Hussle was murdered outside his store, Marathon Clothing, in South Los Angeles on March 31, 2019.
One Take 3
Nipsey Hussle Lyrics
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I'm lookin' at these niggas like, "Fuck 'em all"
Sock a nigga then he quick to get his gun involved
Toss a nigga some work, that nigga runnin' off
Then leave these niggas to starve, they say you uninvolved
I see why niggas get money now and wander off
Not sayin' that I condone it, I'm sayin' it's fuckin' hard
Young niggas with inhibitions of livin' large
Pitfalls, brick walls but still I charge at high speed
Regardless of what I've seen
Chasin' my dream, money comin' at odd schemes
Got the streets in my vein, that's a poisonous IV
They speakin' my name, I know they despise me
For the status I've obtained and the places I fly free
They hesitate and this is what I see
'Cause before this rap shit, they know them triggers I squeeze
So fuck all you niggas that lies lead
'Cause I'm just waitin' on the day you choose to try me
Until then, drop Benz in the breeze
Out in Vegas in the Phantom like a limo I-Z
At the Palms eatin' steak, no need for for ID
Double shot of Hennessy
Meet my nigga Rob and he's
Chillin' with some bitches, early twenties, late teens
Pearly whites, pretty face, fat ass in bikin'
Look, we do it at Rehab
My aim is to outweigh the painful days we had
Life after the rubber gloves and ski masks
Niggas kill they partners and bring yams to the repass
But still to this shit I pledge allegiance
You could get the fade, holla at me if you need that
I left the hood and gave a fuck about the feedback
'Cause I was once told you that you don't shit where you sleep at
You dumb nigga, this young nigga's on his way up
The world, Chico
It's 'bout time they pay up
No more small potatoes for all them nights that we stayed up
Huggin' them blocks, them bullets bust and they graze us
Run from them cops, they catch up, cuff us, and cage us
'Fore they get our laces, post bail, that's outrageous
Then bleed the block for more paper
Man, I'm ten toes down, I won't ask for no favors
In "One Take 3," Nipsey Hussle reflects on his journey from the rough streets of his hometown to his current success in the music industry. He acknowledges the struggles and dangers that come with trying to make it as a young rapper, particularly when it comes to dealing with other people in his community who may not have his best interests in mind. He is wary of those who may try to take advantage of him or betray him, and is always prepared to defend himself if necessary. However, he is also proud of his accomplishments and determined to continue working hard to achieve his dreams.
Throughout the song, Nipsey Hussle emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself and avoiding the negative influences of others. He recognizes that the path to success is full of pitfalls and obstacles, but he refuses to let those things hold him back. Instead, he is committed to working hard and staying focused on his goals, no matter what challenges may arise.
Line by Line Meaning
Look
I am currently observing the situation
I'm lookin' at these niggas like, "Fuck 'em all"
I have a significant amount of disdain for the people around me
Sock a nigga then he quick to get his gun involved
When I hit someone, they often resort to violence
Toss a nigga some work, that nigga runnin' off
When I give someone an opportunity to make money, they take off without fulfilling their end of the bargain
Then leave these niggas to starve, they say you uninvolved
When I don't take care of people who failed to live up to their commitments, they accuse me of being unsupportive
I see why niggas get money now and wander off
I understand why people who come into money often isolate themselves from others
Not sayin' that I condone it, I'm sayin' it's fuckin' hard
I'm not in support of that behavior, but it's difficult to blame them for wanting to be alone
Young niggas with inhibitions of livin' large
Many young people struggle with the idea of how to properly spend their newfound wealth
Road to riches in double digits on prison yards
The path to wealth often includes time spent in jail
Pitfalls, brick walls but still I charge at high speed
Despite the obstacles in my way, I charge ahead quickly
Regardless of what I've seen
Despite all that I've witnessed
Chasin' my dream, money comin' at odd schemes
I am pursuing my dream, making money from unconventional sources
Got the streets in my vein, that's a poisonous IV
My connection to the streets is dangerously strong
They speakin' my name, I know they despise me
People talk about me, but I know they dislike me
For the status I've obtained and the places I fly free
People dislike me because of my success and my ability to travel freely
They hesitate and this is what I see
They are hesitant to act, and I am aware of it
'Cause before this rap shit, they know them triggers I squeeze
Before my music career, people knew me for my violent behavior
So fuck all you niggas that lies lead
I do not trust any of the people who are lying to me
'Cause I'm just waitin' on the day you choose to try me
I am looking forward to the day when someone tries to start a fight with me
Until then, drop Benz in the breeze
Until that day, I will continue to drive my expensive car with the windows down
Out in Vegas in the Phantom like a limo I-Z
I am driving my Rolls Royce Phantom in Las Vegas
At the Palms eatin' steak, no need for for ID
I am eating steak at the Palms hotel without any need for identification
Double shot of Hennessy
I am drinking two shots of Hennessy
Meet my nigga Rob and he's
I am introducing my friend Rob
Chillin' with some bitches, early twenties, late teens
I am hanging out with some young women in their early or late twenties
Pearly whites, pretty face, fat ass in bikin'
These women have nice teeth, pretty faces, and curvy bodies in bikinis
Look, we do it at Rehab
We are partying at the Rehab pool party in Las Vegas
My aim is to outweigh the painful days we had
I am trying to make up for the difficult times in my past
Life after the rubber gloves and ski masks
I am trying to move on from my previous criminal activities
Niggas kill they partners and bring yams to the repass
People kill their friends and bring food to eat after the funeral
But still to this shit I pledge allegiance
Despite everything, I am still committed to this way of life
You could get the fade, holla at me if you need that
If you are looking for a fight, you can come and find me
I left the hood and gave a fuck about the feedback
I left my old neighborhood and do not care what people think of me
'Cause I was once told you that you don't shit where you sleep at
I was told that you should not cause trouble in your own community
You dumb nigga, this young nigga's on his way up
You are foolish for trying to bring me down, as I am becoming more successful
The world, Chico
The world is mine, just like I always knew it would be
It's 'bout time they pay up
I am ready for the world to acknowledge my success
No more small potatoes for all them nights that we stayed up
I am no longer settling for small rewards after all the hard work I put in
Huggin' them blocks, them bullets bust and they graze us
We have spent too much time on dangerous street corners and have narrowly avoided getting shot
Run from them cops, they catch up, cuff us, and cage us
We have had to run from the police and have been caught, handcuffed, and put in jail
'Fore they get our laces, post bail, that's outrageous
We have had to give up our shoelaces when we are put in jail, which seems ridiculous
Then bleed the block for more paper
After getting out of jail, we go back to the streets to make more money
Man, I'm ten toes down, I won't ask for no favors
I am completely committed to this lifestyle and will not ask for help from anyone
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ermias Asghedom
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind