The Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free) Songfacts reports that Fiasco’s first single off his fourth studio album, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 debuted on May 21, 2012. On "Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free)," he spits rhymes about aspects of modern American life he doesn’t like such as "Suicide bombers and prosperity gospels, emaciated models, with cocaine and blood pouring out their nostrils” as well as socio-political problems in Ghana and the invasion of Iraq.
Lupe released his fifth studio album Tetsuo & Youth on January 20, 2015.
Lupe's 8th Studio Album DRILL MUSIC IN ZION was released on June 23rd 2022
Lupe has previously been on label Epic with his group Da Pak and then signed a solo deal with Arista. His years at Arista only led to the 2003 promo single "Pop Pop" as well as guest appearances on singles from Tha' Rayne (2002's "Kiss Me" and 2003's "Didn't You Know") and K Fox (2003's "This Life"), then Arista folded in 2004 and Lupe was signed to Atlantic Records.
Handcuffs
Lupe Fiasco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Handcuffs
[Intro:]
You Know Wut Im Sayin You Know Sum Niggas Really Out There Bad
You Know Wut Im Sayin Sum Niggas Is Forced In Positions Where They Gota Do Things Where They Donât Wana Do It You Know Wut Im Sayin So Sum Nigas Forced 2 Dope Sell Dope Sum Nigas Forced 2 Pimp You Know Wut Im Sayin But U Got Sum Nigas Out There That Just Lazy You Know Wut Im Sayin They Nigas Aint Forced 2 Do Nuthin Nigas Got Other Options They Jus Choose Not 2 Do Em You Know
[Verse 1:]
Knees Is Touchin The Front Seat Shiftin Cuz Ye Handcuffs Is Cutting Ye Wrists And Ye Pushin That He Wud Drive Fasta Please But He Slows Through The Hood As He Drives Past The Free Itâs Cool But U Trippin The Quicka U Get There The Quicka U Sit There Cuffed To Bench And They Playin Good Cop Bad Cop One Of Them Pretendin So U Rewind Urself To Ur Under Easy Recline In The Back Of The Police Car Handcuffed In The Seatbelt
[Chorus:]
Nah U Aint Gota Quicken The Pase They Just Giv Me More Time 2 Sit In The Race Alibine Alius Switch And Replace Think About Then Forget About An Escape Thank God That Im Up In The States Cuz If I Wuz In Russia Who Wud Know How Theyd Do A Hustla W8 I Aint A Hustla Im Str8 Im Dam Near A Busta No Laws I Break
[Verse 2:]
Money I Neva Seen Guna I Didnât Hold Drugs I Neva Sold Cars I Didnât Make Niga This Is A Waste Of Your Time And Mine Im Comfortable Im Fine A Case This Aint Even A Fine U Aint Find Nutin Homie Not Even A Dime Not Even A Dime That Wud Drop Die Moment(I Think) I No U Is Dyin So U Put A Dime On It I Know Thatâs A Crime U Supposed 2 Fight Crime For Me Protectin The Serve Prosecute Correct And Return To The Homies And Thatâs Gona Send Them Direct 2 The Curb So U Can Put It Back On Me
[Chorus: Backround Saying Handcuffs]
You Knoe Donât Get Me Wrong Sum Ppl Aint Got No Optionsu No Wut Im Sayin They Surrounded Cuz They Aint Vaumet(No Idea Thatâs A Guess) And The Way That Society Works On Things Actually Forces Them Into Rexment(No Idea) You Now Wut Im Sayin To The Point Where They Got No Options So They Gota Go Out There And Carry Guns And They Carry Guna To Protect The Dope
[Verse 3:]
Sittin In The Front Of The Police Car Postion Is Mission Is Bendin Pinnin Charges On Niggas Even If They Didnât He Sittin In Court Lyin Testifyin Againt Defendents Like That Uh And He Love 2 Choke Nigas He Donât Trip With The Rich He Jus Like The Broke Niggas Probly Did More Dirt In The Street Then Most Niggas Even The Old Ppl Donât Like Em Cuza The Way He Approach Niggas Niga U Aint No Betta Then Me Just A Hustla With A Badge Confiscate The Dope Money Put It With Ur Retirement Hope Money U Aint Building No Playgrounds In The Poor For Sum Cash That Aint A Pention Thatâs A Shoe Box Stash With A Glock To Protect It We Both Undercova Check It Thinking That The Good We Do Donât Out Wigh The Centa That We Do To Collect It Sayin This Fore The Community They Donât Value Us Only A Round Cuz The Property Value Up And They Gota Clear The Streets Before They Put The Houses Up Put Them 200 Thousands Up Feel Him Donât Get Payd Enough To Kick In Doors Raid And Cuff So Use Wut Nigas Get On The Street A Settlement That The Wage Is Cut So We Gota Keep Just Enough Nigas Out There Hustling To Keep This Paper Up Like That Maybe He Shud Be In Them Handcuffs
[Whisper Handcuffs And Finish The Song]
The song Handcuffs by Lupe Fiasco is an emotionally charged commentary on the systemic oppression of black people in America. The artist exposes the harsh realities of life on the streets for those who are forced into a life of crime because of their lack of options. He highlights the institutional biases that unfairly target young black men, who are often stopped and frisked or arrested without just cause. The lyrics are packed with vivid imagery that puts the listener in the back of a police car, feeling the discomfort of handcuffs digging into their skin.
In the first verse, the artist describes the mental and physical discomfort of being handcuffed in the back of a police car. He talks about the cramped quarters and the jostling that happens as the car drives over bumps in the road. The chorus highlights the feeling of hopelessness that comes with being arrested, knowing that there is no escape from the justice system. In the second verse, the artist speaks directly to the police, asserting his innocence and calling out their hypocrisy in enforcing laws that he argues are unjust. The third and final verse delves deeper into the corrupt practices of the police, highlighting their complicity in keeping certain neighborhoods poor and crime-ridden so that developers can buy up cheap properties and gentrify the area.
Line by Line Meaning
You Know Wut Im Sayin You Know Sum Niggas Really Out There Bad
Some people are in difficult situations and have limited options.
Sittin In The Back Of The Police Car Position Your Mission Is Forgettin Deny They Existas
Being arrested can make you feel helpless and want to deny your actions.
Nah U Aint Gota Quicken The Pase They Just Giv Me More Time 2 Sit In The Race Alibine Alius Switch And Replace Think About Then Forget About An Escape
Being in prison gives you a lot of time to think about your life and situation.
Money I Neva Seen Guna I Didnât Hold Drugs I Neva Sold Cars I Didnât Make Niga This Is A Waste Of Your Time And Mine Im Comfortable Im Fine
Some people are falsely accused and feel like they did nothing wrong.
You Knoe Donât Get Me Wrong Sum Ppl Aint Got No Optionsu No Wut Im Sayin They Surrounded Cuz They Aint Vaumet(No Idea Thatâs A Guess)
Not everyone has the privilege of choices and may feel trapped.
Sittin In The Front Of The Police Car Postion Is Mission Is Bendin Pinnin Charges On Niggas Even If They Didnât He Sittin In Court Lyin Testifyin Againt Defendents
Some police officers may be dishonest and give false testimonies to convict people.
Probly Did More Dirt In The Street Then Most Niggas Even The Old Ppl Donât Like Em Cuza The Way He Approach Niggas
Some police officers may have a reputation for being corrupt or intimidating.
Niga U Aint No Betta Then Me Just A Hustla With A Badge
Some police officers may be seen as just another type of criminal.
Donât Get Payd Enough To Kick In Doors Raid And Cuff So Use Wut Nigas Get On The Street A Settlement That The Wage Is Cut So We Gota Keep Just Enough Nigas Out There Hustling To Keep This Paper Up
Police officers may be motivated to make arrests to maintain their own financial stability.
Contributed by Sophia R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dee Love
Love this song. This is poetry.
Medpackpapi_Ymg
2021 and this still 🔥
DNT
W
vietboikhoa
holy _____another testament to lupes greatness
Kyron Bain
DANG!..... Lupe is too sick! - i like how he speaks his mind...
Ecstatic Major
Respect the fiasco! (All styles and forms). And it’s still Food and liquor for ever!
Hostile Puppy
HOLY SHIT I JUST UNDERSTOOD THIS SONG AFTER SO LONG lol
JoYoNoMeNow
Lupe is king
preston shepherd
2020 still here ayeee
slyfox
july 2021 💪🏻