HOMAGE – English Lyrics

• By: Busta Rhymes, Kodak Black
• Album: BLOCKBUSTA

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the heart of hip-hop's tradition of respect with "HOMAGE" by Busta Rhymes and Kodak Black. This song is a fantastic way to learn English through the art of lyrical storytelling, as it showcases a meaningful conversation between two distinct generations of rappers. You'll not only pick up contemporary slang but also understand the cultural importance of honoring those who came before.

[English]

Wheezy outta here (Wheezy outta here)

All of my bread turn mustard, I spend it on yellow diamonds

And I don't fuck with busters unless they rhymin', yeah, yeah

Busta 'round, give me my flowers every time we encounter, yeah

I don't owe a bitch shit, went from a YG to a OG, I gotta pay homage

I had to start takin' them jiggles and drinkin', that liquor be makin' me violent

I knew she was shakin' her nigga, the way I was hittin' on Caveman's Island

Hot like the chain from a stripper, she ridin' my pole, she climbin' and slidin'

I turn that ho to a housewife, you can't even spеll that shit without it

I took my dawg out the project, after еvery show, I give 'em few thousand

The first time I met the ho, 'fore I sexed ho, asked her if she knew Wale

Took a Perc' and I call her, and when I try offer it, she told me she just do molly

I already got nine, so instead of the 'Rari, I'ma just cop the Bugatti

Had to bust a few shotters and ride for a don

Just bust a lil' thot if she fuck for a book

Had to pull a few robberies for me to survive

Stomach talkin' and my bitch arguin' too much

I got out of prison, ran it up in two months

I start right back to spendin', boy, you gon' do what?

Shawty smokin' dick, it's a mini-hookah

I'm puttin' on my Timberlands, a nigga boo'd up

All of my bread turn mustard, I spend it on yellow diamonds

And I don't fuck with busters unless they rhymin', yeah, yeah

Busta 'round, give me my flowers every time we encounter, yeah

I don't owe a bitch shit, went from a YG to a OG, I gotta pay homage

When I see the young G, Kodak, I love the way you be contributin' the shit that you be doin'

I done seen you go to jail, come home, get shot, calm down and now I like the way you're movin'

Jewelry be priceless, I like to make the records, but I love to sit a nigga down and school him

Take the information and apply it, then become a success every single time you use 'em, yeah

Canary yellow diamond, when you see it, hope you 'preciate the mineral, yeah

Scientific with it, here to inspire the most of you so you ain't lookin' pitiful, yeah

Instead of watchin' my pocket, it's impossible to count my residuals, yeah

Every time I talk, I'm here to cut deep in the soul of every single individual, yeah

I give it to the street because I know they really wanted this

Captivated the planet and checked it off my bucket list

Drink another bottle 'til it's finished, take another piss

Grab another quarter milli', throw it on my other wrist

Yeah, close your eyes, travel with us, make another wish

Now tell your bitch to come here and give me another kiss, Kodak

All of my bread turn mustard, I spend it on yellow diamonds

And I don't fuck with busters unless they rhymin', yeah, yeah

Busta 'round, give me my flowers every time we encounter, yeah

I don't owe a bitch shit, went from a YG to a OG, I gotta pay homage

When I see the young G, Kodak, I love the way you be contributin' the shit that you be doin'

I done seen you go to jail, come home, get shot, calm down and now I like the way you're movin'

Jewelry be priceless, I like to make the records, but I love to sit a nigga down and school him

Take the information and apply it, then become a success every single time you use 'em, yeah

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
homage /ˈhɒmɪdʒ/ B2	noun - special honor or respect shown publicly
mustard /ˈmʌstərd/ A2	noun - a pungent yellow or brown paste made from the crushed seeds of certain plants, typically eaten with meat or other savory food. (In the lyrics, used metaphorically for money or wealth, like 'yellow diamonds'.)
diamond /ˈdaɪəmənd/ A2	noun - a precious stone consisting of a highly transparent form of pure carbon, the hardest of all known minerals, used as a gemstone and in industry.
buster /ˈbʌstər/ C1	noun - (slang, derogatory) A person who is fake, weak, or a fraud; someone who is not authentic or tough. (General meaning: a person who breaks something).
rhyme /raɪm/ B1	verb - (of a word, syllable, or line) have or end with a sound that corresponds to another.
encounter /ɪnˈkaʊntər/ B2	verb - to unexpectedly experience or be faced with (something difficult or hostile); to meet (someone) unexpectedly.
owe /oʊ/ B1	verb - to have an obligation to pay or repay (something, especially money) in return for something received.
OG /ˌoʊ ˈdʒiː/ C1	noun - (slang) An 'Original Gangster'; a person who is experienced, respected, or legendary in a particular field, especially in hip-hop culture or street life.
liquor /ˈlɪkər/ B1	noun - alcoholic drink, especially distilled spirits.
violent /ˈvaɪələnt/ B1	adjective - using or involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something.
stripper /ˈstrɪpər/ B2	noun - a person who performs a striptease.
project /ˈprɒdʒɛkt/ B2	noun - (often plural, informal) A housing project; a complex of low-cost housing units, especially for low-income families, often associated with social problems.
robbery /ˈrɒbəri/ B1	noun - the action of taking property unlawfully from a person or place by force or threat of force.
prison /ˈprɪzən/ A2	noun - a building in which people are legally held as a punishment for a crime or while awaiting trial.
priceless /ˈpraɪsləs/ B2	adjective - so precious that its value cannot be determined; invaluable.
contribute /kənˈtrɪbjuːt/ B2	verb - to give (something, especially money or time) in order to help achieve or provide something; to help to cause or bring about.
school /skuːl/ C1	verb - (informal) to educate or train (someone), especially in a strict or thorough way; to teach someone a lesson.
apply /əˈplaɪ/ B1	verb - to put (a theory, principle, etc.) into practice; to be relevant or appropriate.
success /səkˈsɛs/ A2	noun - the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.
residual /rɪˈzɪdʒuəl/ C1	noun - (often plural) A payment made to a performer, writer, etc., for repeated showings of a recorded performance or work. (General meaning: a small amount of something that remains after the main part has gone or been taken).

Key Grammar Structures

• And I don't fuck with busters unless they rhymin', yeah, yeah

  ➔ Conditional Clause (Unless)

  ➔ The word "unless" introduces a negative condition, meaning "if not". It indicates that the speaker avoids "busters" *unless* they are "rhymin'". The verb "rhymin'" is an informal shortening of "rhyming".

• I don't owe a bitch shit, went from a YG to an OG, I gotta pay homage

  ➔ Informal Obligation ('gotta') & Transition Verb Phrase ('went from A to B')

  ➔ "Gotta" is an informal contraction of "have got to" or "have to", expressing obligation or necessity. "Went from A to B" is a common phrase to describe a transition or change in status, here from a "Young Gangster" (YG) to an "Original Gangster" (OG).

• I had to start takin' them jiggles and drinkin', that liquor be makin' me violent

  ➔ Gerund after 'start' & Habitual 'be' (AAVE)

  ➔ The verb "start" can be followed by a gerund (e.g., "takin'", "drinkin'") to describe the beginning of an action. "Be makin'" is an example of the habitual 'be' in African American Vernacular English (AAVE), indicating an action that occurs repeatedly or continuously, rather than just at one moment.

• I knew she was shakin' her nigga, the way I was hittin' on Caveman's Island

  ➔ Adverbial Clause of Manner ('the way')

  ➔ The phrase "the way" introduces an adverbial clause of manner, explaining *how* or *in what manner* an action is performed. Here, it describes the manner in which the speaker was "hittin' on Caveman's Island" as analogous to "the way she was shakin' her nigga".

• Took a Perc' and I call her, and when I try offer it, she told me she just do molly

  ➔ Verb + Infinitive ('try offer') & Reported Speech

  ➔ The verb "try" is typically followed by an infinitive ("to offer") to express an attempt. Here, "offer" is used informally without "to". "She told me she just do molly" is an example of reported speech, where the original statement is conveyed indirectly. Note the informal use of "do" instead of "does" for third person singular.

• I already got nine, so instead of the 'Rari, I'ma just cop the Bugatti

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase ('instead of') & Informal Future ('I'ma')

  ➔ "Instead of" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate an alternative or substitution, often followed by a noun or gerund. "I'ma" is an informal contraction of "I am going to", expressing a future intention or plan.

• I done seen you go to jail, come home, get shot, calm down and now I like the way you're movin'

  ➔ Informal Perfect Tense ('I done seen') & Perception Verb + Base Form

  ➔ "I done seen" is an informal, often AAVE, construction for "I have seen" (present perfect tense). The structure "seen you go/come/get/calm" uses a verb of perception ("seen") followed by an object ("you") and then the base form of the verb, indicating a completed action that was perceived.

• Jewelry be priceless, I like to make the records, but I love to sit a nigga down and school him

  ➔ Habitual 'be' (AAVE) & Verbs of Preference + Infinitive

  ➔ In "Jewelry be priceless," the habitual 'be' (AAVE) indicates that the jewelry is consistently or characteristically priceless. "Like to make" and "love to sit" show that verbs expressing preference (like, love) can be followed by an infinitive to describe an activity one enjoys.

• Instead of watchin' my pocket, it's impossible to count my residuals, yeah

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase ('instead of' + Gerund) & Impersonal 'it' + Adjective + Infinitive

  ➔ "Instead of" is a prepositional phrase requiring a gerund ("watchin'") or noun following it. "It's impossible to count" uses the impersonal "it" as a subject, followed by an adjective and an infinitive, to express the difficulty or feasibility of an action.

• Now tell your bitch to come here and give me another kiss, Kodak

  ➔ Causative/Command Structure ('tell X to infinitive')

  ➔ The structure "tell + object + to-infinitive" is used to give an instruction or command to someone. Here, the speaker is commanding "your bitch" to perform two actions: "to come here" and "to give me another kiss" (the second 'to' is often omitted when infinitives are coordinated).