Lowrider

• By: Cypress Hill
• Album: Stoned Raiders

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
Lowrider /ˈloʊˌraɪdər/ C1	noun - A customized car, especially one with a lowered body, often associated with Chicano culture and hip-hop.
Crunk /krʌŋk/ C2	noun - A subgenre of hip-hop music characterized by repetitive, shouted chants and heavy, often electronic, basslines; also, a state of being hyped up or drunk.
Gangsta /ˈɡæŋstə/ C1	adjective - Relating to or characteristic of gangsters or gang culture; often used to describe a tough, rebellious, or street-oriented style. noun - A gangster or a person who adopts a gang-like persona.
Hustler /ˈhʌslər/ B2	noun - A person who earns money by illicit or unconventional means; someone who is very active and enterprising, especially in a competitive field.
Scrape /skreɪp/ B1	verb - To drag or rub something hard or roughly against a surface, especially so as to make a harsh noise or to damage it; (in context of lowriders) to hit the ground with the underside of the car.
Tip /tɪp/ B1	verb - To cause something to tilt or lean; (in context of lowriders) to cause the car to lean dramatically on its suspension.
Holla /ˈhɒlə/ C1	verb - To shout or call out, often as an informal greeting or expression of excitement. noun - An exclamation or shout.
Dubs /dʌbz/ C2	noun - Slang for 20-inch (or larger) car wheels/rims, often custom and expensive.
Brew /bruː/ B2	noun - An alcoholic drink, especially beer.
Freaky /ˈfriːki/ B2	adjective - Strange, unusual, or eccentric; sexually unrestrained or unconventional.
Bump /bʌmp/ B1	verb - To hit or knock against something; (in context of music) to move rhythmically to loud music, especially by nodding one's head.
Confetti /kənˈfɛti/ B1	noun - Small pieces of colored paper, typically thrown into the air to celebrate something.
Amaze /əˈmeɪz/ B1	verb - To surprise someone greatly; to fill with wonder.
Slay /sleɪ/ C1	verb - (Slang) To impress someone greatly; to do something exceptionally well or with great success.
Rhyme /raɪm/ B1	noun - Correspondence of sound between words or the endings of words, especially when used at the ends of lines of poetry or song.
Choke /tʃoʊk/ B1	verb - To have difficulty breathing because something is blocking your throat or because there is not enough air; (metaphorical) to be overwhelmed or unable to function due to pressure or intensity.
Rugged /ˈrʌɡɪd/ B2	adjective - Having a rough, irregular, or uneven surface; (of a person or thing) strong and able to withstand difficult conditions.
Pimp /pɪmp/ C2	verb - (Slang) To make something more attractive, stylish, or impressive, often through customization or modification.
Vato /ˈvɑːtoʊ/ C2	noun - (Spanish slang) A dude, guy, or fellow; often used in Chicano English.
Ranfla /ˈrɑːnflɑː/ C2	noun - (Spanish slang) An old, beat-up car, often associated with lowriders or Chicano culture.
Barrio /ˈbɑːrioʊ/ C1	noun - (Spanish origin) A district or neighborhood in a Spanish-speaking country or region; often used in the US to refer to a predominantly Hispanic urban neighborhood.

Grammar:

• We been making you bounce for many years already

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous (informal)

  ➔ The phrase "We "been making"" is an informal and colloquial contraction of "We have been making." The "Present Perfect Continuous" tense (have/has been + verb-ing) describes an action that started in the past, continued up to the present, and is still ongoing or has recently stopped. Here, it emphasizes the continuous action of making people "bounce" (dance) over "many years."

• We tear the roof off the mother, lady let down yo' hair

  ➔ Causative Verb "let" + Imperative

  ➔ This line combines an action with a "Causative Verb" and an "Imperative" command. "Let down" is a phrasal verb meaning to allow something to drop or be released. The structure ""let"" + object + base form of verb indicates causing or allowing someone to do something. The second part, "lady "let down" yo' hair," is an imperative sentence, a direct command or request.

• Player do that thing that make you feel all right

  ➔ Relative Clause (informal subject-verb agreement)

  ➔ "That "make" you feel all right" is a "Relative Clause" modifying "that thing." It specifies what kind of "thing" is being referred to. Grammatically, the relative pronoun "that" refers to "thing" (singular), so the verb should formally be "makes" (third person singular). However, "make" is used here, which is an example of informal subject-verb agreement, common in colloquial speech and song lyrics.

• But you better cover your eyes 'cause you never know when

  ➔ Modal Auxiliary "had better"

  ➔ The phrase "you "better"" is a common informal contraction of "you had better." "Had better" is a "Modal Auxiliary" verb used to give strong advice, recommendations, or warnings about what should be done. It implies that if the advice isn't followed, there might be negative consequences.

• You want to trip? Then I got luggage

  ➔ Implied Conditional Sentence

  ➔ This is an "Implied Conditional Sentence." Although there's no explicit "if" clause, the question "You want to trip?" functions as the condition. The structure "If [condition], then [result]" is understood. "Trip" here is slang for losing control or hallucinating. The response "Then I got luggage" is a clever metaphorical retort, implying that if someone wants trouble, the speaker is ready with "baggage" (trouble/problems) to give them.

• I be the vato with the fine hood rat in the ranfla

  ➔ Habitual "be" (AAVE/Chicano English)

  ➔ The use of "I "be"" instead of "I am" or "I'm always" is a grammatical feature often found in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and sometimes Chicano English. It's known as the "Habitual be" or "Invariant be," and it indicates an action or state that occurs regularly, habitually, or consistently, rather than just at the moment of speaking. It means "I am usually" or "I always am."

• Flossing too much, no vato's gonna want ya

  ➔ Intensifier "too much" + Informal Future "gonna"

  ➔ ""Too much"" is an "Intensifier" that indicates an excessive quantity or degree, often with a negative connotation. "Flossing" here is slang for showing off wealth or status. ""Gonna"" is an informal and very common contraction of "going to," used to express future intentions or predictions. "Want ya" is also informal, with "ya" being a phonetic spelling of "you."

• In every barrio I'm well respected

  ➔ Passive Voice

  ➔ "I'm well "respected"" is an example of the "Passive Voice." The structure "be" + past participle is used when the action (respecting) is performed on the subject ("I"), rather than by the subject. The emphasis is on the fact that the subject receives the action. Here, it highlights the speaker's reputation in every neighborhood ("barrio"), without explicitly stating who does the respecting.

• Now throw it up and down like it ain't no thang

  ➔ Simile + Colloquial Negation

  ➔ This line uses a "Simile" with "like" to make a comparison: ""like it "ain't no thang""". A simile compares two different things using "like" or "as." "Ain't no thang" is a highly colloquial and informal double negative for "it isn't anything" or "it's no big deal." "Ain't" is a non-standard contraction of "am not," "is not," "are not," "has not," or "have not." The double negative "ain't no" emphasizes the idea that something is easy or effortless.

• We some real life hustlers playing games in the street

  ➔ Present Participle as Adjective/Reduced Relative Clause

  ➔ The phrase ""playing games"" uses a "Present Participle" (-ing form of a verb) to act as an adjective modifying "hustlers." It describes the type of hustlers they are: ones who play games in the street. This can also be seen as a "Reduced Relative Clause" from "who are playing games." This construction is common for concisely describing ongoing actions or characteristics of a noun.