The same album also features a song dedicated to his former partner Mad Lou, who is currently incarcerated.
Keep It Gangsta
Young Jeezy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You niggas doing way too much nigga.
You tryin' to bite my style, steal my swag.
You wanna know how to do it I'll give you the recipe.
Let's go.
[Chorus: x2]
I keep it gangsta and they love dat shit
I keep it gangsta and they love dat shit
If you's a gangsta you gone love dis shit
This one's for you and I ain't talking Bud Light, (Nope)
H-K nigga with that little red light, (Ha Ha)
Whole club bouncing everybody strapped up,
Pull it out my pants and make erbody back up, (Yea)
Fuck a record deal the boy just too real,
Watch em cook it on da stove man the boy got skills, (jea)
Streets is talking whole hood's whispering,
Careful what I say cause I know dem folks listening, (Damn!)
It's ya boy Mr. 17-5,
Lil mama whole the strap and the work while I drive, (jea)
Take it out the wrap and I put it on the scale,
But keep that on da low cause I ain't trying to go to jail. (Ha ha)
[Chorus]
They call me Slick Manning cause my vision's great, (jea)
Toss shells like pigskins when I squeeze the 8,
Think I start for the Braves way I rep the A,
Like John Smokes in his prime when I pitch the K,
Got the scale in my pocket on some suicide doors,
Yams in the strap facing suicide time, Let's go
Outlandish wit it man it's stupid how we shine, Aye
Catch me in them bunkers with the troops all the time, (Okay)
I heed like Sadam but I'm sick like Ooday, (Ooday!)
Keeps some youngsters with me and they all bout gunplay, (Ha Ha)
We been had the streets jammed up to stock,
We down south niggas but the plugs up top. (For real)
[Chorus]
Blood Raw I keep it gangsta my nigga
This for gangstas I ain't talking bout you bustas,
Choppa toaters money gettas naw not you suckas,
Coola than a fan coola than a freezer,
Still in da hood ridin sixes on the Reagal,
Still on M-L-K still got a side,
Still getting money and I'm still in the trap,
Lil mama say she like me plus she know I'm hood,
I'm a fool wit laying pipe plus she know I'm good,
I got a spot for the yay Uncle Pete keep the K's,
Auntie Shirley got the money if they rush then we straight,
732 shawdy leave it in my pager,
We ain't talking on dem phones cause I know you talking paper.
[Chorus]
In Young Jeezy Slick Pulla And Blood Raw's song Keep It Gangsta, the artists express their commitment to remaining true to their roots and the values of gangsta culture. They admonish those who try to copy their swag and offer a recipe for how to keep it gangsta. The chorus repeats the phrase "I keep it gangsta and they love dat shit" to emphasize their steadfastness to gangsta culture. They boast about their street credibility and skills as they talk about their experiences in the drugs and firearms trade.
The lyrics are a celebration of gangsta culture and lifestyle. The artists are warning those who try to copy them that they should stay in their lane and embrace their own identity. They also suggest that keeping it gangsta is a way of life that should be celebrated rather than denigrated. The song is a reflection of the hip-hop genre's roots in street culture and how the artists use their music to paint a picture of their experiences in the streets.
Line by Line Meaning
Jeah, ay
I'm acknowledging and agreeing with what's being said
You niggas doing way too much nigga.
You're trying too hard to copy my style.
You tryin' to bite my style, steal my swag.
You're attempting to copy everything that I do and take it as your own.
You wanna know how to do it I'll give you the recipe.
If you really want to know how to do it right, I'm willing to teach you.
I keep it gangsta and they love dat shit
I'm always true to the streets and people respect me for it.
If you's a gangsta you gone love dis shit
If you're really a gangsta, you'll appreciate and relate to my music.
Fuck a record deal the boy just too real,
I'm not in this for the fame or money, I'm just being true to who I am.
Whole club bouncing everybody strapped up,
Everyone in the club is armed and ready for anything.
Watch em cook it on da stove man the boy got skills,
I know how to cook drugs perfectly and it's my main source of income.
Careful what I say cause I know dem folks listening,
I'm aware that the police could be monitoring my conversations, so I have to be careful what I say.
Take it out the wrap and I put it on the scale,
I'm weighing out drugs to sell.
They call me Slick Manning cause my vision's great,
I'm called Slick Manning because I have very clear sight and ability to see things others miss.
Got the scale in my pocket on some suicide doors,
I have a scale in my pocket and I'm living dangerously.
We down south niggas but the plugs up top.
We might be from the southern states, but we have connections up north for our drug supply.
Choppa toaters money gettas naw not you suckas,
I'm only associating with people who are serious about making money and are willing to do what it takes to get it.
Still getting money and I'm still in the trap,
I'm still making money off of selling drugs even though it's a risky and illegal business.
I'm a fool wit laying pipe plus she know I'm good,
I'm skilled in sexual intercourse and women recognize that about me.
We ain't talking on dem phones cause I know you talking paper.
We're not having conversations on the phone because we know it could be monitored by law enforcement looking for evidence of illegal activity.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, THE ADMINISTRATION MP INC
Written by: BRUCE FALSON, DARREN STEPHENS, JAY JENKINS, RENALDO WHITMAN, TIMOTHY REESE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind