Soulja Life Mentality – English Lyrics

• By: OMB Peezy
• Album: Loyalty Over Love

Lyrics & Translation

Learn English through the powerful and poignant lyrics of OMB Peezy's 'Soulja Life Mentality.' This song offers a unique opportunity to understand the language of protest and resilience in the face of adversity. Its blend of regional American dialects and vivid storytelling makes it a compelling piece for language learners interested in contemporary social issues and hip-hop culture.

[English]

Maintain the soldier life mentality

Would it be a tragedy if them white folks come and hassle me

Gon' throw me down and wrestle me just to put on handcuffs

Then charge me with resistance when they told me to throw my hands up

Tryna survive in this white world,

they lock you for sellin' white girl

You 'posed to be a blessing,

you add to my stress with this fightin' girl

So many people left me, I'm just hoping you make the right turn

Ain't nobody next, I'm stayin' in there when it's my turn

Choppers blazing just like the Navy, put him on his back

My mind racing, want to be patient, but I can't relax

Police racist, man they can't take it, I'm ridin' with racks

I'm gettin' legal money, bitch you crazy, think I'm goin' back

Nigga let me know somethin'

My lil nigga gon' blow somethin', I ain't gotta ask

Better act like you know somethin'

Put the pistol in the stash, duckin' from the task

Act like I owe you somethin' 'cause

I'm gettin' rich, niggas gettin' mad

I'm still finish, even if I finish last

This is to maintain the soldier life mentality

Throw me down and wrestle me, that snitchin' shit ain't happenin'

The pain feel like it's stabbin' me,

the Glock won't let none' happen to me

The police tryna take you from me, they keep comin' after me

This is to maintain the soldier life mentality

Would it be a tragedy if them white folks come and hassle me

Gon' throw me down and wrestle me just to put on handcuffs

Then charge me with resistance when they told me to throw my hands up

Tryna survive in this white world,

they lock you for sellin' white girl

You 'posed to be a blessing,

you add to my stress with this fightin' girl

So many people left me, I'm just hoping you make the right turn

Ain't nobody next, I'm stayin' in there when it's my turn

Ain't nobody next, it's my season 'til I stop

You cross one of my people, bitch we beefin' 'til you die

They throw me down in handcuffs 'cause I wouldn't pull my pants up

Them crackers hate my people for what reason, we don't know why, huh

Can't do shit but think when you stuck in that cell

I ain't got a visit in a minute

Know how I'm livin', I swear I won't tell

I won't ask for shit, I'm independent

Nigga tryna jack me for my image

Think because I'm rappin' that I'm friendly

If I had a problem, can't bring it to you

Because you spread a nigga's business

If I had a dollar, wouldn't lend it

You ain't give me help when I was hungry

Even though it's shining as a penny

Niggas out here lyin' to they homies

Bitch stop lyin' to that nigga

Nigga stop lyin' to that woman

Time for real to stay with the real

And the fake stay with the phony

Maintain the soldier life mentality

Would it be a tragedy if them white folks come and hassle me

Gon' throw me down and wrestle me just to put on handcuffs

Then charge me with resistance when they told me to throw my hands up

Tryna survive in this white world,

they lock you for sellin' white girl

You 'posed to be a blessing,

you add to my stress with this fightin' girl

So many people left me, I'm just hoping you make the right turn

Ain't nobody next, I'm stayin' in there when it's my turn

Maintain the soldier life mentality

Would it be a tragedy if them white folks come and hassle me

Gon' throw me down and wrestle me just to put on handcuffs

Then charge me with resistance when they told me to throw my hands up

Tryna survive in this white world,

they lock you for sellin' white girl

You 'posed to be a blessing,

you add to my stress with this fightin' girl

So many people left me, I'm just hoping you make the right turn

Ain't nobody next, I'm stayin' in there when it's my turn

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
mentality /mɛnˈtæləti/ B2	noun - A particular way of thinking or a characteristic attitude.
soldier /ˈsoʊldʒər/ B1	noun - A person who serves in an army; a person with a strong, determined attitude.
tragedy /ˈtrædʒədi/ B2	noun - An event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, such as a serious accident, crime, or natural catastrophe.
hassle /ˈhæsəl/ B2	verb - To annoy or bother someone repeatedly; to make demands on someone. noun - Difficulty, trouble, or an annoying situation.
wrestle /ˈrɛsəl/ B1	verb - To fight by grappling with and trying to throw or force another to the ground; to struggle to deal with something difficult.
handcuffs /ˈhændkʌfs/ B1	noun - A pair of lockable metal rings joined by a short chain, used for securing a prisoner's wrists.
resistance /rɪˈzɪstəns/ B2	noun - The refusal to accept or comply with something; the attempt to prevent something by action or argument.
survive /sərˈvaɪv/ B1	verb - To continue to live or exist, especially in spite of danger or hardship.
stress /strɛs/ B1	noun - A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances. verb - To put pressure on; to emphasize.
fight /faɪt/ A2	verb - To take part in a violent struggle involving physical force or weapons. noun - A violent confrontation or struggle.
chopper /ˈtʃɒpər/ B2	noun - (Slang) an automatic firearm (e.g., AK-47); a helicopter.
racist /ˈreɪsɪst/ B2	adjective - Characterized by or showing prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism against someone of a different race. noun - A person who is prejudiced against or antagonistic toward a person or people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group.
pistol /ˈpɪstəl/ B1	noun - A small firearm designed to be held in one hand.
stash /stæʃ/ B2	verb - To store something safely and secretly in a specified place. noun - A secret store of something.
rich /rɪtʃ/ A2	adjective - Having a lot of money or possessions; wealthy.
pain /peɪn/ A2	noun - Highly unpleasant physical sensation caused by illness or injury; mental suffering.
Glock /ɡlɒk/ C1	noun - A brand of semi-automatic pistol, widely used by police and military forces.
beef /biːf/ B2	noun - (Slang) a complaint or grievance; a dispute or argument. verb - (Slang) to complain; to have a dispute with someone.
independent /ˌɪndɪˈpɛndənt/ B2	adjective - Free from outside control; not depending on another for livelihood or support.
lie /laɪ/ A2	verb - To make an untrue statement with intent to deceive.

Key Grammar Structures

• Would it be a tragedy if them white folks come and hassle me

  ➔ Conditional Sentence Type 2 (Unreal Present/Future)

  ➔ This structure talks about "hypothetical or unreal situations" in the present or future and their likely "results". It typically uses "if + simple past" in the condition clause and "would + base verb" in the main clause. In informal speech, sometimes the "simple past" in the "if-clause" can be replaced by "simple present" for vividness or emphasis, as seen with "come" instead of "came" here.

• You 'posed to be a blessing,

  ➔ Be supposed to (informal "'posed to")

  ➔ "Be supposed to" expresses an "expectation, obligation, or a general belief" about what should happen or what is generally accepted. The informal contraction "'posed to" is common in spoken English.

• I'm just hoping you make the right turn

  ➔ Present Continuous for Ongoing Action/Hope

  ➔ The "present continuous tense" (be + -ing) is used here to describe an "action or state that is happening now" or is ongoing, specifically expressing a continuous hope or desire.

• Gon' throw me down and wrestle me just to put on handcuffs

  ➔ Future with "going to" (informal "gon'")

  ➔ The phrase "'going to'" is used to express "future plans, intentions, or predictions" based on present evidence. The informal contraction "'gon'" is frequently used in spoken English.

• The police tryna take you from me, they keep comin' after me

  ➔ "Keep + Gerund" (repeated action)

  ➔ The structure "'keep + -ing verb'" (gerund) indicates an "action that continues or repeats" without stopping, often implying persistence or annoyance.

• I ain't gotta ask

  ➔ Informal Negation with "Ain't" (combining "ain't" with "have to")

  ➔ "Ain't" is an informal contraction that can replace "am not, is not, are not, has not, or have not." In this context, "'ain't gotta'" is an informal way of saying "don't have to" or "haven't got to," expressing "lack of obligation or necessity."

• Can't do shit but think when you stuck in that cell

  ➔ "Can't ... but ..." (Expressing Restriction/Only Option)

  ➔ The phrase "'can't ... but ...'" is used to express that "there is no other option or action possible" except for the one mentioned. It means "can only do X."

• They throw me down in handcuffs 'cause I wouldn't pull my pants up

  ➔ Causal Clause using "'cause" (because)

  ➔ A "'causal clause'" (introduced by "because" or its informal form "'cause'") explains the "reason or cause for the action" in the main clause. Here, it explains why the speaker was thrown down in handcuffs.

• Even though it's shining as a penny

  ➔ Concessive Clause with "Even though"

  ➔ A "'concessive clause'" (introduced by "even though," "although," "though") presents a "statement that contrasts with the main clause," showing that the main clause is true despite the information in the concessive clause.

• when they told me to throw my hands up

  ➔ Verb + Object + Infinitive

  ➔ This structure involves a "verb of command or instruction" (like "tell," "ask," "order"), followed by an "object" (the person being instructed), and then an "infinitive verb" (to + base verb) describing the action they are told to perform.