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.
Cook It Down
Pusha T Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So now I'm just asking you to listen
I'm living in a World, where my truth can be my lynching
Last words "fuck you all" feel the ropes tension
I'll never compromise, in it 'til the powder dries
Best friends drowned in quick sand and help you cowards rise
I floss in their honor, there legacy's in bottles
Make them walk like their 30 years is right around the corner
I was jealous when you both said her mouth was like piranha
Yeah, spend money like we print money
Buck fifty on the car, that's little Dent money
The AC is forever broke, that's vent money
Cocaine snowballed from gambling my rent money
Everyday struggle get money, get the crown for
Always thinking big now they praying for downfall
Say you telling on me, told them folks bout me
All this coke round me like it floats round me
Cook it down, cook it down, you know that I cook it down
Cook it down everytime I come around
I just bought the house, put the pent on it
No rent couple hundred K spent on it
Cook it down, cook it down, you know that I cook it down
Cook it down everytime I come around
Got me loooking at the crown from a birdseye view
Cause I hit the ground running from the birds I flew
Now I'm standing at the top from the words I drew
Rap shit'll drive you crazy, it done drove Shyne Jew
Mazel tov, now I'm hotter than a Molotov
Tell Lyor I need a million for my monologues
A small price for my cocaine catalogue
Scalp the coupe like a tomahawk
Travelodge stories, I pray that you ignore me
If you can't feel the joy off a hustler in his glory
Hiding money in a wall from the first to third story
ATL, Glenridge, condo's true story
A man of everything that I say I am
A little better than the fans, hope and pray I am
Weed the jokers out the deck and just play my hand
Smokers getting stuck and going nuts like it's Peter Pan
Say you telling on me, told them folks bout me
All this coke round me like it floats round me
Cook it down, cook it down, you know that I cook it down
Cook it down everytime I come around
I just bought the house, put the pent on it
No rent couple hundred K spent on it
Cook it down, cook it down, you know that I cook it down
Cook it down everytime I come around
The lyrics of Pusha T's "Cook It Down" portray his life as a drug dealer, explaining the highs and lows of his illegal operation. He reveals that he has asked for forgiveness from God, indicating that he knows what he is doing is wrong, and is now turning to his audience to listen. His truth, or rather the reality of his life, could be his downfall if he fails to keep a low profile. He references his potential to be lynched for the truth, stating that his last words would be "fuck you all" as he feels the tension of the rope around his neck.
Pusha T never plans to compromise, making it his mission to sell drugs until the powdered substance his product is made of dries up. He reflects on his deceased friends who died while still in the quicksand of addiction, but he will not be one of them. He honors their memories by spending money extravagantly, an attempt to fill the void they left behind. He also talks about a former girlfriend he shared with his friend. Although he was jealous of their experience with her, he acknowledges that he should not have been. Later in the lyrics, he makes a statement about keeping his money hidden in the walls, indicating that he fears being caught by the authorities. He stresses the importance of playing his cards right and staying focused on his business, knowing that any slip up could cost him his freedom and ultimately, his life.
"Cook It Down" offers a detailed account of the life of a drug dealer, from the dangers of being caught and lynched, to the temptation to make quick cash to offset past losses. Pusha T's lyrics demonstrate his exceptional storytelling skills, making it easy to see why he is regarded as one of the best lyricists in modern hip-hop.
Line by Line Meaning
I went ahead and asked God for forgiveness
I prayed for forgiveness for my sins.
So now I'm just asking you to listen
I want you to pay attention to what I have to say.
I'm living in a World, where my truth can be my lynching
The truth I speak can put me in danger in this society.
Last words "fuck you all" feel the ropes tension
My last words would be harsh towards everyone who wronged me like it's my last breath.
I'll never compromise, in it 'til the powder dries
I will never give up, keep hustling until there's no more drug left to sell.
Best friends drowned in quick sand and help you cowards rise
My closest friends sank because they couldn't handle the risky business, but I'm still on top despite their failures.
I floss in their honor, there legacy's in bottles
I show off my wealth and success as a tribute to my fallen friends who didn't make it in the drug game.
Make them walk like their 30 years is right around the corner
I want people to remember my friends as if they were still alive and thriving.
We was all fucking Shawna, you and E was fucking on her
We all had a sexual relationship with Shawna, but you and E had a more intimate connection.
I was jealous when you both said her mouth was like piranha
I envied your pleasure from Shawna's oral sex skills with E.
Yeah, spend money like we print money
We spend money carelessly as if we were printing more of it ourselves.
Buck fifty on the car, that's little Dent money
Spending $150,000 on a car is nothing compared to how much money we make in the drug trade.
The AC is forever broke, that's vent money
We can afford to fix the broken AC unit in our luxury car with ease.
Cocaine snowballed from gambling my rent money
I started selling cocaine to make money after I lost my original funds through gambling.
Everyday struggle get money, get the crown for
Everyday is a struggle to make more money and become the kingpin of the drug trade.
Always thinking big now they praying for downfall
People are always hoping for my downfall since I am so successful in the drug trade, but it won't happen.
Say you telling on me, told them folks bout me
You are snitching on me, revealing my secrets to the authorities.
All this coke round me like it floats round me
I am always surrounded by cocaine like it's a part of me and my lifestyle.
Cook it down, cook it down, you know that I cook it down
I am an expert in cooking down cocaine to maximize profits.
Cook it down everytime I come around
I am always cooking down cocaine whenever I am around it.
I just bought the house, put the pent on it
I recently purchased a house and added a penthouse to it.
No rent couple hundred K spent on it
I spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the penthouse, and now there is no rent to be paid since I own it.
Got me loooking at the crown from a birdseye view
I am now at the top of the drug trade and can see everything clearly from a bird's eye view.
Cause I hit the ground running from the birds I flew
I had to hit the ground running to escape the law when they started to catch on to my illegal activities.
Now I'm standing at the top from the words I drew
I am now at the top of the drug trade because of my skill in dealing and hustling.
Rap shit'll drive you crazy, it done drove Shyne Jew
The rap industry can drive a person insane, just like it did to Shyne Jew.
Mazel tov, now I'm hotter than a Molotov
I am now very successful and popular in the drug trade.
Tell Lyor I need a million for my monologues
I need one million dollars for my speeches and talks.
A small price for my cocaine catalogue
One million dollars isn't much when compared to the value of my cocaine inventory.
Scalp the coupe like a tomahawk
I am driving very fast and aggressively in my luxury car.
Travelodge stories, I pray that you ignore me
I have done many illegal things in Travelodge hotels, and I hope nobody finds out and incriminates me.
If you can't feel the joy off a hustler in his glory
If you can't understand the pleasure of a successful drug dealer in his finest moments, you will never get it.
Hiding money in a wall from the first to third story
I am hiding my money in various places within my house to avoid legal issues and further profit from it.
ATL, Glenridge, condo's true story
This is a true story about my condo located in ATL's Glenridge neighborhood.
A man of everything that I say I am
I am exactly who I say I am and portray in my music.
A little better than the fans, hope and pray I am
I hope and pray that I am even better than my fans imagine me to be.
Weed the jokers out the deck and just play my hand
I want to remove all the negative people from my life and focus on playing my cards right in the drug trade.
Smokers getting stuck and going nuts like it's Peter Pan
The drug addicts who consume my cocaine are getting high and acting crazy, as if they are in the story of Peter Pan.
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Capitol CMG Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bradley Dyer, Marlon D Stokes, Bright Dyer, Dalton Browne, PAUL CROSSDALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ripdajacker23
This, Alone in Vegas, Open Your Eyes and My God were on repeat for hella long... Push one of the best. Real trap shit
Frank Ogaz Jr
Faccccs bro respect g
Samantha19807🛍
Drake’s watching all king pushas videos to show it to the feds 😂😂
Kejuwan Oyoro
Looooooool
adamrushd8096
samantha198607 lol lmao needed that laugh
Salvador Dali
😂 😂 😂 😂 😂
Lervar Williams
samantha198607 yoooooo he probably is gd 1🤔🤔🤔😭😭😭😭
JSmithVEVO
I always thought the opening rhymes were some of the dopest I'd ever heard. "I went ahead and asked God for forgiveness, So now I'm just askin' you to listen. I'm livin' in a world, where my truth can be my lynchin' Last words: 'Fuck you all.' Feel the rope's tension." Pusha's delivery and commanding presence has always been his secret weapon, IMO.
Allegheny T
Almost 5 years later and this still ain't old. I wore this shit out my senior year! Best mixtape of 2011
the legend killers shitty duffle bag person
Did you even graduate high school with your pathetic choice of words