It's Been Said
T.I. and DJ Drama Lyrics

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It has been, it has been, it has been, it has been
It has been said, that there has been known to be bloodshed
Over bread, men who have bled to death, dead
Strapped to beds, pipe bombs, dynamite, lead
Money, power, respect, street cred, yeah
It's scary ain't it? Picture yourself goin' out as a hero
Picture mural pictures of us painted all over street corners
Fans meet to mourn us, while we meet the coroners

Notorious tried to warn us
We watched, so many piggybacked off of
Biggie's back and Pac's, landmarks, history in rap
Statistically in fact, it's so sad to see us re-enact
These tragic events, which lead us back
To where we left off on March 9th
To come from such hard knock lives
And make it up out of 'em, hit the spotlights
And once they're on us this is our lives
Thrust out for all eyes to cast upon us
To see who can last the longest
And he who lasts the longest, must be the strongest
In this concrete jungle, where this dog eat dog mentality comes from
It's origin, which is usually originated from cats who starvin'
Or it could just be somebody's horror, that just horrifies
And applies to his persona or the sizes
In his entourage that intimidates the people
To the point that you know he's gangster
He ain't just say shit, you just believe it

Since B.I.G. taught us niggas to think big
I've been about my business since then, so anxious
It ain't how we live, it's what he said, he did it for Brooklyn
This I took in, sent chills through my skin
Vicious, I'm experiencin' the same sights as him
It's what excited Obie to write these poems
Rollin', goin' through the same shit he spoken
Open up my eyes so there's no limit in them skies
When "Ready to Die" was a sick part of my life
Palmin' that .45, plottin' to pop my mind
Then that crooked eye Jamaican I'd so many times rewind
Got me to walk a straight line and get up on my grind
Get up out the system, who could give him better signs
No pop of mine could top Big Poppa rhymes
So possibly I'd be popular, huh?
That's the inspiration I got from my nigga B.I

I took him from coal to diamond, I molded his mind
Enter the most phenomenal artist of any and all time
I made a Frankenstein, my design impressed
Backpackers and press who said my house was a mess
Critics lashed, said I made a fortune off of his passin'
All I did was build a dynasty off of his passion
And I'm addressin' the adolescents absent to who he is
The original king of New York, Christopher Wallace
This is a promise on Diddy's honor, I'ma father T'Yanna
And teach her that with all the drama don't even bother
On repeat, all of your albums play back to back
And I visit your grave 'cause our friendship's intact
An immaculate concept, extravagant progress
Bullet wounds left in my heart, I'm yellin' "God bless"
Regardless to critics yellin' that East, West
I seen the game losin, I'm just pressin' the reset
And when the resurrections of you shines through an individual
Lyrical enough to wear the same crown of thorns literally

I'ma pay homage, Brooklyn's finest
Whether it's Queens or Harlem, it'll be instant stardom, nigga

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in this song, "It's Been Said" by T.I. and DJ Drama, convey the idea that there is a history of violence and bloodshed in pursuit of wealth and power. The repeated phrase "it has been said" suggests that these events are widely known and acknowledged. This violence is seen as a necessary part of the street culture, where respect and credibility are earned through dangerous acts.

The lyrics also touch on the legacy of artists like Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur, who became iconic figures in rap history after their tragic deaths. These artists are portrayed as cautionary figures who tried to warn others about the consequences of their lifestyle. There is a sense of sorrow and sadness as the lyrics reflect on the tragic events that have occurred in the rap industry.

The song further explores the origin of the "dog eat dog" mentality that exists in the concrete jungle of the streets. It suggests that this mindset is often a result of desperation and poverty. The intimidation and fear caused by certain individuals creates a perception of them as true gangsters, and their credibility is unquestioned.

Another theme in the lyrics is the influence of the late Notorious B.I.G. on T.I. and his career. T.I. reflects on how he has been inspired to think big and be ambitious since B.I.G.'s teachings. The lyrics highlight the impact of B.I.G.'s music and the role it played in shaping T.I.'s life and career.

The song also addresses the criticism T.I. faced for his association with B.I.G. and the accusations of exploiting his legacy. T.I. defends himself by explaining that he has built a successful career and a "dynasty" while staying true to B.I.G.'s passion for music. He refers to himself as the creator of a "Frankenstein," suggesting that his mentorship and guidance have transformed him into a formidable artist.

In the final verses, T.I. pledges to honor B.I.G.'s memory and legacy, promising to be there for his daughter T'Yanna and to teach her to navigate the drama associated with fame. He expresses his dedication to paying homage to B.I.G. and acknowledges him as the original king of New York. Despite criticism and division in the industry, T.I. asserts that he will continue to press the reset button and bring about a new era in rap music, staying true to the foundations laid by B.I.G. and other influential artists.

Overall, "It's Been Said" is a thought-provoking song that reflects on the violent aspects of street culture and the impact of legendary artists, particularly Notorious B.I.G., on the rap industry. The lyrics delve into themes of ambition, career development, loyalty, and the ongoing struggle for respect and credibility in the industry.

Line by Line Meaning

It has been, it has been, it has been, it has been
There have been ongoing and recurring events

It has been said, that there has been known to be bloodshed
There is a belief that violence has occurred

Over bread, men who have bled to death, dead
People have died due to conflicts over money and power

Strapped to beds, pipe bombs, dynamite, lead
Acts of terrorism involving explosives and firearms

Money, power, respect, street cred, yeah
These are the driving forces and desires in the streets

It's scary ain't it? Picture yourself goin' out as a hero
Imagine dying as a figure of admiration and bravery

Picture mural pictures of us painted all over street corners
Visualize graffiti art of us displayed in public spaces

Fans meet to mourn us, while we meet the coroners
While fans gather to grieve, we encounter death investigators

Notorious tried to warn us
The Notorious B.I.G. attempted to caution us

We watched, so many piggybacked off of
We witnessed many people gaining success by associating with

Biggie's back and Pac's, landmarks, history in rap
Biggie and Tupac's influence and impact on the rap genre

Statistically in fact, it's so sad to see us re-enact
Sadly, we keep repeating historical tragedies

These tragic events, which lead us back
These sorrowful occurrences that bring us back

To where we left off on March 9th
To the point where we were on the day of March 9th

To come from such hard knock lives
To overcome challenging and difficult circumstances

And make it up out of 'em, hit the spotlights
And achieve success and fame

And once they're on us this is our lives
Once attention is focused on us, this becomes our reality

Thrust out for all eyes to cast upon us
Exposed to scrutiny and observation from everyone

To see who can last the longest
To determine who can withstand the test of time

And he who lasts the longest, must be the strongest
The one who endures the longest is considered the most resilient

In this concrete jungle, where this dog eat dog mentality comes from
In this competitive urban environment, where selfishness prevails

It's origin, which is usually originated from cats who starvin'
Its roots are often traced back to those struggling with poverty

Or it could just be somebody's horror, that just horrifies
It may also stem from individual trauma and fear

And applies to his persona or the sizes
And applies to the way one presents themselves or their stature

In his entourage that intimidates the people
Within their group of followers, instilling fear in others

To the point that you know he's gangster
To the extent that it is evident they are involved in criminal activities

He ain't just say shit, you just believe it
He doesn't just talk, you genuinely think it's true

Since B.I.G. taught us niggas to think big
Since the Notorious B.I.G. inspired us to have ambitious goals

I've been about my business since then, so anxious
I've been focused on my endeavors and eager to succeed

It ain't how we live, it's what he said, he did it for Brooklyn
It's not just our lifestyle, it's what he actually accomplished for Brooklyn

This I took in, sent chills through my skin
I internalized this knowledge and felt a strong emotional response

Vicious, I'm experiencin' the same sights as him
I am encountering similar situations and witnessing the same struggles

It's what excited Obie to write these poems
It's what motivated me to write these poetic verses

Rollin', goin' through the same shit he spoken
Navigating through comparable hardships he expressed

Open up my eyes so there's no limit in them skies
Enlightening me to see endless possibilities in the future

When 'Ready to Die' was a sick part of my life
When Biggie's album 'Ready to Die' deeply impacted me

Palmin' that .45, plottin' to pop my mind
Holding a .45 pistol, contemplating self-destruction

Then that crooked eye Jamaican I'd so many times rewind
Then the Jamaican artist I frequently listened to

Got me to walk a straight line and get up on my grind
Motivated me to stay focused and work hard

Get up out the system, who could give him better signs
Escape from the oppressive system, who can offer clearer guidance

No pop of mine could top Big Poppa rhymes
No one in my generation can surpass Biggie's lyrics

So possibly I'd be popular, huh?
So I could possibly achieve popularity, right?

That's the inspiration I got from my nigga B.I
That's the motivation I received from Biggie

I took him from coal to diamond, I molded his mind
I transformed him from being ordinary to extraordinary, shaping his mindset

Enter the most phenomenal artist of any and all time
Taking on the role of the greatest artist in history

I made a Frankenstein, my design impressed
I created a masterpiece, my creation impressed everyone

Backpackers and press who said my house was a mess
Critics and media who criticized the state of my career and life

Critics lashed, said I made a fortune off of his passin'
Critics attacked me, claiming I profited from his death

All I did was build a dynasty off of his passion
All I did was establish a powerful legacy based on his talent

And I'm addressin' the adolescents absent to who he is
I'm speaking directly to the young people who are unaware of his importance

The original king of New York, Christopher Wallace
Referring to Biggie as the original and undisputed king of New York

This is a promise on Diddy's honor, I'ma father T'Yanna
As a commitment on Diddy's behalf, I'll be a father figure to T'Yanna

And teach her that with all the drama don't even bother
And I'll teach her not to get involved in unnecessary conflicts

On repeat, all of your albums play back to back
I constantly listen to all your albums consecutively

And I visit your grave 'cause our friendship's intact
I go to your tombstone because our bond remains unbroken

An immaculate concept, extravagant progress
A flawless idea with remarkable advancement

Bullet wounds left in my heart, I'm yellin' 'God bless'
Emotional scars from past traumas, expressing gratitude to God

Regardless to critics yellin' that East, West
Ignoring critics who argue about the East Coast and West Coast rivalry

I seen the game losin, I'm just pressin' the reset
I observed the decline of the rap industry, now I'm starting over

And when the resurrections of you shines through an individual
And when your legacy is embodied by someone else

Lyrical enough to wear the same crown of thorns literally
Skilled enough to bear the same burden and criticism

I'ma pay homage, Brooklyn's finest
I will show respect and admiration, representing the best of Brooklyn

Whether it's Queens or Harlem, it'll be instant stardom, nigga
Regardless of the neighborhood, it will lead to immediate fame

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Steven Jordan, Trevor Smith, Christopher Wallace, Sean Combs, Bill Conti, Jay Hawkins, Jason Phillips, Chris Martin, Marshall Mathers, Obie Trice, Leroy Watson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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