GNX – English Lyrics

• By: Kendrick Lamar

Lyrics & Translation

Kendrick Lamar's "GNX" is a masterclass in lyrical depth and cultural references, making it an excellent song for learning about contemporary American English, particularly within the context of hip-hop. The song's intricate wordplay, allusions to West Coast culture, and exploration of complex themes like industry dynamics, personal growth, and societal issues provide a rich linguistic and cultural experience.

[English]

Tell 'em Kendrick did it, ayy, who showed you how to run a blitz?

Tell 'em Kendrick did it, who put the West back in front of shit?

Tell 'em Kendrick did it, ayy, I'm trippin', and I'm lovin' it

Tell 'em Kendrick did it, like, wow

Hi, have you ever been a joint and you know it?

Have you ever had to flip your unemployment?

On the dead guys, nigga, I ain't goin'

Ayy, on the dead ones, we'll treat an enemigo like some bread crumbs

All of my killers on go, like, who said somethin'?

Redrum, all I think about when I see heads come

Do my dance, hit the chop when I see opps go

Let 'em claim it, we the ones who really pop, bro

Don't televise it, we the ones who lettin' chops blow

Opps know, let 'em piss him off and it's a flop show

Murder man, singin' murder music off a murder van

Beat the pussy up like I been celibate and I murder sound

Who is him? One and only shotta, known as murder man

Catch you doin' dirty, it's no other way but murder plans

I broke her heart and you the type to go and fix it

Don't wanna speak if you ain't talkin' 'bout no ticket

I'm bougie wit' it, but I might just let you kiss it

Hit that block with diamonds on me, you could tell young Peysoh did it

Tell 'em Peysoh did it, ayy, who showed you how to run a blitz?

Tell 'em Peysoh did it, who put the West back in front of shit?

Tell 'em Peysoh did it, ayy, I'm trippin', and I'm lovin' it

Tell 'em Peysoh did it, like, wow

Hi, have you ever been a joint and you know it?

Have you ever had to flip your unemployment?

On the dead guys, nigga, I ain't goin'

Hop out suicide doors, it's the Hitta, man

You don't wanna see them doors slidin' on the Caravan

I know killers who was catchin' bodies and not one fade

I was 13 up at Avalon, poppin' chains

14, ridin' minibikes with some dead friends

21, flag on my head like a Taliban

25, feelin' like the box, it was full of sand

At the cemetery, fuck that, that's where I coulda been

142nd, I'm connected like I'm Rosecrans

Kinda shit I seen, try and forget and I will pop a Xan'

Uppin' scores, doin' files, sacrifices like a boxin' ring

Can't throw in the towel, pistol-packin' since a child

Ayy, like it's Iraq, shoot and aim

Hussein, ridin' with the dirty blicky, switchy, make a new flame

She said I been a dawg all my life, bae, can you change?

True to my religion, Cuban links, more than two chains

Tell 'em Hitta did it, ayy, who showed you how to run a blitz?

Tell 'em Hitta did it, who put the West back in front of shit?

Tell 'em Hitta did it, ayy, I'm trippin', and I'm lovin' it

It's gettin' down to the wire

Get on my Bob the Builder shit, get down with the pliers

Been comin' back-to-back hits, how this nigga ain't tired?

I'm with some rockstar bitches, they want Lizzy McGuire

I'm switchin' gears, I pop the clutch, I'll send a nigga up

A risk-taker, I'll call you niggas' bluff

If they hangin' out for real, we come deduct, tuckin' tails, they outta luck

When it's wartime, they hidin' in the cut

Y'all had y'all chance, y'all couldn't do it

I swear I'm comin' worse than y'all baby moms, I'm puttin' niggas through it

They hate to see me doin' it, meal ticket, I'm pursuin' it

I'm in the field for real, UCLA Bruins

They askin' how I do it, how a young nigga so fluent

I kept my mouth closed, and I ain't never leave no witness

D.O.A. up on the scene, tell 'em Young Threat did it, nigga

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot verb - to manage or operate
blitz /blɪts/ B2	noun - a sudden, intense military attack
murder /ˈmɜːrdər/ B2	noun - the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another verb - to kill someone unlawfully and with premeditation
killers /ˈkɪlərz/ B2	noun - people who kill
dance /dæns/ A1	verb - to move rhythmically to music
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood in the body noun - the center of emotion or feeling
ticket /ˈtɪkɪt/ A2	noun - a piece of paper that allows you to enter a place or travel
field /fiːld/ A2	noun - an area of open land noun - a particular branch of study or activity
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - to have a strong affection for someone noun - a strong feeling of affection
sacrifice /ˈsækrɪfaɪs/ B2	noun - the act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else verb - to give up something valued for the sake of something else
opponent /əˈpoʊnənt/ B1	noun - someone who competes against another in a contest
flop /flɑːp/ B2	verb - to fail completely
pursue /pərˈsuː/ B2	verb - to follow or chase with the intent to catch
flipping /ˈflɪpɪŋ/ B1	verb - to turn over quickly

Key Grammar Structures

• Tell 'em Kendrick did it, ayy, who showed you how to run a blitz?

  ➔ Past simple tense

  ➔ The phrase "showed" is in the past simple tense, indicating a completed action.

• I'm bougie wit' it, but I might just let you kiss it.

  ➔ Modal verbs

  ➔ The word "might" is a modal verb used to express possibility.

• I broke her heart and you the type to go and fix it.

  ➔ Compound sentence

  ➔ This sentence combines two independent clauses with a conjunction.

• When it's wartime, they hidin' in the cut.

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ The phrase "they hidin'" uses the present continuous tense to describe an ongoing action.

• I'm in the field for real, UCLA Bruins.

  ➔ Prepositional phrase

  ➔ The phrase "in the field" is a prepositional phrase indicating location.

• I swear I'm comin' worse than y'all baby moms, I'm puttin' niggas through it.

  ➔ Comparative structure

  ➔ The phrase "worse than" is a comparative structure used to compare two things.

• They askin' how I do it, how a young nigga so fluent.

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ The phrase "They askin'" uses the present continuous tense to describe an ongoing inquiry.