How Did I Get Here
Offset feat. J. Cole Lyrics

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Uh, nobody, you know what I'm sayin'
Nobody, nobody thought a nigga would be right here, though, you know
That shit make like
That shit make, that shit make a difference in me and you
You was supposed to be here, nigga
Nigga, I wasn't 'posed to be in this motherfucker
Man, you know what I'm sayin'
Give all the glory to God and hard work

But you niggas gotta respect this shit, you know what I'm sayin'
I'm straight from the-

Where I'm at? (Where) Where I go? (How) How did I get here? (How did I get here?)
Walk around with a Smithfield (Smithfield)
I'm from the south, had a gold grill (Gold grill)
Remember doin' shows in Mobile (Mobile)
Go against me and it's roadkill (Roadkill)
Wakin' up to see the sunrise (Sunrise)
I turned five, I got baptized (Baptized)
We was livin' up in College Park (College Park)
Midnight, heard the gunfight (Gunfight)
Playin' football at Forest Park (Forest Park)
Gresham Park where your moment get defined (Get defined)
The story of my life (The life)
Way before I ever wrote a rhyme (Way before)
Have you ever done time? (Time)
Lookin' at my kids through the blinds (Blinds)
Confinement mind (Confinement)
How you feelin' when you face a dime? (Time)
The truth be told (Told)
I'm supposed to be locked up and dead, cold (Cold)
In the mind of an old (He cold) white man, the black man soul

Felt like I was born on Mars (Mars), everybody starin' too hard (Starin')
They didn't really think I was a star (They didn't really)
Then I fucked around, beat the odds (Fucked around)
How did I get right here? (How did I?)
Neck, wrist on chandelier (Chandelier)
Made me wanna drop some tears (Tears)
Thankin' God that I switched gears (Whooo)
I'm from another lightyear, I'm a Martian (Martian)
One-third of a human, just partial (One third)
I'm the Sergeant, the Captain, the Marshal (Serge)
I start to barf, it was too much potion
Too fast, everything in slow motion
I get the cash and my money keep grossin' (Get the cash)
Popped a bottle, champagne, we toastin'
Suicide doors on the coupe when they open (Skrrt)
They didn't believe in me (Nah)
Check the stats, number one, you see (You see)
I bet my haters can't breathe
Nigga, don't even compare to me (Nah)
Street niggas, we rare, unique (We rare)
We can fuck 'em by the pair, by the three (By the pair)
Chopper soundin' like a snare in a beat (Like a snare)
I'm from the A, I love your ass, it's a peach (Peach)
Where I'm from, niggas cash, don't lease (Cash)
Where I'm from, the stick's on the backseat (Stick sticks)
Where I'm from, police put you six feet
A lot of bums and they sleepin' on the street (Bums)
Yeah, yeah, that's at home (Yeah)
Nigga, go back to your fam' where you dead wrong (Go back)
Miss my dawg, dead and gone (Miss him)
I can hear his voice telling me "Don't go alone" (Pistol)
Yeah, the money can't fix that (Naw)
Dirty money, had to rinse that (Dirty money)
I try my hardest not to look back (I try)
Not too long ago I would've took that (Gimme that)
This for my niggas had to cook packs (Cook cook)
Million dollar trap fall 'cause of one rat (Rats)
Yeah, ain't no comin' back (Yeah)
How I made it out the jungle, yeah, without a scratch (Hey)

Where I'm at? (Where) Where I go? (How) How did I get here? (How did I get here?)
Walk around with a Smithfield (Smithfield)
I'm from the south, had a gold grill (Gold grill)
Remember doin' shows in Mobile (Mobile)
Go against me and it's roadkill (Roadkill)
Wakin' up to see the sunrise (Sunrise)
I turned five, I got baptized (Baptized)
We was livin' up in College Park (College Park)
Midnight, heard the gunfight (Gunfight)
Playin' football at Forest Park (Forest Park)
Gresham Park where your moment get defined (Get defined)
The story of my life (The life)
Way before I ever wrote a rhyme (Way before)
Have you ever done time? (Time)
Lookin' at my kids through the blinds (Blinds)
Confinement mind (Confinement)
How you feelin' when you face a dime? (Time)
The truth be told (Told)
I'm supposed to be locked up and dead, cold (Cold)
In the mind of an old (He cold) white man, the black man soul

Baptized at First Baptist Church
The pastor name was Reverend Johnson (Okay)
Chastised his shirt and matchin' shoes
But had to front, it never bothered him (Okay)
Hurt his pride but he swallowed it (Okay)
Dirt is all that he spotted
And in the dirty south where bodies pilin' up
So high, they block the birds and rerouted 'em (Damn)
Plenty murderers had observers but
You never heard a peep out of them
So many funerals it ain't enough numerals to keep count of them (Woah)
Look, I'm just settin' the scene
Back when I stared at the phone as I'm lettin' it ring
Another collector, they leave us a message
My mama in deficit, must intervene
I bust out the seams, I'm gettin' too big for these britches now
I invest in the dream, I'm destined for green
I got superstar dick for these bitches now
I got superstar dick for these bitches now
And I think about that when I dig 'em out
(When I dig 'em out, when I dig 'em out)

Where I'm at? (Where) Where I go? (How) How did I get here? (How did I get here?)
Walk around with a Smithfield (Smithfield)
I'm from the south, had a gold grill (Gold grill)
Remember doin' shows in Mobile (Mobile)
Go against me and it's roadkill (Roadkill)
Wakin' up to see the sunrise (Sunrise)
I turned five, I got baptized (Baptized)
We was livin' up in College Park (College Park)
Midnight, heard the gunfight (Gunfight)
Playin' football at Forest Park (Forest Park)
Gresham Park where your moment get defined (Get defined)
The story of my life (The life)
Way before I ever wrote a rhyme (Way before)
Have you ever done time? (Time)
Lookin' at my kids through the blinds (Blinds)
Confinement mind (Confinement)
How you feelin' when you face a dime? (Time)
The truth be told (Told)

I'm supposed to be locked up and dead, cold (Cold)
In the mind of an old (He cold) white man, the black man soul

Overall Meaning

The song "How Did I Get Here" by Offset feat. J. Cole is a reflection on the rapper's unexpected success and rise to fame. The lyrics open with Offset acknowledging that no one believed he would make it to where he is now. He attributes his success to hard work and the grace of God. Throughout the song, he takes us on a journey through his life, from growing up in areas of Atlanta like College Park and Gresham Park, where his moments were defined, to performing shows in Mobile, Alabama, and waking up to see the sunrise.

Offset uses the song to express his gratitude for where he is in life after coming from difficult circumstances. He talks about his experience being confined and the possibility of facing time in jail. The lyrics also touch on the murder rates in the southern states and how the bodies piling up blocked the flight paths of birds. He talks about past experiences of looking at the phone while it rang with collectors calling, and how he had to intervene as his mother was in deficit, stressed out with the situation.

The song "How Did I Get Here" is a testament to Offset's resilience and determination, highlighting the idea that anyone can overcome challenging circumstances and rise to success with a strong work ethic and faith. It encourages listeners to chase their dreams and never give up on their goals, no matter how challenging their circumstances may be.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andre Proctor, Joshua Luellen, Kiari Cephus, Leland Tyler Wayne, Jermaine Lamarr Cole

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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