Jennings began singing at a young age in a Toledo church choir. He later joined a group called The Dotsons with two of his cousins and his older brother, Jay. The group separated in the early 1990s, and Jennings rediscovered music and started a music program at an Ohio prison where he was serving a ten-year sentence on an arson-related charge. He has cited Erykah Badu's 1997 album Baduizm as one of the reasons for his rediscovery. Jennings was released from prison in December 2002 and started to pursue a solo career in music. In January 2003, he performed in Harlem at the Showtime at The Apollo. The same year, he also independently released his first EP, What Is Love. To further pursue his career, Jennings moved to New York City where he performed at rapper Nelly's concert at Radio City Music Hall, at an NAACP convention where he performed an original song called "Thank God for the NAACP", and at the Cafeteria in Chelsea, Manhattan during the blackout on August 14. He signed with Columbia Records and released his debut album Lyfe 268-192 (268-192 was his inmate number) in August 2004. His first single was Stick Up Kid, which didn't see much sucess until after the album was released. The album featured his hit single "Must Be Nice". Jennings' second album The Phoenix was released in August 2006. The first single, "S.E.X.", feautures Jennings' protégé, singer LaLa Brown.
Old school
Lyfe Jennings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got this old school, the color of soul food
Candied Yam racing strips, pipes potato white
Cornbread interior trimmed in collard greens
Air freshener smell like chicken and pork and beans
I work the grave yard shift cause I'm dead on my feet ya'll
really want to quit but the kids got to eat ya'll
but it can pay the water bill on time so them kids can take a shower
And I swear to GOD, if they keep on raising these gas prices
I'ma sell this Chevy and go buy me a bike
I'm a King, but my crown in a lay-way
And I'm just a day away from giving up.
[Chorus: x2]
Credit card company called said my bill is overdue
Told them I couldn't afford to pay them and rent too
They told me they were gonna sue me
I said if you didn't want me to use it then you shouldn't have gave it to me.
And what's up with these people blowing up buildings
And nothing really gangsta about blowing up children
Would cry, but my eyes in a lay way and I just a day away from giving up.
[Chorus: x2]
[Snoop Dogg]
Foreign places, court cases
Seems they always on my line
I don't trip, I just dip
Pop the top on my 69
Fleetwood, Cadillac
mirror with my Boys on back
Chandelier so superior
Louis Vitton, oatmeal interior
Bossy Boss, mink seats, what it cost
Speak yo peace, can't you see ain't no big deal
have a seat lil homie and enjoy your meal
Close the door and don't drop crumbs on my flo'
Here we go, soul food, so cool, and i got this...
[Chorus: x2]
Lyfe, Big Snoop, Soul Food, oh I got this greenery cause
we need some vegetables too, gotta have you vegetables
that's what it is old school, soul food
old school, soul food
The song "Old School" by Lyfe Jennings (featuring Snoop Dogg) is a reflection on the struggles of life and the importance of family and community. The lyrics paint a picture of a hardworking man who is trying to make ends meet for his family. He is working long hours on the graveyard shift and struggling to pay his bills, but he remains determined to provide for his children. The lyrics also touch on social issues such as rising gas prices and senseless violence. Ultimately, the song celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of coming together over a shared meal.
The imagery in the lyrics of "Old School" is powerful and evocative. The old school car is described as being "the color of soul food" with "candied yam racing strips, pipes potato white, cornbread interior trimmed in collard greens." The air freshener is said to smell like "chicken and pork and beans." These details paint a vivid picture of the car and the culture it represents. The use of food imagery throughout the song reinforces the idea that sharing a meal with loved ones is an important part of family and community.
Line by Line Meaning
I got this old school, the color of soul food
I have a classic car that is the color of comfort food.
Candied Yam racing strips, pipes potato white
The car has orange racing stripes and white exhaust pipes.
Cornbread interior trimmed in collard greens
The inside of the car is brown like cornbread and decorated with green accents.
Air freshener smell like chicken and pork and beans
The air freshener in the car smells like the food chicken, pork, and beans.
I work the grave yard shift cause I'm dead on my feet ya'll
I work the overnight shift because I'm tired and exhausted from work.
really want to quit but the kids got to eat ya'll
Although I want to quit my job, I have to provide for my children.
See money can't buy you power
Having money doesn't give you control or influence over everything.
but it can pay the water bill on time so them kids can take a shower
Money may not give you power, but it can provide basic necessities for your family like running water.
And I swear to GOD, if they keep on raising these gas prices
If gas prices keep increasing, I will have to sell my car and get a bike.
I'ma sell this Chevy and go buy me a bike
I plan on selling my car and using the money to buy a bike.
I'm a King, but my crown in a lay-way
I have a lot of potential, but I don't have the means to reach it yet.
And I'm just a day away from giving up.
I'm feeling defeated and close to giving up.
Credit card company called said my bill is overdue
The credit card company contacted me to inform me that my payment is late.
Told them I couldn't afford to pay them and rent too
I explained to them that I couldn't pay both my credit card bill and my rent.
They told me they were gonna sue me
The credit card company threatened legal action against me.
I said if you didn't want me to use it then you shouldn't have gave it to me.
I told the credit card company that if they didn't want me to use the card, they shouldn't have given it to me in the first place.
And what's up with these people blowing up buildings
I'm confused and upset about people destroying buildings with explosives.
And nothing really gangsta about blowing up children
Destroying buildings with children inside is not heroic or glamorous.
Would cry, but my eyes in a lay way and I just a day away from giving up.
I want to cry, but I'm too tired and depressed to do so.
Foreign places, court cases
I've been to different countries and have had to deal with legal matters.
Seems they always on my line
People are always trying to contact me or get my attention.
I don't trip, I just dip
I don't get upset about it, I just move on or avoid it.
Pop the top on my 69
I'm going to open my 1969 car.
Fleetwood, Cadillac mirror with my Boys on back
My car is a Cadillac Fleetwood with a mirror that has my crew's name on it.
Chandelier so superior
The car's chandelier is amazing and impressive.
Louis Vitton, oatmeal interior
The interior of the car has Louis Vuitton design and oatmeal color.
Bossy Boss, mink seats, what it cost
The car has luxurious mink seats because money is not an issue for me.
Speak yo peace, can't you see ain't no big deal
Relax and calm down, it's not worth getting worked up about.
have a seat lil homie and enjoy your meal
Sit down and eat your food, relax and enjoy it.
Close the door and don't drop crumbs on my flo'
Shut the door and make sure you don't make a mess on the floor of my car.
Here we go, soul food, so cool, and i got this...
Let's go, enjoy some delicious soul food, and I have this amazing car to take us there.
Lyfe, Big Snoop, Soul Food, oh I got this
Lyfe and Snoop are going to enjoy some soul food together, and I have this incredible car to take us there.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CALVIN BROADUS, CHESTER JENNINGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind