PayBack
Nipsey Hussle Lyrics

Crack this **** hold this
The singer is introducing the song and setting the tone for an intense and potentially violent discussion.

These little girls are being murdered
There is a serious problem in the world where young girls are being killed and the world needs to pay attention.

Those leaders are being shot down in broad daylight
Important leaders are being murdered without justice, and this crime must be addressed.

Now you tell me why the leaders of this struggle have never teaching it before the United Nations
The artist is questioning why important leaders haven't brought attention to the issues they face on a global platform, such as the United Nations.

What it been, like six years still looking for Osama
The search for Osama bin Laden has gone on for too long without any results, and this lack of success calls into question the efficacy of US military operations.

You gone send more troops, that's no solution to the problem
Sending more troops to solve a problem isn't a viable solution and fails to address the root of the issue.

With no evidence, y'all never found the bomber,That Ain't stop y'all from killing Tookie or Sudama
There is no evidence tying certain people to bombings or other crimes, yet people have still been punished and even put to death, showing a biased and unjust legal system.

Necessary evil, Ain't that the term you use
The phrase 'necessary evil' is often used to justify immoral or harmful actions.

100 thousand sum thin soldiers went to serve for you
Many soldiers were sent to fight in wars for the government and their leaders, often at great personal cost to the soldiers themselves.

So you bury the people,And let em burn for you,Over some oil cause the issue ain't concerning you
The government is willing to sacrifice the lives of innocent people and disrupt entire countries for the sake of maintaining access to valuable resources they don't even need.

Since 911 you've been talking about the threat we facing,And how you need a couple billion to protect the nation
The government has used the threat of terrorism to justify increasing its power and control, as well as spending exorbitant amounts of money on military and national security programs.

But look come to my hood I'll show you desperation,Kids that are 13 like Devin brown with no explanation
The artist is challenging the government to see firsthand the struggles and injustices faced by people in their community, including unexplained deaths and high levels of desperation.

Living in L.A every single day,It's a war going on outside no man is safe from
Life in L.A. is fraught with danger and violence, leaving people feeling unsafe and in constant danger.

But since it's just niggas killing niggaz,You just turned prison to business
The government's willingness to turn a blind eye to violence against black people and mass incarceration has led to the imprisonment of many people and the commodification of prison as a business model.

I’m talking payback,I knew you bitch niggaz from way back,Witness who strap,When macks knew I wouldn't play that
The singer is talking about revenge against someone who has wronged him in the past and taking back power and control by fighting back with violence if necessary.

You a blood, I'm a crip,You a tre, I'm a o
The artist is describing the different gangs and affiliations that exist within their community, which are often sources of conflict and violence.

If you was raised off Slauson,You would be one to,Ya homeboys get low when they see me come threw
If the person listening to the song was from the same area as the artist, they would understand the fear and anxiety that comes with gang affiliations and the trouble that can follow them.

And they say that I ain't got crack,And that would be untrue,But every now and then I figure we can get back to,That black shit
The singer is saying that while they may not currently have access to drugs, they have a history of selling them, but they want to move beyond that lifestyle and embrace a more positive future for their community.

Instead of killing and Banging for crack shit,We'll be acting, cause niggaz to stuck in they ways,I know we long overdue,But is we ready for change
The singer is calling for a shift in mindset away from violence and drug culture and towards more positive, proactive ways of creating a better future for themselves and their community, but wonders if people are really ready to make this change.

Stand under one flag like an army bu-gay,Time to put the deuce deuce down, and pick up a k
The artist imagines a future in which different factions can come together and unite under one cause or mission, even if it involves the use of deadly weapons.

And if we banging on some black shit,Let's ride for the dead homies,And get the burners,For Malcome, and Natt Turner
The artist is saying that if they must fight, it should be for a noble cause like avenging the deaths of important black leaders such as Malcom X and Nat Turner, rather than simply for personal gain or glory.

Talking to them other niggaz,Yea my so called interments,We don't own one block,We live, and die for these city streets
The artist is addressing other members of their community, who are often seen as 'frenemies' due to gang affiliations and other status symbols, and lamenting the fact that they don't have ownership or control over the neighborhoods they're fighting for and even dying for.

And even though the pain run deeper,A real nigga know it's time to make peace so we can focus on the
Despite the deep wounds and long-standing issues facing their community, the singer recognizes the need for peace and unity in order to move forward and tackle these problems together.

Look, Fuck an injunction,I ain't violate nothing,If you put your hands on me, I'm a bust you I ain't running
The artist is saying that if they are unjustly confronted or attacked in any way, they will respond with violence rather than backing down or seeking legal recourse.

On the real,All you crash Johnny's know the deal,And when we start the revolution, all u probably do is squeal
The singer is calling out people who sell drugs from their cars, saying that they know what's really going on but may turn on those who try to initiate positive change in the community.

Automatic weapons on my back unconcealed,I don't care where you from,Real recognize real
The singer is saying that they are armed and ready to defend themselves against anyone who tries to harm them or their community, but they also recognize when someone is being genuine and honest, regardless of their background.

Every step is like chess,Wrong move will get you killed,So we act on how we think,And never think on how we feel
The singer sees life as a strategic game where every move must be carefully calculated, with a single mistake having deadly consequences. They prioritize rational thinking over emotional expression.

I don't believe 911 was Osama,Cause 911 Bush made a Billion dollars,I herd him say gang violence was a problem
The artist is skeptical of the official government narrative surrounding the 9/11 attacks, citing alleged financial motivations and highlighting the hypocrisy and falsehoods in statements made by George W. Bush.

And he think that more prisons is a step to resolve it,But more prisons means the checks keep revolving,And it don't take a rocket scientist to see the conflict
The artist is criticizing the government's reliance on incarceration as a means of addressing gang violence, noting that it only serves to perpetuate the problem and contribute to the economy of private prisons.

You can't cover up the pain with fake progress,It's time to payback a porfit of the profit
The singer is saying that the government's attempts to cover up or dismiss the struggles and inequalities that exist in society are futile, and that it's time to take revenge and reclaim some of the wealth and power that has been stolen from the community.

I'm talking payback,I knew you bitch niggaz from way back,Witness who strap,When macks knew I wouldn't play that
The chorus is repeated again, emphasizing the singer's call for revenge and asserting their power and determination to take what is rightfully theirs.