Who Else
Mick Jenkins Lyrics

Tell me who else do you know
Asking who else can deliver the same message in their music

Know that you ain't felt it like this in a long time
The unique feeling and experience that the artist offers through their music

Take yo shoes off at the door
Asking the listener to respect and engage in the artist's music without any distractions

And the flow stay clean for a long time, long time
The artist promises to maintain the quality of their music and style over an extended period

South side nigga from the go
The artist belongs to the southern part of Chicago with a sense of pride

So many times in the wrong place at the wrong time
The artist has faced numerous adverse situations without intending to

Double cup the water sip slow
The artist prefers to drink slowly and enjoy the moment, without being in a rush

I ain't never been a loner
The artist has never been alone in their journey, either with their supporters or with their creative influences

Although I feel like Jonah in the ocean
The artist endures overwhelming situations alone, like Jonah in the Bible story

Danny Ocean what a gamble they could miss this I pray that you don't
Comparing himself to a casino dealer, where the stakes are high, and he hopes that he won't disappoint his audience

An olive branch symbolized that the waters had stopped
The artist invokes the biblical reference again, where the olive branch symbolized peace and prosperity, which was Noah's sign that the flood had ended.

Like if you got trees and truths before the waters had dropped
The artist suggests that early knowledge and wisdom could have helped people avoid catastrophic events. Just as Noah had built the ark using ancient knowledge, the artist advises others to prepare themselves for similar situations.

I know you saw signs, Black Mel Gibson with the passion
The artist acknowledges that others have also recognised the warning signs of what lies ahead, and likening himself to Mel Gibson in the movie 'The Passion of the Christ', who played the role of Jesus Christ, who endured a brutal death, despite having devoted followers who witnessed his miracles.

I been gifted with the rapping
The artist identifies his talent for rapping, which he believes is a unique gift that sets him apart from others.

Niggas tripping I been trapping
The artist uses wordplay, where 'trapping' refers to his dedication to his craft while also hinting at drug sales, which unfortunately is prevalent in his community

Gotta move so many keys to unlock the boxes we trapped in
The artist describes the challenges of trying to escape the situation he is in, where he needs many resources and an exceptional effort to succeed, similar to the need for many keys to unlock a box

We been ready to take off for like 400 years now
The artist highlights centuries of oppression, struggle, and sacrifice that his community has had to endure, in their quest for equality and liberation.

But we're blinded through our ears now
The artist notes how they are becoming complacent and not listening actively to the challenges and struggles they face.

Plus it's all smoke n mirrors now
The artist uses wordplay to describe how they are not seeing the real problems or solutions, as if they are in a room with smoke and mirrors distorting their vision.

In conversation I Piers Morgan my peers now
The artist uses Piers Morgan, a controversial journalist known for his opinions, to describe how he is willing to speak his truth even if it's not always popular or comfortable.

Just to keep it authentic, and often it's a shadow of Paul Pierce how
The artist references Paul Pierce, a professional basketball player famous for his excellent skills. Authenticity is crucial to the artist, as they want to be true to their values, even if they can't always meet everyone's expectations.

Well we'll play for the green
The artist admits that financial gain is a motivator and incentive, just like it is for most people.

All the while Never noticing the changing of scene
The artist acknowledges that while they are distracted by making money, they are missing the change in their surroundings, and that action is needed.

Like I was gone leave this bitch
The artist ponders leaving the music industry/regrets their choices?

But if y'all gone roll up I might as well stay for the green
However, he may still continue to make music and stay for financial gain, as it's still a necessary evil in their journey

And I can't go, that's a dark tale
The artist accepts that they can't take the easy way out and that the obstacles and challenges they face are a part of their journey/story.

So much weeping you'll be giving birth to willows in this shark tale
The artist uses another metaphor of weeping and pain, leading to a birth of a tree - willow - which is symbolic of resilience and strength in troubled times. All of this story fitting neatly in a Shark Tale.

So much weighing on his mind every bar like a barbel
The artist describes the weight of the world on his mind, through the analogy of a barbell - like the heavy lifters at the gym.

Every crack in his voice got coke from the cartel
The artist describes the grit in his voice, which he describes as 'coke' from the notorious cartel, suggesting that it's a part of the hip-hop culture and gives him an edge - just like how cocaine gives an edge to the drug mules that the cartel employs.

I ain't telling jokes this is heart felt
The artist stresses the importance of his message and the deep personal significance that his music holds.

Sip on this country time fam I been squeezing my lemons
The artist invites the listener to chill and listen to his music while emphasizing how much effort went into making it, like squeezing lemons.

Squigi my windows I’m trying see it clearly
The artist emphasizes the importance of clarity and transparency, using a wordplay of 'squigi' to describe how he cleans his windows, almost like he's cleaning his perceptions and visions of the world.

Spit it in braille so I know you feel me
The artist wants his message to be felt by the listener, no matter what.