Grew Up A Screw Up
Ludacris; Young Jeezy Lyrics
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"I grew up a fuckin' screw-up
Got introduced to the game, to the game then fuckin' blew up."
"I grew up a fuckin' screw-up
Got introduced to the game, to the game then fuckin' blew up."
"I grew up a fuckin' screw-up
Got introduced to the game, to the game then fuckin' blew up."
"I grew up a fuckin' screw-up
Whether gettin' money legally or illegally
We gotta do what we gotta do to survive man!
Yeah! Grew up a screw up, baby
Got introduced to the game
I ain't took a breath yet
Let's go!
[Ludacris]
Ever since I was an embryo, waitin' to shape up and ship out
Somethin' in my brain said, "Wake up and kick out!"
Roberta and Wayne stayed up and flipped out
'Cause when I came, I was draped up and dripped out
Snip the umbilical, spit the government chip out
Peace out, A-Town gone and then I dipped out
And, oh my gosh, the Osh Kosh was picked out
I slipped in, even my baby stroller was tricked out
Somebody get him, the lil' nigga's out of control
Put a lil' bit of rum in my bottle; I'll dream about diamonds and gold
Gold, gold, to grow from an infant to toddler was effervescent
The essence of adolescence got my body feelin' fresh'n
Fresh'n, fresh'n, and it was a blessin' to rhyme and start reppin'
I was the best in my section with flows harder than erections
Still the best, but now I'm grown with more range than a tec's
And I'm a heavyweight; you niggaz is lighter than my complexion
[Chorus]
[Young Jeezy]
Hey
Y'all already know what it is
I'm a tell you, nigga
C.T., know what it is, 'bout 17-5
Homey fronted me a sip, shit, I made it a bird
That's seventeen and a half, all I need is the word
Say, the ice is cool but them pots is hot
You better cook slow but that money come fast
I got what you need; I hope you brought all the cash
You know the kid pimpin' all over the world
A hundred carats got me all over your girl
Yeah, five freaks and my Gucci duffle bag
A corporate thug; I run with a Playaz Circle
I got a Field Mob that'll disturb your peace
Blowin' Sean Jay, all we do is smoke
Finish countin' my bread, and I was gettin' some head
Whassup?
[Chorus]
[Ludacris]
I'm a be all the way real with this, look
When I came into the game, they ain't do nothin' but doubt me
Now the whole game's changed and it ain't nothin' without me
Pickin' up my sloppy seconds as they reach for the crown
Only reason you on that song is 'cause I turned that down
I went from Hot Wheels to big wheels, Hyundais to Bentleys
And five course meals, no more Popeye's and Blimpie's
From alright to handsome, from one room to mansions
From hangin' on the block to throwin' parties in the Hamptons
From broke as a joke to rich as a bitch, I bought a
Plane and a boat and six other whips, no Marta
From dice on the curb to stackin' up chips, but harder
From birds on my nerves to chicks on my dick!
Guard your women, dog
I went from ashy to classy
Went from a kiss on the cheek to doin' the nasty
Reach your hand up in the air, and you can play with the stars
It's not the hand that you're dealt, but how you're playin' your cards, boy!
[Chorus]
The song “Grew Up A Screw Up” by Ludacris featuring Young Jeezy talks about their life experiences as they grew up in difficult circumstances and how their hardships turned them into the successful artists they are today. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes how they grew up as screw-ups and got introduced into the game and subsequently blew up. The song highlights how everyone has to do what they need to do to survive, whether legally or illegally, reflecting the struggles of many people in society today. The use of drums and production of the song adds to the upbeat and lively tone of the song.
Ludacris’ verse talks about how even as an embryo, he had the urge to wake up and kick out. He talks about how he was draped up and dripped out when he was born and how he took control of his life after he was born. He uses clever wordplay to describe how he started interacting with life even as a toddler. He also talks about how his adolescence was effervescent, and he practiced rhyming and repping. Ludacris talks about how he had the best flows in his section and how he has grown to be a heavyweight and an accomplished artist now.
Young Jeezy’s verse, on the other hand, talks about his life growing up and how he started making money through drugs. He talks about how he made a 17.5K profit from selling the drug bird’s and has come a long way since. He describes how he runs with a group of people and how he blows Sean Jay keys. Young Jeezy talks about his success with women and how his life from earlier times has transformed him into the person he is today.
Line by Line Meaning
I grew up a fuckin' screw-up
I had a difficult childhood and made many mistakes
Got introduced to the game, to the game then fuckin' blew up.
I was introduced to the rap game and then became extremely successful
Whether gettin' money legally or illegally
Whether we were making money through legal or illegal means
We gotta do what we gotta do to survive man!
We had to do whatever it took to survive
Ever since I was an embryo, waitin' to shape up and ship out
Since I was in the womb, I was destined for greatness
Somethin' in my brain said, "Wake up and kick out!"
I knew from a young age that I had to work hard to succeed
Roberta and Wayne stayed up and flipped out
My parents were shocked and surprised when I was born
'Cause when I came, I was draped up and dripped out
I was born wearing fashionable and expensive clothing
Snip the umbilical, spit the government chip out
I was born with a government tracking chip but had it removed
Peace out, A-Town gone and then I dipped out
I left Atlanta and pursued my dreams elsewhere
And, oh my gosh, the Osh Kosh was picked out
Even my childhood clothing was chosen with care
I slipped in, even my baby stroller was tricked out
Even as a baby, I had fancy things and was stylish
Somebody get him, the lil' nigga's out of control
People were amazed and impressed by my personality and skills
Put a lil' bit of rum in my bottle; I'll dream about diamonds and gold
Even as a baby, I dreamed of fame and fortune
The essence of adolescence got my body feelin' fresh'n
As a teenager, I felt energized and alive
And it was a blessin' to rhyme and start reppin'
It was a blessing to start rapping and expressing myself
I was the best in my section with flows harder than erections
I was the best rapper in my area with exceptional skills
Still the best, but now I'm grown with more range than a tec's
I'm still one of the best rappers, but now with a more versatile style
And I'm a heavyweight; you niggaz is lighter than my complexion
I'm a successful and influential artist, and my competitors are weak compared to me
C.T., know what it is, 'bout 17-5
I'm from C.T. (Connecticut) and know about selling drugs for $17,500
Homey fronted me a sip, shit, I made it a bird
A friend lent me some drugs, and I turned it into a large profit
Say, the ice is cool but them pots is hot
Diamonds are nice, but selling drugs is more profitable and risky
You better cook slow but that money come fast
Take your time making the drugs, but they sell quickly for a high profit
You know the kid pimpin' all over the world
I'm a successful and wealthy person who travels the world
A hundred carats got me all over your girl
I have expensive jewelry that impresses women
Yeah, five freaks and my Gucci duffle bag
I have five girls with me and a fancy Gucci bag
A corporate thug; I run with a Playaz Circle
I'm a businessman who also has connections with other successful people
I got a Field Mob that'll disturb your peace
I have a group of people that can cause trouble if provoked
Blowin' Sean Jay, all we do is smoke
We're smoking marijuana and relaxing
From broke as a joke to rich as a bitch, I bought a
I went from being extremely poor to extremely rich
Plane and a boat and six other whips, no Marta
I own a private plane, boat, and six other luxury vehicles
From dice on the curb to stackin' up chips, but harder
I went from playing games on the street to making money and accumulating wealth
From birds on my nerves to chicks on my dick!
I used to be bothered by women, but now they're attracted to my success
I went from ashy to classy
I went from being poor and dirty to being wealthy and refined
Went from a kiss on the cheek to doin' the nasty
I went from innocent romantic gestures to having sexual encounters
It's not the hand that you're dealt, but how you're playin' your cards, boy!
Success isn't determined by what you're given, but how you use it
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER BRIAN BRIDGES, OSTEN HARVEY, OSTEN S HARVEY, JAY JENKINS, MARSHALL B III MATHERS, JOHNNY MOLLINGS, LEONARDO MOLLINGS, LUIS RESTO, TUPAC AMARU SHAKUR, CHRISTOPHER WALLACE, EDGAR WINTER
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