I Hate Myself
Lil B Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Goo Goo Dolls Sample]
Don't want the world to see me
Don't think that they'd understand
Everything's meant to be broken
Want you to know who I am

[Lil B - Verse 1]
My lifetime came from struggle
All I've seen is what I follow
My skin color, automatic transaction
I'm already classified, no second chance
Taught to feel nappy hands, little grade
Why can't I sag when it's just a style
Little beard, black hoodie, and I'm all good
People judge before they even know me
Stare at me, don't know I'm lonely
Outside's from these stares from police
And I get the bad rap because another man that just looks like me
Think life's a movie like Spike Lee
Too cool like Ice T
Yeah, I move with Life's Peace, and he move with the gun piece
So there's no peace
I gotta go to the hood, all I see is
Divided, the freshest schizophrenics
Men pimping women, people losing vision
Given choices before she started living
I hate myself

[Lil B - Hook]
I see myself in the mirror, but I don't see nothing
If you understand what I'm seeing please tell me something
When you black, the media make you wonder why
I just need my history, because I hate myself
[Lil B - Verse 2]
It makes me sad to see pimping like I'm at a battle with my surroundings
Everybody do it, but not really
And I couldn't imagine my momma
Universal knowledge is karma
I see young girls hanging off the corner
And they searching for love in the wrong space
Gave her mind to a pimp, now he's changing faces
Sometimes I just wish I could trade places
I hate myself for being taught the roots of the hood
Which don't matter, no respect and no love
That got jailed for the real thugs
And I'm sorry to all the innocent in prison
You get a second chance when you free or in heaven
I promise if you really love and you watch your steps
Respect everybody, man you will get blessed
Get your point across without violence
The black dying by the gun, I'm tired of crying
I hate myself

[Lil B - Hook 2]
For real man, this been in my heart for a long time
And if you understand, please tell me something
When you black, the media make you wonder why

[Lil B - Verse 3]
I'm ready to give up my old thoughts
I'mma move past what I saw
I'mma do what I want and be happy
I'm not gon' rob or kill to survive
Everything I've seen was a lie
I'm not ready to die, I love myself
I said...
Everything that I've seen was a lie
I'm not ready to die, I love myself
Break that mental

You know we are free now man
Break that, uh, mental blockage
Don't think too hard, free your mind


Lyrics taken from rapgenius.com.

Overall Meaning

In the song "I Hate Myself" by Lil B, he talks about his experiences as a black man in America and the struggles he faces due to his skin color. He also speaks candidly about the negative effects of the media on the perception of black people, as they are often portrayed in a negative light. Lil B mentions the difficulties of growing up in the hood, where people are quick to judge and where poverty and violence are rampant. He touches on themes of self-hate and the desire to break free from the negative stereotypes of black people. The lyrics are powerful and soulful, and they invite the listener to empathize with the difficult experiences Lil B has had to overcome.


The Goo Goo Dolls sample in the song is from their hit single "Iris," which was released in 1998. The song was a commercial success and was even nominated for a Grammy Award. Lil B's use of the sample adds a layer of emotional intensity to the song and helps to convey the message of feeling misunderstood and alone.


Line by Line Meaning

My lifetime came from struggle
My entire existence has been filled with harsh realities and difficulties.


All I've seen is what I follow
My experiences have been limited to those of the people around me, influencing my perception of the world.


My skin color, automatic transaction
People instantly categorize me based on the color of my skin, without knowing anything about me.


I'm already classified, no second chance
Due to preconceived notions about my race, I don't have the same opportunities as others and am often judged unfairly.


Taught to feel nappy hands, little grade
As a child, I was taught to feel bad about having natural hair and was given low self-esteem because of it.


Why can't I sag when it's just a style
I don't understand why wearing pants low is seen as a negative thing when it's just a fashion choice.


Little beard, black hoodie, and I'm all good
Despite people making assumptions about me based on my appearance, I know that I am a good person regardless of those stereotypes.


People judge before they even know me
People make assumptions about me and my character based on my appearance and race without giving me a chance to prove them wrong.


Stare at me, don't know I'm lonely
Even though others may look at me in public, they don't know how much loneliness and isolation I may feel behind closed doors.


Outside's from these stares from police
I feel self-conscious and paranoid due to the way police often profile and single out black individuals.


And I get the bad rap because another man that just looks like me
The actions of one black individual in a negative light are often attributed to everyone who looks like them, leading to unfair judgement and stigma.


Think life's a movie like Spike Lee
Some people view the world as a glamorous or romanticized version of what it really is, due to the media they consume.


Too cool like Ice T
Some people may adopt a facade or persona to compensate for their vulnerabilities and insecurities.


Yeah, I move with Life's Peace, and he move with the gun piece
While I try to live my life peacefully, others around me may resort to violence as a means of survival or defense.


So there's no peace
As long as there are those around me who use violence to achieve their goals, peace will always be elusive.


I gotta go to the hood, all I see is
Even when I return to my community, I am constantly bombarded with strife, poverty, and violence.


Divided, the freshest schizophrenics
Amidst all the social issues plaguing my community, there are those who suffer from mental disorders that only exacerbate their struggles.


Men pimping women, people losing vision
There are those who exploit vulnerable parties, especially women, for their own gain, while others struggle with a sense of direction or purpose in life.


Given choices before she started living
Despite being so young, some individuals in my community are already forced to make difficult decisions that will affect the rest of their lives.


I hate myself
All of these harsh realities and difficulties have led me to hate myself and the world I live in.


I see myself in the mirror, but I don't see nothing
Even when I try to look at myself objectively, all I see are the negative things that others have made me believe about myself.


If you understand what I'm seeing please tell me something
I am communicating my struggles and would appreciate any insight or help others can provide to cope with them.


When you black, the media make you wonder why
Black individuals are often portrayed negatively in media, leading to a sense of confusion and frustration about why they are perceived that way.


It makes me sad to see pimping like I'm at a battle with my surroundings
The prevalence of prostitution and sex trafficking in my community makes me feel overwhelmed and powerless to fight back.


Everybody do it, but not really
Though prostitution may be normalized in my community, it is often due to desperation or survival and not a genuine interest or desire to pursue it.


And I couldn't imagine my momma
The thought of the women in my life having to resort to such methods to support themselves or their families is devastating to me.


Universal knowledge is karma
The idea that certain actions will have consequences is a universally-held belief, and serves as a reminder that negative behaviors will ultimately come back to haunt those who engage in them.


I see young girls hanging off the corner
The prevalence of young girls turning to prostitution is heartbreaking and reflects a failure in society to protect and uplift vulnerable youth.


And they searching for love in the wrong space
The sad reality is that many of these individuals engage in prostitution because they crave love, attention, or acceptance that they are not receiving from other sources in their lives.


Gave her mind to a pimp, now he's changing faces
Many of these individuals are coerced or manipulated into prostitution, further perpetually the cycle of exploitation and abuse.


Sometimes I just wish I could trade places
The sight of such despair and brokenness in my community is sometimes so overwhelming that I cannot help but wish I could be the person to ease that suffering.


I hate myself for being taught the roots of the hood
My community is often subjected to negative perceptions and stereotypes, and I feel ashamed and resentful for being a part of it.


Which don't matter, no respect and no love
Despite the rich cultural history and legacy of my community, it is routinely disrespected and undervalued by outsiders and even members of the community itself.


That got jailed for the real thugs
Injustice within the justice system is particularly prevalent in my community, leading to the criminalization and stigmatization of innocent parties and the release of actual criminals.


And I'm sorry to all the innocent in prison
I am empathetic and compassionate towards those who have been wrongfully incarcerated or punished unfairly by an unjust system.


You get a second chance when you free or in heaven
Though people who are wronged by the system may never receive justice on earth, I believe in a higher power that will ultimately make things right.


I promise if you really love and you watch your steps
I implore others to be careful and mindful in their actions, and to demonstrate love and compassion towards others.


Respect everybody, man you will get blessed
Treat others with kindness and respect, and that same energy will be returned to you in different forms.


Get your point across without violence
There are ways to express oneself and make change without resorting to violence or aggressive behaviors.


The black dying by the gun, I'm tired of crying
The senseless violence and gun-related deaths that disproportionately affect the black community has taken a significant emotional toll on me, and I am tired of grieving.


I'm ready to give up my old thoughts
I am willing to break free from the negative perceptions and beliefs that have held me back in the past, in order to grow and progress as a person.


I'mma move past what I saw
I refuse to be defined by my past traumas and experiences, and instead strive to move forward and create a better future for myself.


I'mma do what I want and be happy
I prioritize my own happiness and well-being, and am determined to live my life on my own terms.


I'm not gon' rob or kill to survive
I reject the notion that I must engage in negative or violent behaviors as a means of survival, and will instead seek alternative paths to success and fulfillment.


Everything I've seen was a lie
Many of the things I've been taught or experienced in my life have not been truthful or accurate, which has led to a sense of disillusionment.


I love myself
Despite all the negativity and hardship that surrounds me, I am determined to love and value myself as a person.


Break that mental
I am encouraging others to challenge their own negative beliefs and thought patterns, in order to grow and achieve greater happiness and fulfillment.


You know we are free now man
Despite the many obstacles and limitations that exist in our world, we possess the freedom and autonomy to make choices and push for change.


Break that, uh, mental blockage
I am urging others to overcome the mental barriers and obstacles that may be holding them back from achieving their goals and pursuing their passions.


Don't think too hard, free your mind
Sometimes the best way to move forward and achieve progress is to stop overthinking and to simply allow oneself to be open to new experiences and opportunities.




Contributed by London J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@Tomemisarela

Its crazy how people can say rap is a horrible genre and how it only talks about violence when stuff like this exists, stuff as genuine and touching as this.
Thank you Based God

@DendyJungle

to anyone reading this: i am crying and i am not embarrassed. i love you all

@TaskForceB

love u

@danielnicoletti4408

I love you Man love from México

@cloakedgod3026

im crying too

@williamsmith8910

love you fam

@seandavis9320

Based Love!

14 More Replies...

@MyNameIsntGabriel

He who hates Lil B, hates life.

@jmoonshine4223

I don't hate the guy. Just the music. But also life.

@YoungBasedChefBeezy

Jmoonshine42 you’re lost

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