When he made the decision to rap, nobody would help him. He’d bring rhymes to his peers for beats, and no one jumped at the chance to collaborate. So, he went even harder and he did everything himself. By the age of 14, he had taught himself how to create beats, produce, and even mix and master. He’d become a wholly self-sufficient artist before tenth grade. Now 21, he recalls, “All I cared about was music. I would stay up all night working on tracks and go to school tired. It didn’t matter. I wanted to be heard.”
Inspired by everyone from Chris Brown and Usher to Jay-Z and Pharrell, he studied various genres inside and out. That determination and dedication eventually yielded a viral sensation.
In 2008, he dropped his first online track "You Should Know" on MySpace. It became a viral hit, generating over three million views and buzzing amongst listeners worldwide. Joining up with the famed crew HBK Gang, the Bay Area began to embrace him as he performed countless gigs, developed a local presence, and honed a sound of his own.
"Musically, it's a mixture of everything," he explains. "It's like going to McDonalds and pouring every drink in one cup. I want to start my own genre—like a crossover of R&B and Bay Area party hip-hop."
That crossover revs up on "Gas Pedal." This smash hit switches lanes between a club-ready beat and a swaggering hook. Sage's smooth flow coasts alongside a slick verse from HBK's Iamsu.
He continues, "It's a dancing song. I like to keep the violence to a minimum. Dancing helps kids in a big way that no one wants to pay attention to. If they're dancing, it's all good. I grew up listening to Iamsu. To have him on there is a blessing."
The song attracted Republic Records who inked a deal with him in 2013. Then, as part of the EP of the same name, "Gas Pedal" sped toward the top online and at radio, reaching #5 on the Billboard Hip-Hop Chart and racking up over 12 million YouTube/VEVO views. At the same time, countless fans uploaded their own takes on the song to both YouTube and Vine, making the impact simply seismic. Cumulatively, there are over 110 million viral views fueled by this immense audience response without radio. It also serves as a gateway to his forthcoming full-length debut album for the label.
Another banger "Red Nose" wiggles from an unshakable chorus and a massive groove, becoming an anthem in its own right. It showcases just how clever he really is too. "I wanted to say something that means 'ass-shaking' without simply saying it," he grins. "That's where the comparison to a red nose pit bull came from."
Ultimately though, everything about Sage stands out. Producing and writing, he architects his own vision completely from the music to the rhymes. Now, he's speeding towards the top.
"I want people to feel like they can live with me through the music," he concludes. "It's about having a good time together. The album's going to have turn-up and party songs as well some more emotional moments. It's everything, and everyone is welcome along for the ride."
Give It Up
Sage The Gemini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bitch I need all that give it up
Money cars clothes freaks
Bitch I need all that give it up
Give it up, give it up
Bitch I need all that give it up
Give it up, give it up
Bitch I need all that give it up
Money, cars, clothes, bars, blow
Bunch of drug money stuffed in my car
Go, how when I let baby [?]
All my girls sleep with many many men
Give me ends
I'm dice God, 100 pounds
How I'm so on and I'm underground
Why these pretty ass bitches give me money now
Just to come around lay it down yeah 100 round
I'm talking about cash yeah you know me
I was shipping OG, OT in '03
Rollie on my wrist sit on chrome feet
I'm FedEx Berner I got my own trees
We ain't love no bopper
We just stash gram bags of Parada in our locker
My shoe game proper, they call me big papa
If I knock her I'ma take her for every single dollar
Give it up
Money cars clothes freaks
Bitch I need all that give it up
Money cars clothes freaks
Bitch I need all that give it up
Give it up, give it up
Bitch I need all that give it up
Give it up, give it up
Bitch I need all that give it up
HBK Gangster, overdrive Jeep Wrangler
The beat strangler, oh
Play the car but don't be a [?]
Niggas hate but they girl don't wanna meet a stranger
Should of known real niggas
I don't digiorno I deliever
She wanna put my watch on that's that [?]
She exit the car after he enter
Speaking in third person, I'm straight like perm purchase
My name big ghost search it
New rims no I curbed them
Ball harder than Ervin
[?] how I'm spending this Durchi
Kill em with the oh, carrier of bad news
Toxic rap to get rid of the fumes
Yo ho I'm a goon, 707
Step in the building women thinking that they in heaven
Money cars clothes freaks
Bitch I need all that give it up
Money cars clothes freaks
Bitch I need all that give it up
Give it up, give it up
Bitch I need all that give it up
Give it up, give it up
Bitch I need all that give it up
Young mack I'm what you heard about
Your bitch a freak that's the word around
Heart Break Gang yeah it's murder now
Every show yeah we burn it down
Me and Sage go way back
Hit him on the head, homie don't play that
Baby talking down, but they don't say that
I need them double M's I ain't talking about Maybach
Uh, I need all that shit
She don't even get a text and you call that bitch
You a simp mother fucker I can call that shit
See my gold chains and she all on dick
Uh, aye boy I don't play boy
I been around the world I'm still a Bay boy
Got your girl on my head like a GameBoy
She ain't fucking me for free bet she pay for it
Money cars clothes freaks
Bitch I need all that give it up
Money cars clothes freaks
Bitch I need all that give it up
Give it up, give it up
Bitch I need all that give it up
Give it up, give it up
Bitch I need all that give it up
The lyrics to Sage the Gemini’s song Give It Up are about his desires for money, material possessions, and promiscuous women. He unabashedly expresses his need for all of it and commands that the women hand it over. The verses describe his drug trafficking past, sexual escapades with multiple women, and his overall flashy lifestyle. The chorus is repeated aggressively and demands compliance from the women. The lyrics are a reflection of the rampant consumerism in modern society and the objectification of women.
The song has been criticized for its explicit and misogynistic lyrics, which have been viewed as promoting materialism and the demeaning of women. However, it also reflects a certain attitude shared by some individuals who are driven solely by materialistic goals, and who use their prowess in various fields, like drug trafficking or music, to accumulate wealth and women. Additionally, the song can be seen as a snapshot of the realities of the culture of the Bay Area rap scene.
Line by Line Meaning
Money cars clothes freaks
The singer desires money, cars, clothes, and sexual partners.
Bitch I need all that give it up
The singer wants the listener to give them everything they want, using demeaning language.
Give it up, give it up
Repeatedly asking for the listener to give the singer what they want.
Bunch of drug money stuffed in my car
The artist has a lot of money from selling drugs in their car.
All my girls sleep with many many men
The artist has multiple sex partners who sleep with other people too.
Give me ends
The singer wants money.
I'm dice God, 100 pounds
The singer is very good at gambling and weighs 100 pounds.
Why these pretty ass bitches give me money now
The artist is wondering why attractive women would give them money.
Just to come around lay it down yeah 100 round
The artist receives money from women for sex and brags about satisfying them multiple times.
I'm talking about cash yeah you know me
The artist is emphasizing their love for money.
Rollie on my wrist sit on chrome feet
The singer has a Rolex watch and expensive shoes.
We ain't love no bopper
The artist doesn't love a promiscuous woman, but keeps them around for sex.
My shoe game proper, they call me big papa
The singer has fashionable shoes and is called 'big papa' as a term of respect.
If I knock her I'ma take her for every single dollar
If the singer has sex with a woman, they plan to take all of her money.
HBK Gangster, overdrive Jeep Wrangler
The singer is associated with the Heart Break Gang and has a high-powered Jeep Wrangler.
Niggas hate but they girl don't wanna meet a stranger
The artist's male peers dislike them, but their girlfriends are attracted to the artist.
Should of known real niggas
The artist believes that others should recognize them as a 'real' person.
I don't digiorno I deliever
The singer doesn't rely on frozen pizzas, but rather has access to fresh food.
She wanna put my watch on that's that [?]
A woman wants to wear the singer's expensive watch.
She exit the car after he enter
A woman left the car after a man entered, implying that the artist is having sex with multiple partners.
Speaking in third person, I'm straight like perm purchase
The artist refers to themselves in the third person and is confident in their personal appearance.
My name big ghost search it
The artist has a moniker 'big ghost' that others can look up online.
New rims no I curbed them
The singer has recently acquired new rims for their car and hasn't scratched them yet.
Ball harder than Ervin
The artist is better at basketball than NBA player Magic Johnson (Ervin).
[?] how I'm spending this Durchi
The singer is unclear how they are spending their money.
Kill em with the oh, carrier of bad news
The singer uses slang and is involved in negative activities.
Toxic rap to get rid of the fumes
The singer believes their music is like medicine to rid listeners of their problems.
Yo ho I'm a goon, 707
The artist is a gang member and is associated with the 707 area code.
Step in the building women thinking that they in heaven
Women feel happy and excited when the artist enters a building.
Young mack I'm what you heard about
The singer is infamous and well-known.
Your bitch a freak that's the word around
The singer believes their sexual partner is well-known for being promiscuous.
Heart Break Gang yeah it's murder now
The Heart Break Gang is powerful and unstoppable.
Every show yeah we burn it down
The artist's concerts are energetic and successful.
Me and Sage go way back
The artist and Sage the Gemini have a long-standing relationship.
Hit him on the head, homie don't play that
The singer and Sage the Gemini are tough and don't tolerate disrespect.
Baby talking down, but they don't say that
Women talk negatively about the artist, but don't say so to their face.
I need them double M's I ain't talking about Maybach
The singer needs a lot of cash and talks about the letter 'M' in reference to money.
You a simp mother fucker I can call that shit
The singer insults someone for being overly romantic and submissive to a woman.
See my gold chains and she all on dick
Women are attracted to the singer's gold chains.
I been around the world I'm still a Bay boy
The artist has traveled, but still identifies with their hometown.
Got your girl on my head like a GameBoy
Women are constantly on the artist's mind, like a handheld game system.
She ain't fucking me for free bet she pay for it
The singer expects payment in exchange for sexual favors from women.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DOMINIC WYNN WOODS, GILBERT ANTHONY MILAM JR., PAULO YTIENZA RODRIGUEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind