Remember Makonnen Freestyle – English Lyrics

• By: iLoveMakonnen

Lyrics & Translation

“Remember Makonnen Freestyle” offers a unique opportunity to learn English through the authentic and unfiltered storytelling of iLoveMakonnen. The song's stream-of-consciousness style provides exposure to conversational language and slang, while its reflective nature allows you to explore themes of personal history and growth. It's a special track that showcases the artist's vulnerability and his distinctive blend of rap and melodicism, making it an engaging piece for language learners.

[English]

I just

think about all my past

times Get on these fucking tracks

and make these words run I

don't even sell no D cuz I

do not have no time

but I used to reminisce when

me and my homies was on the grind

all the time trying to shine cuz

we need them new things

Now a boy got pinky rings switching

lanes with six chains I don't

even give a fuck used to have a

black truck all the way in zip

codes that I do not go no more oh

shit I got shows every motherfucking

weekend me and my best friends

ain't fucking speaking got friends

from down under arriving in the

morning tell them that Mac is the

best thing going worldwide now you

know it finally I could show a

young boy in the city looking like

I'm fucking growing all the way

with the moon ocean sun when it be

snowing I don't know how I got

it I'm so thankful for the flowing

my friends once again when they come

back around I remember all night

we were selling that brown to some

motherfucking junkies I was acting

like a monkey swinging off them

goddamn trees making hundreds of them

things all damn night with the white

Now a nigga barely see any type of

fucking drugs who the fuck is me I

just once was a young boy on the

fucking corner selling all this dope

from Atlanta to California and now

I brought it back all the way to the

west cuz them niggas in the East

said that I was one of the best so

I'm like let me go see if the rumor

is true when I step off in the room

niggas be mad at who when I step in

studios niggas trying to sound like

who now goddamn I ride around in

Black fucking Coes now don't even need

I think my life is such a I might be

on too many drugs I lost so many

friends I don't know who the fuck

I I wonder why do I I try

I swear my friends are on though all

they love me for trust all they really

want to do is get high I wonder

why do I do I try yeah I think my

life is a joke

sometimes

The crew was played on me since I

was so young I used to run away to

somewhere fine where I could hide

I need you inside

I remember being alone all those

nights I used to want to run away to

somewhere bright and smile and feel

all right yeah

I've been through so much pain it

helped me gain a lot I wonder if I

enjoyed the sun if it didn't rain a

lot I cry yeah

thinking about my past times so

many I wanted to be right here with

me they had to leave unexpectedly

and I try to be there for them

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
past /pɑːst/ B1	noun - the time before the present adjective - former; previous
grind /ɡraɪnd/ B2	verb - to crush or reduce something to small particles by friction verb (slang) - to work hard, especially at a repetitive job or activity
shine /ʃaɪn/ B1	verb - to emit light; to be bright noun (slang) - exceptional performance or talent
reminisce /ˌrɛmɪˈnɪs/ C1	verb - to recall past experiences or events fondly
homies /ˈhoʊmiz/ C1	noun (slang, plural) - close friends; companions
drug /drʌɡ/ B1	noun - a chemical substance used as medication or for its psycho‑active effects
corner /ˈkɔːrnər/ A2	noun - the place where two lines or surfaces meet at an angle
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the existence of an individual human being or animal
friends /frɛndz/ A1	noun (plural) - people with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
trust /trʌst/ B1	noun - firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something verb - to rely on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing
high /haɪ/ B1	adjective - at a great vertical distance from the ground; elevated adjective (slang) - under the influence of drugs
pain /peɪn/ B1	noun - physical or emotional suffering or discomfort
rain /reɪn/ A1	noun - water droplets that fall from clouds verb - to fall as rain
moon /muːn/ A1	noun - the natural satellite of the Earth
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star at the center of the Solar System
city /ˈsɪti/ A1	noun - a large and permanent human settlement
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot verb (slang) - to flee or escape from a place or situation
alone /əˈloʊn/ B1	adjective - by oneself; without others
bright /braɪt/ B1	adjective - giving out or reflecting a lot of light; vivid
smile /smaɪl/ A2	noun - a facial expression indicating pleasure or amusement verb - to form a smile with one's face

Key Grammar Structures

• I just think about all my past times

  ➔ Simple present (habitual)

  ➔ The verb "think" is in the simple present to talk about a regular, repeated action.

• I don't even sell no D cuz I do not have no time

  ➔ Double negative (negative concord) + colloquial contraction

  ➔ The sentence uses "don't", "no" and "not" together, creating a double negative that intensifies the negation.

• Now a boy got pinky rings switching lanes with six chains

  ➔ Past simple (got) + present participle as adverbial (switching)

  ➔ "got" is the past simple of "get" describing a completed action. "switching" is a present participle that adds an adverbial meaning (how he moves).

• I could show a young boy in the city looking like I'm fucking growing all the way

  ➔ Modal verb "could" + bare infinitive (show)

  ➔ "could" expresses ability or possibility in the past/future, and it is followed directly by the infinitive "show" without "to".

• I was acting like a monkey swinging off them goddamn trees

  ➔ Past continuous (was acting) + present participle (swinging) as adverbial

  ➔ "was acting" is the past continuous, showing an ongoing action in the past. "swinging" is a present participle that modifies how the action is performed.

• I brought it back all the way to the west cuz them niggas in the East said that I was one of the best

  ➔ Past simple (brought) + reported speech (said that)

  ➔ "brought" is the past simple of "bring" showing a completed action. "said that" introduces a clause reporting what someone else said.

• I might be on too many drugs I lost so many friends

  ➔ Modal verb "might" + base verb (be) + simple past (lost)

  ➔ "might" expresses possibility; it is followed directly by the base verb "be". "lost" is a simple past verb describing a finished action.

• I remember being alone all those nights

  ➔ Verb + gerund (remember + being)

  ➔ "remember" is followed by the gerund "being" to talk about a past event that is recalled.

• I've been through so much pain it helped me gain a lot

  ➔ Present perfect continuous (have been) + simple past (helped)

  ➔ "I've been" (I have been) forms the present perfect continuous, indicating an action that started in the past and continues up to now. "helped" is a simple past verb showing a completed effect.