When William was sixteen years old, he started rapping in late 1991 under the name "Will-1X" after being discovered by Compton rapper and former N.W.A. leader Eazy-E and signed a deal to Eazy's Ruthless Records. will.i.am's first rap song was "Merry Muthafuckin' Xmas" from Eazy-E's 1992 EP 5150: Home 4 tha Sick. Shortly after Eazy-E's death in 1995, Will left Ruthless to start a group that would later be called the Black Eyed Peas with fellow rappers Taboo and apl.de.ap.
After the addition of singer-songwriter Fergie, the group shot into mainstream pop consciousness with a set of hit singles in the mid-00s, popularity that continues to this day. The Black Eyed Peas' producer is Sergio Mendes, an internationally successful Brazilian musician and jazz aficionado. In September 2007, will.i.am took a major step into a solo career identity by joining with his record label, Universal Music Group (UMG), on a pilot scheme to reward certain file-sharing with cash incentives, including will.i.am tracks from his then upcoming release Songs About Girls.
In total, he has released four solo albums: Lost Change (2001), Must B 21 (2003), Songs About Girls (2007), and #willpower (2013). Although often facing mixed critical reviews, he's experienced significant commercial success, including a set of popular singles. His solo performances, featuring collaborations with a wide group of artists including Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, Phife Dawg, Snoop Dogg, and Nicole Scherzinger, are perhaps best summed up in the international top 20 mega-hit "Scream & Shout".
Will.i.am was also recently cast as John Wraith in the film X-Men Origins: Wolverine, a prequel to the X-Men movie series. And if one enjoyed Madagascar 2's chunky hippo, Moto Moto, then one should know that the deep voice belonged will.i.am., who came in after he was ''pimped'' out to the directors by his friend and sometimes collaborator Justin Timberlake.
Before joining the Black Eyed Peas, Will.i.am attended the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles. In 2001, he began designing his own signature clothing line, i.am, which made its official debut in 2005 at the Magic apparel trade show in Las Vegas. In 2007, Will.i.am teamed up with Blue Holdings to design a premium denim collection, i.am Antik, that had its debut on the Project Show in Las Vegas. He has also designed clothing for the Black Eyed Peas.
In January 2008, will.i.am helped write a song, "Yes We Can", in support of the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign of Barack Obama, which in turn became a music video directed by Jesse Dylan. The lyrics of the song are composed almost entirely of excerpts from Obama's speech on January 8, 2008, following the New Hampshire presidential primary election. The video features appearances from numerous celebrities like Scarlett Johansson, Tatyana Ali, John Legend, Herbie Hancock, Kate Walsh, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Adam Rodriguez, Kelly Hu, Hill Harper, Amber Valletta, Eric Balfour, Aisha Tyler, Nicole Scherzinger, Nick Cannon, Bryan Greenberg, Common and first appeared on the website for Dipdive, and within a week of its appearance racked up three million views, and over four million views on Youtube.
On February 29, 2008, a second video titled "We Are The Ones" was released on Dipdive and YouTube. It included cameo appearances from Jessica Alba, Ryan Phillippe, Kerry Washington, John Leguizamo, Regina King, Tyrese Gibson, Eric Mabius, Tichina Arnold, Adrienne Palicki, comedian George Lopez, and singers Macy Gray, Zoe Kravitz and Black Eyed Peas’ Taboo. The video features everyone chanting "O-BA-MA" as a portrayal as their hopes and wishes for Obama and his presidential campaign.
In 2013, will.i.am released his album "#thatpower".
Get Your Money
Will.I.Am Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you strippin' I ain't trippin'
If its alright with ya, its alright with me
She's a single momma, making dollars
Cabaret and make you holla
Looking lovely, day and nightly
Making hubbies leave they wifey
She's to sexy for her clothes, so she throws them on the floor
She danger, she danger
What y'all wanna do fall in love?
She just handling business
Go head girl but don't work your stuff
[Chorus]
Get your money baby! [x4]
If you strippin' I ain't trippin'
If its alright with ya, its alright with me
Its alright [repeat: x 7]
She's drop dead intelligent
Her fragrance is that stripper scent
Browses popping to bonqo
We thongs drop to 50 cent
Private dancer, bubble twister
Just be glad she ain't your sister
Hands off her you cant touch her
Fall in love, and she bound to crush ya
She danger, she danger
What y'all want? she truly hood
She just handling business
Go head girl go
I ain't mad, I ain't mad
I aint mad at ya, I aint mad
'cause girl you bad, girl you bad
You doing your thang, and your work is this
When you work out
When you drop your bubble low
Girl I'll give it up and I'll clap
When you crawling on the flo'
Girl I clap
[Chorus]
Get your money baby! [x4]
If you strippin' I aint trippin'
If its alright with ya, its alright with me
When you work it, work it, work it
Girl when you work it
Please don't hurt me, hurt me, hurt me
Hurt me, don't hurt me
When you drop it, drop it, drop it
Pop it and drop it
Take it easy, easy, easy
Easy, go easy
Because you bad girl, bad girl
Dynamite (dynamite)
Thats rite
[x3]
Because you bad girl, bad girl
Dynamite (damn rite I'm bad)
[Chorus:]
Get your money baby! [x4]
If you strippin' I ain't trippin'
If it's alright with ya, it's alright with me
The song "Get Your Money" by will.i.am is about a single mother who is making a living as a stripper. The lyrics do not judge her profession and encourage her to continue on with her work, as long as it doesn't harm anyone. The song recognizes her as a strong and independent woman who is doing what she can to provide for herself and her family. will.i.am also acknowledges the stigma and negative stereotypes associated with stripping but does not condemn those who choose to pursue it as a profession.
The lyrics also touch upon the theme of temptation, as the stripper is portrayed as someone who has the power to make men leave their wives, break hearts, and even cause fights. However, the song does not glorify her actions, instead it acknowledges her as a danger and warns against falling in love with her. The chorus of the song, "Get your money baby", encourages the stripper to keep hustling and earning her living, and if she chooses to strip, will.i.am is not going to judge her or interfere in her business.
Overall, "Get Your Money" is a song that encourages the empowerment of women, and advocates for sex workers to be treated with respect and not disdain. It recognizes their hard work, acknowledges the challenges they face, and celebrates them as strong and independent individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
Get your money baby! [x4]
Encouragement to women to make money
If you strippin' I ain't trippin'
I don't judge women who are stripping to make money
If its alright with ya, its alright with me
I support your choices and will not criticize them
She's a single momma, making dollars
A woman who is supporting her family by stripping
Cabaret and make you holla
Performing on stage for an audience and receiving tips
Looking lovely, day and nightly
She is beautiful both day and night
Making hubbies leave they wifey
Taking the attention of married men
Home wrecker; heart breaker; love to shake her money maker
She knows that men are attracted to her and uses that to her advantage
She's to sexy for her clothes, so she throws them on the floor
She is so confident in her body that she doesn't need clothes to feel sexy
She danger, she danger
This woman is a risk taker
What y'all wanna do fall in love?
Do you want to fall in love with her?
She just handling business
She is focused on making money and supporting herself and her family
Go head girl but don't work your stuff
She can do what she wants but should be careful not to get into trouble
[Chorus]
Repeating the hook
She's drop dead intelligent
This woman is very intelligent
Her fragrance is that stripper scent
She smells like the perfume commonly used among strippers
Browses popping to bonqo
She has good taste in music and dances well to it
We thongs drop to 50 cent
Her thong falls off while dancing to 50 Cent's music
Private dancer, bubble twister
Performing for clients in private settings and being able to contort her body
Just be glad she ain't your sister
Don't imagine her as your family member because of her profession
Hands off her you cant touch her
Don't touch her without her consent
Fall in love, and she bound to crush ya
She is focused on making money and will not let love affect her career
I ain't mad, I ain't mad
I am not angry or judging
I aint mad at ya, I aint mad
I am not upset with you
'cause girl you bad, girl you bad
Because you are confident and successful, you are admirable
You doing your thang, and your work is this
You are doing your job and doing it well
When you work out
When you dance on stage
When you drop your bubble low
When you dance and drop your butt low
Girl I'll give it up and I'll clap
I will show my appreciation by giving her money and applauding
When you crawling on the flo'
When you crawl seductively on the floor
Because you bad girl, bad girl
Because you are confident and successful, you are admirable
Dynamite (dynamite)
An explosive metaphor for an attractive, exciting woman
Thats rite
That's correct
Because you bad girl, bad girl
Because you are confident and successful, you are admirable
Dynamite (damn rite I'm bad)
An affirmation that she is attractive and exciting
[Chorus]
Repeating the hook
When you work it, work it, work it
When you dance, dance hard and with enthusiasm
Girl when you work it
When you dance, dance hard and with enthusiasm
Please don't hurt me, hurt me, hurt me
Please don't accidentally hurt me while dancing
Hurt me, don't hurt me
Please don't accidentally hurt me while dancing
When you drop it, drop it, drop it
When you dance, drop your butt low
Pop it and drop it
Dance by popping and then dropping your butt
Take it easy, easy, easy
Take your time and don't overdo it
Easy, go easy
Take your time and don't overdo it
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Melodie Der Welt GmbH, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILL ADAMS, WALTER MERZIGER, ARNO KAMMERMEIER, PATRICK BODMER, PHILLIP JUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jack X.
man this guy makes real music, respect.
岩倉玲音
Very stylish song . I love this song .
Geo_F1
Justement c'est tout l'art de Will' d'avoir repris l'instrumental (Arno Karmmermeier) d'un morceau qui à cartonné sur la Scéne house mondiale. Ca prouve l'eclepticité de son premiere album. Je vous invité à écouté "Impatient" la numéro 7 de l'album, une chanson qui prouve son ouverture sur des musiques élctro/Lounge pour celle la... Un super album que je conseille à tous d'acheter! FAN
Falkao92
1 Word! This is really DAMN hot. One of the best Beats and Lyrics. LOVE IT!
joewtjoewb
That track is heaven in a tune.
keemnal
Lovin' it
Mariah Brinson
looovvveee this song!
JyGuk
For those who doesn't like to do a research, will.i.am used samples of Booka Shade 'Body Language' legally, they are on the album credits.
By Any Means Necessary
Haven't heard this album in a minute.
djmifi
how could you destroy a classic like this!!!