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.
Tick Tock
Pusha T Lyrics
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Razor
Execution
The devil is a lie
You ain't broke bread 'till you taste the devil's pie
They say his laugh sounds like an angel when he cries
What better camouflage when the halo's your disguise
Your traitor is your neighbor
At your front porch, and he's handing you your paper
Bathrobe on, but the sword's underneath
And he wanna see your blood as it pours in the street
It's the mark of the beast
The meek shall inherit the Earth
The weak shall inherit the dirt
You each should have perished at birth
Still born or aborted
Every street tax gotta come with an audit
Either your life, or your loved ones
Straight razor or a snub-gun
From the village where the thugs from
Same corner that you copping all your drugs from
He a hero, but he unsung
I'm the one
I'm the one
Ayo homie, the chambers is 36, they new and improved
Now make a move
These guns whistle, sizzle up dudes who got big mouths, no power
Run in the bank with no dollars, got the nerve to switch crews
We better than the rest of 'em, my guess is the estrogen
And all the money we got, remove like the Mexicans
A cartel, compound, a carvel, a large scale in Scarsdale
I fuck with golf now, Shala is ill
Yeah, the coke is fresh, straight out of Bermuda yo
Or chilling on a beach in Boca, cheefin' with tuna
Salads and palaces, yo, we smoke out them chalices
Passing of the balances of bread to the Island since
1984, the (?) was just more
Then we would come trough with rifles rocking Nike boots and war
A real nigga's invention that came from a henchman
Who blew up, now throw the Wu up, that's my redemption
Drug dealer, been that nigga half my life
Drug dealer, been that nigga half my life
You niggas talking, but you ain't never seen 'em
Imagine being first name basis with the kingpin
God, I was Lucifer's neighbor
You wouldn't believe some of the things these people do for this paper
Moving with the lasers under Rugers
Make a move, you make the papers, lose lose situation
Sweat or blood, you get to choose what you bathe in
The chemists cookwork
The runners; footwork
The customs took work
The soldiers put work in
On any of the motherfuckers who fucked up good work
Bosses tell 'em: 'Good work'
That's just how the hood work
Northface bubble with, eight bundles under it
Gold front upper-lip smile while I was hugging it
I lied, I wasn't Lucifer's neighbor, he who I'm fucking with
My moms threw that snow in her nose, but I would hustle it
Champ hoodie, Mongoose with the bags
Clap your stoop up, hit moms duke in her legs
That's beef, y'all ain't street
Y'all peep, write it down and try to beat
Fucking everything, neck heavy swing
Second hand swepped across that pretty breathling
And then that Nissan, Honda, Chevy thing pendling
Whatever bring fetti in, steadily I fed my whole team
Drug dealer, been that nigga half my life
Drug dealer, been that nigga half my life
You niggas talking, but you ain't never seen 'em
Imagine being first name basis with the kingpin
In this art of war, my pen stroke is Picasso
To get the picture I ain't got to paint the nostrils
You know my origins is over when
Fat black bitch singing over organs
Die for a dollar, pride you don't swallow
You say that for the one you buying red bottoms
Yeah, that's the price you gotta pay for it
All's fair in love and war, she masquerade for it
Woo! Jack-O-Lantern Push
Trick or treat (?), I earned it of the books
Now listen to me vent
When you sitting watch, it's like the tires being spent
Shots from everywhere, but they never make a dent
Knight in shining armor
Mistake me for the villain cause of my vengeance is your karma
Yeah, fear is knowing you're a goner
This is music to my soul, cause it's death before dishonor
Gone
Check!
Got the Tongue of a Pimp
Raised by a dirty preacher
That used the church money to cop a new Beamer
Got the heart of a child raised by a prostitute
That bought his momma the rubbers when a job came through
It’s the microphone Methadone
Greatest ever etched in stone
You ain’t getting pussy like your prom date had a chaperone
Popping pills got a nigga brain like a labyrinth
Called the ho on purpose
But I got the brain on accident
Nigga I’m your majesty
Show up with a bag of weed
Rolled a blunt so perfect, thought it came up out a factory
My manuscript leave a man ripped of all his dreams
The insomniac with nightmares in sixteens
I’m a wet dream, Dry sense of humor
Travel in Class like a high school rumor
No one really cares if you embarrass us with style
Cuzz when it comes to them raps you been letting us down
So tell em why your mad son
Gotta get it off your chest
Let em know how you feel son
You gotta say what you say
It don’t matter, they gonna say a nigga hating anyway
Pusha T’s song “Tick Tock” is an intense exploration of the life of a drug dealer, the corrupt nature of society, and the dangerous consequences of a life of crime. The lyrics touch on themes of deception, betrayal, and the struggle for power. The first verse contains references to the devil and the mark of the beast, touching on the idea that those who betray others for personal gain may be hiding behind a fake persona. Pusha T warns that those who seem helpful could actually be the most dangerous, hiding a weapon under their bathrobe. He emphasizes the idea that the weak will inherit the dirt while the meek will inherit the earth, implying that the drug dealer’s life is one of desperation and brutality.
The second verse focuses on the drug dealer’s life and emphasizes the power and influence they hold. Pusha T highlights the violent nature of the world of drug dealing, with references to lasers, guns, and runners. He describes the amount of work and effort that goes into running such an operation, and the consequences of making a mistake. Pusha T points out that even those in positions of power have to work hard to maintain their position and that success comes at a cost.
In the final verse, Pusha T takes a more personal approach, discussing his own life and experiences. He compares himself to a pimp and emphasizes the impact his difficult upbringing had on him. He talks about the struggles he faced growing up, including being raised by a prostitute and a dirty preacher. He also touches on the idea that the music industry can be equally corrupt, with references to fake personas and the pressure to conform.
Line by Line Meaning
The devil is a lie
Don't believe everything you hear, especially from those who are not to be trusted.
You ain't broke bread 'till you taste the devil's pie
You haven't truly experienced the bad side of life until you've gone through difficult times and made poor choices.
They say his laugh sounds like an angel when he cries
People can be deceiving, they can put on a fake persona, and you mustn't always trust the apparent intentions of others.
What better camouflage when the halo's your disguise
People can pretend to be wholesome when they are truly evil, and it can be tough to see through it.
Them wings don't fly
People don't always practice what they preach.
Your traitor is your neighbor
The people closest to you can be your enemies.
At your front porch, and he's handing you your paper
People who are close to you can deceive you and can make you trust them or even manipulate you.
Bathrobe on, but the sword's underneath
People can appear innocent and benign on the outside, but in reality, they can be dangerous and malevolent.
And he wanna see your blood as it pours in the street
Some people genuinely wish for the harm of others, and it is crucial to be aware of their true motives and intentions.
It's the mark of the beast
People can be irredeemable, and their actions and behaviors can reflect their true natures.
The meek shall inherit the Earth
Those who behave humbly and stay true to themselves will be the ultimate winners in the end.
The weak shall inherit the dirt
Those who take advantage of and hurt others will ultimately face a fate worse than death.
You each should have perished at birth
Some people are inherently evil and have no place in this world.
Still born or aborted
Some people should have never been able to come into this world and cause so much damage.
Every street tax gotta come with an audit
There are always hidden motives and schemes in the world, and it is crucial to vet and research everyone you encounter.
Either your life, or your loved ones
There are always sacrifices when dealing with shady people and sketchy deals, and it can be at the cost of losing what you cherish the most.
Straight razor or a snub-gun
There are always two sides to every situation in life - a peaceful one or a violent one.
From the village where the thugs from
The people who are not to be trusted usually come from backgrounds of violence and crime.
Same corner that you copping all your drugs from
People who are untrustworthy or dangerous can be found in the most unexpected places.
He a hero, but he unsung
Some people can do good deeds and still go unrecognized.
I'm the one
I am the hero of my own story.
Got the Tongue of a Pimp
I can talk my way out of any situation or convince anyone to do anything.
Raised by a dirty preacher
My upbringing involved many deceitful and corrupt religious figures.
That used the church money to cop a new Beamer
The religious figures in my life were dishonest and greedy.
Got the heart of a child raised by a prostitute
My upbringing involved many people who were taken advantage of and forced into difficult circumstances.
That bought his momma the rubbers when a job came through
My mother had to use her resources and profits to protect herself in her line of work.
It’s the microphone Methadone
Music is a way for me to escape my problems and find comfort.
You ain’t getting pussy like your prom date had a chaperone
You are not as successful or experienced as you may claim to be.
Popping pills got a nigga brain like a labyrinth
Drugs can have negative and lasting impacts on your mental health.
Called the ho on purpose
I intentionally sought out and tried to manipulate someone for my own benefit.
But I got the brain on accident
I gained something positive accidentally, without meaning to.
No one really cares if you embarrass us with style
Being stylish or fashionable doesn't mean much if you are not using your platform for good or helping others.
Cuzz when it comes to them raps you been letting us down
People hold me accountable for my actions and words, and I must make sure I am true to myself and to them.
So tell em why your mad son
Explain why you are upset or passionate, so we can understand each other better.
Gotta get it off your chest
You must express yourself authentically and effectively.
Let em know how you feel son
Be honest and transparent with your emotions and thoughts.
You gotta say what you say
Speak your truth and don't hold back.
It don’t matter, they gonna say a nigga hating anyway
People will always find a way to twist or tarnish your words, no matter what you say or do.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind