Hold Me Down
Mashonda feat. Kanye West Lyrics

I always knew that one day, they'd try to bring me down
Mashonda has always had a feeling that at some point, people will conspire against her and attempt to deflate her spirit.

Way down, way down
These attacks would be psychologically and emotionally devastating, as if she were being dragged into a deep, dark pit.

We gon' to mass today, we have to pray
Mashonda recognizes that the best way to overcome negativity is through spirituality and faith.

Besides what the pastor say, I have to say
Even though the words of the pastor may be relevant, Mashonda believes that her own reflections and insights also matter.

Since Pac passed away
Ever since Tupac Shakur died, the quality of rap music has deteriorated, leaving Mashonda unimpressed by current rappers.

Most you rappers don't even deserve a track from me
Mashonda is of the opinion that most contemporary rappers are so bad that she sees no need to collaborate with any of them.

You see, if you ever wanted to ever be anything
If a person ever had aspirations of achieving anything in life,.

There'd always be somebody that shoot down any dream
there will always be somebody that will try to discourage them.

There'll always be haters, that's the way it is
There will always be people who try to pull others down because they feel threatened by their success or potential.

Hater niggas marry hater bitches and have hater kids
Hateful people marry other hateful people and raise hateful children.

But they gon' have to take my life 'fore they take my drive
Mashonda affirms that her determination and spirit can only be taken away from her when she is no longer alive.

'Cause when I was barely livin', that's what kept me alive
During a time when she was struggling to subsist, her drive and ambition kept her going.

Just the thought that maybe it could be better than what we at at this time
Mashonda holds onto the notion that someday things will get better than the current situations most people face.

Make it out of this grind, 'fore I'm out of my mind
She's hell-bent on working hard and reaching her goals before the trials of life make her give up.

And get some leeway on the he say, she say
Mashonda would like to be spared from idle talk, gossip or hearsay that drags her name in the mud.

Your girl don't like me, how long has she been gay?
She expresses doubts about why a girl may not like her, questioning if it's because the girl is gay.

Spanish girls say "Yo, no hablo inglés"
Spanish-speaking girls may pretend to not speak English as a means of avoiding anything and everything.

And everybody want to run to me for their single
Mashonda is popular and people usually gravitate towards her (artists and producers alike) when they want a hit single.

It's funny how these wack niggas need my help
It's amusing how bad artists desire to collaborate with her to improve their mediocre music.

Wasn't around when I couldn't feed myself
People didn't want to associate with her when she was in need and struggling.

Dawg, if I was you, I wouldn't feel myself
Mashonda would not advise someone to be overly proud of themselves because it can lead to arrogance and a fall.

Dawg, if I was you, I'd kill myself
If she was in someone else's position, she might contemplate suicide considering how bad things are.

Made a mil' myself and I'm still myself
Mashonda has achieved financial success but managed to retain her core values and sense of self.

And I'mma look in the mirror if I need some help
If she's ever in need of assistance, her first resort will be to become introspective.

Y'all don't from the heart, y'all all frontin'
Most rappers don't express anything genuinely heartfelt when they're singing, they're always pretending.

Everybody feel a way about K but at least y'all feel something
People may have various feelings concerning Kanye's personality and artistry, but at least these feelings exist.