The song—which Logic originally intended to feature on his 2017 album, but didn’t as it didn’t fit thematically—deals with the concept of being a slave to the craft of work one may possess. Logic is a slave to the rap game and dedicates his whole life to his craft, with no intention of stopping.
The fact that Slave comes after Slave II on the mixtape is an allusion to Quentin Tarantino’s non-linear storytelling in Pulp Fiction.
The song, along with many others including “Flexicution” & “Wrist”, had been teased on his Snapchat (Logic301) previously.
slave
Logic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey-oh, hey, that hey-oh, hey-oh, hey
Hey-oh, hey-oh (let's go)
Hey-oh (alright)
Hey-oh, hey-oh, hey (alright, lets go)
Hey-oh, hey-oh (let's go)
East side, west side, we ride, we die all for this
All my life I tried, I cried, got pride in this
All my life I'd hide, I stayed inside for this
Tell me what you know about forty days, forty nights
No lights, all for this
Tell me what you know about sleeping outside, no ride in the wintertime all for this
Tell me what you know about commas in the bank
Lookin' in the mirror, yeah, I did all of this
Tell me what you know about family never there but swear they deserve all of this
Tell me what you know about people tryna test you
Don't wanna get involved with this
X you out, you get solved with this
Never, but I gotta evolve with this
Like bitch I bet I be at the place I said I'd be
Legendary like No I.D
You know I be duckin' every ho I see
'Cause I'm out of this world, and I know I be like
East side, west side, we ride, we die all for this
Oh my, my, I know why I can't fall for this
All my life I tried, I cried, got pride in this
All my life I'd hide, I stayed inside for this
Living as a black man, in the skin of the white man
Everybody wanna fight man, and I put it on my right hand
Goddamn, it's all for this
I just wanna make the world a better place
Fuck race and the shade in my face
Looking for the sun but the shade in my face
Best in my field, I'm a slave to the race
Black motherfucker, white motherfucker
I don't give a damn what you is, can you write motherfucker?
Said I couldn't do it, said I wouldn't do it
I just made a million in a month, aight motherfucker?
I did everything I said I'd ever do and to you I still ain't shit?
Alright motherfucker
Runnin' around the world yelling P-L-P
But as a last resort, we gon' fight motherfucker like
East side, west side, we ride, we die all for this
Oh my, my, I know why I can't fall for this
All my life I tried, I cried, got pride in this
All my life I'd hide, I stayed inside for this
In Logic's song "Slave," the rapper opens with the chorus, repeating the phrase "hey-oh" several times before delving into his verses. His delivery is charged and dramatic, and he utilizes repetition to underscore the song’s powerful message. In the first verse, Logic raps about his commitment to his craft, alluding to the sacrifices he's had to make, the struggles he’s had to overcome, and the doubt he had to shake off. He poses a series of questions, asking listeners if they know what it's like to work tirelessly without any recognition, or whether they're familiar with the challenges that come with being an artist in a world that often looks down on or ignores underground talent. The lines "like bitch I bet I be at the place I said I'd be, Legendary like No I.D" suggest that Logic is determined to make it and achieve the sort of success that few artists ever attain.
The second verse is where Logic gets more explicit about racial issues, rapping "Living as a black man, in the skin of the white man, Everybody wanna fight man, and I put it on my right hand." Here, Logic seems to be highlighting the sense of isolation that comes with being a black artist in a predominantly white industry. He’s faced racism, doubts, and hostility from people who don't believe in him, but he refuses to let their negativity keep him down. He affirms his commitment to social justice, and expresses a heartfelt desire to make the world a better place by fighting against racism and bigotry. The song concludes with the chorus again, reminding the listener of the central message of the track.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey-oh, hey-oh, hey-ey-oh
Introspection into the journey that lies ahead
East side, west side, we ride, we die all for this
Dedication towards the goal, regardless of the odds
Oh my, my, I know why I can't fall for this
Understanding of the consequences of giving up on the dream
All my life I tried, I cried, got pride in this
Years of hard work and emotional investment in the goal
All my life I'd hide, I stayed inside for this
Sacrificing social life and relationships for the dream
Tell me what you know about forty days, forty nights
No lights, all for this
Enduring extreme hardship and deprivation for the sake of the goal
Tell me what you know about sleeping outside, no ride in the wintertime all for this
Being homeless and sleeping in the cold, in pursuit of the dream
Tell me what you know about commas in the bank
Lookin' in the mirror, yeah, I did all of this
Success and wealth accrued through hard work and dedication
Tell me what you know about family never there but swear they deserve all of this
Strained relationship with family members who do not understand the dream
Tell me what you know about people tryna test you
Don't wanna get involved with this
X you out, you get solved with this
Never, but I gotta evolve with this
Challenges and obstacles faced along the way that cannot be avoided
Like bitch I bet I be at the place I said I'd be
Legendary like No I.D
You know I be duckin' every ho I see
'Cause I'm out of this world, and I know I be like
Confidence and pride in one's achievements, being one of a kind
Living as a black man, in the skin of the white man
Everybody wanna fight man, and I put it on my right hand
Goddamn, it's all for this
Being a minority and facing discrimination, but still persevering towards the dream
I just wanna make the world a better place
Fuck race and the shade in my face
Desire to make a positive impact despite facing racism and adversity
Best in my field, I'm a slave to the race
Black motherfucker, white motherfucker
I don't give a damn what you is, can you write motherfucker?
Being the best in one's field, regardless of race, and asserting skill over anything else
Said I couldn't do it, said I wouldn't do it
I just made a million in a month, aight motherfucker?
I did everything I said I'd ever do and to you I still ain't shit?
Alright motherfucker
Proving doubters wrong and achieving more than expected, despite criticism
Runnin' around the world yelling P-L-P
But as a last resort, we gon' fight motherfucker like
Advocating for peace and love, but being ready to fight for justice when necessary
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC,
Written by: ROBERT BRYSON HALL II
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Suit up ted
This very song is what made me a logic fan over 3 years ago. Crazy how much his music has changed now.
Caden M
Try being a fan for 8 years
Brendan Arntson
^^^^^ what he said
Connor Bracey
@Caden M ayyy lets go
Riffs n’ blades
Caden M wow your soooo cool.....
Ion Stocke
Slave II really caught my attention that beginning is amazing
Strydx
not a fan of autotune but Logic makes it work
Gabriel Bordner
I like your pic
Strydx
O shit I meant auto tune kill me lol
Varzi
+Angel Perez thats not him its Nudah