4– English Lyrics

• By: Kevin Gates
• Album: Luca Brasi 4

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and '4:30am' by Kevin Gates offers a unique opportunity to engage with the raw, narrative-driven slang and storytelling of Southern American English. The song's candid and unfiltered lyrics provide a window into a specific cultural context and dialect, making it a compelling piece for advanced learners to explore themes of resilience and personal history through the power of hip-hop.

[English]

What the fuck!?

Hello?

What up, D?

What up nigga?

Shit, chillin'

Shit, I said

I'm just cooling, brah. I'm just cooling.

But look, I'm 'bout to get it in right fast, nigga. I love you.

Lemme do this, I'mma call you later.

Alright, nigga.

Alright, love you, boy.

Love you too, nigga.

Keep ballin'

Gladiators on deck

Drug users don't drink Sprite

And when I do, it ain't pink Sprite

A lot of lean, it's purple

Trust issues, don't trust really, no two-point conversion

Won't run it after I touch down, my punter kicking, it's defense

(What you get into this weekend?)

Where was you when I was slumped over?

Gums hurtin' from an old bullet, in front the toilet, while hunched over

Puking all of my insides, stab wound from an old friend

Well at that time we were close friends

They say I killed him in cold blood

We wrestled for the gun, but the gun went off

He upped the pistol, looked him dead in his eyes

I've been ready to die told nigga, do it

Gates man, I'll really do it

I'm serious too nigga, really do it

Turned his head

Closed his eyes

Aimed the tool

Started shooting

I didn't die, my life a movie

4:30 a.m., never say when

It's five in the morning

And your children are somewhere on the corner

6:00 a.m., water boiling

Think I'm addicted to the strong aroma

When I was touchin' McKinley

Erin really my best friend

And I was loving her best friend

Bright Brittany, with the long hair

You know Fable lil' sista

She stole the jag to come and get me

I was buying dope, in and out the system

Brandy fuckin' my nigga, Ray

At the same time, fuckin' cold sweatin'

He the track coach, and an asshole

Know that didn't have shit to do with this

I was just stating the facts though

Jessica 'round me, talking sexually 'bout me

She bent over in front me, from the back while I'm pounding

Now it's over

Bitch, get up and get out

I mostly likely forgot to mention, but we was in my trap house

Just brainstorming, in the game forming

These thoughts and ideas

No regrets for the shit I did

That also mean for the niggas I killed

4:30 a.m., never say when

It's five in the morning

And your children are somewhere on the corner

6:00 a.m., water boiling

Think I'm addicted to the strong aroma

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
cooling /ˈkuːlɪŋ/ A2	verb - to relax or take it easy
ballin /ˈbɔːlɪn/ B1	verb - to live lavishly or succeed
gladiators /ɡlæˈdiˌeɪtərz/ B1	noun - ancient Roman fighters
lean /liːn/ A2	noun - a drug mixture
trust /trʌst/ A1	noun - belief in someone's reliability
slumped /slʌmpt/ B1	verb - to fall or sink heavily
bullet /ˈbʊlɪt/ A2	noun - a projectile fired from a gun
stab /stæb/ A2	verb - to wound with a sharp object
wrestled /ˈrɛsəld/ B1	verb - to fight or struggle physically
pistol /ˈpɪstəl/ A2	noun - a handheld firearm
aimed /eɪmd/ A2	verb - to point or direct at a target
aroma /əˈroʊmə/ B1	noun - a distinctive smell
dope /doʊp/ B1	noun - illegal drugs
brainstorming /ˈbreɪnˌstɔːrmɪŋ/ B2	noun - generating ideas in a group
regrets /rɪˈɡrɛts/ A2	noun - feelings of sadness for past actions