When Lil B titled his last digital label released mixtape I'm Gay, he received several death threats. Although he is heterosexual, he says the title is a message of support to the LGBT community. Referring to the alternative definition of gay, he says he is gay because he is happy. Following the death threats, he added "I'm Happy" in parenthesis to the album's title. I'm Gay received positive reviews with many fans commenting on the album's wide variety of positive messages and noting the unique beats and lyrical styles not common to mainstream hip hop. He raps about many controversial issues including race relations, poverty, humanity, and the justice system. The album also, according to many fans, shows the "true" side of Lil B. It entered the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart at #56 and the Heatseekers Albums chart at #20 for the week of July 16, 2011. It is for sale on iTunes but Lil B also uploaded it to the Internet for free, posting a link to it on Twitter and Facebook saying, "for all my fans who don't have $10 to buy my album, here it is for free."
Lil B typically releases at least one mixtape every month; so far in 2012 he has released 13 mixtapes - 4 in July alone. One of those released in July was the massive 848-song, nearly 5GB collection of Based Freestyles, which is his largest release to date. In 2013, hip-hop listeners voted Lil B as the greatest rapper of all time.
Pay Attention
Lil B Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You see the niggas outside?
Niggas trying to get some candy tonight
Fuck, anybody give nigga shit tonight, bro!
Fuck, I got the healing!
I’mma take the dark out of them speakers
Come upon them bricks when I was looking for…
Why you call my phone, bitch, and I got that beeper
He do it all my life, said he got that cheaper
…Jordan, man you know that he got them snickers
You niggas wanna play, I’mma show them the...
The pistol make the whole room turn to a freezer
Why you mother fucked the whole, you bring me a squeezer
White dope in my nose, playing with...
... I start to look like a troll
I’mma seat at the top, put the bottom…
Niggas ain’t on me, talking all that way
If you got it, then I need it, I’m gonna pay that fee
I’m playing on defense the street shit
Keeping one on each clip!
I got the same line…
Got a mask on in the hood, we’re sick!
Got them bags all in the car where you sit
Sleep shit, same shit, he came shit, a shit!
Niggas wanna rap the gangsta
Fuck that …my back! You feel me?
You’re watching your kids, and I’m talking about my life
I’m talking what it is, but you been saying what’s right
You’re talking about the world, I’ll be… by the crib
Niggas gonna go to jail to smoke me like a...
Emotional, cause I’m focused, my life is opened
Doors closed, bitch! But my bike is rolling
Like climbing to the top, I’m going!
Gotta respect the legend!
Your mother fucking presence!
Yeah, I’ve been the gift, so I’ve never been the presence
Check my message, I ain’t even left a message, bitch!
Text message these…
But I might not even do that
Pay attention!
The song "Pay Attention" by Lil B is a rapid-fire stream of consciousness that jumps between fragments of thoughts about Halloween, drug use, violence, and the rapper's own life. The opening lines reference Halloween, with Lil B remarking on the crowds of people outside and his determination to get his share of the spoils. He then segues into a series of disjointed images and themes, musing on drug use and the fear of violence, while also asserting his own status as a powerful figure in the rap world.
Throughout the song, Lil B's delivery is rapid and sometimes slurred, with many of the lines only loosely connected to one another. Nevertheless, the underlying theme of the piece seems to be a sense of defiance and resilience, with Lil B positioning himself as a figure who is not afraid to take risks and who is always looking for new ways to assert his dominance.
Line by Line Meaning
I happy Halloween, man!
I'm feeling good on this Halloween night.
You see the niggas outside?
Do you see all the people out and about?
Niggas trying to get some candy tonight
People are trying to enjoy Halloween and get some treats.
Fuck, anybody give nigga shit tonight, bro!
I hope nobody causes any trouble or tries to start a fight tonight.
Fuck, I got the healing!
I can handle whatever comes my way, I have the ability to heal.
I’mma take the dark out of them speakers
I'm going to make the music sound clearer.
Come upon them bricks when I was looking for…
I stumbled upon some drugs when I was searching for something else.
Many seconds on my my mind it made me shine
I've been thinking about something for a while and it's helped me come up with something great.
Why you call my phone, bitch, and I got that beeper
Why are you calling my phone when I already have a beeper?
He do it all my life, said he got that cheaper
This person has been offering me drugs for a while and claims they have a better price than anyone else.
...Jordan, man you know that he got them snickers
Jordan is a person who has drugs.
You niggas wanna play, I’mma show them the...
If people want to mess with me, I will retaliate.
The pistol make the whole room turn to a freezer
The presence of my gun makes everyone uncomfortable and scared.
Why you mother fucked the whole, you bring me a squeezer
Why did you have sex with so many people and then give me a gun?
White dope in my nose, playing with...
I have cocaine in my system and I'm doing whatever I want.
... I start to look like a troll
As I continue to use cocaine, I start to look disheveled and not myself.
I’mma seat at the top, put the bottom…
I have a great position and I'm in charge of everything, from top to bottom.
Niggas ain’t on me, talking all that way
People are trying to talk about me but they don't really know anything.
If you got it, then I need it, I’m gonna pay that fee
If you have something I want, I'll pay whatever price to obtain it.
I’m playing on defense the street shit
I'm being cautious and careful in my dealings with others on the street.
Keeping one on each clip!
I always have a gun, and I'm prepared for anything.
I got the same line…
I keep saying the same things over and over again.
Got a mask on in the hood, we’re sick!
In the neighborhood, people often wear masks and it's seen as a normal part of things.
Got them bags all in the car where you sit
There are multiple bags of drugs in the car where you're sitting.
Sleep shit, same shit, he came shit, a shit!
There's nothing new or exciting happening, it's all the same old boring stuff.
Niggas wanna rap the gangsta
A lot of people try to act gangster or tough.
Fuck that …my back! You feel me?
I don't care about that, it doesn't matter to me. You understand what I'm saying?
You’re watching your kids, and I’m talking about my life
While you're focused on family, I'm focused on my own life and my own problems.
I’m talking what it is, but you been saying what’s right
I'm speaking the truth, but you're saying what's expected or considered socially acceptable.
You’re talking about the world, I’ll be… by the crib
You're focused on big picture issues, but I'm just trying to live my day to day life.
Niggas gonna go to jail to smoke me like a...
People are willing to get in trouble just to be around me or do drugs with me.
Emotional, cause I’m focused, my life is opened
I'm feeling a lot of emotions because I'm very aware and focused on my life.
Doors closed, bitch! But my bike is rolling
I may be closed off to others, but I'm still moving forward and progressing.
Like climbing to the top, I’m going!
I'm determined to succeed and get to the top.
Gotta respect the legend!
You have to respect someone who has made a name for themselves and is considered a legend.
Your mother fucking presence!
You being here has a very negative impact on me.
Yeah, I’ve been the gift, so I’ve never been the presence
I've always been a gift to others and have never been unwanted or in the way.
Check my message, I ain’t even left a message, bitch!
Look at my missed calls, I didn't even try to leave a message.
Text message these…
Just send a text message instead of calling.
But I might not even do that
I might not even respond or send a message back.
Pay attention!
Listen and be aware of what's going on around you.
Contributed by Liliana P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.