Elliott is one of the first female hip hop superstars, known for a long series of hits including "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)", "Hit 'Em Wit Da Hee", "Get Ur Freak On", "One Minute Man", "Work It", and "Lose Control". In addition she has received recognition as one of the most successful songwriters of the modern music era, having crafted a number of hit records for artists such as Aaliyah, 702, Total, Ciara, Nicole Wray and Tweet, often with production-partner and childhood friend Timbaland. She was the third female rapper to ever go Platinum, behind Lil' Kim and Da Brat.
Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, she began her career in the all-girl R&B group, Sista in 1993. Eventually, the band folded and Elliott began her career as a solo rapper. Since the early 1990's, Elliott has won six Grammys, recently scoring one for her video of "Lose Control."
Other releases are 'Teary Eyed' and 'We Run This', and the last of these two songs will be the main single of the new greatest hits album titled 'Respect M.E.: Best Of' featuring 17 tracks from her six albums.
Wake Up ft. Jayz
Missy Elliott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah turn the motherfuckin' music up
Yeah turn the motherfuckin' music up
Motherfuckers better wake up
Stop sellin' crack to the black
Hope you bought a spare for your flat
Down the hill like Janet Jack
I speak what yeah weak mind lacks
Yah heard that
I'm creative to the fullest what you talkin' 'bout Willace 'cause your talkin' never
Kill it
I hear but don't fill it down we realest
Yeah just weet me in the in the village
Yeah I'm a down diva done niva
Y'all not see her he don squeeze into a wife beater
Yep I'm a top leader
I got the Martin Luther King fever
I'ma feed yeah what yah teacher need to breat yeah
It's time to get serious
Black people all areas who gon' carry us it ain't time to bury us
Cause music be our first love
Say I do let's cherish it
If you don't gotta gun (it's alright)
If yah makin' legal money (it's alright)
If you gotta keep yah clothes on (it's alright)
You ain't gotta sell yah lil phone (it's alright)
And yah wheels don't spin (it's alright)
And you gotta wear them jeans again (it's alright)
Yeah if you tried oh well (it's alright)
MC's stop the beef let's sell (it's alright)
Hip hop better wake up the bed to make up
Some of y'all be faker than a dragon make-up
Got issues to take up before we break up
Like Electra let go miss Selida Baker
I love Jocob the jury won't fix my place up
Gotta stay up studio nice to cake up
Now check my flava rich folks is now my neighbors
I got cable now check it how I make my paper
Hip hop don't stop be my life saver
Like Kobe and Shaq if they left Lakers
And like a elevator dj on a cross fader
Black wake up I'll see yeah ass later
If you don't gotta gun (it's alright)
If yeah makin' legal money (it's alright)
If you gotta keep yeah clothes on (it's alright)
You ain't gotta sell yeah lil phone (it's alright)
And yeah wheels don't spin (it's alright)
And you gotta wear them jeans again (it's alright)
Yeah if you tried oh well (it's alright)
MC's stop the beef let's sell (it's alright)
I need rims that don't listen and booming system
First piece of change I see
I'm gon' get one
745 no license to drive
I ain't even gotta home
I gots to live in my ride fuck it
(Rewind)
I can hear myself but I can't feel myself
I want to feel myself like Tweet
745 no license to drive
I ain't even gotta home
I gots to live in my ride fuck it
Couple of karats in my ear won't hurt
Need a nice chain layin on this thousand $ shirt
Evisu cover the rectum
I kick game just like David Beckham
Anybody in my way I wet them
I'ma be this way until the cops come catch 'em
To detective sketch 'em on the sidewalk wit chalk New Yorks infections
Till I got taught a lesson
Couple niggas gone couple wink corrections
And Marie got 10
Tie got 15 nigga even my kin
Got 5 years bringing 19 in
I just think I used to think like them
Now they gotta live through
The pictures that I send 'em in the pen
Hope you don't start yah life where I end
Wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up
Wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up
Wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up
If you don't gotta gun (it's alright)
If yeah makin' legal money (it's alright)
If you gotta keep yeah clothes on (it's alright)
You ain't gotta sell yeah lil' phone (it's alright)
And yeah wheels don't spin (it's alright)
And you gotta wear them jeans again (it's alright)
Yeah if you tried oh well (it's alright)
MC's stop the beef let's sell (it's alright)
The song “Wake Up” by Missy Elliott featuring Jay-Z is an important expression of social commentary and criticism, as the lyrics highlight the prevailing issues of hip-hop music that needs to address. Missy Elliott, also known as Don Diva, is calling for the hip-hop community to wake up and take control of their lives, especially dealing with issues of racism and exploitation happening in the community. The lyrics focus on the problems of the black community such as crack addiction, poverty, and police brutality. She also highlights the importance music has in the African American community as it is their first love and asks everyone to appreciate it. The chorus, “If you don’t got a gun, it’s all right. If you’re making legal money, it’s all right, and other such verses emphasize the importance of being grateful for what you have, as not everyone in the black community is as privileged to have the same things as you.
The song can be interpreted as a call-to-action for the hip-hop community to use their voices to bring change to the community. Jay-Z’s verse in the song, with lines like “Till detectives sketch ‘em, On the sidewalk wit chalk, New York’s infections,” speaks out about the problem of police brutality, especially against black people. Missy Elliot’s lyrics and Jay-Z’s impactful verse are a testament to their ability to use music as a tool to raise awareness and encourage collective action against systemic oppression.
Line by Line Meaning
Motherfuckers better wake up
It's time for everyone to pay attention and take action
Stop selling crack to the blacks
Drug dealing is harmful and devastating to Black communities
Hope ya brought a spare for ya flat
Be prepared for what lies ahead
Cain has sent me talking real facts
I'm speaking the truth, like the biblical Cain
Down the hill like Jill and Jack
Going down the wrong path, like the nursery rhyme characters
Got speak what yo weak mind lacks
Speak up and share your thoughts and ideas
Ya heard that? I'm creative to the fullest
Acknowledge and recognize my creativity
"What you talking bout Willis?"
A reference to the TV show "Diff'rent Strokes", questioning what someone is saying
Cause you talk it never kill it
Don't just talk about it, take action and make a difference
I hear but don't feel it
I don't sense any genuine motivation or sincerity
Thou ain't realest, ya just sweet meat in the village
You're not authentic, just trying to fit in or follow the crowd
Yeah I'm a Don Diva Don Niva
I'm a boss, a strong woman who knows my worth
why yall not seen her, heater squeezed into a wife beater
I'm not hiding, I'm embracing my femininity and strength
Yep I'm a top leader, I got the Martin Luther King fever
I'm a leader in my community, inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.'s message of equality
I'm a feed ya what you teacher need to preach ya
I'm sharing knowledge and ideas that need to be spread further
It's time to get serious, black people all areas
We need to take things seriously and work towards change as a united community
Who goin' carry us? It ain't time to bury us
We need to support each other and work towards progress, not give up or accept defeat
Cause music be our first love, say 'I Do' let's cherish it
Music brings us together and is a powerful force for positivity
If you don't got a gun (it's all right)
You don't need violence to be successful or feel safe
It you makin' legal money (it's all right)
Do things the right way and your success will be legitimate
If you got to keep your clothes on (it's all right)
You can be successful and respected without having to expose yourself
You ain't got a cellular phone (it's all right)
You don't need material possessions to be important or successful
And your wheels don't spin (it's all right)
Your car or success doesn't define you or determine your worth
And you gotta wear them jeans again (it's all right)
You don't need fancy clothes to be successful or respected
Yeah, if you tried oh well (it's all right)
It's okay to fail, as long as you keep trying and learning
Emcees stop the beef, let's sell (it's all right)
Instead of fighting each other, let's focus on making good music
Hip-Hop better wake up, the bed to make ups
Hip-Hop culture needs to make changes and improvements
Some of why'all be faker than the dragon make up
Some artists in Hip-Hop are not authentic, and put on a fake persona
Got issues to take up, before we break up
We have important problems to address before we can move forward
Like Electra let go, Missy need a baker
Let go of past issues and move on, and focus on creating something new
I love Jacob, but jewelry won't fix my place up
You can't buy true happiness or success with material possessions
Gotta stay up, studio nights to cake up
Work hard and stay focused to achieve success
Now check my flavor, rich folks is now my neighbors
I've achieved success and am now living alongside wealthy people
I got cable, now check out how I made my paper
I've earned my success through hard work and dedication
Hip-Hop don't stop, be my Lifesaver
Hip-Hop has the power to be a positive force in life
Like Kobe and Shaq if they left Lakers
Even with setbacks or changes, I will continue to succeed
I'm like an elevator DJ on the crossfader
I have the power to influence and motivate others, like a DJ mixes tracks
Black people wake up I'll see your ass later
Black people need to be proactive and work towards a better future
I need rims that don't listen and a booming system
I want a flashy car with a loud sound system
First piece of change I see, I'm goin' get one
I will spend money on something flashy or expensive as soon as I have it
7:45, no lights to drive
I'm living a dangerous and unstable lifestyle
I ain't even got a home, I guess I'll live in my ride
I have no permanent place to live, so my car is my home
Fuck it!
I don't care about the consequences or risks of my actions
"I can hear myself, but I can't feel myself
I'm disconnected from myself and my emotions
I'm want to feel myself like Tweet"
I want to be authentic and true to myself, like the singer Tweet
Couple karats in the ear won't hurt
Material possessions can bring temporary happiness or success
Need a nice chain, laying on this thousand dollar shirt
I want more and more material possessions, even if they are expensive and unnecessary
Evisu Jeans cover the rectum, my kick game just like David Beckham
I'm wearing designer clothes and shoes to show off my status
Anybody in my way, I wet them
I am violent and aggressive towards anyone who challenges me
I'ma be this way till the cops come catch 'em
I will continue to act irrationally and dangerously until I get caught by the authorities
Till detectives sketch em
I will continue to commit crimes until the police get a description of me
On the sidewalk wit chalk, New York's infections
Violence and crime are prevalent and dangerous in New York City
Till I got taught a lesson
I will continue to act irresponsibly and dangerously until someone makes me stop or learn my lesson
Couple niggas gone, couple went Corrections, Hillary got ten
Some of my friends are dead or in jail, and I have also faced legal consequences
Till I got fifteen, nigga even my kin
Even my own family members have faced legal trouble because of my actions
Got five years bringin' nineteen in
I've faced legal consequences and will be in prison for a long time
But just think I used to think like them
I used to have a negative mindset and engage in harmful activities like my friends and family
Now they gotta live through the pictures that I send them in the pen
They have to see me living a dangerous and negative lifestyle through pictures I send them while in prison
Hope you don't start ya life where I end
I hope my mistakes and consequences serve as a warning to others not to follow in my footsteps
Wake up!
It's time to realize the dangers and consequences of negative actions, and work towards a better future
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Melissa A. Elliott, Timothy Z. Mosley, Shawn C. Carter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind