Gangsta
ScHoolboy Q Lyrics

Hello, Hello?
The song starts off with an ambiguous greeting, signaling the beginning of a narrative.

Fuck rap, my daddy a gangsta
The artist is establishing his credibility by boasting about his father's status as a gangster, contrasting with what he perceives to be the less legitimate profession of being a rapper.

Gangsta, gangsta-gangsta, gangsta, gangsta-gangsta, weed
The artist repeats the word 'gangsta' several times, possibly to emphasize its significance to his identity; he adds 'weed' as a nod to his stereotype as a gangster.

Gangsta, gangsta-gangsta, gangsta, gangsta-gangsta, G
The artist continues to repeat the word 'gangsta' and adds 'G', which could stand for 'gangsta' or 'gangster', further establishing his identity.

Gangsta, gangsta-gangsta, gangsta, gangsta-gangsta, groove
The artist repeats 'gangsta' once more and replaces the 'G' with 'groove'. It could signify the artist's ability to make beats that gangsters can get down to, or his fluid, malleable nature.

Gangsta, gangsta-gangsta, I'm gangsta, gangsta-gangsta, Q
The artist declares himself a gangsta once more and identifies himself with a 'Q', which could be short for his name (ScHoolboy Q) or the a shortened version of 'Queen' (a term associated with the Crips gang)

Figg Side (say they want that gangsta shit)
The artist represents the Figg Side gang, and they want to hear 'gangsta shit' for entertainment and possibly to cause a stir in the community.

Knock, knock-knock, knock-knock, uh (gangsta shit, gangsta shit)
The knocking sound that the artist makes could represent the sound of a weapon being fired. The lyrics 'gangsta shit' are repeated as a way to remind the listener that what they are hearing is a story about gang violence and crime.

Knock, knock-knock, knock-knock, yak (gangsta shit, gangsta shit)
In this verse, the artist replaces 'uh' with 'yak', which could represent the sound of a bullet hitting its target. The lyrics 'gangsta shit' are repeated once more to show that the stories being depicted are truly about gangsters.

What it do, young niggas? What it do, young bitches?
The artist greets his peers by using the colloquial slang 'what it do'. He addresses both men and women in this verse.

I got my drink in my cup, I got my Backwood, no swishers
The artist describes his scene: he's drinking and smoking a Backwood (an expensive type of cigar used for blunts), and he prefers not to use Swisher blunts because they are cheaper and more common.

And bitch, I'm faded, fucking faded, yeah, I'm famous
The artist repeats himself, emphasizing how famous he is now and how far he's come since his humble beginnings; he is no longer a small-time gangster and now enjoys the luxuries of fame and fortune.

What? I'm famous, fucking famous, nigga I made it
The artist continues to marvel at his own success and celebrity status; he feels like he's made it, as he's repeatedly pointing out.

When I was broke, I got me that nine
The artist is referring to getting a gun when he was broke, which was probably necessary for survival on the streets.

With that nine, I hit me that lick
The artist is describing his involvement in robbery, using street slang to describe the act of theft.

And then with that lick, it came with that yola
The artist is referring to the cocaine that he obtained after the robbery. 'Yola' is slang for cocaine.

With that yola, it came with your bitch
The artist implies that obtaining cocaine gave him access to women, including other men's girlfriends.

And see now your bitch, she gon' work on that corner
The artist is saying that the girl he obtained is now working as a prostitute on the streets because of his influence.

I don't care if that ho got pneumonia
The artist is asserting that he's callous and does not care about the well-being of the woman he is referring to, even in the midst of a deadly virus like pneumonia.

Give me racks and you won't get a quarter
The artist is asking for a ton of money and will not back down or negotiate regardless of how expensive his services may be.

She don't run game, I'm the only controller
The artist is asserting that he is the only one in authority in the particular relationship he's referring to and that the woman he's with is strictly following his commands.

So what's up now? Straight pimpin' over here
The artist is giving the listener a taste of the pimping mentality, asserting that he's the one in control and calling the shots.

Now put that shit on verse, nigga
The artist is instructing someone to make these gunshots into a beat.

Have her shaking ass all on the curb, nigga
The artist is inciting the sexual energy of the listener by suggesting that a woman will be gyrating on the street as part of this beat, which is in line with prostitution imagery.

You could tell that she fucking with a Figg nigga
The artist is suggesting that the woman in question is having sex with a member of the Figg gang and that they should take pride in that.

What it is, nigga? Perrier Jouet Rosé, I might relocate
The artist is bragging about his status as being highly luxurious, as it represents a wealthy and expensive champagne; he's indicating that he might be interested in moving to a new area soon.

Out of my mind, this world, I'm hot, godammit, I'm fly
The artist is declaring his confidence and vanity, boasting that he is hot and fly while simultaneously acknowledging that he is acting out of control and needs to settle down.

(Yay yay) My grandma showed me my first strap
The artist is acknowledging a cultural lineage of gang activity and suggests that exploitation and violence has been a part of his life since he was young.

My nigga Rat-Tone always had the fliest gats
The artist boasts about his friend Rat-Tone, who always carried flashy guns.

I finally got mine dirt nap, uh
The artist is saying that he has finally acquired his own gun that Rat-Tone had; the dirt nap phrase is also slang for death.

Real niggas don't die homeboy, we multiply
The artist is referencing the saying that 'real niggas don't die' and that they'll continue to live on through their families and communities.

Shit, come around my town you clown, that's suicide
The artist is warning anyone who comes on his territory that they are risking their lives.

My momma said don't be that, hood little nigga that sold crack
The artist is reflecting on advice that his mother gave him and how growing up means moving on from a life of crime.

Gangbanger that street jack, always trying to figure where the beef at
The artist describes his previous life of being a gangbanger and that the primary objective was to find a suitable target for violence and intimidation.

Knock, knock-knock your brain on the doormat, uh
The artist is warning people who pose a threat to him, insisting their brains will be blasted onto the ground.

Bitch nigga, what you call that? Uh
The artist is questioning how people can talk down to him when he is an established gangster.

We on block patrol, nigga fuck your roll, got the gat on me
The artist is suggesting that he is constantly on the lookout for enemies and will be ready when there's a threat.

Nigga look, it's right here
The artist is affirming that his gun is easily accessible and ready.

Bulldog bark, you could die right here
The artist is comparing himself to a bulldog, indicating that he's ready to bite down and bite hard.

Real gangsta niggas have no fear
The artist suggests that true gangsters don't feel fear, or at least don't show their fear.

Real niggas never tattoo their tears
The artist implies that real gangsters are too tough to cry or show emotion.

Hopping out of vans, deserting your plans
The artist describes his rapid response to potential threats, implying that he is able to jump out of vans and react quickly to what calls for action.

All hoodied up, no Wu-Tang Clan
The artist is wearing a hoodie that covers his face and implies that he's ready to take on anybody, he is not associated with the Wu-Tang Clan despite wearing a hoodie.

Three days lettin' off through that Aryan, uh
The artist is suggesting that he is at war with a white supremacist group, using the term 'letting off' to indicate gunfire.

Call that bitch 3 for 10, uh
The artist is discussing prostitution and the going-rate for a sexual encounter.

I'm fucking up the streets again
The artist is taking responsibility for bringing violence and gang culture back into the streets again.

Tags on the toes all amongst your friends
The artist is referencing the tradition of tagging someone's toes after they're killed; by referring to 'all among your friends', he's implying that they're directly responsible for the death of someone.

Let the barrel spin, get blended in, uh
The artist is describing a scenario in which they walk into a room and immediately open fire.

Embrace the funk, groovy as I'm running through your system
The artist is using euphemistic language to imply that he is exerting a bad influence on people's lives.

Seem like you only target Hindu victim
The artist is commenting on historic racial tensions in their community, feeling that there is a tendency toward targeting people of Indian ancestry.

Red dot, chicken pox type symptoms
The artist references a laser sight and associates its dot with chicken pox.

Sad day, had his all whole sickened
The artist is discussing the results of violence which have led to people being sickened or injured.

Trying to state the facts
The artist is finishing on a philosophical note, reminding the listener that this kind of gang and gun violence is a fact of life in many communities.