Quincey Matthew Hanley (born October 26, 1986), better known by his stage n… Read Full Bio ↴Quincey Matthew Hanley (born October 26, 1986), better known by his stage name ScHoolboy Q is an American recording hip hop artist from Los Angeles, California.

Hanley is signed to Top Dawg Entertainment and is a member of Black Hippy along with Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar and Ab-Soul.

In 2008, ScHoolboy Q released his first mixtape titled, ScHoolboy Turned Hustla and followed up in 2009 with Gangsta & Soul. In 2011, he finally released his first album titled, Setbacks. Later ScHoolboy Q released his sophomore album titled, Oxymoron in early 2014, followed by Blank Face LP in 2016. Oxymoron was also nominated for Rap Album of The Year.

Hit Em Up
ScHoolboy Q Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Gunpowder on my fingertips
Cocaine between my fingernails look, mama
What Schoolboy brought to Show & Tell
Ain't got no vest, protected by these shells
Kill or be killed, lift up souls
We raising Hell ungh - two for his back
Bring failure to his lungs
YAWK-YAWK-knock-knock your bell been rung

Might burn your heart
This pistol'll fill your tum'
Ungh ungh dope dealer, dope nigga
Got the stash in the rental
Takin' blunts to the mental
Fuck y'all, go get 'em - bang 'em all
Ball and ball, money tall, Pau Gasol
Want it all
I want that crib and I want that yard
I want that broad and I want that car
I'll pull your card for
Frontin' like you hard
You be in deep shit from this pistol
His heart racing, my heart's not
Shift his top, hold that thought
Wave my flag, bitch stop
You forgot, I hit 'em up yeah

Ungh boy, I hit 'em up
Ungh, motherfucker, I hit 'em up
Ungh i say, nigga, I hit 'em up

They come to me to learn shit
They can't learn in church
Like get him 'fore he get you first
Jump out with J-O-B, 'bout to put in work
(work yeah)
Have a seat, this bullet pierce your shirt
Ain't nothing sweet, you'll see a star burst
I keep orange laces in my Converse
Off house arrest, now hear this converse
I draw my pistol on my hip
You see that rubber grip
Don't have a half a clue
Them boxes for hollow tips
I've got more Oxy than a pharmacy
Also, I keep action clips, when I move E
Yeah, I swear to God won't
Find a nigga like him i greet 'em, pop 'em
Then I As-salamu alaykum 'em
Heaven or Hell your only ultimatum
Hit a pussy for his lip ring
My niggas murder no attempting - got blasted
'Nother dropped on his ass

Placed up in that body bag
Toe tag, I hit 'em up!

Overall Meaning

In "Hit Em Up," ScHoolboy Q delves into a gritty depiction of his life as a drug dealer and the violent world he inhabits. The lyrics utilize vivid imagery to emphasize his involvement in illicit activities and the dangers associated with them.

The opening lines, "Gunpowder on my fingertips / Cocaine between my fingernails," immediately establish the criminal nature of ScHoolboy Q's lifestyle. These details suggest that he is immersed in a world of drugs and firearms. He references bringing these illicit items to Show & Tell as a provocative statement about the harsh reality he faces.

The chorus, "Kill or be killed, lift up souls / We raising Hell," highlights the violent nature of the environment ScHoolboy Q is a part of. It suggests that survival in this world requires going to extreme lengths and taking lives. The repetition of the phrase "Hit 'em up" emphasizes his willingness to confront his enemies and retaliate against those who threaten him.

ScHoolboy Q also expresses a desire for material success in the lyrics, stating, "I want that crib and I want that yard / I want that broad and I want that car." These aspirations reflect the allure of wealth and power that often accompany a life involved in crime.

As the song progresses, ScHoolboy Q continues to assert his dominance and the repercussions of crossing him. The line, "Ain't nothing sweet, you'll see a star burst," infers that underestimating him would result in violent consequences. He often refers to his gun and its capabilities, further solidifying his dangerous reputation.

The song concludes with the line, "Toe tag, I hit 'em up!" This final statement serves as a chilling reminder of his propensity for lethal action and reinforces the message that one should not underestimate his power or attempt to cross him.

Overall, "Hit Em Up" showcases ScHoolboy Q's unapologetic and unforgiving attitude toward his enemies, the dangerous lifestyle he leads, and the constant threat of violence that permeates his world.

Line by Line Meaning

Gunpowder on my fingertips
I have been handling guns and ammunition

Cocaine between my fingernails look, mama
I have been involved in drug dealing

What Schoolboy brought to Show & Tell
I bring violence and danger to the table

Ain't got no vest, protected by these shells
I don't wear a bulletproof vest, relying on my ammunition for protection

Kill or be killed, lift up souls
Survival of the fittest, taking lives to save my own

We raising Hell ungh - two for his back
We are causing chaos and pain, shooting someone in the back

Bring failure to his lungs
Shooting him will cause him to struggle to breathe

YAWK-YAWK-knock-knock your bell been rung
The sound of gunfire, alerting him that he is in danger

Might burn your heart
The gunshots may cause extreme emotional pain

This pistol'll fill your tum'
The gun will cause him physical harm, possibly killing him

Ungh ungh dope dealer, dope nigga
I am a successful drug dealer

Got the stash in the rental
I have hidden drugs in a rented vehicle

Takin' blunts to the mental
I am smoking marijuana to ease my stress

Fuck y'all, go get 'em - bang 'em all
I have no regard for anyone, I will harm them all

Ball and ball, money tall, Pau Gasol
I am successful in making money, like the basketball player Pau Gasol

Want it all
I desire to have everything

I want that crib and I want that yard
I want a luxurious house and a spacious property

I want that broad and I want that car
I want a beautiful woman and an expensive car

I'll pull your card for
I will expose your true nature for

Frontin' like you hard
Acting tough and intimidating when you're not

You be in deep shit from this pistol
You will face severe consequences due to this gun

His heart racing, my heart's not
While he may be afraid, I remain fearless

Shift his top, hold that thought
Shoot him in the head, making him lose consciousness

Wave my flag, bitch stop
Asserting my dominance and demanding respect

You forgot, I hit 'em up yeah
You underestimated me, but I attacked and defeated you

They come to me to learn shit
People seek me out to gain knowledge in illicit activities

They can't learn in church
These things cannot be taught in a religious setting

Like get him 'fore he get you first
Act preemptively and harm others before they can harm you

Jump out with J-O-B, 'bout to put in work
Quickly appear with a firearm, ready to engage in criminal activities

(work yeah)
This is the job I am referring to, engaging in criminal work

Have a seat, this bullet pierce your shirt
Prepare yourself, as I will shoot you and your clothes will be damaged

Ain't nothing sweet, you'll see a star burst
This will not be a pleasant experience, you will suffer

I keep orange laces in my Converse
I have orange shoelaces in my Converse shoes as a sign of affiliation

Off house arrest, now hear this converse
After being released from house arrest, listen to what I have to say

I draw my pistol on my hip
I easily access my firearm from my waist

You see that rubber grip
Notice the rubber handle on the gun

Don't have a half a clue
You have no idea what's about to happen

Them boxes for hollow tips
The boxes I have contain ammunition specifically designed to cause maximum damage

I've got more Oxy than a pharmacy
I possess a large amount of the drug OxyContin, more than a typical pharmacy

Also, I keep action clips, when I move E
Furthermore, I have extra ammunition magazines for my gun, especially when I am under the influence of ecstasy

Yeah, I swear to God won't
I promise you, I won't hesitate to

Find a nigga like him i greet 'em, pop 'em
If I come across someone similar to him, I will greet them and immediately shoot them

Then I As-salamu alaykum 'em
After shooting them, I sarcastically greet them with the Arabic phrase meaning 'peace be upon you'

Heaven or Hell your only ultimatum
The consequence of your actions will determine whether you go to heaven or hell

Hit a pussy for his lip ring
I would assault and harm someone simply because they have a lip piercing

My niggas murder no attempting - got blasted
My associates kill without hesitation, and anyone who tries to oppose us will be shot

'Nother dropped on his ass
Another person has been killed and left lying on the ground

Placed up in that body bag
The dead body has been put into a bag for disposal

Toe tag, I hit 'em up!
I have successfully attacked and killed another individual

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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