The Potion
Ludacris feat. Marques Houston Lyrics

What up aye shawty what it is
A greeting to a woman he finds attractive.

Lil' buddy what you want? Some violent shit!
Asking if he's interested in hearing some aggressive music.

Two-step and lay back, still wilin' shit
Dancing casually while still feeling energetic and wild.

Whattup? Hey baby, I got the potion
Offering a drink to the woman he's interested in.

Take a sip of this and put your back in motion
Encouraging her to dance and move her body.

Man I'm like a needle in a haystack, so face that
Describing himself as someone who stands out from the crowd.

Go back to the drawing board, connect dots, but can't trace that
Suggesting that his uniqueness cannot be easily replicated.

Matter fact, erase that, 'cause on this great track
Dismissing the idea of copying his style and focusing on his own music instead.

Get your face slapped, and I'm straight so don't take that
Warning others not to mess with him and risk getting into a physical altercation.

Try somethin' different and shit, so listen and shit
Encouraging people to step out of their comfort zone and try something new.

Speakin' about what hip-hop is missin' and shit
Addressing the current state of the hip-hop genre and what he believes it needs.

I'm about to fill a void, Ludacris born in Illinois
Expressing his confidence in his ability to make a meaningful contribution to the hip-hop genre.

Raised in Atlanta, tote hammer since I was a little boy
Sharing a bit of his personal background, growing up in Atlanta and having a gun from a young age.

Ain't nobody like me, so they wanna bite me
Claiming that his style is so unique that others may attempt to imitate him.

Fight me, step to me now but it ain't likely
Challenging anyone who thinks they can compete with him, but warning them that it won't be easy.

People swear they sight me, just cause he's light-skinned
Commenting on how people often confuse him with another light-skinned, braided rapper.

With braids in his hair don't mean that nigga looks like me
Clarifying that appearance isn't enough to determine if someone is like him.

Trick get your mind right, livin' in the limelight
Encouraging others to focus and adapt to the pressures of being famous.

So picture what they'll do for my jimmy and a Klondike
Acknowledging the perks of fame and the attention he receives.

Bar, bar, hardy-har
Making a playful, mocking sound in response to someone trying to insult him.

Tell yo' momma I'm a ghet-to su-per-star
Boasting about his success as a rapper who came up from a disadvantaged background.

Only standin' five eight but still a big shot, plus I got a big
Highlighting his success despite being of average height and jokingly alluding to his genitals.

Clean everyday, stay fresher than what's in a Ziploc
Claiming to always be well-groomed and well-dressed.

Tell your man to kick rocks, when I make my pitstops
Asserting his authority and dominance over other men when it comes to women.

I'm in, then it's hard to get me out like I'm a slip knot
Stating his presence in a situation and his difficulty in being removed from it.

Born to be a leader and not, no not a follower
Identifying himself as someone who is meant to lead, rather than follow.

Only hang with chicks that got mo' twists than Oliver
Referring to women with braids and twists in their hair and humorously comparing them to the character Oliver Twist.

Not much of a hollerer, but I'd like to borrow her lips
Acknowledging his preference for quiet women, but also expressing his desire to kiss them.

Bringin out the best in me 'specially if she a swallower
Jokingly suggesting that a woman's oral sex skills bring out the best in him.

Freaky deaky yellow man, and I'm sayin hello man
Referring to himself as a sexually adventurous man and greeting his female audience members.

To all the lovely ladies that like to jiggle like Jello man
Complimenting women who have curvy, shapely bodies that move like Jello.

Bigger booty, small waist, put 'em in a small place
Expressing his preference for curvy, petite women.

And if it ain't no ass where I'm at, then I'm in the wrong place
Jokingly suggesting that a location is not worth being at if there are no curvy women there.

Bail like a bondsman, but keep 'em dancin'
Suggesting that he will leave a situation quickly if necessary, but will keep the party going.

Got pop potential, stay black like Bob Johnson
Claiming that he has the potential for mainstream success, while still being true to his black identity.

Who the hell is that in that fancy car?
Asking rhetorically about a person driving a luxury vehicle.

And jump down turn around, pick a bale of cotton
Referencing a traditional American folk song and its lyrics about picking cotton.

Jump down turn around, pick a bale of hay
Continuing the reference to the folk song.

Oh lordy, pick a bale of cotton
Closing out the reference to the folk song.

Still working like a slave, learning tricks of the trade
Acknowledging his hard work and determination to continue improving as a musician.

In a ghetto state of mind, say I'm rich and I'm paid
Recognizing his background and how it has influenced his mindset and work ethic, and also boasting about his success.

Pickin' records like cotton in the thick of the day
Comparing his work as a DJ to the act of picking cotton, which was grueling and done in hot weather conditions.

Till I'm spoiled and I'm rotten in a sinister way
Describing how his hard work has paid off, but also acknowledging the potentially negative effects on his personality and reputation.

Life no different than those on minimum wage
Acknowledging that despite his success, he still faces challenges and hardships in life.

More money but still locked in a similar cage
Observing that having more money doesn't necessarily solve all of life's problems.

Either losers of tomorrow or we winners today
Reflecting on the importance of making choices that will either lead to success or failure.

Digest that and there's really nothin' missin' to say but
Concluding the song with a line encouraging reflection on its message, but also hinting that he's said all that needs to be said.

Take a sip of this and put your back in motion
Reiterating the chorus and encouraging people to have a good time through dancing and drinking.