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.

Take My Life
Pusha T Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Verse 1]
I hope you pussy mother fuckers die
Wish death upon they soul until they burning in a fire
Illest motherfucker breathing, fuck your rhyme or your reason
Fucking over your issues is killing a whole niggas season
I made my way, way, I found my road, road
Bar-arada-da, I made my own, ho, eghck
You ain’t ever have shit local nigga

Woo, how the fuck I own you local niggas
I’m a global nigga, sean’s allizay shopper
Looked up to Eric B and dope dealer, chain rockers
Here was you when I was bleeding
Disappointed and battling my demons
Just want to ride Italian leather, acting like you don’t know me
Euro designer palace, fuck my bitch on my Sony
And I feel…

[Hook: Andrea Martin]
And I feel like they want to take my life
Be Careful what you say, be careful what you do
Tell them what they want to hear, but staying from the truth
And I feel like they want to take my life

[Verse 2]
It ain’t enough that I struggle through my career
Less appreciated than when I was part of a pair
Pushed an envelope of truth like I was there
Depiction and the depth was the proff that I was there
It’s no question in my origins
Photo album full of Polaroid’s they’re still pointing in
Couple million records sold, they say I’m still poisoning
Seven different SIM cards, bringing all that mortar in
Brick by brick nigga, all you add is water in
We ain’t got to touch hands nigga, put your order in
I just want to float through clouds with red seams on my towel
No overly gaudy shit, just diamonds on the dials
Woo, and I’m still buying mo’ guns
Mo’ money, mo’ murder nigga, choose one

[Hook]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Pusha T's song Take My Life are confrontational and aggressive. The rapper is taunting his enemies, wishing ill and even death upon them. He claims to be the "illest motherfucker breathing" and dismisses his competition as "local niggas". He raps about his success and material possessions, including Italian leather and Euro designer clothing. Despite his apparent success, he feels like his life is in danger and he must be careful what he says and does.

The song is a commentary on the cutthroat world of the music industry and the dangers that come with fame and success. Pusha T is unapologetic in his portrayal of himself as a ruthless competitor who will stop at nothing to maintain his position at the top. He acknowledges that he has struggled in his career and been underappreciated, but he still believes that he deserves respect and recognition.

Overall, Take My Life is a bold and provocative song that showcases Pusha T's skill as a rapper and his willingness to take on his critics and enemies. He is confident and uncompromising, willing to speak his mind and call out those who would stand in his way.

Line by Line Meaning

I hope you pussy mother fuckers die
I wish death upon those who are weak and cowardly.

Wish death upon they soul until they burning in a fire
I want them to suffer in the afterlife for their misdeeds.

Illest motherfucker breathing, fuck your rhyme or your reason
I am the best rapper alive and I don't care about anyone else's opinions or motivations.

Fucking over your issues is killing a whole niggas season
By succeeding despite my problems, I am outshining other rappers who can't overcome their struggles.

I made my way, way, I found my road, road
I have achieved success through hard work and perseverance.

Bar-arada-da, I made my own, ho, eghck
I have created my own unique style of rapping.

You ain’t ever have shit local nigga
You have never been successful in your local area.

Woo, how the fuck I own you local niggas
I have surpassed you and become more successful than you.

I’m a global nigga, sean’s allizay shopper
I am now an international star and can afford to buy expensive champagne.

Looked up to Eric B and dope dealer, chain rockers
I was inspired by old school rappers and flashy drug dealers.

Here was you when I was bleeding
You were nowhere to be found when I was struggling.

Disappointed and battling my demons
I have faced personal challenges but kept going despite them.

Just want to ride Italian leather, acting like you don’t know me
I want to enjoy the finer things in life without being bothered by people who ignored me before.

Euro designer palace, fuck my bitch on my Sony
I live in a luxurious mansion and have sex with my girlfriend on expensive electronics.

And I feel like they want to take my life
I believe that there are people who are jealous of me and want to harm me.

Be Careful what you say, be careful what you do
I am cautious of those around me and their intentions.

Tell them what they want to hear, but staying from the truth
I know how to manipulate people by telling them what they want to hear without revealing the full truth.

It ain’t enough that I struggle through my career
I have faced difficulties in my career despite my successes.

Less appreciated than when I was part of a pair
I am not as valued as I was when I was part of a duo.

Pushed an envelope of truth like I was there
I have pushed the boundaries of artistic expression with my honesty and authenticity.

Depiction and the depth was the proff that I was there
My work is evidence of my presence and contributions to the rap industry.

It’s no question in my origins
My origins as a rapper are well-known and undisputed.

Photo album full of Polaroid’s they’re still pointing in
I have a collection of old photos that remind me of my roots and early struggles.

Couple million records sold, they say I’m still poisoning
Some people still criticize me despite my commercial success.

Seven different SIM cards, bringing all that mortar in
I use multiple phone numbers to keep my dealings private and secure.

Brick by brick nigga, all you add is water in
I have built my success gradually and with hard work, while others try to shortcut their way to the top.

We ain’t got to touch hands nigga, put your order in
We can do business without meeting face-to-face; just tell me what you want.

No overly gaudy shit, just diamonds on the dials
I prefer a subtle, understated style of jewelry.

Woo, and I’m still buying mo’ guns
I am still investing in my own protection and security.

Mo’ money, mo’ murder nigga, choose one
With more money comes more danger and violence; choose your path wisely.

Contributed by Colin S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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