Da Art of Storytellin' – English Lyrics

• By: Outkast

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the lyrical genius of Outkast with "Da Art of Storytellin'," a masterclass in narrative hip-hop from their iconic "Aquemini" album. This song is a fantastic way to explore the nuanced storytelling prevalent in English-language rap, offering vivid portrayals of human experience and societal reflections. You'll not only appreciate the intricate wordplay but also gain insight into how artists blend diverse musical styles, from funk to soul, to create a truly unique and engaging sonic landscape.

[English]

(gentle music)

♪ Somebody hit me the other day, for a rendezvous ♪

♪ Was it the wench that f***** Goodie ♪

♪ And the Dungeon Crew? ♪

♪ Let's say her name was Suzy Skrew, ♪

♪ 'Cause she screwed a lot ♪

♪ Making a player hit that chonk, at legitimate spots ♪

♪ Not no parks, backseats or things of that nature ♪

♪ Had to hate ya player ♪

♪ I'm kicking the door down never said I paid her ♪

♪ Straight laid her ♪

♪ Slayed the girl like Darth Vader, made her ♪

♪ From College Park and Fayette, all the way down to Decatur ♪

♪ Like Jada, her wig was sharp and sporty, that was shorty ♪

♪ Safer than a snake on eggs in a Beamer 840 ♪

♪ It's foggy, I went to the crib to call her but she lost me ♪

♪ My baby mama beeped me, seven o'clock it's gonna cost me ♪

♪ But I still wanna cut her though, maybe she had to work ♪

♪ I caught her in the mall, wearing a real tight skirt ♪

♪ She was, fine as what, I wanted to sex her the f*** up ♪

♪ She said let's hit the parking lot so I can suck your duck ♪

♪ I said cool, I really wanted to cut you but this'll do ♪

♪ I gotta pick up my daughter ♪

♪ Plus my baby mama beeped me too ♪

♪ She said she understood then everything was kosher ♪

♪ I gave her a Lil' Will CD ♪

♪ And a lovely poster, it's like that now ♪

♪ It's like that now ♪

♪ You better go get the hump, up out your back now ♪

♪ It's about four, or five, cats off in my 'llac now ♪

♪ We just shoot, game in the form of story rap now ♪

♪ It's like that now, it's like that now ♪

♪ Now Suzy Skrew had a partner ♪

♪ named Sasha (Shasha), Thumper (Thumper) ♪

♪ I remember her number like the summer ♪

♪ When her and Suzy yeah they threw a slumber ♪

♪ Party but you can not call it that 'cause it was slummer ♪

♪ Well it was more like spend the night ♪

♪ Three in the morning yawning dancing under street lights ♪

♪ We chilling like a villain and a n**** feeling right ♪

♪ In the middle of the ghetto on the curb, but in spite ♪

♪ All of the bull**** ♪

♪ We on our back staring at the stars above ♪

♪ Talking bout what we gonna be when we grow up ♪

♪ I said what you wanna be, she said alive ♪

♪ It made me think for a minute, then looked in her eyes ♪

♪ I coulda died, time went on, I got grown ♪

♪ Rhyme got strong, mind got blown, I came back home ♪

♪ To find lil' Sasha was gone ♪

♪ Her mama said she with a n**** be treating her wrong ♪

♪ I kept on singing my song and hoping at a show ♪

♪ That I would one day see her standing in the front row ♪

♪ But two weeks later she got found in the back of a school ♪

♪ With a needle in her arm, baby two months due ♪

♪ Sasha, Thumper ♪

♪ It's like that now, you better go get the hump ♪

♪ Up out your back now ♪

♪ It's about four, five, cats off in my 'llac now ♪

♪ We just shoot, game in the form of story rap now ♪

♪ It's like that now, it's like that now ♪

♪ - [Slick Rick] Throwin' things, yellin at a mad high pitch ♪

♪ Y'all, here we go again with this psychopath mess. ♪

♪ The neighbors will hear you, you misfit. ♪

♪ Can't disagree with the chick, about this shit ♪

♪ The price we pay to hit women ♪

♪ The most pretty chick got the psycho tick in her ♪

♪ Stuck up, soon as I pop up ♪

♪ See me with the next, she wanna tear the f***** club up ♪

♪ Check her past, number and I confirmin', ♪

♪ I learned more and more, some chicks to dump-- ♪

♪ And you know, I'll probably get custified, back slap ♪

♪ while she's busy trying to justify who cheated first ♪

♪ "Rick, what would I want with this more chain wearin' ♪

♪ M***** F***** tryin' to flirt?" ♪

♪ I know to cut her off and let another soothe me, ♪

♪ But I don't know, ordinary chick don't move me. ♪

♪ I mean I tried to fall in love with the bitty, ♪

♪ But straight up just be with the chick out of pity. ♪

♪ So I thought I know pretty chick shady, ♪

♪ Here I go tryin' to chonk with two ladies, 'na mean? ♪

♪ -[Outkast] It's like that now ♪

♪ You better go get the hump up out ya back now ♪

♪ It's about four, five cats off in my 'llac now ♪

♪ Just shoot game, in the form of story rap now ♪

♪ It's like that now, it's like that now ♪

♪ It's like that now, you better go get ♪

♪ The hump, up out ya back now ♪

♪ It's about four, five cats off in my 'llac now ♪

♪ Just shoot game, in the form of story rap now ♪

♪ It's like that now, it's like that now ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
rendezvous /ˈrɒndɪvuː/ C1	noun - an appointment or meeting, often secret or romantic
wench /wɛntʃ/ C1	noun - a woman, often one considered sexually available
screw /skruː/ B1	verb - to have sexual intercourse with
player /ˈpleɪər/ B1	noun - a person who is skilled in a game or activity; a womanizer
legitimate /lɪˈdʒɪtɪmət/ B2	adjective - lawful; conforming to the law or to rules
kick /kɪk/ A2	verb - to strike with the foot
slay /sleɪ/ B2	verb - to kill; to impress greatly
wig /wɪɡ/ A2	noun - a covering for the head made of hair
sharp /ʃɑːrp/ B1	adjective - having a fine edge or point; intelligent
foggy /ˈfɒɡi/ B1	adjective - full of fog
crib /krɪb/ A2	noun - a house or apartment
cut /kʌt/ A2	verb - to divide with a sharp instrument
tight /taɪt/ A2	adjective - fitting closely
sex /seks/ C1	verb - to engage in sexual intercourse
psychopath /ˈsaɪkəʊpæθ/ C2	noun - a person with a personality disorder manifesting in antisocial behavior
justify /ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ/ B2	verb - to show or prove to be right or reasonable
shade /ʃeɪd/ B1	noun - a slightly different version of something

Key Grammar Structures

• Was it the wench that f***** Goodie

  ➔ Past participle + Relative Clause

  ➔ The past participle "f*****" is used to form a relative clause that modifies "wench".

• Let's say her name was Suzy Skrew, 'Cause she screwed a lot

  ➔ Conditional + Causative (implied)

  ➔ The sentence structure is a conditional one, implying a cause-effect relationship; "Because" is not explicitly stated.

• Making a player hit that chonk, at legitimate spots

  ➔ Present Participle + Adverbial phrase of place

  ➔ "Making" is a present participle functioning as a gerund, modifying "player". "at legitimate spots" is an adverbial phrase of place.

• I'm kicking the door down never said I paid her

  ➔ Compound Sentence with Ellipsis

  ➔ The sentence is a compound sentence where the second part, "never said I paid her", is closely related to the first part and omits a repeated verb or subject.

• Slayed the girl like Darth Vader, made her

  ➔ Metaphorical comparison (like Darth Vader) + Verb omitted (implied)

  ➔ The phrase "like Darth Vader" uses a simile (metaphorical comparison). The second part "made her" implies "made her... something", omitting the object or further action for emphasis.

• Safer than a snake on eggs in a Beamer 840

  ➔ Comparative Adjective + Prepositional phrase

  ➔ "Safer" is a comparative adjective, and the rest of the sentence is a prepositional phrase used for comparison.

• I coulda died, time went on, I got grown

  ➔ Auxiliary Verb Contraction + series of independent clauses

  ➔ "coulda" is a contraction of "could have", and the sentence is composed of a series of independent clauses, each expressing a separate idea.

• That I would one day see her standing in the front row

  ➔ Subjunctive mood (implied), Conditional Clause, Gerund.

  ➔ The phrase implies a wish/hope (subjunctive). Conditional clause: "That I..." Gerund: "standing".