Z-RO was born Joseph Wayne McVey IV in Houston's South Park neighborhood on January 19, 1977.[5] At age six his mother died, and he was shuttled from household to household in search of stability, eventually settling in the Ridgemont area, a middle-class suburb in Missouri City in Southwest Houston.[5] When Z-Ro reached his late teens he was unemployed and resorted to drug dealing and hustling on the streets.[5] According to Z-Ro, listening to the music of 2Pac, Geto Boys, Street Military, K-Rino and Klondike Kat inspired him to work harder for his goal of leaving the streets.[5] Z-Ro discovered his talent of freestyle rapping and after going through a couple of recording studios to make a demo,[5] the CEO of a local label discovered and signed him.
Z-Ro released his critically acclaimed Rap-a-Lot debut titled The Life of Joseph W. McVey.[5][6] The record was a huge success and helped expand Z-Ro's and Bobby Craig's fan base beyond the South.[5] In 2005, Z-Ro released Let the Truth Be Told, which was well received.[5] Z-Ro's 2006 album I'm Still Livin' was released while he was imprisoned for drug possession, to positive reviews.[7][8] It was called "a great album... powerful" but "relentlessly bleak" by The Village Voice[7] and "one of the best rap albums to come out of Houston" by the Houston Chronicle.[9] In 2010 he released the album titled Heroin, which was followed by an album titled Meth in 2011 and then Angel Dust in 2012.
Z-Ro released his first EP under The Mo City Don titled Tripolar on August 25, 2013 via One Deep Ent.[2] Z-Ro then followed up with The Crown in June 2014.[10] In February 2015, Z-Ro released his first proper studio album in three years, titled Melting the Crown.
In 2016, Z-Ro released Drankin & Drivin in August[11] and Legendary in November under his label One Deep Entertainment.
What's Going On
Z-Ro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you love living your life, leave me alone
I live the life, I sing about in my song
They hate me unitl I'm gone, they hate
They hate me until I'm gone, if you love living your life, leave me alone
[Z-Ro:]
Fuck everybody lately, cause it was fuck me first
It really don't matter, because I ride or die for me
Even if they kill me, there's happiness in the sky for me
So if it's death around the corner, I can't stop it if I wanna
Jesus just let me empty my tip, and hit my marijuana
Yeah I seen it coming, nobody gon catch me off guard
Make em look me in my eye, before they break me off Lord
Excuse my attitude, but I'm use to negativity
My life explains my fuck everybody, on each delivery
Some say it's the drugs, others say it's a lack of love
It ain't gotta be a reason, crazy simply just because
Everyday of my life, has been a struggle and pain
So I perform with no emotion, no further need to explain
If you love living your life, leave me alone
Fuck rap, I live the life I sing about in my song
[Hook:]
Fuck rap, I live the life I sing about in my song
Nobody in the world loves me, they hate me until I'm gone
(what's going on), realizing I'm going crazy
Everybody watching me suffer, but won't nobody save me
This can't be life, I promise the world ain't shit
I never knew I'd lose my mind, and end up like this
Cause all I think is murder, realizing I'm going crazy
Wait till they get a load of me, it's fuck everybody lately
[Z-Ro:]
In my '73, rolling on top of the trails
Let down my window, and let my pistol excel
Disrespect me, revenge gon represent me like a thief in the night
So prepare, for permanent sleep in you life
I'm still a Christian on a mission, but my vision ain't clear
Looking for peace, but all I see is drama down here
So when the going gets tough, the tough pull the team together
Who ride, and get rid of our enemies together
But if you live by the sword, then you die by it
So when it's time for me to go, it ain't no need to cry about it
Cause I done done my share, of wrong doing
Exaturated resolvable situations, and left some homes ruined
Even niggaz, that call themselves friends
They'll be first to try to rob me, and then do me in
So if you love living your life, leave me alone
Fuck rap, I live the life I sing about in my song
[Hook]
[Z-Ro:]
(what's going on), realizing I'm on the edge
My every thought is aggravated assault, and get my bread
For the love of money, motherfuckers disappear
That's the very reason, Joseph McVey keep his pistol near
Come and get me, so you can put your hands on my riches
The only alliby I need to squeeze it, and ain't digging ditches
But if I gotta, kiss my freedom goodbye
I tongue kiss my ten millimeter, cause she didn't let me die
That's a down ass bitch, mayn
Unlike my friends, cause just to get some ends they ten to spit names
24/7-365, nobody at my side
They might hit me up, before they help me hide
So I roll by myself, or I roll with Trae
A.B.N. for life, focused on making the world pay
If you love living your life, leave me alone
Fuck rap, I live the life I sing about in my song
[Hook]
The song “What’s Going On?” by Z-Ro expresses the struggle of the artist with the world around him. He sings about how the world hates him first and how he lives the life he sings about in his music. He feels like the world is watching him suffer but doesn't care to save him. The artist sings about the tough life he has had and his inability to escape the struggle even after achieving success. Despite wanting peace, he finds drama everywhere and contemplates taking revenge when disrespected. He also talks about the importance of sticking together in tough times but how even his closest friends can betray him for money.
Z-Ro, who is known for his introspective lyrics that touch on his struggles with mental health, addiction, and poverty, offers a glimpse into a tough life that many people may not be familiar with. The hook “(what’s going on?),” which repeats itself throughout the song, shows the artist's confusion and frustration with the world.
Overall, ‘What’s Going On?’ is a powerful reflection of the struggles of an artist who makes music derived from his lived experiences. With raw and emotional lyrics, the artist shares his life story that is both relatable and thought-provoking.
Line by Line Meaning
If you love living your life, leave me alone
Z-Ro wants people who enjoy their lives to leave him alone, as his life is full of struggles and pain.
I live the life, I sing about in my song
Z-Ro's life is just like the one he sings about in his songs.
Fuck everybody lately, cause it was fuck me first
Z-Ro does not care about anyone lately, as they did not care about him first.
What's the reason for the season, of wanting to see me in a hearse
Z-Ro wonders why people want him dead and want to see him in a coffin.
It really don't matter, because I ride or die for me
Z-Ro will always stand up for himself, even if it's against the whole world.
Even if they kill me, there's happiness in the sky for me
Z-Ro believes that there is a better place after death, so he does not fear death.
So if it's death around the corner, I can't stop it if I wanna
Z-Ro believes that he cannot avoid death, so he will not try to.
Jesus just let me empty my tip, and hit my marijuana
Z-Ro wants to smoke marijuana before he dies, as he believes it will bring him peace.
Yeah I seen it coming, nobody gon catch me off guard
Z-Ro is prepared for death - he knows it's coming and he will not be surprised.
Make em look me in my eye, before they break me off Lord
Z-Ro wants to face death bravely and wants to look it in the eyes before he dies.
Excuse my attitude, but I'm use to negativity
Z-Ro is used to negativity in his life, so he won't change his attitude.
My life explains my fuck everybody, on each delivery
Z-Ro's life is what prompts him to say 'fuck everybody' in every delivery of his songs.
Some say it's the drugs, others say it's a lack of love
Some people think Z-Ro's negative attitude comes from drugs, while others think it's due to a lack of love in his life.
It ain't gotta be a reason, crazy simply just because
Z-Ro's negative attitude may not have any reason behind it - sometimes, people are just crazy.
Everyday of my life, has been a struggle and pain
Z-Ro's life has been full of struggles and pain every single day.
So I perform with no emotion, no further need to explain
Z-Ro performs his music with no emotions because his life speaks for itself - he doesn't need to explain it any further.
Fuck rap, I live the life I sing about in my song
Z-Ro's life is just like the one he sings about in his songs.
Nobody in the world loves me, they hate me until I'm gone
Z-Ro feels like nobody in the world loves him - they only show love after he dies.
(what's going on), realizing I'm going crazy
Z-Ro is starting to think that he is losing his mind, and he wonders what is going on.
Everybody watching me suffer, but won't nobody save me
Z-Ro feels like everyone is watching him suffer, but nobody is stepping up to help him.
This can't be life, I promise the world ain't shit
Z-Ro thinks that life cannot be like this - he believes that the world is a bad place.
I never knew I'd lose my mind, and end up like this
Z-Ro never thought that he would be in a situation like this, where he feels like he is losing his mind.
Cause all I think is murder, realizing I'm going crazy
Z-Ro's thoughts are consumed by thoughts of murder, which makes him think that he is going crazy.
Wait till they get a load of me, it's fuck everybody lately
Z-Ro feels like he does not need anyone in his life right now, and he'll show them what he's capable of.
In my '73, rolling on top of the trails
Z-Ro is driving around on top of hilly terrain in his 1973 car.
Let down my window, and let my pistol excel
Z-Ro puts down the car window to show his pistol to people who disrespect him.
Disrespect me, revenge gon represent me like a thief in the night
If someone disrespects Z-Ro, he will take revenge silently and unexpectedly.
So prepare, for permanent sleep in your life
Z-Ro's revenge will be deadly - it will put the person to a permanent sleep.
I'm still a Christian on a mission, but my vision ain't clear
Z-Ro is a Christian, but he's not sure what his purpose in life is.
Looking for peace, but all I see is drama down here
Z-Ro wants to find peace in life, but all he sees is drama around him.
So when the going gets tough, the tough pull the team together
Z-Ro believes that when things get hard, the strong will come together to face it.
Who ride, and get rid of our enemies together
Z-Ro wants to ride with people who will help him get rid of his enemies.
But if you live by the sword, then you die by it
Those who use violence to solve problems will eventually fall victim to it themselves.
So when it's time for me to go, it ain't no need to cry about it
Z-Ro does not want people to cry when he dies, as he knows it's inevitable.
Cause I done done my share, of wrong doing
Z-Ro has done his fair share of bad things in life.
Exaturated resolvable situations, and left some homes ruined
Z-Ro has blown up small problems into bigger ones, which resulted in ruined homes and possibly broken relationships.
Even n****z, that call themselves friends
Even the people who call themselves Z-Ro's friends might betray him.
They'll be first to try to rob me, and then do me in
Z-Ro's so-called friends will try to steal from him and even kill him.
In my '73, rolling on top of the trails
Z-Ro is still driving his 1973 car on hills.
Fuck rap, I live the life I sing about in my song
Z-Ro's life is just the way he sings about it, and he doesn't care about anyone's opinions.
(what's going on), realizing I'm on the edge
Z-Ro thinks he's on the edge of insanity.
My every thought is aggravated assault, and get my bread
Z-Ro's thoughts are consumed by the idea of violence and making money.
For the love of money, motherfuckers disappear
People disappear when there's money involved, and Z-Ro thinks that's the only reason they were ever around in the first place.
That's the very reason, Joseph McVey keep his pistol near
Z-Ro keeps his pistol near him at all times for protection.
Come and get me, so you can put your hands on my riches
Z-Ro challenges people to try and steal from him so he can defend his wealth.
The only alliby I need to squeeze it, and ain't digging ditches
Z-Ro does not need any justification to use his pistol - he will defend himself at all costs.
But if I gotta, kiss my freedom goodbye
Z-Ro is willing to risk his freedom to defend himself.
I tongue kiss my ten millimeter, cause she didn't let me die
Z-Ro kisses his gun because it has saved his life before.
So I roll by myself, or I roll with Trae
Z-Ro mostly rolls alone or with his friend, Trae.
A.B.N. for life, focused on making the world pay
Z-Ro and Trae are part of a group called A.B.N. (Assholes by Nature) and they want to take revenge on the world.
Fuck everybody lately, cause it was fuck me first
Z-Ro does not care about anyone lately, as they did not care about him first.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALFRED W CLEVELAND, MARVIN P GAYE, RENALDO BENSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind