Down
The Game Lyrics


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(The Game)
That's Lloyd Bank's momma singin',
You betta tell your boy to keep his mouth closed,
Or he gon' get a black tux,
And a free wake,
How my bow tie lookin'?,
You ready?,
Let's go.

(The Game)
When I see Lloyd Banks it's goin', (down, down)
If you in the car wit em' you betta get, (down, oooh well)
Automatic rifle,
And i'm blastin' on sight so,
Ski mask, i'm psycho,
My gun got nice scope.

Two in the leg knocked em, (down, down)
From Thirty feet away he fell, (down, oooh well)
Touch kids like Michael,
One roll of the dice, oh!,
You wanna gamble wit' your life,
Nigga die slow.

Now your casket goin', (down, down)
Tony Yayo tried to run,
I chased him, (down, oooh well)
Cause' I hate the Jakes,
Pat him down take his cake,
He wanna be a clown nigga,
Might as well paint his face.

And that's how I get, (down, down)
Fuck G-Unit nigga i'm not (down, oooh well)
Used to ride wit' em',
Slice up the pie wit' em',
Got kicked out the group,
Cuz I wasn't gon' die wit' em'.

And that's how it went, (down, down)
At Hot 97 we came, (down, oooh well)
Had Thirty niggas wit' me,
Niggas that sport the Dickies,
Hoppin' out of cabs,
We just want to talk to 50.

We wanna know what's goin' (down, down)
Security pulled heat it went, (down, oooh well)
Had to shake the block,
I ain't tryna' face the cops,
Heard a couple shots,
Then I seen shell cases drop.

Told P-nut to get, (down, down)
I looked back and saw my nigga goin', (down, oooh well)
I said,"homie we can't leave em'",
What if my nigga dyin',
Soon as we hit Hairston then,
We heard police sirens.

Oh shit!, it's goin', (down, down)
Guns out, they tellin' him to get, (down, oooh well)
He on both knees,
Blood squirtin' out his jeans,
Catch 22 should I go to jail or flee the scene.

Either way it's goin', (down, down)
So I hopped in the truck and went, (down, oooh well)
Broadway in a black suburban,
One thing on my mind,
Go hard til' them fags get murdered.

Cuz he tried to get my nigga shot, (down, down)
But he survived and now he goin' (down, oooh well)
To the station,
Police at the Double-U waitin'
On me to arrive and now I gotta shake em'.

They wanna take a nigga, (down, down)
We on the same elevator goin', (down, oooh well)
Dodger fitted,
Got the Hova lean,
So they ain't notice me,
Now they mad as fuck,
And gotta watch my Range Rover leave.

Hit the 95 and head, (down, down)
It's to Philly so i can lay it, (down, oooh well)
Catch the first thing smoking back the L-A-X,
Kicked up my Air Nikes,
Then I slept the whole flight.

Had a dream about it goin', (down, down)
Woke up and saw my plane comin', (down, oooh well)
Missed the palm trees,
Sunshine everyday,
New York's my second home,
But from in L.A.

And i hold shit, (down, down)
The throne was empty so I sat, (down, oooh well)
And just handled my biz,
Theres two sides to every westside story,
And I just tell it like it is.

And that's how it went, (down, down)
On my son that's all that went, (down, oooh well)
So stop tellin' them lies to all them motherfuckin' magazines,
And radio stations nigga you know what happened.

Me and Lloyd Banks aint, (down, down)
Keep talkin' shit, i'll lay you, (down, oooh well)

You niggas ran out the backdoor nigga,
All I wanted to do was holla man,
To see what was what.

Y'all was too fuckin' scared to come, (down, down)
You've been to Compton, you know how I get, (down, oooh well)
So fuck y'all nigga,




And it's like that,
For life.

Overall Meaning

The Game's song "Down" is a hard-hitting rap track that appears on his debut studio album, "The Documentary." The song opens with Lloyd Banks' mother warning the listener to tell their friend to keep their mouth shut, lest they wind up in a black tuxedo and a casket. The Game then describes his willingness to use violence and firearms against rival rap group G-Unit, specifically Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo. The chorus repeats the phrase "down" as if to indicate that somebody is going down - either being shot or falling to the ground. The song features a fast-paced beat and aggressive lyrics that channel The Game's tough persona.


One interesting fact about the song is that it was recorded during a feud between The Game and G-Unit, with both sides exchanging diss tracks aimed at one another. "Down" was one of several songs in which The Game targeted Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo. Another interesting fact is that Lloyd Banks' mother's voice was used as a sample in the opening of the song without her prior knowledge or permission. The Game later apologized to her for using the sample without permission. The song's music video was shot in The Game's hometown of Compton, California, and features footage of the rapper and his crew roaming the streets and performing in front of graffiti-covered buildings.


Another interesting fact about the song is that it was produced by Dr. Dre, who also appears in the music video. Dre is credited with helping to launch The Game's career and is one of the most influential producers in hip-hop history. The song's lyrics contain several references to Compton, including the line "New York's my second home, but from in L.A. / And I hold shit, the throne was empty so I sat down." This line is a reference to the death of Tupac Shakur, whose death was felt deeply in the Compton rap scene.


In terms of musical structure, the song features a simple chord progression in the key of F minor. The verses are mostly spoken word with occasional melodic phrases, while the chorus is more melodic and consists of the repeated phrase "down," which is sung in a lilting, descending melody. The song's structure and melody are designed to create a sense of urgency and tension, reflecting The Game's tough-guy persona and the violent subject matter of the lyrics.


Chords: Fm, C#, A#m, G#


Line by Line Meaning

That's Lloyd Bank's momma singin',
Lloyd Banks' mother is pleading for her son's safety and well-being


You betta tell your boy to keep his mouth closed,
Inform Lloyd Banks to not speak negatively about me or face consequences


Or he gon' get a black tux,
He will be attending his own funeral, dressed in a black suit


And a free wake,
His funeral will be provided at no cost


How my bow tie lookin'?,
Is my bow tie well put together and presentable?


You ready?,
Are you prepared for the events that will unfold?


Let's go.
It's time to take action and proceed with the plan


When I see Lloyd Banks it's goin', (down, down)
Whenever I encounter Lloyd Banks, the situation turns violent and dangerous


If you in the car wit em' you betta get, (down, oooh well)
If you are in a vehicle with Lloyd Banks, it is advisable to take cover and protect yourself


Automatic rifle,
I possess a fully automatic firearm


And i'm blastin' on sight so,
I will immediately start shooting without hesitation


Ski mask, i'm psycho,
I wear a ski mask to hide my identity and I am mentally unstable


My gun got nice scope.
My gun is equipped with a high-quality scope for accurate aiming


Two in the leg knocked em, (down, down)
I shot him twice in the leg, causing him to fall to the ground


From Thirty feet away he fell, (down, oooh well)
He collapsed from the gunshot wounds I inflicted from a distance of thirty feet


Touch kids like Michael,
I harm people just like Michael Jackson was accused of harming children


One roll of the dice, oh!,
The outcome of this situation is uncertain and risky


You wanna gamble wit' your life,
Are you willing to take a chance with your own life?


Nigga die slow.
I want him to suffer a slow and painful death


Now your casket goin', (down, down)
Your casket is being lowered into the ground


Tony Yayo tried to run,
Tony Yayo attempted to flee the scene


I chased him, (down, oooh well)
I pursued him relentlessly and caught up to him


Cause' I hate the Jakes,
I despise the police


Pat him down take his cake,
I searched him and confiscated his money


He wanna be a clown nigga,
He's acting like a foolish and ignorant person


Might as well paint his face.
He should just go all the way and paint his face like a clown


And that's how I get, (down, down)
That's how I carry out my actions and behavior


Fuck G-Unit nigga i'm not (down, oooh well)
I have no allegiance to G-Unit, I am not associated with them


Used to ride wit' em',
I used to be part of G-Unit and associate with them


Slice up the pie wit' em',
We used to share the spoils together


Got kicked out the group,
I was expelled and removed from the group


Cuz I wasn't gon' die wit' em'.
Because I refused to risk my life for them


And that's how it went, (down, down)
That's how the events unfolded


At Hot 97 we came, (down, oooh well)
We arrived at Hot 97 radio station


Had Thirty niggas wit' me,
I was accompanied by thirty individuals


Niggas that sport the Dickies,
People dressed in Dickies clothing


Hoppin' out of cabs,
We exited taxis


We just want to talk to 50.
We simply wanted to have a conversation with 50 Cent


We wanna know what's goin' (down, down)
We are curious to find out the truth of the matter


Security pulled heat it went, (down, oooh well)
The security personnel drew their weapons and the situation turned violent


Had to shake the block,
We had to quickly leave the area


I ain't tryna' face the cops,
I do not want to confront and deal with the police


Heard a couple shots,
We heard gunfire


Then I seen shell cases drop.
I witnessed the empty bullet casings falling to the ground


Told P-nut to get, (down, down)
I instructed P-nut to take cover


I looked back and saw my nigga goin', (down, oooh well)
I turned around and witnessed my companion being shot and falling to the ground


I said, 'homie we can't leave em'
I expressed that we cannot abandon our fallen comrade


What if my nigga dyin',
What if my friend is in critical condition or dying?


Soon as we hit Hairston then,
Once we reach Hairston, a specific location


We heard police sirens.
We started hearing the sound of approaching police vehicles


Oh shit!, it's goin', (down, down)
Oh no!, the situation is escalating into chaos and danger


Guns out, they tellin' him to get, (down, oooh well)
The police officers have their firearms drawn and are ordering him to surrender


He on both knees,
He is kneeling on both of his knees


Blood squirtin' out his jeans,
Blood is flowing and spraying from his pants


Catch 22 should I go to jail or flee the scene.
I am faced with a difficult situation: should I surrender to the police or escape from the location?


Either way it's goin', (down, down)
Regardless of the decision I make, the situation will become dangerous and chaotic


So I hopped in the truck and went, (down, oooh well)
I quickly entered the truck and drove away from the scene


Broadway in a black suburban,
I drove on Broadway in a black SUV


One thing on my mind,
I am solely focused on one thing


Go hard til' them fags get murdered.
I will continue ruthlessly until my enemies are killed


Cuz he tried to get my nigga shot, (down, down)
Because he attempted to have my friend shot and killed


But he survived and now he goin' (down, oooh well)
However, he managed to survive, but his situation is still precarious


To the station,
He is being taken to the police station


Police at the Double-U waitin'
The police are waiting at the Double-U, a location


On me to arrive and now I gotta shake em'.
The police are anticipating my arrival, and now I must evade them


They wanna take a nigga, (down, down)
The police want to apprehend me


We on the same elevator goin', (down, oooh well)
We are in the same situation, heading towards a downward spiral


Dodger fitted,
I am wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball cap


Got the Hova lean,
I am leaning like Jay-Z, adopting his style


So they ain't notice me,
They do not recognize or pay attention to me


Now they mad as fuck,
They are extremely angry


And gotta watch my Range Rover leave.
They are forced to watch me drive away in my Range Rover


Hit the 95 and head, (down, down)
I entered the freeway I-95 and proceeded in that direction


It's to Philly so i can lay it, (down, oooh well)
I am going to Philadelphia where I can establish myself


Catch the first thing smoking back the L-A-X,
I will take the first available flight back to Los Angeles International Airport


Kicked up my Air Nikes,
I relaxed and put on my Air Nike sneakers


Then I slept the whole flight.
I slept for the entire duration of the flight


Had a dream about it goin', (down, down)
I had a dream or vision about the situation becoming chaotic and dangerous


Woke up and saw my plane comin', (down, oooh well)
I woke up and realized that my plane was descending to land


Missed the palm trees,
I did not get to see the palm trees of Los Angeles


Sunshine everyday,
I missed the opportunity to experience the daily sunshine in Los Angeles


New York's my second home,
Although I am from New York, Los Angeles is like a second home to me


But from in L.A.
But I reside in Los Angeles


And i hold shit, (down, down)
I exert influence and control over my surroundings


The throne was empty so I sat, (down, oooh well)
Since the leadership position was vacant, I took the opportunity to assume power


And just handled my biz,
I simply took care of my own affairs and responsibilities


Theres two sides to every westside story,
There are always different perspectives to consider in every tale from the westside


And I just tell it like it is.
I narrate the story truthfully and honestly


On my son that's all that went, (down, down)
I swear on my child's life, that is the complete account of what happened


So stop tellin' them lies to all them motherfuckin' magazines,
Cease spreading false information to various magazines


And radio stations nigga you know what happened.
And don't distort the truth on radio stations, you already know what transpired


Me and Lloyd Banks aint, (down, down)
Lloyd Banks and I are not on good terms


Keep talkin' shit, i'll lay you, (down, oooh well)
If you continue to insult or provoke me, I will retaliate and harm you


You niggas ran out the backdoor nigga,
You and your group escaped through the back exit


All I wanted to do was holla man,
I simply wanted to have a conversation with you


To see what was what.
To ascertain the true nature of the situation


Y'all was too fuckin' scared to come, (down, down)
You and your crew were too frightened to confront me


You've been to Compton, you know how I get, (down, oooh well)
If you have visited Compton, you are aware of my reputation and how I handle things


So fuck y'all nigga,
I have no respect or regard for any of you


And it's like that,
That's the way it is


For life.
For the rest of my life, this is my stance and attitude




Contributed by Wyatt F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

DowleBFC

Game never got the full credit he deserved for a lot of his G-unit diss tracks, amazing tracks.

Al Fialkowski

In my opinion the best diss rapper of all time!!!

IamKingbeastmode

How didn't he? He wrote all the diss songs and everyone knows he destroyed G Unit. Clown

What ? ?

@matthew mann 300 bars made 50 look horrible lol

matthew mann

Because Game ended up being the one apologizing rather then the reverse that made Game look horrible yeah

What ? ?

@Hawker 209 why are you saying is wack? Do you like hip pop ?

17 More Replies...

Joe Jay

Even if you're a Lloyd Banks/50 Cent supporter you CANNOT dislike this song!

Nathaniel Dames

@Ramey Miles I agree. My favorite G-Unit Character is Lloyd Banks!

Ramey Miles

Banks is my favorite rapper and this shit goes hard lmao i was dyin when he said “tony yayo tried to run i chased him down”😂😂

Rodolfo Maldonado Jr.

This shit still go hard 11 years later

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