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.
We Ain't Broke No Mo
Lil' O Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I remember when these hoes ain't speak cause I ain't have no doe
And these boys ain't wanna hang around cause I fell off and I was broke
[Chorus 2: Big T]
Hey hey hey hey
Its on again
(Its on again)
(No mo)
No mo
(No mo)
We ain't broke no mo
Hey hey hey hey
Its on again
(Its on again)
Cause we ain't broke no mo
(No mo)
No mo
(No mo)
We ain't broke no mo
Hey hey hey hey
[Verse One: Lil' O]
Extra extra read all about it
Fat rat with da cheese blew up these boys doubt it
These broads wanna speak now freak cause I was down g
Now they break they neck for sex and be around me they clown me
With words when I used to slang on curve
Grinding to get a burb now shopping spree spurs
With these Cadillac swerve through these streets one deep
I don't hang with these boys they wanna see me all feet
With my belt on concrete yeah wet my chest
But I wet your face if you step to this
Lexus hoes be like those Texas kids
Do you see all that ice in their neckclase
You see when I had it hard all I had was the lord
I peep game from the streets learn these cats fraud
But now my money right so I'm ready for the war
Don't make me send killas for yall I don't bard it
[Chorus 2]
[Verse Two: Slim Thug]
I use to wear the polo but now I'm iceberg splurging
Use to ride in hoodoos but now I'm flipping excursion
Slim getting what he deserving in the y2g
Cause ain't no post so on the grind like me
Trying to shine like me its hard work
I used to get treated like dirt before I wrecked concerts
I had to get what I was worth so I got it
Didn't have time to talk about it
Cause my dream than got spotted
You know me a raw dog hog ass nigga
Chasing my figures trying to get it mo bigger
Like having figures like jigga but I'm on my way
Cause when it comes to the green Slim Thug don't play
How many 19 years old got this much ice
How many 19 years old ride around this nice
Not too many I used to get treated like a penny
Now cars closing doors I got plenty
I ain't broke no moe
[Chorus 2]
[Verse Three: Lil O]
I hit the scene coupe lit with screens
Twenty inches sitting on a six machine
Hop out super clean like Listerine
From my wrist and ring I'm glistening
And the way my chain glow u can't miss a thing.
I told you I'll come up you wasn't listening
From the jump I had a dream like Mr. King
That I would hit motto cock till its blistering
You can lick my thing freak me in ways that sickening
They licking my ass til its blittering
They thinking I'm a trick you can't hit your thing
Girl you tripping I kick broads out my car tell them get the stepping
When they try to jump fraud like Pippen
Yeah I fell but I'm back I bled my block from a rock to a chicken
Yeah on my note baby no more slipping
Its going down
[Chorus 2]
[Chorus 1]
[Chorus 2: Repeats]
In "We Ain't Broke No Mo," the chorus sets the theme for the rest of the song: Lil' O, Slim Thug, and Big T are celebrating their newfound wealth and success. In the first verse, Lil' O notes how he used to be disregarded and disrespected, but now that he has money and power, women flock to him. He also mentions how he learned to recognize people's true motives during his tough times. Slim Thug takes over the second verse, talking about his fashion upgrade and how hard he had to work to get where he is now. He mentions how people used to treat him poorly, and he knew he had to fight for the respect he deserved. Lil' O concludes the track with a final verse about his success with the opposite sex since his come-up. The song closes on a hopeful note as they acknowledge their success and how they won't allow anyone to bring them down now that they have made it.
Overall, "We Ain't Broke No Mo" is an anthem of triumph over adversity. It emphasizes the struggles of being poor or struggling and how that can change when one acquires wealth. It also frequently alludes to how people react to changes in one's financial status, highlighting how people choose to be around them in light of their newfound affluent status.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember when these hoes ain't speak cause I ain't have no doe
Back when I was broke, girls didn't pay any attention to me.
And these boys ain't wanna hang around cause I fell off and I was broke
Even my friends didn't want to be around me when I was struggling financially.
Extra extra read all about it
Fat rat with da cheese blew up these boys doubt it
Newsflash, I'm no longer broke and people can't believe I made it big.
These broads wanna speak now freak cause I was down g
Now they break they neck for sex and be around me they clown me
Now that I have money, girls are interested in me and will do anything for my attention.
Grinding to get a burb now shopping spree spurs
With these Cadillac swerve through these streets one deep
I used to work hard just to afford a normal car, but now I can afford luxury vehicles like a Cadillac.
Do you see all that ice in their neckclase
You see when I had it hard all I had was the lord
Girls are impressed by my expensive jewelry, but I know that my faith in God helped me through tough times.
Trying to shine like me its hard work
I used to get treated like dirt before I wrecked concerts
I worked hard for my success and didn't always receive respect, but now I'm making moves and performing at concerts.
Not too many I used to get treated like a penny
Now cars closing doors I got plenty
I ain't broke no moe
I used to be treated poorly and didn't have many nice things, but now I am financially stable and have many luxury cars.
I hit the scene coupe lit with screens
Twenty inches sitting on a six machine
Hop out super clean like Listerine
I arrive in style, driving a fancy car with screens and impressive rims.
From my wrist and ring I'm glistening
And the way my chain glow u can't miss a thing.
My expensive jewelry sparkles and shines, making it impossible to miss.
Yeah I fell but I'm back I bled my block from a rock to a chicken
Yeah on my note baby no more slipping
Its going down
I struggled but I bounced back and turned my poor neighborhood into a successful area. I won't struggle again, I am on top.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: OREOLUWA MAGUS LAWSON, STAYVE THOMAS, WILSON MALONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind