BGM – English Lyrics

• By: Wale
• Album: Wow...That's Crazy

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Wale's "BGM," a vibrant tribute to Black Girl Magic. This track offers a unique opportunity to explore themes of empowerment, resilience, and social justice, all while enjoying Wale's signature blend of hip-hop and funk. Discover the layers of meaning behind the lyrics and celebrate the beauty and strength of Black women.

[English]

If someone like you would love me (Ayy)

Move, if someone like you would love me

Ah love, yeah

I got her in my phone as BGM

And eh (ha)

Black benzes

Black fancy

Black bag full of old white men issa

Whole queen would you hold my hand, would you

Show me a lil' black girl, look

Black benzes

Black fancy

Black bag full of old white men issa

Whole queen would you hold my hand, would you

Show me a lil' black girl magic

Move, if someone like you would love me

Move, if someone like you would love me

Go go go go shorty

Get it shorty

Every Empire need a Taraji

Go shorty

I'm so proud of ya

Head high

You is under nobody

Sometime it be really so hard for ya

White boy paid more same job as you

The least I can do is write a song then I'll "mwaah" that part of you

Wale

Black benzes

Black fancy

Black bag full of old white men issa

Whole queen would you hold my hand, would you

Show me a little black girl, look

Black benzes

Black fancy

Black bag full of old white men issa

Whole queen would you hold my hand, would you

Show me a lil' black girl magic

Move, if someone like you would love me

Move, if someone like you would love me (Love me)

Ok black is beautiful, shorty

Black is bold

Black is black, true

But black is gold

If God a color

I know she black for sure

Niggas blasphemy

But God gave me a daughter

Black women I love you

Wish it all coulda worked

But still know that you love me

That's why I hurt when you hurt

Look, a lot of animals on my boat

But all the real niggas know that BGM is the goat

So let's go

It's your birthday

Got that ice cream

It's sherbet day

Go shorty

I'm so proud of ya

Head high

You was under nobody

Go shorty

It's your birthday

Got that ice cream

It's your birthday

Go shorty

I'm so proud of ya

Black woman

You was under nobody

Black benzes

Black fancy

Black bag full of old white men issa

Whole queen would you hold my hand, would you

Show me a little black girl, look

Black benzes

Black fancy

Black bag full of old white men issa

Whole queen would you hold my hand, would you

Show me a lil' black girl magic

Whoa, if someone like you would love me

Move, if someone like you would love me

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
black /blæk/ A1	adjective - relating to people of African descent; dark in color
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - to feel deep affection for someone
magic /ˈmædʒɪk/ A2	noun - special power or influence; enchanting quality
queen /kwiːn/ A2	noun - female ruler; woman of high status
proud /praʊd/ B1	adjective - feeling deep satisfaction; having self-respect
fancy /ˈfænsi/ B1	adjective - elaborate or luxurious; stylish
benzes /ˈbɛnzɪz/ B2	noun - luxury Mercedes-Benz vehicles (slang)
empire /ˈɛmpaɪər/ B2	noun - large powerful organization; dominion
gold /ɡoʊld/ A2	noun - precious yellow metal; something valuable
shorty /ˈʃɔːrti/ C1	noun - term of endearment for a woman (slang)
BGM /biː dʒiː ɛm/ C2	noun - acronym for 'Black Girl Magic' - cultural celebration of Black women
move /muːv/ A1	verb - to change position; to act
go /ɡoʊ/ A1	verb - to proceed; to take action
hurt /hɜːrt/ A2	verb - to cause emotional pain
hold /hoʊld/ A1	verb - to grasp; to support
show /ʃoʊ/ A1	verb - to display; to demonstrate

Key Grammar Structures

• If someone like you would love me (Ayy)

  ➔ Conditional Sentence (Type 2)

  ➔ The phrase uses 'would' to express a hypothetical situation in the present or future.

• I got her in my phone as BGM

  ➔ Present Perfect

  ➔ 'Got' is used to describe an action that happened in the past and has results in the present.

• Black benzes, Black fancy

  ➔ Coordination of Adjectives

  ➔ Multiple adjectives are used to describe the same noun, separated by commas.

• Whole queen would you hold my hand, would you

  ➔ Tag Question

  ➔ A tag question is added at the end of a statement to seek confirmation.

• Every Empire need a Taraji

  ➔ Subject-Verb Agreement (Singular/Plural Mismatch)

  ➔ The verb 'need' should agree with the singular subject 'Empire', but here it is used with a plural verb form.

• I'm so proud of ya

  ➔ Contraction

  ➔ 'I'm' is a contraction of 'I am'.

• You is under nobody

  ➔ Non-standard Grammar (Subject-Verb Agreement Error)

  ➔ The correct form should be 'You are under nobody', as 'you' requires a plural verb form.

• Black is beautiful, shorty

  ➔ Linking Verb

  ➔ 'Is' is a linking verb that connects the subject 'Black' with the predicate adjective 'beautiful'.