Lil' O is a southern rapper, born in Lagos on May 20, 1976, Nigeria and rai… Read Full Bio ↴Lil' O is a southern rapper, born in Lagos on May 20, 1976, Nigeria and raised in Southwest Houston, Texas. He is an original member of DJ Screw's Screwed Up Click. He was also known as O or Da Fat Rat Wit Da Cheeze. His name references his height, at 5 feet tall.

His father was a doctor and Lil’ O and his four brothers and one sister had a middle class upbringing. His mother died from ovarian cancer when Lil’ O was 13 and suddenly his father’s strict Nigerian upbringing began to chase him to rebellion.

Soon after his mother’s death, Lil’ O began hanging in the streets with friends who were in the drug game, and he became addicted to the fast money that drug dealing brought in. “I got street fame, women, and a lot of money quickly and easily,” he says. Of course, he eventually got collared. After his arrest, his father kicked him out of the house and Lil’ O fell deeper into the lure of the drug game. While out on bond, he continued to sell drugs and was caught again. This time he attempted to swallow the evidence before the police could arrest him. He swallowed an ounce-and-a-half of crack cocaine and his lungs collapsed. He was put on life support and his father was told to prepare for his death. “It’s really a miracle that I woke up at all,” says Lil’ O. “I was breathing through tubes on my deathbed and I looked down and saw that my ankles were cuffed to the bed. I realized, if I recovered I was going to jail, and if I didn’t I was going to die.”

He went to Xavier University in New Orleans, where he studied business. Away from the drugs and the street life of Southwest Houston, Lil’ O also began to dabble in one of his first loves – hip hop. “Man, when I was growing up, LL Cool J came out with ‘Radio’ and that was it, I was hooked. I never thought about rapping as a career because I was making so much selling drugs, plus the money came faster than it does in the rap game,” says O. While at Xavier, in 1997, he recorded “Can’t Stop” – featuring vocal contributions from the ladies that would go on to earn renown as Destiny’s Child. The track soon became Lil’ O’s debut single and went on to score an instant local hit. Regardless, Lil’ O eventually found himself out of school and back in Texas, again exposed to the same lifestyle he’d tried to leave behind. In 1999, he then signed with the Houston-based indie label Game Face Entertainment, but also began selling drugs again. His debut album, Blood Money, sold 20,000 copies but he was unable to promote it due to spending time in jail.

After being released from prison, Lil’ O left the drug game behind for good and focused on his music completely. He also enrolled at the University of Houston–Downtown ("UHD") and majored in business. “Some days I wouldn’t feel like going to class, and then I would look across the street at the county jail and remember how I felt when I was in there. That would be all the motivation I would need to get myself to class,” says Lil’ O with a hearty laugh.

In 2001, his album "Da Fat Rat With The Cheeze" sold over 75,000. He collaborated with Big Hawk on the hit single "Back Back". "Back Back" led him back to a nationwide deal with Atlantic Records, which he later left in 2003.

My Loved Ones
Lil' O Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(*talking*)
For everyone I ever hurt, for everyone
That ever gave a damn about me
This ones for you, I apologize

(Billy Cook *singing in background*)

(Lil' O - 2x)

How could I be a fool - 3x
My loved ones

(Lil' O)
You say I'd go to jail, knowing everyday's like this
Asking why you a thug, you wasn't raised like this
You always told me go to school, and behave your best
Instead I broke your heart, sold dope and gave you stress
But everytime I got caught up, you was there for me
And everytime I went to jail, you shed tears for me
I never told you that I loved you, and you dared to me
Cause as a child I never knew, how much you cared for me
Remember running from the laws, I had to swallow that crack
And my heart stop beating, and my lungs collapsed
The doctor told you come see me, cause he doubt I'll come back
But you said you couldn't stand to see your son like that
On life support and a coma, handcuffs on my feet
So instead you sent my uncle to be checking on me
How'd I make it, probably all the prayers to God on your knees
And I apologize there for your grief, can you forgive me

(Chorus - 2x)
How could I be a fool
Not knowing when I hurt myself, I also hurt you
For that I was a bastard, I was selfish I was cruel
I hope you can forgive me for the pain I put you though, my loved ones

(Lil' O)
My Auntie came to see her nephew
She said I love you, but you know I gots to check you
The way you act is a disgrace, and disrespectful
But still you blood, so I pray the Lord protect you
Cause I know that you done got yourself in drama, and you going to war
Don't even lie to me, I seen the bullet holes in your car
Your daddy told me, that he found a gat up under your drawer
Know if you live by the gun, you gon die by the sword
I know that sense a child, you not evil
So what's this, that I'm hearing you done shot people
Don't let society justify, we not equal
Running round here like a demon, wondering God keep you
Cause the route that you going down baby, if you keep this up
The devil gon snatch your life, and come eat you up
Fight the demons, don't let these streets sweep you up
And cause of you getting sleep is rough, and that ain't fair

(Chorus - 2x)

(Lil' O)
If you was still alive, I wonder what you'd say to me
You'd probably slap my face, and tell me you ashamed of me
How did your child become the beast, that I became to be
But I ain't blaming you, the blame's on me
Cause my mama always bust her ass, making sure that her kid's had
But I always had to keep up with the latest new fad
I had more than most kids, but I still wasn't glad
And when I found out like dope, it's like my mind went bad
It was the G's, the rush, my greed, my lust
If you wouldn't get me something, I go get it like what
A 15 year old boy, wanting money like a grown up
Before I knew, I had the block sown up, I'm blowing up
Having street fame, thinking this what life is about
Bringing drama home, so daddy kicked me out of the house
Because of you he asked me back, I told him no what to shout
I'm having money, my own crib and I'm loving this route

(Chorus - 2x)

My loved ones, how could I be a fool - 20x

Overall Meaning

The song "My Loved Ones" by Lil' O is an emotional and heartfelt apology to those he has hurt throughout his life, particularly his family members. In the song, Lil' O confesses to his mistakes and asks for forgiveness. He expresses deep regret for making his loved ones suffer by engaging in wrong activities, such as drug dealing and violence. Lil' O mentions how he was raised well by those he hurt, but he chose a different path for himself. He acknowledges the hurt he has caused by bringing trouble into their lives and admits that he was selfish and cruel.

Lil' O particularly regrets not showing enough gratitude and love to those who have always been there for him, including his mom who worked hard to provide for him, his aunt who checked on him, and his father who asked him to return homes. He recalls the time when he was on life support and in a coma, and his mother could not bear to see him in such condition. He remembers all the times his loved ones were worried and crying, while he failed to realize the consequences of his actions.

The chorus in the song, "How could I be a fool, Not knowing when I hurt myself, I also hurt you," is a recurrent theme that expresses guilt and remorse for causing pain to those around him. The song is a reminder of how we sometimes take our loved ones for granted and how our actions can hurt others' feelings. It is a plea for forgiveness and a vow to do better.

Line by Line Meaning

For everyone I ever hurt, for everyone That ever gave a damn about me This ones for you, I apologize (Billy Cook *singing in background*)
The artist apologizes to everyone he has hurt and everyone who has cared for him. This song is for them.

(Lil' O - 2x) How could I be a fool - 3x My loved ones
The artist questions how he could be foolish and acknowledges his loved ones.

You say I'd go to jail, knowing everyday's like this Asking why you a thug, you wasn't raised like this You always told me go to school, and behave your best Instead I broke your heart, sold dope and gave you stress But everytime I got caught up, you was there for me And everytime I went to jail, you shed tears for me I never told you that I loved you, and you dared to me Cause as a child I never knew, how much you cared for me Remember running from the laws, I had to swallow that crack And my heart stop beating, and my lungs collapsed The doctor told you come see me, cause he doubt I'll come back But you said you couldn't stand to see your son like that On life support and a coma, handcuffs on my feet So instead you sent my uncle to be checking on me How'd I make it, probably all the prayers to God on your knees And I apologize there for your grief, can you forgive me
The artist reflects on his past mistakes and the pain they caused his loved ones. He apologizes for never telling them he loved them and thanks them for their support during his difficult times. He acknowledges their prayers and asks for forgiveness.

(Chorus - 2x) How could I be a fool Not knowing when I hurt myself, I also hurt you For that I was a bastard, I was selfish I was cruel I hope you can forgive me for the pain I put you though, my loved ones
The artist continues to apologize and take responsibility for the pain he caused his loved ones. He acknowledges his selfish behavior and hopes for forgiveness.

My Auntie came to see her nephew She said I love you, but you know I gots to check you The way you act is a disgrace, and disrespectful But still you blood, so I pray the Lord protect you Cause I know that you done got yourself in drama, and you going to war Don't even lie to me, I seen the bullet holes in your car Your daddy told me, that he found a gat up under your drawer Know if you live by the gun, you gon die by the sword I know that sense a child, you not evil So what's this, that I'm hearing you done shot people Don't let society justify, we not equal Running round here like a demon, wondering God keep you Cause the route that you going down baby, if you keep this up The devil gon snatch your life, and come eat you up Fight the demons, don't let these streets sweep you up And cause of you getting sleep is rough, and that ain't fair
The artist's aunt confronts him about his behavior and warns him of the dangers he faces. She prays for his safety and urges him to reject violence and bad influences. She reminds him of his worth and asks him to fight against the negativity in his life.

If you was still alive, I wonder what you'd say to me You'd probably slap my face, and tell me you ashamed of me How did your child become the beast, that I became to be But I ain't blaming you, the blame's on me Cause my mama always bust her ass, making sure that her kid's had But I always had to keep up with the latest new fad I had more than most kids, but I still wasn't glad And when I found out like dope, it's like my mind went bad It was the G's, the rush, my greed, my lust If you wouldn't get me something, I go get it like what A 15 year old boy, wanting money like a grown up Before I knew, I had the block sown up, I'm blowing up Having street fame, thinking this what life is about Bringing drama home, so daddy kicked me out of the house Because of you he asked me back, I told him no what to shout I'm having money, my own crib and I'm loving this route
The artist imagines what his father would say to him about his behavior. He takes responsibility for his actions and acknowledges the role his mother played in providing for him. He reflects on his desire for money and status, which led him down a dangerous path. He acknowledges the mistakes he made but also expresses his excitement at his newfound independence.

Contributed by Molly P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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