On “Dead or Alive,” Lil Tecca flaunts his wealth and reflects on his come-u… Read Full Bio ↴On “Dead or Alive,” Lil Tecca flaunts his wealth and reflects on his come-up in the music industry.

The track was first previewed on September 8, 2023, later making an official release at noon on September 19, 2023 as the final promotional single to his 2023 album, TEC. The music video for the track released the following day.

Dead or Alive
Lil Tecca Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh my
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Uh, uh, uh
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Oh, oh, oh
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Oh, oh, oh
Whoa, whoa, whoa

Oh, oh, oh

Took my time to get this shine, but I still skipped the line (on God)
I realized the ho still on my mind, I guess the bitch divine (hello)
And yeah, I could do this shit myself, that's dead or alive (alive)
And yeah, you could care 'bout just yourself, if you pickin' sides (pickin' sides)
Niggas thinkin' that they gang, they not even squad (squad, squad)
Yeah, I told 'em, "If you gettin' played, then you played a part"
Really I know I can't change my ways, you know who we are (who we are)
Talkin' crazy, now he in the sky, told him, "Pick a star" (skrrt, skrrt, skrrt, skrrt)

I made this shit look easy, juice
But it ain't easy, believe me, truth
You know I'm droppin' 'em off, Bruce
Give you a clue what I'm countin', blues
Smokin' that leaf if it get loose
My niggas drillin', we might as well truce (uh, uh, uh, uh)
I hit the blunt just for a lil' boost
Yeah, my new bitch, she Canadian Goose (oh, oh)
I know you lose 'em, how you get 'em, I won't take your bitch (bitch)
Yeah, I told 'em I make money, money don't make this shit (yeah)
Change my life off being me, so why would I fake this shit? (Yeah)
They try to take my flow, don't fuck with no plagiarists (at all)

We could solve it, if that shit a problem (nah, for real)
Nigga, I was gettin' guala, I said fuck a prom, uh (for real)
I was rockin' BAPEs, when I seen y'all niggas rockin' Toms (for real)
When you feel like this, no, you wouldn't even change your flaws

Took my time to get this shine, but I still skipped the line (on God)
I realized the ho still on my mind, I guess the bitch divine (hello)
And yeah, I could do this shit myself, that's dead or alive (alive)
And yeah, you could care 'bout just yourself, if you pickin' sides (pickin' sides)
Niggas thinkin' that they gang, they not even squad (squad, squad)
Yeah, I told 'em, "If you gettin' played, then you played a part"

Really I know I can't change my ways, you know who we are (who we are)
Talkin' crazy, now he in the sky, told him, "Pick a star" (skrrt, skrrt, skrrt, skrrt)

Overall Meaning

The opening of the song sets a reflective and introspective mood, with repetitive "ohs" and "whoas" that create a sense of contemplation and uncertainty. It suggests that the artist is deep in thought and exploring various emotions.

In the first verse, Lil Tecca talks about his journey to success and how he managed to achieve fame and recognition despite facing obstacles and skipping the line. He also mentions that despite his accomplishments, he is still haunted by thoughts of a particular woman (referred to as a "ho" in a non-derogatory way). This woman holds a certain allure and power over him, emphasizing the strong impact she has had on his mind.

He then asserts that he is capable of handling his own career, emphasizing that his success is not dependent on anyone else being involved. At the same time, he acknowledges that others may prioritize themselves above all else when it comes to picking sides or supporting him. Lil Tecca also criticizes those who claim to be part of his gang but lack the loyalty and unity required to truly be part of a squad. He warns them that if they allow themselves to be taken advantage of, they will have played a role in their own downfall.

The second verse begins with an acknowledgement that although Lil Tecca makes success look easy, it is far from it. He uses the metaphor of dropping off opponents in a boxing match (Bruce being a reference to Bruce Lee) to illustrate his mastery and prowess. He hints at financial success through the mention of counting "blues" (slang for $100 bills) and enjoying the finer things in life, such as expensive clothing.

Lil Tecca boasts about attracting women effortlessly, but clarifies that he does not actively pursue anyone else's partner. He continues by asserting that he doesn't chase money for the sake of it, but rather focuses on being true to himself and making genuine connections. He denounces those who try to imitate his style or steal his flow, asserting his originality and refusal to associate with plagiarism.

In the final verse, Lil Tecca addresses potential conflict and emphasizes his problem-solving abilities, suggesting that he can handle any issue that arises. He references his focus on financial gain ("guala") over traditional high school milestones such as prom. He also mentions being ahead of the fashion trend by wearing BAPE (a popular streetwear brand) before others.

Lastly, Lil Tecca addresses the personal growth and self-acceptance he has experienced. He acknowledges that even in his current state, he wouldn't change his flaws because they have shaped him into who he is today. He concludes the song with the repetition of the chorus, reinforcing the idea that he has come a long way and continues to assert his identity and confidence.

Line by Line Meaning

Took my time to get this shine, but I still skipped the line (on God)
I worked hard to achieve success, but I didn't follow the traditional path.

I realized the ho still on my mind, I guess the bitch divine (hello)
I've come to the realization that I still think about this person who is significant to me.

And yeah, I could do this shit myself, that's dead or alive (alive)
I am capable of accomplishing things on my own, regardless of the circumstances.

And yeah, you could care 'bout just yourself, if you pickin' sides (pickin' sides)
If you're choosing sides, you should prioritize yourself and your own interests.

Niggas thinkin' that they gang, they not even squad (squad, squad)
Some people claim to be part of a gang, but they don't even have a close-knit group.

Yeah, I told 'em, 'If you gettin' played, then you played a part'
I warned them that if they're being taken advantage of, it's because they allowed it.

Really I know I can't change my ways, you know who we are (who we are)
I acknowledge that I have certain habits that are difficult to change, but you know our true nature.

Talkin' crazy, now he in the sky, told him, 'Pick a star' (skrrt, skrrt, skrrt, skrrt)
He was talking nonsense and now he's dead, I told him to choose a star in the afterlife.

I made this shit look easy, juice
I made this difficult task appear effortless.

But it ain't easy, believe me, truth
However, it is not actually easy, trust me, it's the truth.

You know I'm droppin' 'em off, Bruce
You're aware that I'm successfully defeating my opponents, like Bruce Lee.

Give you a clue what I'm countin', blues
Let me provide you with a hint about what I'm currently valuing, which is money (blues).

Smokin' that leaf if it get loose
I'll smoke marijuana if I feel like it.

My niggas drillin', we might as well truce (uh, uh, uh, uh)
My friends are involved in illegal activities, so we might as well declare peace (a truce).

I hit the blunt just for a lil' boost
I smoke marijuana just to give myself a small boost.

Yeah, my new bitch, she Canadian Goose (oh, oh)
Yes, my new girlfriend is stylish and expensive, like a Canadian Goose jacket.

I know you lose 'em, how you get 'em, I won't take your bitch (bitch)
I'm aware that you lose women as easily as you attract them, but I won't steal your girl.

Yeah, I told 'em I make money, money don't make this shit (yeah)
I explicitly informed them that I earn money, but money doesn't define who I am.

Change my life off being me, so why would I fake this shit? (Yeah)
I transformed my life by being true to myself, so why would I pretend to be someone else?

They try to take my flow, don't fuck with no plagiarists (at all)
They attempt to copy my style, but I don't associate with any plagiarists.

We could solve it, if that shit a problem (nah, for real)
If there's a problem, we can resolve it, no doubt about it.

Nigga, I was gettin' guala, I said fuck a prom, uh (for real)
I was making money, so I didn't care about attending prom.

I was rockin' BAPEs, when I seen y'all niggas rockin' Toms (for real)
I was wearing trendy BAPE clothing while observing others wearing uncool Toms shoes.

When you feel like this, no, you wouldn't even change your flaws
When you have this level of confidence, you wouldn't even consider altering your imperfections.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Danny Lee Jr. Snodgrass, John Henry IV Darden, Rio Francesco Leyva, Tyler Justin Sharpe

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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