Rush

• By: Ayra Starr
• Album: 19 & Dangerous Deluxe

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot
talk /tɔːk/ A1	verb - to say words; speak noun - a conversation
work /wɜːrk/ A1	noun - an activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result verb - to do a job
hustle /ˈhʌsəl/ B2	verb - to proceed or work rapidly or energetically. noun - energetic activity
fight /faɪt/ A2	verb - to take part in a violent struggle involving physical force or weapons noun - a violent confrontation or struggle
catch /kætʃ/ A2	verb - to intercept and hold (something which has been thrown, propelled, or dropped).
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole
hate /heɪt/ B1	noun - intense dislike; hatred. verb - to feel intense dislike for
money /ˈmʌni/ A1	noun - a current medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes
dance /dæns/ A1	verb - move rhythmically to music noun - an act of dancing
green /ɡriːn/ A1	adjective - of the color between blue and yellow in the spectrum; colored like grass or emeralds noun - green color
hear /hɪr/ A1	verb - perceive with the ear the sound made by (someone or something).
rush /rʌʃ/ B1	verb - move with urgent speed noun - a sudden quick movement toward something
touch /tʌtʃ/ A2	verb - come into or be in contact with (something)
crush /krʌʃ/ B1	verb - compress or squeeze forcefully so as to break or damage noun - a brief but intense infatuation for someone, especially someone unattainable
dulling /ˈdʌlɪŋ/ B2	verb - make or become dull
grace /ɡreɪs/ B2	noun - courteous goodwill

Grammar:

• Sabi girl no dey too like talk

  ➔ Non-standard verb conjugation/double negative

  ➔ The phrase "no dey too like talk" uses "dey" which is common in Nigerian Pidgin English, indicating a continuous or habitual action. The structure contains a double negative ('no' and 'too') emphasizing that the "Sabi girl" doesn't talk much.

• Padi man, nobody like work

  ➔ Double negative (informal)

  ➔ "Nobody like work" is a grammatically correct way of saying "no one likes work." The use of "nobody" emphasizes the lack of enthusiasm for work.

• But you must hustle if you wan chop

  ➔ Conditional clause with informal/slang terms.

  ➔ "If you wan chop" is a conditional clause, where "wan" is an informal contraction of "want to" and "chop" means "eat" or "earn a living" in Nigerian Pidgin. The full sentence implies that if you want to survive/eat, you must work hard.

• E no finish, dem wan fight us

  ➔ Informal syntax and pronoun usage.

  ➔ "E no finish" utilizes a shortened and informal version of the English language, likely Nigerian Pidgin. Instead of "It's not finished," it says "E no finish." The pronoun "dem" is also used instead of "they" when referring to people. "Dem wan fight us" translates to "They want to fight us."

• If them dey run, dem no fit catch up

  ➔ Conditional clause with Pidgin English and double negative

  ➔ The sentence uses Pidgin English, "If them dey run" translates to "If they are running". "Dem no fit catch up" is a double negative, meaning "They cannot catch up". "Fit" here is a shortened form of "able to".

• Me no getty time for the hate and the bad energy

  ➔ Informal pronoun usage and non-standard grammar.

  ➔ "Me no getty time" is an example of informal grammar common in dialects like Nigerian Pidgin. "Me" is used instead of "I," and "getty" is used instead of "have." The construction means "I don't have time."

• Dem won dey check if my tap e no rush

  ➔ Informal grammar, double negative, and idiomatic expression.

  ➔ "Dem won dey check" means "They want to check". The phrase "if my tap e no rush" uses a double negative ("no rush"), meaning "if my tap is not rushing". The overall idiomatic meaning refers to whether her success or wealth is flowing quickly ('rushing').

• Na God dey make my tap, e dey rush

  ➔ Use of Pidgin English and emphasis using "Na"

  ➔ "Na God dey make my tap" uses "Na" to emphasize that it is God who makes her tap rush. "Dey make" is Pidgin English for "makes" and "e dey rush" means "it is rushing".

• Kosi elomi, gat me feeling I'm the one

  ➔ Code-switching and pronounciation.

  ➔ "Kosi elomi" is Yoruba for "There is no other." "Gat me feeling" is slang for "got me feeling". The sentence represents code-switching between English and Yoruba, and utilizes slang in English.