Water
Root Lyrics

South Philly, North Side
Describing the different neighborhoods the singer has experienced.

Oakland, Texas
More locations the singer has visited.

Georgia, Black People
Referring to the state of Georgia and its predominantly African-American population.

Yo, Worldwide, Sup my nigga
Addressing the audience with a greeting.

You know what I'm saying
Asking if the audience understands what the singer is trying to convey.

Dumb and blind
Acknowledging ignorance and the desire to learn more.

They say a record ain't nothing if it's not touching
Explaining the importance of music that resonates emotionally with listeners.

Gripping, draw you in closer make you want to listen to it
Further explaining the importance of music that captures the listener’s attention and evokes an emotional response.

And if you real ill at making music
Describing a skilled musician.

Then lesson will feel like you livin' through it
Suggesting that the musician’s music feels like a real-life lesson.

That's how my nigga do it
Referencing a fellow musician and friend who creates music in this way.

I met Slacks back in like '91 rapping
Sharing a personal anecdote about meeting a fellow rapper and friend in 1991.

We went to Millersville to get away from gun clappin'
Sharing further details of the friendship and a time when they left their neighborhoods to avoid violence.

It ain't last
Sharing that their plan to escape did not last.

I be in class dreaming 'bout
Recounting a past personal experience.

50,000 fans up in the stands screaming out
Describing a large crowd cheering for them.

Encore, yo I'm headed back to Philly
Suggesting a desire to go back to their hometown and perform again.

Nigga you rollin' with me?
Asking their friend if they want to come along.

I'm trying to get busy
Expressing enthusiasm and motivation to be successful.

We walk dogs that was off the chain
Describing a past experience of having a difficult time finding an audience.

Lot of times at the show people hardly came
Further elaborating on their struggle to find a large audience.

I just took it in stride as part of the game
Accepting the difficulty in pursuing a career in music and not giving up.

But inside people down with me started to change
Acknowledging that their friends and supporters began to behave differently.

It was a couple things
Sharing that there were a few factors contributing to the change in people.

Lil' [unknown], lil' pills
Referring to drug use.

Instead of driving out on the road you rather chill
Referencing laziness or lack of motivation to perform and tour.

I know the way the pleasure feel
Acknowledging the pleasurable feeling of drugs.

I'm not judging
Clarifying that the singer is not judging others for their choices.

But still I'm on a mission, yo I'm not buggin'
Affirming their own goals and direction in life.

I got fam that won't stop druggin'
Sharing a personal situation of having friends or family members struggling with addiction.

They can't sleep
Sharing the negative effects of drug addiction.

They can't stick to one subject, they can't eat
Further illustrating the negative effects of drug addiction.

Is people steady comin' at me out in the streets
Sharing that people confront the singer on the street.

Like Riq yo wat up with your peeps
Asking about the singer’s friends and their addiction.

It gets deep nigga
Acknowledging that the situation is serious and profound.

Yo, you need to walk straight, master your high
Offering advice to a friend to avoid falling victim to addiction.

Son you missin' out on was passing you by
Suggesting that addiction can distract from and prevent opportunities in life.

I done seen the streets suck a lot of cats dry
Sharing the prevalence of addiction and its negative effects.

But not you and I my nigga
Affirming their own commitment to avoiding addiction and looking out for each other.

We got to get
Acknowledging that they need to be proactive in avoiding addiction.

Come on, over over the water
Encouraging a physical escape from negative environments.

Yo, we done made too many meals
Celebrating their success and accomplishments.

A couple of deals
Referring to successful negotiations or business deals.

We done share clothes and wills
Sharing personal connections and relationships with friends.

Killed mics and reels
Describing their success in performing and recording music.

We done rock
Sharing their experiences performing in front of audiences.

Shows abroad, and slept on floors
Further elaborating on their successes and the sometimes uncomfortable conditions they faced.

Trying to figga what the fuck we gettin' slept on for
Questioning why they weren't getting the recognition they deserved.

Oh why we walking with the rep up for
Wondering why they were still judged negatively despite their accomplishments.

Waited by the cavity law
Describing a personal experience with law enforcement.

You know it if you came up poor my nigga
Highlighting the struggles of growing up in poverty and the resulting experiences with the law.

Picture a bus up north
Visualizing a geographic location they might travel to.

You know we made of everything outlaws are made of
Asserting toughness and resilience in the face of challenges and adversity.

I'm far from a hater
Declaring a lack of animosity towards others.

And I don't say I love you 'cause the way I feel is greater
Sharing that they express love through their actions instead of words.

In Illa you a poet son
Complimenting another musician’s talent.

You a ball creator
Recognizing the creativity and skill of a fellow musician.

And this will probably dawn on you later
Predicting that the other musician will come to see their own talent and potential in the future.

Is in you nature, letters all up in the wall like they made of paper
Identifying the natural talent and creativity of a fellow artist.

You got to find out where you talent take you
Encouraging the other musician to pursue their talent and see where it leads them.

You might fuck around, finally make it
Suggesting that they could be successful if they continue to work hard and pursue their talent.

And that's real but yo
Affirming the encouragement and advice they just offered.

For my ghetto legend
Dedicating the next set of lyrics to a person they admire and respect.

Known from Lil' shyst running
Identifying specific qualities that made the person legendary.

Cop codeine by the courts and keep comin'
Sharing a personal experience or insight about the person.

Dummy, just embracing the dope like it's a woman
Highlighting a negative aspect of the person’s life, specifically their addiction.

You burnin' both sides of the rope and keep pullin'
Describing the self-destructive behavior of the person with addiction.

Tuggin', in between Islam and straight tuggin'
Describing the person’s internal struggles and conflicts.

Laying everyday around the way and doin' nothin'
Describing the person’s lack of motivation or direction.

See'em looking shaking their head and start shruggin'
Observing other people’s negative reactions towards the person.

If they don't have a man like mine, they got a cousin
Implying that other people's behavior is influenced by the people they surround themselves with.

Hey yo you better be a true friend to 'em
Expressing the importance of being a genuine friend to someone struggling with addiction.

Before the shit put an end to 'em
Implying that addiction can have fatal consequences.

Or give a pen to 'em
Suggesting that writing or creative expression could be a healthy outlet for someone struggling with addiction.

Or lock'em up in the studio with a mic
Further emphasizing the idea that creative expression could be an effective way to help someone with addiction.

'Cause on the real it might save his life
Asserting that creative expression could have a profound impact on someone struggling with addiction.

Keep tellin'em
Reiterating the advice given earlier in the song.

Water, Water
The repeated use of this phrase remains open to interpretation, but it could be a reference to the cleansing and purifying qualities of water.