity)

Red drank, blue pill, white dust, yes, I love my country, bitch
Consuming codeine syrup (red drank), using recreational drugs (blue pill), and cocaine (white dust), showing love and indulgence in one's own nation (asserting patriotism)

Hahaha
Expressing laughter

Guitar
Acknowledging the guitar instrument playing in the background

(Holiday Season)
Referencing the involvement of DJ Holiday

Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Melodic vocalization

Oh
Melodic vocalization

Wish you could get rid of Young Money
You wish you could eliminate or dismiss Young Money (record label)

Fuck you gon' do when a bitch try to go hard?
What are you going to do when a woman is determined to succeed and give her best?

But I won't let you get to me (to me)
But I won't allow you to affect or influence me

You should already figure I'ma go hard
You should already expect that I will work extremely hard

If you was as real as me
If you were as genuine and authentic as me

You would never let another girl sit in your throne
You would never allow another woman to replace you as the top and most influential figure

I done put the chokehold
I have exerted control and dominance

Now they screamin', "Nicki leave me alone!" (Hard)
Now they are begging and pleading for Nicki to stop overpowering them (going hard)

I am (hard), I will (hard), I gots to win (go hard)
I am determined and resilient, I will do whatever it takes to win (going hard)

I'm still lookin' around for my competition (go hard)
I am still searching for someone who can truly challenge me (going hard)

I am gettin' it in until the end
I am putting in the effort and persevering until the very end

I gotta go (go), go (go), go (oh) (Holiday Season)
I have to keep moving, keep pushing forward (going hard), emphasizing DJ Holiday's involvement

Go hard
Give it your all, push yourself to the limit