Terrence LeVarr Thornton, better known by his stage name Pusha T, is an Ame… Read Full Bio ↴Terrence LeVarr Thornton, better known by his stage name Pusha T, is an American rapper, songwriter and record executive. He rose to prominence as one-half of the hip hop duo Clipse, which was mainly active from 1994 to 2010, alongside his older brother No Malice. As Clipse, the two released three studio albums and a number of mixtapes, and had hit singles including "Grindin'" and "When the Last Time" (both 2002).

In September 2010, Pusha T signed to Kanye West's GOOD Music imprint, under the aegis of Def Jam Recordings. Later that year, he was featured on West's single "Runaway," which peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2011, he released his first solo project, the mixtape Fear of God, which was followed up with his debut solo album, My Name Is My Name, released in 2013. In November 2015, West appointed Pusha T to take over his role as president of GOOD Music. Pusha T remained a flagship artist for the label until ending his tenure with the company in 2022.

Pusha T has since then released three solo albums: King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude (2015), Daytona (2018), and It's Almost Dry (2022), all receiving widespread critical acclaim; the latter was Pusha T's first number one debut on the Billboard 200.

Can I Live Freestyle
Pusha T Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Coming live in direct from Abu Dhabi
Recorded in Emirate's palace
I bring to you the Fear of God, life of Don
Noah on the boards, Steven Victor on the camera, Virgil what up

They say this took confidence, I just call it patience
Cause I had too much pride to take this motherfucking cadence
Knowing the Feds watch me, private paparazzi

Still chasing me for war crimes like a Nazi
Against all odds, see the judge tryna' Pac me
Lucky dice roll got my lawyers screaming, Yahtzee
Who the fuck can stop me run away freight train
Mike Vick's redemption, big doggin like a great dane
12 cylinders 50 grams of willing ya
These rappers get away with pushing these child Illingers
Now it's hard feelings, I just put my ceiling up
Planetarium Push, the I-Max experience
They say I talk coke for 9 years long
That means my rap sheet is more than 9 years strong
You niggas would have thought that I was 9 years gone
But I am still in the mix like 9 ounces and a straw
Nigga get your bag on, bitch get your bag on
Balenciaga Hobo so heavy that you drag home
Yeah, see my verses let you tag along
Swim in the oasis of this drug dealers Babylon
Three bitches, three different flights
Glad it was four sides at that Paul Williams fight
The Wynn, the Bellagio, the Palms three nights
As long as they are separated they are my three blind mice
You can't just rap this, the same mindset
That had me hide it in the mattress, now got me round the atlas
Wish every doughboy could get a fair crack at this
They say when one ends, that begins a new chapter

Can I live
You tell me, can I live

Overall Meaning

In the intro to Pusha T's song Can I Live Freestyle, he announces that he is recording live from Abu Dhabi, specifically from the luxurious Emirate's Palace. He then proceeds to introduce the people behind the scenes of the recording, including Noah, who is presumably the producer, and Steven Victor, who is handling the camera. He also gives a shout-out to Virgil, whose identity is unknown, but he could be referring to Virgil Abloh, the American designer and artistic director of Louis Vuitton's menswear.

Pusha T then delves into his struggles with confidence and patience while dealing with the Feds and paparazzi. He had too much pride to change his cadence, which made him an easy target for the Feds, who accused him of war crimes. However, a lucky turn of events got his lawyers screaming "Yahtzee," and ultimately he emerged victorious like Mike Vick's redemption.

Pusha then brags about his drug-dealing past and claims that he is still relevant despite rapping about the subject for over nine years. He compares himself to a "nine-ounce and a straw" and insists that he is still in the game. He also describes his luxurious lifestyle, including spending three nights at different hotels like the Wynn, Bellagio, and Palms in Las Vegas with three different women.

This song showcases Pusha T's excellent lyricism and storytelling ability. The song title is a nod to Jay-Z's song of the same name, which was released in 1996. The beat for this song is borrowed from Notorious B.I.G.'s "Who Shot Ya?" and JAY-Z’s "Dead Presidents II" produced by Ski Beatz, while Pusha T's words are entirely original.

Line by Line Meaning

Coming live in direct from Abu Dhabi
I am currently broadcasting live from Abu Dhabi.

Recorded in Emirate's palace
This recording was made in the Emirate's palace.

I bring to you the Fear of God, life of Don
In this song, I am conveying a strong and powerful message, portraying myself as the Godfather figure.

Noah on the boards, Steven Victor on the camera, Virgil what up
These are the names of the people who helped produce this song and create the music video.

They say this took confidence, I just call it patience
Some people may think that creating this song required confidence, but I believe it was just a matter of taking my time and being patient.

Cause I had too much pride to take this motherfucking cadence
I refused to take the easy route and instead chose to create this song with a unique and challenging beat.

Knowing the Feds watch me, private paparazzi
I am aware that the authorities are monitoring my movements and that the paparazzi are following me around.

Still chasing me for war crimes like a Nazi
The authorities are still after me for crimes I may have committed, making me feel like I'm being pursued like a Nazi war criminal.

Against all odds, see the judge tryna' Pac me
Despite the challenges I face, I am fighting to avoid being sent to jail.

Lucky dice roll got my lawyers screaming, Yahtzee
I was lucky enough to win a favorable outcome in my legal proceedings, which my lawyers celebrated as if they had won a game of Yahtzee.

Who the fuck can stop me run away freight train
No one can stand in my way, as I am a force to be reckoned with, like a speeding freight train.

Mike Vick's redemption, big doggin like a great dane
Like Michael Vick, who redeemed himself after being imprisoned for dog fighting, I too am making a comeback and asserting my dominance like a great dane.

12 cylinders 50 grams of willing ya
I am moving fast and with purpose, fueled by 50 grams of determination, like a high-performance engine with 12 cylinders trying to outrun its competition.

These rappers get away with pushing these child Illingers
Other rappers get away with promoting and glorifying drug use to young and vulnerable listeners.

Now it's hard feelings, I just put my ceiling up
There may be animosity towards me for my success, but I am not letting it get to me and instead continue to elevate myself even higher.

Planetarium Push, the I-Max experience
I am the main attraction, delivering an unforgettable experience that rivals that of a planetarium or I-Max theater.

They say I talk coke for 9 years long
Rumors have circulated that I have been involved in the selling and using of cocaine for nearly a decade.

That means my rap sheet is more than 9 years strong
If those rumors were true, then I would have a criminal record related to drugs that is over nine years old.

You niggas would have thought that I was 9 years gone
Some people may have thought that I was no longer relevant or successful after all this time, but I am still going strong.

But I am still in the mix like 9 ounces and a straw
Just like nine ounces of drugs mixed with a straw, I am still involved in the drug game and have not left it behind.

Nigga get your bag on, bitch get your bag on
I am encouraging my audience to hustle and get their money up, regardless of gender.

Balenciaga Hobo so heavy that you drag home
The designer handbag I am referring to is so expensive and luxurious that it is worth dragging home despite its weight.

Yeah, see my verses let you tag along
My lyrics are so captivating that they take listeners on a journey with me through my experiences and perspectives.

Swim in the oasis of this drug dealers Babylon
My lifestyle, as well as many other drug dealers, can be quite lavish and indulgent, resembling a modern-day version of the biblical city of Babylon.

Three bitches, three different flights
I have three women all flying in from separate locations to be with me.

Glad it was four sides at that Paul Williams fight
I was happy that there were four ringside seats available for me and my three companions at the Paul Williams boxing match.

The Wynn, the Bellagio, the Palms three nights
I stayed at three different luxury hotels for three nights each while in Las Vegas.

As long as they are separated they are my three blind mice
As long as my women are kept separate from each other, they are each happy to be with me and obey my every command.

You can't just rap this, the same mindset
This song is not just something that anyone can create - it requires a certain way of thinking and approaching the craft.

That had me hide it in the mattress, now got me round the atlas
The same mindset that had me hiding drugs and money in my mattress has now taken me all around the world.

Wish every doughboy could get a fair crack at this
I wish that every person who grew up in difficult circumstances and turned to drug dealing had the same opportunities and success that I have had.

They say when one ends, that begins a new chapter
When one part of your life is over, a new one is just beginning - this is often the case for those involved in crime and drug dealing.

Can I live
I am asking if I am allowed to continue living my life and doing what I do best.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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