GNX – English Lyrics

• By: Kendrick Lamar

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Kendrick Lamar's "GNX," a dynamic album that not only delivers sharp lyricism and West Coast vibes but also offers a unique window into American slang and cultural references. By exploring its multifaceted themes of power, identity, and industry dynamics, you'll gain a deeper understanding of contemporary hip-hop language and the cultural nuances woven throughout the lyrics. This song is special for its bold declarations and introspective commentary, making it an engaging and educational listen for language learners.

[English]

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

Tell 'em Kendrick did it, like, what-

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'

Aye, on the dead ones

We'll treat an enemigo like some bread crumbs

All of my killers on go, like, who said so?

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, I'm from Murder Van

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

Who is in? 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 tickets

I'm bougie with 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

Aye, 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

Aye, I'm trippin' and I'm lovin' it

Tell 'em Peysoh did it

Like, wha—

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 thirteen up at Avalon, poppin' chains

Fourteen, ride minibikes with some dead friends

Twenty-one, flag on my head like a Taliban

Twenty-five, feelin' like the box, it was full of sand

At the cemetery, fuck that, that's where I could've 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 boxing ring

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

Aye, like it's Iraq, shooter name Hussein

Ridin' with the dirty blicky, switchy, make a new flame

She said I been a dog all my life, "Bae, can you change?"

True to my religion, Cuban links, more than 2Chainz

Tell 'em Hitta did it

Aye, 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

Aye, 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 Lizzie 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, energetic, and concerted effort, typically on a specific task verb - to attack rapidly and powerfully
west /wɛst/ A1	noun - the direction opposite east adjective - situated in the west, or facing the west
shit /ʃɪt/ B1	noun - excrement; also used to refer to things considered worthless or nonsense.
trippin' /ˈtrɪpɪn/ B2	verb - acting irrationally or strangely, often under the influence of drugs.
lovin' /ˈlʌvɪn/ A1	verb - Feeling or showing love and affection.
joint /dʒɔɪnt/ B1	noun - A marijuana cigarette
flip /flɪp/ B1	verb - To turn over or reverse quickly.
unemployment /ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/ B2	noun - The state of being unemployed.
dead /dɛd/ A1	adjective - No longer alive.
enemigo /ˌɛnɪˈmiːɡoʊ/ B2	noun - (Spanish) Enemy.
killers /ˈkɪlər/ B1	noun - Someone who kills.
redrum /ˈrɛdrʌm/ C1	noun - Murder (spelled backwards)
heads /hɛdz/ A1	noun - The part of the body above the neck where the eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and brain are.
dance /dæns/ A1	noun - Movements of the body and feet, often to music. verb - To move one's body rhythmically, usually to music.

Key Grammar Structures

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

  ➔ Past Simple (showed) in a question

  ➔ The phrase "who "showed" you" uses the past simple tense to inquire about a past action.

• Who put the West back in front of shit?

  ➔ Past Simple (put) in a question; prepositional phrase

  ➔ Again, past simple is used. The prepositional phrase "in front of shit" indicates a position. "Put" is irregular but has the same form in past, present and future.

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

  ➔ Present Perfect (have been) in a question; conditional implicit

  ➔ The present perfect "have you ever been" is used to ask about past experiences. "...and you know it?" implies a conditional relationship: if you are a joint, then you know it.

• Have you ever had to flip your unemployment?

  ➔ Present Perfect (have had) + Modal Verb (had to)

  ➔ "Have you ever had to..." inquires about a past necessity or obligation. "Had to" expresses obligation.

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

  ➔ Past Simple (broke), 'the type to' + infinitive

  ➔ 'The type to' is used to describe someone's characteristic action or tendency. It's followed by the infinitive 'go and fix'.

• Don't wanna speak if you ain't talkin' 'bout no tickets

  ➔ Conditional clause (zero or first conditional with slang)

  ➔ This is a zero or first conditional. If you are not talking about tickets, then I don't want to speak. 'Ain't' and 'no' are slang.

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

  ➔ Modal verb of possibility (might)

  ➔ 'Might' expresses a possibility that something will happen. It is less certain than 'will'.