Phobia
OutKast Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

In these troublin' times
A nigga like me be thinkin' of rhymes
That makes my quarters nickels
Plus my pennies and my dimes stack
Don't be lookin' for trouble it be finding me
Try turning the other cheek
I understand but never mind that
Yes Sir guess the light is getting dim
At the end of the tunnel tried to hit me for my rims
I never thought thirty spokes
Could attract too much attention
I gotta protect my own therefore
I'm heated just like a kitchen
Full of pots and pan Glocks in hand
Shots rung out like ringin' the bells
And then that sucker nigga ran
Damn, I never thought that it
Would come to this conclusion
The folks that throwed us
On them boats should be the one's I'm losin'
But naw we don't see it that way
In '94 this is the real no time for play play
Betta believe the playas on the loot
Need to get they head screwed on tight
When it really get down to the nitty grit
Who gone fight pipe down
'Cause ain't no better time
To crank it up than right now
We gots to see rump crum down here
And I don't hear nobody disagreein'
Orga-no-I-z-e-Mr. D.J. and me and Big Boi

[Chorus]
So don't spend yo whole life
Livin' it for the white
You got a 9 to 5 and now
You choose to live it right
You takin' yo ass to the Army
'Cause you scared of Revolution
I'm writing everyday to stop that brain pollution
I got a baby on the way that stress is in my chest
I'm eighteen years of age and black so I can picture less
I'm smokin' and drinkin' e'ryday
So play your fuckin' job
Educated and black I will resort to rob

See why in the muthafuck
Do niggas be acting up
Do they want me to grab my shit
And lettin' that pistol go ruck
See I be gettin' stuck and stuff
Havin' to knock a nigga out about my clout
That's not what it's about
See yes indeed I got that weed
Like Daddy Q be havin' them ounces
That nigga the be-I-G be chokin' 'em out
And then I bounces
I got that lyrical flow to make
A hoe pull up her skirt
I drunk that herk & jerk boi
Thinkin' of future things to work on
I got my fuck on and
Then I took my clothes off
Washed my nuts up in the sink
And then I got more nuts off
Cough it's time to be out
See bein' a pimp is bein' a pimp
I'm dirtier than the shit
On the back of a shrimp
Now ain't that foul
The way a nigga can spit that style
My nigga I spit it I did it
Now suckas need to quit it
'Cause it's real

[Chorus]

Well it's that nigga that be
Wearing Nautica V-necks
And Polo sweats
I got some food up in yo thoughts
And that cess off in yo chest
See livin' up in the dungeon
Where we stayed in '93
See that nigga the be-I-G be-O-I
That be me
And when we rock it
Niggas be jocking just like ?
You snitch I fucked yo bitch
See and my niggas G'd that hoe
On the South side of Camelton Road
No slippin' in this pimpin'
She was just a horny toad
See I'm a mystery like the
Killing of Michael Jordan's father
Was steadily packin' the hoes
When I worked at Foot Locker
I'm gettin' higher than learning
Smokin' 'em up and then burning
East Point is on the map
And now my clothes is hurtin'

Now shit done got boring ass
Molin' when excess closed down
But niggaz kept sewin' shearin'
Stirrin' bein' the pharm assistant that missed
Of the folks but some people
Tend to joke about this
But it's really dead spirits
You can bet my lyrics
Now ya wonder why that we
Done stopped and got serious
Wantin' to know where I'm from
And where I need to be
Now that I know comfortable
Living give me meat
Can I get back ya wonder why we split back
Lure us into pitch black dark
But I sit back and spark
Another one to leave ya discombobulated
In that dust livin' in a world
Where in nobody do you trust
Then hush never became a major trade
But us in major trouble
'Cause we made a too many mistakes
Off in the past
Thinkin' you could make it this world
And now we laugh 'cause it's all faults (Chorus starts here)
Either way ya go ya gotta pay the cost of the mic wind

[Chorus]
I'm hangin' with the G-O-O-D-I-E Mob Nigga yeah

Takin' you a li'l higher knowwhatI'msayin' when you learnin' when you
Burnin' up that smoke so you can choke on my quotes




And get my * down yo throat you just don't understand
YouknowwhatI'msayin' Organized Noize for '95 Bitch!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Outkast's song "Phobia" speak to the struggles faced by black individuals in America. The lyrics touch on the idea of protection, both of oneself and one's community. The rapper worries about the attention his car rims attract and his own safety as a black man. He also speaks to the stresses of fatherhood and the need for change in society. The chorus echoes the theme of taking control of one's own life and not living solely for the approval of white society. The lyrics urge the listener to think critically about the world around them and to stand up for what they believe in.


Line by Line Meaning

In these troublin' times
During difficult times


A nigga like me be thinkin' of rhymes
I, as a person, resort to thinking of rhymes to distract myself


That makes my quarters nickels
Creating lyrics that can help me earn more money


Plus my pennies and my dimes stack
Accumulating and saving all my money, big and small


Don't be lookin' for trouble it be finding me
I don't seek out trouble, but it seems to find me


Try turning the other cheek
Attempt to respond with non-violence


I understand but never mind that
I comprehend the concept but choose not to pay attention to it


Yes Sir guess the light is getting dim
Indeed, it seems that the situation is getting worse


At the end of the tunnel tried to hit me for my rims
Someone attempted to steal my car rims


I never thought thirty spokes
I never expected that thirty wheel spokes


Could attract too much attention
Would draw so much unwanted focus


I gotta protect my own therefore
I have to ensure my own safety


I'm heated just like a kitchen
I am angry, just like a heated kitchen


Full of pots and pan Glocks in hand
With pots and pans in the kitchen, I also have guns in hand


Shots rung out like ringin' the bells
Gunshots were fired, sounding like ringing bells


And then that sucker nigga ran
And then that cowardly person fled


Damn, I never thought that it
Wow, I never anticipated that it


Would come to this conclusion
Would lead to this outcome


The folks that throwed us
The people who enslaved us


On them boats should be the one's I'm losin'
Should be the ones I am separating from


But naw we don't see it that way
But no, we don't perceive it in that manner


In '94 this is the real no time for play play
In 1994, this is the reality and not a time for games


Betta believe the playas on the loot
You better believe that the players are focused on making money


Need to get they head screwed on tight
They need to think more logically


When it really get down to the nitty grit
When it comes down to the essential details


Who gone fight pipe down
Who is willing to fight? Quiet down


'Cause ain't no better time
Because there is no better time


To crank it up than right now
To turn things up than the present moment


We gots to see rump crum down here
We have to witness the downfall of our enemies here


And I don't hear nobody disagreein'
And I don't hear anyone arguing against that


Orga-no-I-z-e-Mr. D.J. and me and Big Boi
Organize, Mr. DJ, and me and Big Boi


So don't spend yo whole life
Therefore, don't spend your entire life


Livin' it for the white
Living it solely for wealthy individuals


You got a 9 to 5 and now
You have a regular job and now


You choose to live it right
You decide to live it correctly


You takin' yo ass to the Army
You are enlisting in the Army


'Cause you scared of Revolution
Because you are afraid of a revolution


I'm writing everyday to stop that brain pollution
I write every day to prevent mental pollution


I got a baby on the way that stress is in my chest
I have a baby on the way, and that stress resides in my heart


I'm eighteen years of age and black so I can picture less
I am eighteen years old and Black, so I have limited prospects


I'm smokin' and drinkin' e'ryday
I smoke and drink every day


So play your fuckin' job
So focus on your job


Educated and black I will resort to rob
Despite being educated and Black, I might turn to robbery


See why in the muthafuck
Understand why in the world


Do niggas be acting up
Do people act out


Do they want me to grab my shit
Do they want me to retrieve my things


And lettin' that pistol go ruck
And start shooting my gun


See I be gettin' stuck and stuff
I find myself getting involved in conflicts


Havin' to knock a nigga out about my clout
Having to fight someone regarding my reputation


That's not what it's about
That is not the point or purpose


See yes indeed I got that weed
Yes, indeed, I possess marijuana


Like Daddy Q be havin' them ounces
Similar to how Daddy Q has a lot of marijuana ounces


That nigga the be-I-G be chokin' 'em out
The person known as Big is overpowering them


And then I bounces
And then I leave


I got that lyrical flow to make
I possess a lyrical style that can make


A hoe pull up her skirt
A promiscuous woman lift her skirt


I drunk that herk & jerk boi
I consumed that alcoholic drink called Herk & Jerk, boy


Thinkin' of future things to work on
Contemplating ideas for future projects


I got my fuck on and
I had sex and


Then I took my clothes off
Then I undressed


Washed my nuts up in the sink
Cleaned my testicles in the sink


And then I got more nuts off
And then I ejaculated again


Cough it's time to be out
Cough, it's time to leave


See bein' a pimp is bein' a pimp
Being a pimp means being a pimp


I'm dirtier than the shit
I am more corrupt than the filth


On the back of a shrimp
On the backside of a shrimp


Now ain't that foul
Now isn't that disgusting


The way a nigga can spit that style
The way a person can speak with that style


My nigga I spit it I did it
My friend, I spoke it, I accomplished it


Now suckas need to quit it
Now fools need to stop


'Cause it's real
Because it is genuine


Well it's that nigga that be
Well it's that person who


Wearing Nautica V-necks
Wears Nautica V-neck shirts


And Polo sweats
And Polo sweatpants


I got some food up in yo thoughts
I have control over your thoughts


And that cess off in yo chest
And that marijuana smoke in your lungs


See livin' up in the dungeon
Living in a dark and oppressive place


Where we stayed in '93
Where we lived in 1993


See that nigga the be-I-G be-O-I
See that person, who is known as Big Boi


That be me
That is me


And when we rock it
And when we perform or deliver our music


Niggas be jocking just like ?
People start imitating or trying to copy us


You snitch I fucked yo bitch
If you inform on me, I slept with your partner


See and my niggas G'd that hoe
My friends accompanied that woman


On the South side of Camelton Road
On the southern part of Camelton Road


No slippin' in this pimpin'
There is no room for mistakes in this lifestyle


She was just a horny toad
She was only a sexually eager woman


See I'm a mystery like the
I am an enigma, similar to


Killing of Michael Jordan's father
The murder of Michael Jordan's father


Was steadily packin' the hoes
Was consistently having multiple sexual partners


When I worked at Foot Locker
During the time I was employed at Foot Locker


I'm gettin' higher than learning
I am getting more intoxicated than gaining knowledge


Smokin' 'em up and then burning
Smoking marijuana and then exhaling the smoke


East Point is on the map
East Point is recognized or acknowledged


And now my clothes is hurtin'
And now my clothes are damaged


Now shit done got boring ass
Now the situation has become dull, man


Molin' when excess closed down
Thinking deeply when the excess closed down


But niggaz kept sewin' shearin' stirrin'
But people continued to sew, shear, and stir


Bein' the pharm assistant that missed
Working as the assistant pharmacist who made mistakes


Of the folks but some people
Of the crowd, but some individuals


Tend to joke about this
Have a tendency to make jokes about this


But it's really dead spirits
But it's actually deceased souls


You can bet my lyrics
You can be certain about my lyrics


Now ya wonder why that we
Now you wonder why we


Done stopped and got serious
Stopped and became serious


Wantin' to know where I'm from
Desiring to know my origins


And where I need to be
And where I should aim to be


Now that I know comfortable
Now that I know what it feels like to be comfortable


Living give me meat
Living provides me with sustenance or fulfillment


Can I get back ya wonder why we split back
Can I regain what we lost? You wonder why we moved away


Lure us into pitch black dark
Attracted us into complete darkness


But I sit back and spark
But I relax and smoke


Another one to leave ya discombobulated
Another joint to leave you disoriented


In that dust livin' in a world
In that situation, living in a world


Where in nobody do you trust
In which you don't trust anyone


Then hush never became a major trade
Then silence never became a significant characteristic


But us in major trouble
But we are in significant trouble


'Cause we made a too many mistakes
Because we made too many mistakes


Off in the past
In the past


Thinkin' you could make it this world
Believing that you could succeed in this world


And now we laugh 'cause it's all faults
And now we laugh because it's all our own mistakes


Either way ya go ya gotta pay the cost of the mic wind
Regardless of the path you choose, you have to face the consequences


I'm hangin' with the G-O-O-D-I-E Mob Nigga yeah
I am associated with the Goodie Mob, my friend, yes


Takin' you a li'l higher knowwhatI'msayin' when you learnin' when you
Elevating you a little, you know what I mean, when you are learning


Burnin' up that smoke so you can choke on my quotes
Consuming that smoke so you can be overwhelmed by my lyrics


And get my * down yo throat you just don't understand
And have my presence exert influence over you, you simply don't comprehend


YouknowwhatI'msayin' Organized Noize for '95 Bitch!
You know what I mean, Organized Noize for 1995, bitch!




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Missing Link Music
Written by: BAILEY, BENJAMIN, BROWN, MURRAY, PATTON, WADE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@23 references psalm 23
A healthy portion of this song on all verses spits on spiritual

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