You Don't Know – English Lyrics

• By: Eminem, 50 Cent, Cashis, Lloyd Banks

Lyrics & Translation

Explore Eminem's hard-hitting track "You Don't Know" featuring 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, and Cashis. This song offers a lesson in hip-hop bravado and lyrical prowess, showcasing the Shady Records crew's confident declaration of their place at the top. Discover the meanings behind the lyrics, the context of its creation, and the impact it had on the hip-hop landscape.

[English]

(eerie music)

♪ Shady ♪

♪ Who run it ♪

♪ You know, you acting like you don't know ♪

♪ We run it ♪

♪ You know but you acting like you don't know ♪

♪ Who run it ♪

♪ You know, you acting like you don't know ♪

♪ We run it ♪

♪ You know but you acting like you don't know ♪

♪ You know you actin' like you don't know ♪

♪ I tear the club up fo' sho ♪

♪ This flow is gon' bring more dough ♪

♪ You know but actin' like you don't know ♪

♪ Now homie I say I run it, run it ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm in control ♪

♪ Hpnotiq, Hennessey ♪

♪ A couple shots of Patron ♪

♪ I have you feeling a'ight ♪

♪ I get you high as a kite ♪

♪ Party popping shorty said she's coming with me tonight ♪

♪ I ain't shoulder leaning ♪

♪ I ain't snapping and popping ♪

♪ Either I'm bobbing my head ♪

♪ Or I'm just standing there watching ♪

♪ I'm a hustler ♪

♪ I hustle ♪

♪ You can tell that I'm paid ♪

♪ And I protect what I got ♪

♪ I'm in the house with my ♪

♪ You front, you gon' get it ♪

♪ Okay, now maybe I said it ♪

♪ 'Cause I want you to tridip ♪

♪ Yeah I be on that ♪

♪ You should see when I'm stunting ♪

♪ I flash the stones they be wanting ♪

♪ Push the whip, see me rolling ♪

♪ You can tell that I'm ♪

♪ I'm just doing my thing ♪

♪ You know the Unit's the game ♪

♪ I got my grimy Shady with me ♪

♪ You front you'll have to get me off your ass ♪

♪ I pay the lawsuit and laugh ♪

♪ It's not a big deal ♪

♪ It's nothing but some cash ♪

♪ Who run it ♪

♪ You know, you acting like you don't know ♪

♪ I tear the club up fo' sho ♪

♪ This flow is gon' bring more dough ♪

♪ You know but acting like you don't know ♪

♪ Who run it ♪

♪ You know, you acting like you don't know ♪

♪ I tear the club up fo' sho ♪

♪ This flow is gon' bring more dough ♪

♪ You know but acting like you don't know ♪

♪ When me and Fif' got together to do this music ♪

♪ The more we became enveloped ♪

♪ We just developed a fellowship through it ♪

♪ It's no pretending ♪

♪ It's friendship ♪

♪ Me nemisis is su nemisis ♪

♪ The same for him ♪

♪ It's just media ♪

♪ See to them it's just images ♪

♪ It's no gimmicks ♪

♪ This is blood in and blood out ♪

♪ When it's beef you just gotta know when ♪

♪ To butt in and butt out ♪

♪ If there's a problem we solve it ♪

♪ If we don't resolve it ♪

♪ It usually just evolves into one big brawl ♪

♪ And we all get involved in it ♪

♪ We should all get a merit ♪

♪ This much beef we inherit ♪

♪ And wear it like a badge of honor ♪

♪ Pass it around and share it ♪

♪ And let it go to whoever's holding ♪

♪ The most current beef on their shoulders ♪

♪ And their soldiers got their backs 'till it's over ♪

♪ But tonight we ain't coming here to beef with nobody ♪

♪ We came to party ♪

♪ Banks, Ca$his and Mr. Ferrari ♪

♪ So it's Shady After-mizz-ath ♪

♪ Back in that ass, you izz-ass ♪

♪ Come hizzon ♪

♪ What kinda quizzestion is that ♪

♪ Who run it ♪

♪ You know, you acting like you don't know ♪

♪ I tear the club up fo' sho ♪

♪ This flow is gon' bring more dough ♪

♪ You know but you acting like you don't know ♪

♪ Who run it ♪

♪ You know, you acting like you don't know ♪

♪ I tear the club up fo' sho ♪

♪ This flow is gon' bring more dough ♪

♪ You know but you acting like you don't know ♪

♪ From the ricochet ♪

♪ Ca$his's wicked way ♪

♪ Over there gon' say ♪

♪ Similar to JFK ♪

♪ OC come and test my way ♪

♪ I'm gon' ride till the death ♪

♪ Do you rep that way ♪

♪ Forever I'm a be a Shady 7-4 Gangster ♪

♪ Homie I survived everything you got in that ♪

♪ I thrive off of danger ♪

♪ Jumping in all beef ♪

♪ You keep talking ♪

♪ Now the squad called me ♪

♪ Enough holding back the steam ♪

♪ Em let off a Dappadon Cappa-queens ♪

♪ Mixed in with Ca$his creams ♪

♪ Started off with half a dream ♪

♪ Developed into what you see ♪

♪ Telling ain't my cup of tea ♪

♪ Can't tell I'm a G ♪

♪ I'm a hold when I'm at it ♪

♪ Start static and you shattered ♪

♪ I'm a walking chick magnet ♪

♪ Spit it how I live it ♪

♪ Live it all the way to the limit ♪

♪ And I'm always on my pivot for my digits ♪

♪ You dig it ♪

♪ We run it ♪

♪ You know, you acting like you don't know ♪

♪ I tear the club up fo' sho ♪

♪ This flow is gon' bring more dough ♪

♪ You know but you acting like you don't know ♪

♪ Who run it ♪

♪ You know, you acting like you don't know ♪

♪ I tear the club up fo' sho ♪

♪ This flow is gon' bring more dough ♪

♪ You know but you acting like you don't know ♪

♪ Who run it ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
hustle /ˈhʌsl/ C1	verb - To work hard and energetically to achieve success, often in a resourceful or aggressive way, especially to earn money. noun - A way of making money, often through unconventional or aggressive means; hard work.
dough /doʊ/ C1	noun - (Slang) Money. noun - A thick, pliable mixture of flour and liquid, used for baking.
whip /wɪp/ C1	noun - (Slang, hip-hop) A car. verb - To strike or beat, especially with a flexible instrument; to move quickly and suddenly.
stunting /ˈstʌntɪŋ/ C1	verb - (Informal) To show off, especially wealth or status, often in an ostentatious way.
beef /biːf/ C1	noun - (Slang, informal) A grievance, complaint, or dispute, especially a feud or argument between individuals or groups. noun - Meat from a cow, bull, or ox.
brawl /brɔːl/ C1	noun - A rough or noisy fight or quarrel. verb - To fight or quarrel in a rough or noisy way.
fellowship /ˈfeləʊʃɪp/ C1	noun - Friendly association, especially with people who share one's interests; a group of people meeting for mutual support or common interest.
nemesis /ˈneməsɪs/ C1	noun - A long-standing rival; an arch-enemy; the inescapable agent of someone's or something's downfall.
gimmick /ˈɡɪmɪk/ C1	noun - A trick or device intended to attract attention, publicity, or trade; an ingenious or novel device, scheme, or idea, especially one used to get attention or advantage.
thrive /θraɪv/ C1	verb - To grow or develop well or vigorously; to prosper; be fortunate or successful.
shattered /ˈʃætərd/ C1	adjective - Broken into many pieces; severely damaged or devastated (e.g., hopes, nerves). verb - (Past participle of shatter) To break suddenly and violently into many pieces; to destroy or ruin (something).
static /ˈstætɪk/ C1	noun - (Informal) Opposition, criticism, or trouble. adjective - Lacking in movement, action, or change.
digits /ˈdɪdʒɪts/ C1	noun - (Slang, informal) Money; earnings. noun - Any of the numerals from 0 to 9; a finger or toe.
grimy /ˈɡraɪmi/ C1	adjective - (Informal, often hip-hop context) Tough, rough, street-wise, often implying a raw or authentic quality; covered with grime; dirty.
wicked /ˈwɪkɪd/ C1	adjective - (Informal) Excellent; very good; admirable. adjective - Evil or morally wrong.
front /frʌnt/ B2	verb - (Informal) To pretend or put on a false appearance, especially to impress or to hide one's true intentions. noun - The forward part or surface of something.
merit /ˈmerɪt/ C1	noun - The quality of being good and deserving praise; a feature or quality that deserves praise. verb - Deserve or be worthy of (something, especially reward, punishment, or attention).
enveloped /ɪnˈveləpt/ C1	verb - (Past participle of `envelop`) To wrap up, cover, or surround completely; to be completely involved in or absorbed by something.
ricochet /ˈrɪkəʃeɪ/ C1	noun - A shot or hit that rebounds off a surface. verb - To rebound off a surface.
Patron /pəˈtrɒn/ C1	noun - (Specific, often capitalized) A brand of tequila; by extension, a high-quality or expensive liquor, often symbolizing luxury or celebration. noun - A person who gives financial or other support to a person, organization, or cause; a customer, especially a regular one.

Key Grammar Structures

• You know, you acting like you don't know

  ➔ Omission of 'are' in Present Continuous

  ➔ In informal English, especially in spoken language or rap lyrics, the auxiliary verb "are" is often omitted before the present participle when forming the present continuous tense, making it "you acting" instead of "you are acting."

• This flow is gon' bring more dough

  ➔ Informal 'gon'' for 'going to'

  ➔ "Gon'" is an informal, colloquial contraction of "going to," used to express future actions or intentions. It's very common in casual speech and song lyrics.

• I have you feeling a'ight

  ➔ Causative verb 'have' with present participle

  ➔ The causative verb "have" followed by an object and a present participle (e.g., "feeling") means to cause someone or something to experience a particular state or action. Here, it means "I will cause you to feel alright."

• Either I'm bobbing my head Or I'm just standing there watching

  ➔ Correlative conjunctions 'Either... or...'

  ➔ "Either... or..." is a pair of correlative conjunctions used to present two alternative options. It means one of the two possibilities is true, but not both.

• You front, you gon' get it

  ➔ Implied Conditional (Zero Conditional)

  ➔ This is an example of an implied conditional sentence, specifically resembling a zero conditional. It means "If you 'front' (act aggressively or disrespectfully), then you 'gon' get it' (you will face consequences)." The "if" is omitted for conciseness and impact.

• When me and Fif' got together to do this music

  ➔ Informal subject pronoun 'me' instead of 'I'

  ➔ In informal spoken English, it's common to hear "me" used as part of a compound subject (e.g., "me and Fif'") even though grammatically "I" would be correct ("Fif' and I"). This is a characteristic of casual speech, not formal grammar.

• But tonight we ain't coming here to beef with nobody

  ➔ Double negative for emphasis (informal/AAVE)

  ➔ This line uses a double negative ("ain't" and "nobody"), which is grammatically incorrect in standard English but is a common feature in informal speech, especially in African American Vernacular English (AAVE), to add emphasis to the negation. It means "we are not coming here to beef with anyone."

• This much beef we inherit

  ➔ Usage of 'much' with abstract noun 'beef' (meaning conflict)

  ➔ "Much" is typically used with uncountable nouns. Here, "beef" is used metaphorically to mean conflict or problems, which is an abstract, uncountable concept, making the use of "much" grammatically correct in this context.

• You keep talking

  ➔ 'Keep' + gerund for continuous action

  ➔ The verb "keep" followed by a gerund (verb + -ing) indicates that an action continues or is repeated. In this case, it means "You continue to talk."

• Telling ain't my cup of tea

  ➔ Informal 'ain't' and idiom 'not my cup of tea'

  ➔ "Ain't" is an informal contraction for "is not," "are not," "has not," or "have not." "Not my cup of tea" is an idiom meaning something is not to one's liking or preference. So, "Telling ain't my cup of tea" means "Telling [things/secrets] is not something I like to do."