First Person Shooter

• By: Drake, J. Cole
• Album: For All The Dogs Scary Hours Edition

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
shooter /ˈʃuːtər/ B1	noun - a person who shoots, especially with a gun
funeral /ˈfjuːnərəl/ B2	noun - a ceremony held for a dead person
code /koʊd/ B1	noun - a system of words, letters, figures, or symbols used to represent others, especially for the purposes of secrecy
verses /ˈvɜːrsɪz/ B2	noun - sections of a song or poem
dinner /ˈdɪnər/ A1	noun - the main meal of the day, usually eaten in the evening
rootin' /ˈruːtɪn/ B2	verb - supporting a team or person
beef /biːf/ B2	noun - a complaint or grievance
words /wɜːrdz/ A1	noun - units of language with meaning
mystique /mɪˈstiːk/ C1	noun - an aura of mystery or veneration surrounding someone or something
album /ˈælbəm/ A2	noun - a collection of songs or musical items
league /liːɡ/ B1	noun - a group of sports teams who play against each other
mistake /mɪˈsteɪk/ A2	noun - an action or judgment that is misguided or wrong
game /ɡeɪm/ A1	noun - a form of play or sport
prison /ˈprɪzən/ B1	noun - a building where people are legally held as a punishment for a crime they have committed
breakfast /ˈbrekfəst/ A1	noun - the first meal of the day
motion /ˈmoʊʃən/ A2	noun - the act or process of moving
pen /pɛn/ A1	noun - an instrument for writing or drawing with ink
pressure /ˈprɛʃər/ B1	noun - the exertion of force upon a surface by an object, fluid, etc., in contact with it

Grammar:

• To them niggas that say they wan' off us, you better be talkin' 'bout workin' in cubicles

  ➔ Conditional Sentence (Implied Condition)

  ➔ The "better be talking" implies an "if" condition: "If you want to come at us, you better be talking about work, not beef." This utilizes an imperative form to express a strong conditional statement. This showcases the **elliptical** nature of conditional sentences in informal speech.

• Lot of niggas debatin' my numeral

  ➔ Non-standard English / AAVE (African American Vernacular English)

  ➔ The use of "niggas" instead of "niggas are" or "many niggas are" demonstrates the grammar rules of AAVE. The omitted verb 'are' is a feature of AAVE, impacting sentence structure and verb conjugation. This shows how context and cultural background change how grammar rules are applied.

• Yeah, them boys had it locked, but I knew the code

  ➔ Past Perfect (implied)

  ➔ While the sentence uses simple past tense, the phrase "had it locked" implies that the boys had already secured something (presumably a position or advantage) *before* the speaker knew the code. The action of locking happened *before* the speaker knew the code.

• I'm lettin' it rock 'cause I love the mystique

  ➔ Present Continuous for habits (informal)

  ➔ "I'm lettin' it rock" using the present continuous can describe a current habit or a decision made over time. It differs from "I let it rock" which would be a more general statement or a past action. This use adds a sense of ongoing consideration and acceptance.

• Just know if I diss you, I'd make sure you know that I hit you like I'm on your caller ID

  ➔ Second Conditional (Hypothetical)

  ➔ The structure "if I diss you, I'd make sure..." demonstrates the second conditional. It presents a hypothetical situation (dissing someone) and the consequence. The use of "would" in the main clause indicates a condition that is unlikely or imaginary. Note that the second part of the clause contains a complex sentence using a *that* clause.

• I'm namin' the album The Fall Off, it's pretty ironic 'cause it ain't no fall off for me

  ➔ Use of 'ain't' (Non-standard English)

  ➔ The use of "ain't" as a contraction for "is not" or "are not" is a feature of non-standard English or AAVE. It's important to note its register and avoid it in formal contexts. The use of **'cause** is also an informal way of saying because.

• Hate how the game got away from the bars, man, this shit like a prison escape

  ➔ Subjunctive Mood (wish/regret)

  ➔ The phrase "Hate how the game got away from the bars" expresses a sense of regret or a wish that something were different. The use of "hate how" followed by a clause indicates that the speaker disapproves of a current state of affairs and wishes it were otherwise, bordering on a subjunctive sentiment. It's not a formal subjunctive construction, but it carries the same meaning.

• Will they ever give me flowers? Well, of course not

  ➔ Rhetorical Question

  ➔ The question "Will they ever give me flowers?" is not meant to be answered. It's a rhetorical question used to emphasize the speaker's belief that they will not receive recognition. This is followed by the direct answer of “Well, of course not”.