Underdog – English Lyrics

• By: Roddy Ricch
• Album: F1 The Album

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and 'Underdog' by Roddy Ricch offers a great opportunity for English learners. The song's lyrics are filled with modern slang and cultural references that provide insight into contemporary American hip-hop culture. Its clear, melodic delivery and repetitive chorus make it easier to follow along and pick up new vocabulary related to ambition, success, and luxury. What makes this song special for learners is its motivational story of an 'underdog,' a universally understood concept that makes the lyrics more engaging and memorable.

[English]

Slide out the garage

I got a hundred cars

This for the underdogs

The teller just asked me how I want the cashy

I told 'em, "A hundred large"

I want them gold wraps

Printed up, double R

Big dawg, big dawg, big dawg, roof

Poppin' out, sayin' I ain't great, who?

Biscayne Drive, I cut off my roof

You know how I'm comin', it's take two

Tell a nigga, "Get out the way"

4X4, big Phantom

They thought I was cancelled, I piped up and flipped the channel

LST on the brim, they ain't think we win, I just top 1o my brother

Shit ain't safe when you fucking with the underdog, I might bite when shit get rough

I'm tryna have paper, Robert Kraft

And put a Tom Brady on a staff

Pull up on Dre, talking Chronic

He fuck with the wave, straight out of Compton

Slide out the garage

I got a hundred cars

This for the underdogs

The teller just asked me how I want the cashy

I told 'em, "A hundred large"

I want them gold wraps

Printed up, double R

Mm, oh-oh

Mm, oh-oh

Mm, oh-oh-oh, mm

Made the Ferrari slide on the 91

105, press the gas in the slower zone

I like PJ's so much, I might buy me one

Suicide on the Phantom, I slide the door, uh

Remaining silent, ain't changing no code

I ain't got no time to be chasing no bitch

Ain't got no time to be playing it safe, no, no, no, no

Slide out the garage

I got a hundred cars

This for the underdogs

The teller just asked me how I want the cashy

I told 'em, "A hundred large"

I want them gold wraps

Printed up, double R

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
underdog /ˈʌndərdɒɡ/ B2	noun - a competitor thought to have little chance of winning
garage /ɡəˈrɑːʒ/ A2	noun - a building where vehicles are stored
car /kɑːr/ A1	noun - a road vehicle with an engine
cash /kæʃ/ A2	noun - money in the form of bills and coins
gold /ɡoʊld/ B1	noun - a precious yellow metal adjective - having the colour of gold
wrap /ræp/ B1	verb - to cover or enclose something in paper or other material noun - a covering or package
roof /ruːf/ A2	noun - the top covering of a building
slide /slaɪd/ B1	verb - to move smoothly along a surface while maintaining continuous contact noun - a smooth surface used for sliding; a presentation slide
cancelled /ˈkænsəld/ B2	adjective - called off; declared invalid
channel /ˈtʃænəl/ B2	noun - a medium for communication or transmission verb - to direct or guide along a course
win /wɪn/ A2	verb - to be victorious in a contest or competition
bite /baɪt/ A2	verb - to cut or grip with the teeth
paper /ˈpeɪpər/ A2	noun - thin material for writing or printing
staff /stɑːf/ B1	noun - employees of an organization noun - a long stick used as a support or weapon
chronic /ˈkrɒnɪk/ C1	adjective - lasting for a long time or constantly recurring
wave /weɪv/ B1	noun - a moving ridge on the surface of water verb - to move one's hand back and forth as a greeting
Ferrari /fəˈrɑːri/ B2	proper noun - Italian luxury sports car brand
zone /zoʊn/ B2	noun - a defined area or region
code /koʊd/ B2	noun - a system of symbols or rules for communication
silent /ˈsaɪlənt/ B2	adjective - making no sound; quiet

Key Grammar Structures

• I got a hundred cars

  ➔ Present Simple, possessive pronoun + quantity + noun

  ➔ The sentence uses the present simple to state a fact about the speaker's possessions. The structure is straightforward: **I** (subject) **got** (verb) **a hundred cars** (object).

• I told 'em, "A hundred large"

  ➔ Indirect speech, colloquial contraction, informal noun phrase

  ➔ This line demonstrates indirect speech – reporting what was said. **'em** is a colloquial contraction of 'them'. **"A hundred large"** is slang for $100,000, an informal noun phrase.

• They thought I was cancelled, I piped up and flipped the channel

  ➔ Past tense, coordinating conjunction, phrasal verb

  ➔ This sentence uses the past tense (**thought**, **was**). **and** is a coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses. **Piped up** and **flipped the channel** are phrasal verbs – **piped up** means to speak suddenly and assertively, and **flipped the channel** means to ignore something.

• Shit ain't safe when you fucking with the underdog

  ➔ Double negative, colloquial language, present simple, gerund

  ➔ This line uses a double negative (**ain't** and **fucking** acting as an intensifier negating 'safe'). It's very colloquial. **Fucking with** is a phrasal verb meaning to interfere with or challenge. **Underdog** is used as a noun.

• I'm tryna have paper, Robert Kraft

  ➔ Present continuous (informal), colloquial contraction, noun as appositive

  ➔ **Tryna** is a colloquial contraction of 'trying to'. The sentence expresses a current desire. **Robert Kraft** is used as an appositive, clarifying what kind of 'paper' (money) the speaker wants – referencing the wealthy owner of the New England Patriots.