No Matter What – English Lyrics

• By: T.I.
• Album: Paper Trail

Lyrics & Translation

Explore T.I.'s powerful anthem of resilience, "No Matter What." Penned during a period of adversity, this song offers a lesson in unwavering determination. Discover how T.I. uses vivid lyrics and a driving beat to inspire listeners to overcome any challenge.

[English]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, ayy

...

Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo

...

I say still I stand, ayy

Ayy, shawty here I am

Never have you seen in ya lifetime

A more divine southern rapper with a swag like mine

Facin' all kind of time, but smile like I'm fine

Brag with such passion and shine without tryin'

Believe me, pain's a small thing to a giant

I was born without a dime

Out the gutter, I climbed

Spoke my mind and didn't stutter one time

Ali say, even the greatest gotta suffer some time

So I huff and puff rhymes, lyrics so sick wit' it

Set the standard in Atlanta, how to get-get-get it

So you up-and-coming rappers wanna diss, just kill it

I'm officially the realest, point blank, period

Whether I still live in the hood or just visit

Whatever you can do in the hood, I done did it

That's why the dope boys and the misfits feel it

This still his city long as TIP livin', nigga

I ain't dead (Naw)

I ain't done (Naw)

I ain't scared (Of what?)

I ain't run (From who?)

But still I stand (Yeah)

No matter what people

Here I am, yeah, no matter what, remember

I ain't break (Never)

I ain't fold (Never)

They hate me more (So?)

Yeah, I know (Haha)

Here I go, yeah, no matter what shawty, here I go

No matter what shawty

You let the blog sites and the magazines tell it

I'm sure to be in jail 'til 2027

Rather see me in a cell

Instead of this new McLaren

God'll take you through hell just to get you to heaven

So even though it's heavy, the load I will carry

Grin and still bear it, win and still share it

Apologies to the fans, I hope you can understand it

Life can change ya directions

Even when you ain't planned it

All you can do is handle it

Worst thing you could do is panic

Use it to your advantage

Avoid insanity, manage to conquer

Every obstacle, make impossible possible

Even when winning's illogical

Losing's still far from optional

Yeah, they wanna see you shot up in the hospital

But, when life throw punches, block ya counter like a boxer do

Been locked inside, mi casa too long

I did a song to make it known that the King lives on, pimpin'

I ain't dead (Naw)

I ain't done (Naw)

I ain't scared (Of what?)

I ain't run (From who?)

But still I stand (Yeah)

No matter what people

Here I am, yeah, no matter what, remember

I ain't break (Never)

I ain't fold (Never)

They hate me more (So?)

Yeah, I know (Haha)

Here I go, yeah, no matter what shawty, here I go

No matter what shawty

Even in solitude, there's still no hotter dude

I show you how to do what you do, you ain't got a clue

All you do is follow dudes

Sound like a lotta dudes

I weather whatever storm

Make it out without a bruise

I understand why, now with my hands tied

They take shots 'cause if I'm out there it's a landslide

But revenge is best served as a cold dish

And suckas will get served nigga, no shit

Guess it was understood, for me it was over with

But I don't quit if you ain't notice yet

They couldn't wait to say good night shawty

So they can try to rhyme, act and look like shawty

Go get a beat from Toomp and make a hook like shawty

Before you know it I'm back, what it look like shawty?

I lost my partner and my daughter in the same year

Somehow I rise above my problems and remain here

Yeah, and I hope the picture painted clear

If your heart filled with faith then you can't fear

Wonder how I face years and I'm still chillin'?

Easy, let go and let God deal with it

I ain't dead (Naw)

I ain't done (Naw)

I ain't scared (Of what?)

I ain't run (From who?)

But still I stand (Yeah)

No matter what people

Here I am, yeah, no matter what, remember

I ain't break (Never)

I ain't fold (Never)

They hate me more (So?)

Yeah, I know (Haha)

Here I go, yeah, no matter what shawty, here I go

No matter what shawty

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
stand /stænd/ A2	verb - to be on your feet verb - to endure or resist
shine /ʃaɪn/ B1	verb - to give off light verb - to be successful
pain /peɪn/ A2	noun - physical suffering or discomfort
climb /klaɪm/ A2	verb - to go up or ascend verb - to improve one's position
suffer /ˈsʌfər/ B1	verb - to experience something bad
standard /ˈstændərd/ B2	noun - a level of quality
realest /ˈriːələst/ B2	adjective - most genuine or authentic
handle /ˈhændl/ B1	verb - to deal with a situation
advantage /ədˈvɑːntɪdʒ/ B2	noun - a favorable situation
conquer /ˈkɒŋkər/ C1	verb - to overcome or defeat
obstacle /ˈɒbstəkl/ B2	noun - something that blocks progress
logical /ˈlɒdʒɪkl/ B2	adjective - based on reason
hospital /ˈhɒspɪtl/ A2	noun - a place for medical care
block /blɒk/ A2	verb - to stop something from moving
partner /ˈpɑːrtnər/ B1	noun - someone you work or live with
faith /feɪθ/ B2	noun - belief in something
chill /tʃɪl/ B1	adjective - relaxed and calm

Key Grammar Structures

• Never have you seen in ya lifetime

  ➔ Negative Inversion

  ➔ This structure, "Never have you seen", emphasizes the negative adverb "Never" by placing it at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the auxiliary verb ("have"), then the subject ("you"), and finally the main verb ("seen"). It's used for emphasis or a more formal/dramatic tone.

• I was born without a dime

  ➔ Passive Voice with 'to be born'

  ➔ The phrase "was born" is a common use of the passive voice to describe the event of one's birth. The subject "I" is the receiver of the action (being born), rather than the doer. "Without a dime" is a prepositional phrase indicating a lack of money.

• No matter what people / Here I am

  ➔ 'No matter what' (Concessive Clause)

  ➔ The phrase "No matter what" introduces a concessive clause, meaning 'regardless of the situation or what others say/do'. It emphasizes that the following statement ("Here I am") holds true despite any opposing circumstances.

• Whether I still live in the hood or just visit

  ➔ 'Whether... or' (Alternative Conditions)

  ➔ The structure "Whether... or" is used to present two alternative possibilities or conditions, indicating that the outcome or statement remains true regardless of which possibility is actualized. Here, it means 'it doesn't matter if I live there or just visit'.

• You let the blog sites and the magazines tell it

  ➔ Causative Verb 'Let'

  ➔ The causative verb "let" is used here to indicate that you 'allow' or 'permit' the blog sites and magazines to "tell it" (meaning, to spread a story or narrative). The structure is "let + object + base form of verb".

• God'll take you through hell just to get you to heaven

  ➔ 'Just to + Infinitive' (Purpose)

  ➔ The phrase "just to get you to heaven" uses "just to + infinitive" to express the specific purpose or intention behind the action of being taken "through hell". It implies that the difficult experience serves a particular, often singular, goal.

• manage to conquer / Every obstacle

  ➔ 'Manage to + Infinitive'

  ➔ The phrase "manage to + infinitive" means to succeed in doing something difficult, often despite obstacles or challenges. It implies effort and eventual success in overcoming a tough situation.

• All you can do is handle it

  ➔ Focus Structure with 'All... is + Base Verb'

  ➔ This is a common focus structure where "All" acts as the subject, followed by a relative clause (implied "that you can do"), then "is", and finally the base form of the verb ("handle"). It emphasizes that there is only one course of action available.

• I don't quit if you ain't notice yet

  ➔ Conditional Sentence Type 1 (Informal Negative)

  ➔ This is a Type 1 conditional sentence, expressing a real or very probable condition and its result in the present/future. The main clause ("I don't quit") uses the simple present, and the 'if' clause ("if you ain't notice yet") also uses a present tense form (informal "ain't notice" for "haven't noticed").

• Make it out without a bruise

  ➔ Phrasal Verb 'Make it out' + Prepositional Phrase 'without a bruise'

  ➔ "Make it out" is a phrasal verb meaning to escape from a difficult or dangerous situation, or to survive. "Without a bruise" is a prepositional phrase describing the condition of escaping—unharmed. This combination shows successful, unscathed survival.