Mean & Vicious
Lupe Fiasco Lyrics

uh
Lupe starts off with an interjection that signifies surprise and attention.

He's meannnnnn and vicious
Lupe is emphasizing the mean and vicious nature of the person he's about to talk about.

I cant believe hes that rude
Lupe can't believe how rude this person is.

To those stories those rhymes that jewel
This person is rude to the stories and rhymes of other people that are precious to them.

Then he put 'em on the floor like cat food
This person disrespects those stories and rhymes by treating them like something worthless, like cat food.

And put 'em on the track like glue
This person then takes those stories and rhymes and incorporates them into his own work as if it's his own.

Then put 'em on your head like hat
This person further takes credit by putting those stories and rhymes on his head like a hat.

Hey back to you Lu black power
Lupe acknowledges black power in his lyrics.

Im just running with a barrel full of black powder With a hole in it, holdin it. Wheezin deep, breathin Running from the fire on the trail i keep leavin
Lupe uses an extended metaphor of running with a leaking barrel of black powder and his fear of the fire catching up to him as a way of expressing his tension and anxiety in his career.

I cant shake it i swear its heat seekin I keep seekin somewhere to hide from it, duck and dive from it But it keep keepin up just when i think that ive done it It keep sneakin up
Lupe can't shake the fear and pressure of his career and as soon as he thinks he's got it under control, it creeps up on him again.

Ohh leakin barrel of black powder how that flame keep reachin us Just one of the long-winded extended metaphors of Lu's This time I use an example of a fuse to demonstrate how i cant lose
Lupe uses another extended metaphor to explain how he's metaphorically holding a leaking barrel of black powder that represents his career, and how he uses a fuse to represent his talent, and how it's this talent that keeps him from failing.

I would put it down but i cant due to the glue that i use the fuse everything together well i spilt some on my hands and God Damn i might have to carry this forever
Even though Lupe would love to walk away from his career, he can't because of the glue that binds everything together which he represents as his passion. It's something that will be with him forever.

Well im crazy to the game till they bury me insane
Lupe emphasizes his dedication to his craft and his willingness to continue to be involved in it until the day he dies.

There once was a boy that grew up on the west side of chicago Liked his hat to the left side Wasn't in a gang but he was prone to bang doing his thangg doin his thang
Lupe starts the chorus talking about a boy from the west side of Chicago who identifies with its culture and has a rebellious attitude despite not being in a gang.

Truthfully I have trouble with second verses Cuz the first one be so intimidating It'd be bullyin' and pickin on it instigatin pointin out all the second ones limitations like you aint nothing but an imitation like bits of bacon then it gets the chorus and the beat to together then they gang up on him and get to hatin
Lupe admits his difficulty in writing a second verse because of the pressure of following up the first one. He compares the first verse to bullies picking on him as well as highlighting the limited nature of the second verse which makes him feel like an imitation.

but then around the 8th bar he tires of their conspirin', comiseratin there he finds his inspiration to spar he takes a few seconds of judo lessons gets back on beat then punches the guitar they stand in awe like when did you write that That ain't even right black first verse already happened so he don' have a chance to fight back i like that Abagnale Junior check me you gon respect me aight track listen to em feelin himself swagger up and a few ad libs to back it uplets back it up i think youve had enough give me my mic back you aint even write that oh its like that? track stop pumpin till this nigga stop frontin yeah yeah now right back
Lupe gains inspiration after the eighth bar, and spars with the beat, incorporating elements of judo by timing his rhymes with the beat like punches. He surprises everyone including himself with his lyrics. Lupe compares his inspiration to the character Abagnale Junior, a con artist who was able to rise above his limitations, in his case, writer's block.

Oh my god my perils in my odds I aint really here what you hear is a mirage This aint the delivery baby this is just Lamaze The ice cream and pickles, a tickle and a massage The King Arthur. Rhythm of the Night. El DeBarge the camoflague water in the distance loggin a camel to get there wit the quickness mean and vicious grinch who stole christmas and hid it in the garage there was a collage a barrage that brought all things that seemed keen to help this thing start jump jump, my battery charged im bout my green like string beans and beings from Mars Its a mean thing to be seen with ours got that f&f homie im a young lil thriller i will resurrect homie come back for my killa in some disheveled apparel with that same leakin' barrel it's on!
In the last verse, Lupe describes a surreal scene where he's logging onto a camel to get somewhere quick, and a barrage of images that help him start his rhyme. He compares himself to characters from history, music, and pop culture. Lupe is aggressive in his delivery like a thriller, and he'll come back for his enemies no matter what the cost.

its meaaannnnnn and vicious
Lupe ends on a repeat of the first line signifying that the person he's talking about is still mean and vicious.