Polo G was originally known for his Chicago drill sound, but eventually transitioned to a more melodic style. He has been noted for his "vivid and explicit storytelling"; his lyrics often involve tough subjects, including racism and mental health. He also regularly pays homage to his hometown, and, as noted by Ayana Rashed of Respect, "he is also quick to acknowledge the common injustice and frequent police brutality he and so many others face on the daily". He has stated that American rapper Lil Wayne and hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur are his biggest influences. He also grew up listening to Gucci Mane, as well as Chicago rappers Lil Durk, G Herbo and Chief Keef.
Bartlett was born in the Old Town area of Chicago. He was raised by both of his parents and grew up with three siblings in a small project development known as Marshall Field Garden Apartments. Before his rise to fame, Bartlett spent multiple stints in prison. Bartlett's first song ever recorded was titled "ODA". Upon creating a SoundCloud account in 2018, he released the track "Gang With Me", which quickly racked up millions of plays. He continued gaining traction with his songs "Welcome Back" and "Neva Cared". Bartlett went on to release "Finer Things", a song he wrote while incarcerated, in the latter half of 2018 and quickly gained millions of views. In early 2019, Bartlett released "Pop Out" featuring Lil Tjay which peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song's music video gained over 200 million views on YouTube and led to him signing a record deal with Columbia Records. Bartlett also released videos for his songs "Deep Wounds", "Through Da Storm", "Effortless", and "Dyin' Breed" from his critically acclaimed debut studio album Die a Legend, which was released on June 7, 2019, and peaked at number 6 on the Billboard 200. "Heartless", a single released later in 2019, featured production from Mustard, and was later featured on his second album.
On February 14, 2020, Polo G released the track "Go Stupid", with rappers Stunna 4 Vegas and NLE Choppa. The song also featured production from Mike Will Made-It and Tay Keith. "Go Stupid" became his second song on the Hot 100 (after "Pop Out"), peaking at number 60 on the Hot 100, number 29 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and number 20 on Hot Rap Songs. Polo G released his second studio album, The Goat, on May 15, 2020. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and ten songs from the album hit the Hot 100, including "Flex" featuring Juice Wrld and "Be Something" featuring Lil Baby, peaking at numbers 30 and 57, respectively.
In July 2020, Polo G was featured on Juice Wrld's posthumous album Legends Never Die on the song "Hate the Other Side". The song peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, Polo G's first top-ten single and highest charting overall song. On August 11, 2020, Polo G was included in XXL's 2020 Freshman Class. Later that month, he released the music video for his single "Martin & Gina", which peaked at number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Growing Pains
Polo G Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nobody shoot with Ricky Mars
Or we gon' rob yo' ass
Ricky
They got Wooski on the mix
So much questions for the Lord
Tell them the story of my life
That shit might make a nigga cry
Homies left me outta nowhere
I ain't get to say goodbye
Plan on grinding 'til I'm standing
At that gate up in the sky
'Cause I told tum-tum I'm gone make it
I couldn't lie
Really gifted with this music
That some shit you can't deny
Can't let my foot up off they necks
'Cause it's more pressure to apply
Ain't no love where I'm from
It's so much hate up in the Chi
Bodies dropping on the daily
Niggas scoring like A.I
Heard you plotting, pussy nigga
I can't wait for you to try
Show no mercy I'm gone blast 'em
In his face until he die
Whack a nigga, police searching
Now I'm way up in Dubai
Ayy
Look up in the sky (up in the sky)
He steady tweaking
He say that he breathing
I'm lookin' at him like a spy
Pop me a percy
And pour up the lean, everyday
'Cause I gotta get high (high)
I been a demon
She swallow my semen
Then get around, you act shy (shy)
He can get shot in his eye (grrah)
Thinkin' bout them times
I seen them opps and damn near died
It's so many times I could've stopped
But never tried (nah)
You ain't chasin' money
Then you might get left behind (left behind)
See the hate don't work
Them niggas start to tellin' lies (bitch)
I watch a nigga get fried
'Cause he was playing with mines
She calling me, I'm pressing decline
I ain't even got the time
So many nights I been in the stu
But I'm on the block with .9's
Get on the beats, I'm speakin' the truth
That shit be so hard to find
Couldn't afford a lawyer
In the county, fighting felonies
But since I came home
It's like God keep on blessing me
Got it out the mud
Whole hood got respect for me
Back when I was young
I used to care if they accepted me
Now all of they bitches look at me
Like a celebrity
They say "congratulations"
But I still peep the jealousy
I been on my shit
I just been adding to my legacy
Watch it grow
I snorted them blows
That shit affected me
Said I gotta make it
I won't let this get the best of me
Bitch, where I was raised
Having Glocks is a necessity
Where shorties reckless, sparking
They can't even aim it steadily
And hit the innocence
Might take a life or end a pregnancy
Youngins wildin'
Hanging in the streets
Just like it's sesame
I just mixed the codeine with the sprite
Like it's a recipe
All I tote is Glocks
The only things that's in my weaponry (grrah)
I seen my brother die
My momma thought I needed therapy (for real)
People steady testing me
"Tay, you gotta chill"
Is what they tellin' me (yeah)
I was on the blocks and shootin' opps
Ain't trynna' let it be
You gon' catch a bullet
If you ever think you checkin' me (boom)
Even when you see my by myself
I got that TEC with me (ay)
Step to me
Drills and killin' opps
Is in my pedigree(ay)
Even when I'm chillin'
Tote a chopper, that's .270
I just got the top
From a new bop
Her name was Ebony
Slide on anybody
That want smoke
And make them scared of me (gang)
Ricky!
The lyrics to Polo G's song "Growing Pains" highlight the struggles and realities of growing up in the Chicago's South Side, where gang violence and crime are prevalent. The rapper opens the song by telling the audience not to mess with someone called Ricky Mars, as he and his team will likely rob them. The song then explores Polo G's life, full of losses and hardships, as he asks God about his life's questions that often make him cry. He talks about the friends who left him without saying goodbye and his determination to succeed, as he doesn't want to let them down.
The song touches on themes of violence, drugs, and trauma, which are common in gang-infested areas. Polo G raps about the daily violence in his community, where bodies drop frequently, and his readiness to defend himself against his enemies, even if it means taking their lives. He also mentions his addiction to drugs and how he uses them to cope with pain and stress. In the end, he reflects on his journey and how he has overcome his struggles, but he's still vigilant, always protecting himself with his gun.
Overall, "Growing Pains" is a haunting and personal song that reveals the pain and grittiness of Polo G's life growing up in the South Side of Chicago.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell them nigga's
Nobody shoot with Ricky Mars
Or we gon' rob yo' ass
Ricky
Don't mess with Ricky Mars or else we'll take your belongings from you.
They got Wooski on the mix
Wooski is present and involved.
So much questions for the Lord
Keep on asking "God, why?"
Tell them the story of my life
That shit might make a nigga cry
I have so many questions for God and often wonder why things have happened to me. If I tell them my life story, it may bring someone to tears.
Homies left me outta nowhere
I ain't get to say goodbye
Plan on grinding 'til I'm standing
At that gate up in the sky
My friends left me suddenly without me being able to say farewell. I aim to work tirelessly until I reach the gates of heaven.
'Cause I told tum-tum I'm gone make it
I couldn't lie
Really gifted with this music
That some shit you can't deny
I promised my friend Tum Tum that I'd make it and I meant it. I possess a talent for music that is unmistakable.
Can't let my foot up off they necks
'Cause it's more pressure to apply
Ain't no love where I'm from
It's so much hate up in the Chi
I must continue to assert my dominance over them because that's the only way to succeed in my home where there feels like little love and a lot of hate.
Bodies dropping on the daily
Niggas scoring like A.I
Heard you plotting, pussy nigga
I can't wait for you to try
Show no mercy I'm gone blast 'em
In his face until he die
Whack a nigga, police searching
Now I'm way up in Dubai
People are dying every day like basketball scores from Allen Iverson's dominant performances. I heard that people are plotting on me, and I can't wait for it to happen. If someone tries me, I'll show no leniency and kill them without mercy. Even though I'm a wanted person, I'm in Dubai now living life.
Ayy
Look up in the sky (up in the sky)
He steady tweaking
He say that he breathing
I'm lookin' at him like a spy
Pop me a percy
And pour up the lean, everyday
'Cause I gotta get high (high)
I been a demon
She swallow my semen
Then get around, you act shy (shy)
He can get shot in his eye (grrah)
Thinkin' bout them times
I seen them opps and damn near died
It's so many times I could've stopped
But never tried (nah)
You ain't chasin' money
Then you might get left behind (left behind)
See the hate don't work
Them niggas start to tellin' lies (bitch)
I watch a nigga get fried
'Cause he was playing with mines
She calling me, I'm pressing decline
I ain't even got the time
So many nights I been in the stu
But I'm on the block with .9's
Get on the beats, I'm speakin' the truth
That shit be so hard to find
Looking up at the sky, I see someone bugging out, thinking they can breathe, although high. I eye them as a spy. Every day, I pop a pill to get high and drink lean. Women will sleep with me and act shy around me. People could get killed, as I nearly died in the past when I saw my enemies. Often, I didn't put in any effort to stop things from happening. It's necessary to chase money, or else you will be left behind. Hating doesn't work as it provokes them to spread lies. I saw someone die because they were meddling with my business. I don't have time for phone calls. I spend my nights at the studio writing honest lyrics, which are hard to come by.
Couldn't afford a lawyer
In the county, fighting felonies
But since I came home
It's like God keep on blessing me
Got it out the mud
Whole hood got respect for me
Back when I was young
I used to care if they accepted me
Now all of they bitches look at me
Like a celebrity
They say "congratulations"
But I still peep the jealousy
I been on my shit
I just been adding to my legacy
Watch it grow
I snorted them blows
That shit affected me
Said I gotta make it
I won't let this get the best of me
Bitch, where I was raised
Having Glocks is a necessity
Where shorties reckless, sparking
They can't even aim it steadily
And hit the innocence
Might take a life or end a pregnancy
I couldn't afford a good attorney, so I fought my own crimes in court. God has been blessing me since I've been home. The whole community respects me because I went through a lot to get to this point. I used to care if people liked me when I was younger, but now, their girlfriends look at me like a celebrity. They say congratulations, but it comes with jealousy. I am still working hard, and I'm building an empire for myself. I did drugs in the past, which affected me. I must succeed and not let anything get the best of me. Where I come from, owning firearms is a necessity because people are reckless and usually can't aim, thus hurting those innocents or causing pregnancies to end.
Youngins wildin'
Hanging in the streets
Just like it's sesame
I just mixed the codeine with the sprite
Like it's a recipe
All I tote is Glocks
The only things that's in my weaponry (grrah)
I seen my brother die
My momma thought I needed therapy (for real)
People steady testing me
"Tay, you gotta chill"
Is what they tellin' me (yeah)
I was on the blocks and shootin' opps
Ain't trynna' let it be
You gon' catch a bullet
If you ever think you checkin' me (boom)
Even when you see my by myself
I got that TEC with me (ay)
Step to me
Drills and killin' opps
Is in my pedigree(ay)
Even when I'm chillin'
Tote a chopper, that's .270
I just got the top
From a new bop
Her name was Ebony
Slide on anybody
That want smoke
And make them scared of me (gang)
Ricky!
The youth is dangerous and can be found hanging around the streets like Sesame Street characters. I mix codeine with Sprite just like I'm following a recipe. My only weapon choices are Glocks. I saw my brother die and was taken to therapy. People are always pushing my buttons and telling me to chill. Even when I'm not causing any trouble, I won't let it slide; I'll go after my enemies with guns blazing. You'll regret testing me if you think you got the upper hand. Even if I'm alone, I carry a weapon with me. My family history consists of violence, and it comes naturally to me. I use .270 Caliber guns to chill. I just had sex with a girl named Ebony. I'll intimidate anyone who wants smoke with me, making them fear me.
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Germontay Carpenter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
RickeeArts
HIT THE ๐ AND SUBSCRIBE FOR FUTURE RELEASES!!!!!
Prince J
RickeeArts that shit go hard
ydn ent
I rap I'm good
ChiMusicGoated
@RickeeArts bruh stay blessed and doing yo thing frfr the visuals always ๐ฏ but any time you fuck wit Tay that shit go extra hard this one right here a triple threat Polo x Tay x Rickee .. Instant banger my nigga facts
Eddie Kane, Jr.
It takes a strong dude to survive rat allegations, especially from your own set!! Keep grinding Tay600!!
TJA W
Frl tho ๐ฏ
Luis V
Did he really snitch though?๐ค
TJA W
@Luis V he didn't snitch , all that shit was just rumors
Eddie Kane, Jr.
Little nuts naw Bro, just lies from the ๐driver.
sjbenjamin
TRUCKDRIVERK