Lil' Flip's career was launched when he released his first album "The Leprechaun". The album quickly gained national attention and spawned the hit single "I Can Do That". The album sold over 100,000 copies regionally and gained attention from Def Jam South, A & R, and well-known Houston rapper Scarface. He was briefly signed to Def Jam, but abruptly left the label a few years later after concerns about his financial earnings. He soon signed to Loud Records and began recording his first national debut album.
While recording his album, he was apparently shot by unknown assailants in a drive-by shooting. He survived the attack and pressed on to finish the album. At the age of 20, Lil' Flip released his sophomore album "Undaground Legend", his first nationally released album, which included the hit single "The Way We Ball" and a remix to his hit "I Can Do That". The album reached platinum status even though it didn't get much promotion from Loud Records.
Lil' Flip recorded his third album "U Gotta Feel Me" on Sony Records. This album was more commercial and featured Ludacris, Three 6 Mafia, and others. The album debuted at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #3 on the Hip-Hop/R&B charts. It quickly became a crossover success with the Billboard Hot 100 Top 20 single "Game Over". The single used the Namco Pac-Man beat and the video showed Lil' Flip getting a tattoo while rapping to the single. The single reached #1 on the hip-hop charts. His follow-up single, the lover's anthem "Sunshine" featuring Lea, became the second hit single on Lil' Flip's album and went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It gained numerous requests on MTV 2 and BET. The album was certified double platinum.
Lil' Flip is known for his unique screwed style of freestyling (a form of slowed down rap technique) and for always releasing double disc CDs whenever he releases an album. He credits all of his success to the late DJ Screw and has tattooed DJ Screw's name on his arms. Lil' Flip has been credited for his lyrics by Three 6 Mafia, David Banner, Fam-Lay, Young Buck, UGK, Ludacris, among others. He has announced himself as the "King of The South" and the "Freestyle King".
Sun Don't Shine
Lil' Flip Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For paving the way
Cause he made me what I am today
A young entrepreneur with amazing talent
In order 2 be the best you must take the challenge
I'm trying 2 be number 1 cause number 2 don't matter
People trying 2 pull you down when you climb the ladder
Hate 2 see you up but they love it when you down
cause talk is cheap that's why I rap
I'm getting NBA money with no salary cap
Mama it feels good to put money in your mailbox
This for my niggas locked up in the cell blocks
[Chorus 2x]
Cause the sun don't shine
That's why I spit these rhymes
To ease my mind
For real I got to get away
In life you go through drama and pain
And when someone close dies it'll give you a migraine
And a whole lot of stress, a whole lot of tears
The days turn into nights, the nights turn into years
I'm not happy here, I'm on another atmosphere
I got to get away just to get my mind clear
That's why I smoke so much it relieves my stress
Just imagine everyday I got to wear my vest
I got to watch my back
Cause niggas hiding the jack
When you see these moving you like fuck you feel that
To all my niggas in jail you better keep your head up
To my niggas in the hood you better keep your bread up
[Chorus 2x]
Cause the sun don't shine
That's why I spit these rhymes
To ease my mind
For real I got to get away
If I died today I have lived my life
And if I could do it again Id do it twice
No more moving white or shooting dice
Or creeping late night trying to screw your wife
Cause I'm a changed man with the heart of a lion
Even if I was a midget id be fighting a giant
Ill never give up I'm from the home of the braves
I'm still ballin like pac from the cradle to the grave
[Chorus 3x]
Cause the sun don't shine
That's why I spit these rhymes
To ease my mind
For real I got to get away
In Lil' Flip's song "Sun Don't Shine," he thanks God for paving the way for him to be what he is today, a young entrepreneur with amazing talent. He acknowledges that being the best is essential when climbing the ladder because being number two doesn't matter. He points out that some people try to bring you down when you're going up, but they love it when you go down. That's why he stays quiet when he's around such people. He says that he raps because talk is cheap and that he creates music to make NBA money with no salary cap. Through the song, Lil' Flip expresses his desire to be away from the drama and pain of life, and he acknowledges that the sun doesn't always shine.
The rapper acknowledges that he has been through drama and pain in life, and when someone dies, it can give one a migraine with a lot of stress and tears. The days turn into nights, the nights turn into years, and he isn't happy where he is at the moment. He has to find another atmosphere where he can get his mind clear, and smoking seems to relieve his stress. However, he knows that he has to wear his vest all the time and look over his shoulder because some people are hiding the jack. Lil' Flip recognizes that his life's changed, and he has a heart of a lion, and he will never give up.
Line by Line Meaning
I thank god everyday
Expressing gratitude towards God for everything.
For paving the way
For showing the right path.
Cause he made me what I am today
God's role in shaping his personality.
A young entrepreneur with amazing talent
He is a young person with great skills in business.
In order 2 be the best you must take the challenge
One must take up challenges to become the best.
I'm trying 2 be number 1 cause number 2 don't matter
He wants to be the best and nothing else matters.
People trying 2 pull you down when you climb the ladder
Envious people try to bring you down when you succeed.
Hate 2 see you up but they love it when you down
People are envious of your success, but they enjoy seeing you fail.
That's why I'm always quiet when I come around
He doesn't want to draw attention to himself to avoid negative attention.
cause talk is cheap that's why I rap
He believes in taking action rather than talking.
I'm getting NBA money with no salary cap
He is earning a lot of money through his hard work.
Mama it feels good to put money in your mailbox
It's gratifying to provide for his family financially.
This for my niggas locked up in the cell blocks
Dedication to his friends who are in prison.
Cause the sun don't shine
The difficulties and problems in life.
That's why I spit these rhymes
Expressing his feelings through music.
To ease my mind
Music helps him to relax and forget about his problems.
For real I got to get away
He needs space and time to himself.
In life you go through drama and pain
Life is full of problems and pain.
And when someone close dies, it'll give you a migraine
The death of a loved one causes a lot of pain and discomfort.
And a whole lot of stress, a whole lot of tears
Dealing with problems in life causes a lot of stress and tears.
The days turn into nights, the nights turn into years
Time flies by quickly and one's problems may persist for a long time.
I'm not happy here, I'm on another atmosphere
He is not happy with his current situation and wants to move on.
I got to get away just to get my mind clear
He needs to get away from his current environment in order to think clearly.
That's why I smoke so much it relieves my stress
He smokes marijuana to relieve stress.
Just imagine every day I got to wear my vest
He is always fearful and wears a bulletproof vest for protection.
I got to watch my back
Being cautious and vigilant of potential danger.
Cause niggas hiding the jack
People may try to steal money or possessions from him.
When you see these moving you like fuck you feel that
Being surprised by sudden negative events.
To all my niggas in jail you better keep your head up
Encouraging his friends in prison to stay strong.
To my niggas in the hood you better keep your bread up
Encouraging his friends in the hood to keep working hard to earn money.
If I died today I have lived my life
He believes he has lived a fulfilling life and has no regrets.
And if I could do it again, I'd do it twice
He loved his life and would gladly live it again if given the chance.
No more moving white or shooting dice
He wants to leave his criminal past behind and live a clean life.
Or creeping late night trying to screw your wife
He doesn't want to cheat on his significant other.
Cause I'm a changed man with the heart of a lion
He has changed for the better and is now strong and courageous.
Even if I was a midget id be fighting a giant
He would persevere against any obstacles regardless of his size.
Ill never give up I'm from the home of the braves
He is determined and will never give up, coming from a city known for its brave inhabitants.
I'm still ballin like pac from the cradle to the grave
He is still successful and thriving like the late Tupac Shakur.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JUAN SALINAS, OSCAR SALINAS, WESLEY WESTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind