Low Income
Wyclef Jean Lyrics

Let um feel the beat first
Allow the listeners to get into the rhythm and groove of the music before starting the lyrics

I'm bout to come through your stereo
My music is going to play loudly through your speakers

Should my rhyme start with the hook
Wondering whether to begin the rap with the chorus or not

Start with the hook
Decide to begin the rap with the chorus

Thank God it's Friday
Expressing relief that the work week is over

Cover me she bout to put up her skirt
A woman is making sexual advances towards me and I'm excited about it

Do your mom now you act so berserk
Asking if someone's mother is aware of their wild and crazy behavior

What's the track, what's the track girl?
Asking a woman what music she wants to hear

She don't want to, she don't want to work on Monday
A person doesn't want to go back to work after the weekend

For makin' me a star before I had fast cars
Feeling grateful to hometown community for supporting him before he became famous

And couldn't tell the difference between Whoppers and caviar
Did not have money for luxury food such as caviar, only affordable fast food

Before the fame
Referring to a time before becoming a celebrity

Way before things changed
Reflecting on a time when everything was different

All I wanted to do was freestyle and get a name
Desiring to be recognized as a good rapper

I used to work at the fast food restaurant
Used to be employed at a fast food establishment

For minimum wage
Only paid the legal minimum hourly pay for the job

Dreamin' I'm on stage
Having aspirations of performing in front of a live audience

At 17 I left the house
Leaving the parental home at a young age

'Cause my father was a minister
Father was a religious leader

And I didn't want the Marvin route
Trying not to follow in the footsteps of Marvin Gaye, who also had a religious father

Today to sell a song you need a video with soft porn
Present-day music videos often contain sexually-explicit content in order to appeal to viewers

MC's in the industry
Referring to rappers who are part of the music industry

You want to tip?
Do you want advice?

Don't let them pimp you like Goldy
Don't let other industry people exploit you for their own gain

And tell Sony they better have my money
A warning for the record company to pay him his dues

'Cause I play wit the Comodores and be like Lionel Richie
Proudly referencing working with famous musicians such as Lionel Richie and The Commodores

Low Income, I stay so hungry that if 50 Cent came to rob me
Describing being in situations of poverty, where even if 50 Cent were to rob him, it would be considered a charitable act

He'd be part of my charity
If 50 Cent robbed me, he would be indirectly giving me charity

To my people cuttin here in the shops
Referring to barbers who are working in their shops

To the thugs sweatin up in the chop shops
Acknowledging the people in chop shops who are working and earning little money

To my people that don't got no job Every day it's Friday
Even though out of work, they might still appreciate the end of the week, and perhaps still enjoy life and love music

This morning
Referring to the present day

You don't have to cook me breakfast
Seeing the woman he is with as someone he is hooking up with only for the night, suggesting should treat him as such

'Cause your girlfriend will After you leave
Saying that other women, like the girlfriend of the person they’re with, will be available to cook breakfast for him after he's gone

For the love of money
Varies, possibly the desire for money and what that can give a person

I know kids who'll slit your throat Friday the 13th
Referring to dangerous people who will harm others, unafraid of bad luck or omens

Jason wit a trench coat
A reference to the popular horror movie villain, Jason Voorhees and his signature long coat.

But you can't scare Suzie
Saying that Suzie is not afraid of violence

Cause her man got so many uzi's you'd think he was Cadivi
Suggesting that one of Suzie's associates has so many guns that they could be mistaken for a Venezuelan security agency

Meanwhile, she's getting her nails done
While violence and guns are present in the world, some people, like Suzie, are preoccupied with cosmetic concerns

Crystal clear so they could shine like with diamonds
Nail polish has been applied to make her nails sparkling and shiny

It's such a shame what happened last week Man they found her under the sheets with a letter from the Son of Sam
Mentioning a recent tragedy where a person was killed by someone who may have been inspired by the notorious serial killer, Son of Sam

It said to tell New York I ain't sleepin
The letter indicated that the killer was still active and alert

You want to be clubbin then you better pack your heat in
If you want to go to a nightclub, you may want to carry a weapon for self-defense

And to my man G Swar Rest in Piece. I still pour liquor 1 draw on the cocoa leaf
A moment of reflection for a friend lost to drug use, symbolized by a final drink and a hit of cocaine.

Inhale, exhale smoke grasses
Continuing to smoke marijuana, a less incapacitating drug compared to the previously mentioned cocaine.

Polices in the area, but ain't no need to panic
Although there might be nearby police officers, no one needs to worry if they are without contraband.

You wit Wyclef you getting in
If you're with me, then you're getting past possible police scrutiny

If not, then we gonna make CNN
If the police were to apprehend and accuse them of anything, they could become a headline news item