Blue Magic – English Lyrics

• By: JAY-Z

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the world of JAY-Z's 'Blue Magic' to learn English through the lens of hip-hop storytelling. This track offers a rich vocabulary related to street life, ambition, and historical events of the 1980s. Its clever wordplay and references to iconic figures in both politics and music make it a special song for understanding the nuances of American culture and language.

[English]

Roc-a-fella records

The imperial Skateboard P

Great Hova

Y'all already know what it is (Oh Shit!)

C'mon!

Yeah

So what if you flip a couple words

I could triple that in birds

Open your mind you see the circus in the sky

I'm Ringling brothers Barnum and Bailey with the pies

No matter how you slice it I'm your motherfucking guy

Just like a B-Boy with 360 waves

Do the same with the pot, still come back beige

Whether writers are par, whether powder the jar

Whip it around, it still comes back hard

So easily do I w-h-i-p

My repetition with wrists will bring you kilo biggers

I got Creole C.O. bitches

For my niggas who slipped, became prisoners

Trees taped to the visitors

You already know what the business is

Unnecessary commissary, boy we live this shit

Niggas wanna bring the '80s back

It's okay with me, that's where they made me at

Except I don't write on the wall

I write my name in the history books

Hustling in the hall (hustling in the hall)

Nah, I don't spin on my head

I spin work in the pots so I can spend my bread

And I'm getting it, I'm getting it

I ain't talking about it, I'm living it

I'm getting it, straight getting it

Get get get it boy

(Don't waste you time

Fighting the life stay your course

And you'll understand)

Get it boy

It's '87 state of mind that I'm in (mind that I'm in)

In my prime, so for that time, I'm Rakim (I'm Rakim)

If it wasn't for the crime that I was in

But I wouldn't be the guy whose rhymes it is that I'm in (that I'm in)

No pain, no profit, P I repeat if you show me where the pot is (pot is)

Cherry M3's with the top back (top back)

Red and green G's all on my hat

North beach leathers, matching Gucci sweater

Gucci sneaks on to keep my outfit together

Whatever, hundred for the diamond chain

Can't you tell that I came from the dope game

Blame Reagan for making me into a monster

Blame Oliver North and Iran-Contra

I ran contraband that they sponsored

Before this rhyming stuff we was in concert

And I'm getting it, I'm getting it

I ain't talking about it, I'm living it

I'm getting it, straight getting it

Get get get it boy

(Don't waste you time

Fighting the life stay your course

And you'll understand)

Get it boy

Push (push) money over broads, you got it, fuck Bush

Chef (chef), guess what I cooked

Baked a lot of bread and kept it off the books

Rockstar, look, way before the bars my picture was getting took

Feds, they like wack rappers

Tried as they may, couldn't get me on the hook

D.A. wanna indict me

'Cause fish scales in my veins like a pisces

The pyrex pot, rolled up my sleeves

Turn one into two like a Siamese

Twin when it end, I'm a stand as a man

Never dying or admiring these

Last of a dying breed, so let the champagne pop

I partied for a while now I'm back to the block

And I'm getting it, I'm getting it

I ain't talking about it, I'm living it

I'm getting it, straight getting it

Get get get it boy

(Don't waste you time

Fighting the life stay your course

And you'll understand)

Get it boy

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
imperial /ɪmˈpɪəriəl/ B2	adjective - relating to an empire; having the authority of a ruler
flip /flɪp/ A2	verb - to turn over quickly noun - a quick turning over; a sudden movement
mind /maɪnd/ A2	noun - the part of a person that thinks, feels, and reasons verb - to care about; to be concerned with
circus /ˈsɜːrkəs/ B1	noun - a traveling company of performers, especially acrobats and clowns
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the region of the atmosphere seen from Earth
whip /wɪp/ B1	verb - to beat or stir vigorously noun - a flexible strip used for striking
repetition /rɛpɪˈtɪʃən/ B2	noun - the act of repeating something
prisoners /ˈprɪzənərz/ B1	noun - people who are confined in prison
business /ˈbɪznɪs/ B1	noun - commercial activity; a company or enterprise
crime /kraɪm/ B1	noun - an act that violates the law
profit /ˈprɒfɪt/ B2	noun - financial gain; the difference between revenue and cost verb - to obtain financial gain
diamond /ˈdaɪəmənd/ B1	noun - a precious gemstone made of carbon
contraband /ˈkɒntrəbænd/ C1	noun - goods that are illegal to import or export
indict /ɪnˈdɪkt/ C1	verb - to formally accuse someone of a crime
champagne /ʃæmˈpeɪn/ B2	noun - a sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France
block /blɒk/ B1	noun - a solid piece of material, often rectangular verb - to obstruct or prevent movement
understand /ˌʌndərˈstænd/ B1	verb - to grasp the meaning, significance, or nature of something
sleeves /sliːvz/ B1	noun - the part of a garment that covers the arm
siamese /saɪˈæmiːz/ B2	adjective - relating to Siam (now Thailand)
bread /brɛd/ B1	noun - a staple food made from flour and water; slang for money

Key Grammar Structures

• So what if you flip a couple words

  ➔ Conditional Clause (So + if)

  ➔ This line uses a rhetorical question with a conditional clause. The 'So what if...' structure challenges the listener, implying that even if they change a few words, JAY-Z can surpass them. The **'if'** introduces a hypothetical situation.

• I could triple that in birds

  ➔ Modal Verb + Infinitive (could + triple)

  ➔ The use of **'could'** expresses ability or possibility. 'Birds' is slang for money. The sentence means JAY-Z can easily earn three times the amount someone else is talking about. The **'triple'** is the infinitive form.

• Whether writers are par, whether powder the jar

  ➔ Correlative Conjunctions (Whether...or)

  ➔ This line uses **'whether...or'** to present two alternative possibilities. 'Par' refers to standard or average, and 'powder the jar' is slang for dealing drugs. It's a parallel structure emphasizing JAY-Z's success regardless of the situation.

• I spin work in the pots so I can spend my bread

  ➔ Idiomatic Expression ('spin work')

  ➔ **'Spin work'** is slang for preparing drugs for sale. **'Bread'** is slang for money. The sentence means he's processing drugs to earn money to spend. This is a metaphorical use of **'pots'**.

• No pain, no profit, P I repeat if you show me where the pot is

  ➔ Ellipsis & Imperative Mood

  ➔ The phrase **'No pain, no profit'** is a well-known proverb. The second part of the sentence is an imperative – a direct command. The **'P'** is likely an interjection. The ellipsis (...) implies a continuation of thought. The **'pot'** refers to drugs.