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.

Everything That Glitters
Pusha T Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ayo French,
You know I'm 'bout that life right?
Pusha

[Chorus]
Better know who you is
When you looking in the mirror
'Cause everything that glitters

It ain't gold
I'm getting low, from the hater
Cameras in action, tell all my niggas what's happening
Ridin' with my niggas
'Cause everything that glitters, that ain't gold
I'm gettin low, hold me from the hater
Cameras in action, tell all my niggas what's happenin'
Rolling smoke, getting high, high, high
Just another day getting by, by, by

For every brick broke down it's one stepped on
For every known rat it's one slept on
For every loyal nigga fronted one kept owing
For every bitch I showed the way it's one that kept hoe'in
So let's blow through this money as we pour bottles
Let me drop another classic and the tour follows
Let's get pissy drunk and let the whores swallow
My niggas embrace guns and ignore bibles
Not to glorify it, you can't ignore the lions
The news you read can be you, ghetto law abiding
Better know who that is looking in the mirror
The truth lies you and your soul can't see it clearer

[Chorus]

I just can't leave it alone
I just can't leave it alone
They handing out football numbers after tapping your phone
Or you watchin' for the drop as they clappin' they chrome
Took a brick then I turned it to stone
Five into ten the return of the clones
Then took my experience and turned it to poems
As we took single engines and turned em to Boeing's
Panamera blood red symbolize bloodshed
Lost a lot of niggas, some in club fed
Few still reminiscing in they CL,
Sellin' Pete rock cruisin' in they V twelve

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

The song "Everything That Glitters" by Pusha T and French Montana delivers the message that things are not always what they appear to be. The chorus starts off with "Better know who you is when you looking in the mirror, 'cause everything that glitters, it ain't gold." This line emphasizes the idea that people shouldn't be fooled by superficial things, and they need to know themselves and their worth. The song highlights the harsh realities of life, such as betrayal, deceit, and even death. The lyrics talk about the dangers and consequences of living a life of luxury, where fame and fortune can lead to one's downfall.

The verses are filled with vivid images and metaphors that paint the picture of the rappers' experiences. Pusha T talks about the drug game, where for every success, there is always someone trying to bring you down. He describes how loyalty is rare, and there are always people looking to take advantage of you. French Montana uses his verse to describe his rise to fame, from selling drugs to becoming a successful artist. He talks about the sacrifices he and his friends made to get to where they are today. Both verses use the theme of turning something small into something big, whether it is a drug deal or a music career.

The chorus acts as a reminder to the rappers and the listener that they need to stay grounded, even amidst success. The bridge, "I just can’t leave it alone," repeats three times and implies the struggle of letting go of a life of hustle and grind, even when you have succeeded. The song's overall theme is that while striving for greatness, one should never forget where they came from, the people who helped them, and to appreciate what they have.

Line by Line Meaning

Better know who you is When you looking in the mirror 'Cause everything that glitters It ain't gold
Be aware of your true self when you see yourself in the mirror because all that shines is not valuable

I'm getting low, from the hater Cameras in action, tell all my niggas what's happening Ridin' with my niggas 'Cause everything that glitters, that ain't gold
I'm feeling low and under attack from haters. Cameras are recording everything we do and I'm traveling with my friends because not everything that shines can be trusted

For every brick broke down it's one stepped on For every known rat it's one slept on For every loyal nigga fronted one kept owing For every bitch I showed the way it's one that kept hoe'in
For every success, there is someone who had to be defeated, for every disloyal person, there is one who was neglected, for every trustworthy person, there is one who still owes something, for every girl I've helped, there is one who keeps being promiscuous

Not to glorify it, you can't ignore the lions The news you read can be you, ghetto law abiding Better know who that is looking in the mirror The truth lies you and your soul can't see it clearer
I'm not trying to exalt anything, but you must recognize the harsh realities of life. Every day, the news shows similar situations affecting people similar to you. You must understand who you are, and the truth about yourself can only be seen internally

I just can't leave it alone I just can't leave it alone They handing out football numbers after tapping your phone Or you watchin' for the drop as they clappin' they chrome Took a brick then I turned it to stone
I can't stop living this life. The government is listening to our conversations and giving permanent criminal records for small offenses. Either you're watching for the police to attack or your enemies shooting at you. I took drugs and turned them into a valuable product

Five into ten the return of the clones Then took my experience and turned it to poems As we took single engines and turned em to Boeing's Panamera blood red symbolize bloodshed
We multiplied our profits. I turned my life experiences into art. We upgraded small planes to larger ones. The red Panamera signifies the violent nature of my lifestyle

Lost a lot of niggas, some in club fed Few still reminiscing in they CL, Sellin' Pete rock cruisin' in they V twelve
I've lost many friends, some are in jail. A few remember their times in a Mercedes-Benz CL and are now selling drugs while driving a Mercedes-Benz V12

Rolling smoke, getting high, high, high Just another day getting by, by, by
We're smoking marijuana and getting high as a way to cope with our everyday struggles

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: CARL AUSTIN ROSEN, KARIM KHARBOUCH, TERRENCE THORNTON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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