Sean Pompey (Born in Harlem, New York NY, United States), better known by h… Read Full Bio ↴Sean Pompey (Born in Harlem, New York NY, United States), better known by his stage name Smoke DZA, is an American rapper who first gained recognition in 2009 with the release of his first mixtape Substance Abuse. He followed it with the release of his 2010 mixtape George Kush Da Button, his release in 2011, Rolling Stoned, and his 2012 release, Rugby Thompson (prod. Harry Fraud). Smoke DZA often references movies and marijuana with a slow, laidback style of rap.

Hip Hop is just a hobby for some but for Smoke DZA, it is a way of life. Born and raised in Harlem, NY, DZA (real name Sean Pompey) was raised surrounded by music, though it wasn’t necessarily hip hop, “My first exposure to music was through my Dad.” He reflects, “He played his oldies every weekend and still does up to this day.” DZA was introduced to and fell in love with hip hop at a young age and began a journey that would lead him from dropping out of high school to being one of the hottest, most sought after unsigned rappers in the game today. “I was way too popular in high school,” DZA states, “ I used to battle everyone whether it be in the lunchroom or in front of the school. I was way more interested in that, than attending classes.” His early creative processes started where many rappers do, with the lyrical genius of Notorious B.I.G., “I remember learning all of Biggie’s verses, writing them down and making my own renditions of the songs. After I got out [of] that phase I started crafting my own songs like "History" where I spoke about destroying any rapper lyrically and I wrote a song called "Music On My Side" which was an ode to any artist that influenced me to do music. Jay-Z, Biggie, Big L etc.” As DZA’s focus and talent grew, he began to release mixtapes, like the early Respeconize and even formed a group with a childhood friend call “Smoke & Numbers” before striking out for solo success and Cinematic Music Group in 2005. Though his musical journey is not far removed from his early days in Harlem, DZA has recorded with the likes of Asher Roth, Big K.R.I.T., Devin The Dude and Curren$y to name a few. In the past two years he has released a steady stream of mixtapes to critical acclaim, Substance Abuse (2009), Substance Abuse 1.5: The Headstash (2010), and his most recent project, George Kush Da Button which is quickly making it’s way around the internet. DZA credits his longevity to creating laidback, honest music that people can vibe to and always staying true to the art of hip hop. With all of the disposable music threatening the culture of an art form he is trying to help preserve, Smoke DZA is a welcomed breath of fresh air that will make you grateful for the contact high.

Hip Hop artist based in Harlem, New York. Smoke Dza often references movies and marijuana with his slow laid back style of rap. His mixtape entitled "Substance Abuse" was released on December 1st 2009, Featuring: Devin the Dude, June Summers, Nipsey Hussle and many more. In the summer of 2010 he released another mixtape 'George Kush Da Button'
On April 11th he released another mixtape T.H.C. (The Hustler's Catalog)

My Life
Smoke DZA Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Right, you see, life is what you make it
And my life I’ve been stressed, but I’ve been blessed
You see, life is about obstacles; it’s about getting over
Not getting caught, you shovel that?
It was easy street that how it looked the strangest
But since I had twins, that was a game changer
My whole game changed up, gotta get things in order
August 21st, 2008, my son and daughter arrived

I swear to God on that day I was the happiest nigga alive
A new chapter in my life, already had practice overseeing
Taking care of little Ian, that’s my son too
Trying to make his moms understand
A woman can't teach a boy how to be a man
Now the shit is starting to hit the fan
Same arguments over and over again
Real life kicking in, and
she looking at rap like where's the ends
Still hustle though I say I’m finished
Cause I ain't have a one of them publishing check in a minute
Get some bud get my buzz back
Got love for the game but they ain't got no love back
I just channel the stress into my songs
And thrive on proving all the non-believers wrong
Pressure got a nigga on the wall
A is plan B, or nothing at all
Bill collectors say I
Wifey say I ain't got time, say I flow too much

Niggas mad at me, say I joke too much
They got the nerve to ask a nigga why I smoke so much

Overall Meaning

In Smoke DZA's song My Life, he opens by acknowledging that life is what we make of it. He goes on to talk about the obstacles he's faced, how he's overcome them, and how he's still struggling to figure out how to get his life in order. He makes it clear that even though he's been stressed, he's also been blessed. Smoke DZA also speaks about how he became a father of twins in 2008 and how it changed his life. He touches on how he had to learn to be a responsible father and how he tried to make his son's mother understand that she couldn't teach him how to be a man. As the song progresses, he talks about how his life has started to get challenging and how he's struggling to make ends meet. He still hustles even though he's not getting paid enough to support himself, his family, and his career. He channels his stress into his songs, proving the non-believers wrong and thriving on his success. Even with all the pressure he feels, he still finds ways to continue rising above his struggles.

Overall, Smoke DZA's My Life is a vulnerable and honest reflection of his life up to this point. He bravely shares the struggles he's faced as a parent, a rapper, and a provider. He acknowledges the difficulties he's had to face and celebrates his successes. He expresses his frustrations with the more mundane aspects of his life, like bill collectors and arguments with his wife, and reveals how he's managed to keep pushing forward, even when things get tough.

Line by Line Meaning

Right, you see, life is what you make it
The quality of life depends on one's actions and perspective.

And my life I’ve been stressed, but I’ve been blessed
Although my life has been difficult, I am grateful for the good things.

You see, life is about obstacles; it’s about getting over
Life presents challenges that we must overcome to succeed.

Not getting caught, you shovel that?
Do you understand what I mean by that? (referring to overcoming challenges)

It was easy street that how it looked the strangest
When things were going well, it seemed too good to be true.

But since I had twins, that was a game changer
The birth of my twins had a significant impact on my life and priorities.

My whole game changed up, gotta get things in order
I had to reevaluate my life and make changes to better provide for my family.

August 21st, 2008, my son and daughter arrived
The date of the birth of my twins.

I swear to God on that day I was the happiest nigga alive
The birth of my twins brought me immense joy.

A new chapter in my life, already had practice overseeing
My experience taking care of my son prepared me for the responsibility of raising my twins.

Taking care of little Ian, that’s my son too
In addition to my twins, I also had a son to provide for.

Trying to make his moms understand
I am making an effort to help my son's mother comprehend my perspective.

A woman can't teach a boy how to be a man
A mother cannot adequately teach a male child how to become a man.

Now the shit is starting to hit the fan
Now I am starting to encounter difficulties.

Same arguments over and over again
I am experiencing repeated conflicts and disagreements.

Real life kicking in, and she looking at rap like where's the ends
The difficulties of real life are causing my partner to question whether rap music is an adequate source of income.

Still hustle though I say I’m finished
Despite my previous statement of being done, I am continuing to work hard.

Cause I ain't have a one of them publishing check in a minute
I have not received a publishing check in a long time, which is motivating me to continue hustling.

Get some bud get my buzz back
Marijuana use helps me relax and regain my focus.

Got love for the game but they ain't got no love back
I appreciate the rap industry, but it does not reciprocate that appreciation.

I just channel the stress into my songs
I use my music to express my stress and emotions.

And thrive on proving all the non-believers wrong
I am motivated to prove those who doubt me wrong.

Pressure got a nigga on the wall
I am feeling immense pressure and trapped.

A is plan B, or nothing at all
My current plan is to make a backup plan, or I will have no options.

Bill collectors say I
I am receiving multiple bills and have financial obligations.

Wifey say I ain't got time, say I flow too much
My partner believes that I am too invested in my music and do not spend enough time with her.

Niggas mad at me, say I joke too much
My peers are upset with me because they feel that I make light of situations too often.

They got the nerve to ask a nigga why I smoke so much
My peers are questioning my marijuana use and wondering why I smoke so much.

Contributed by Ellie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it