National Treasures – English Lyrics

• By: Drake

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the nuances of modern hip-hop slang and complex internal rhyme schemes through Drake’s 'National Treasures.' This song is a masterclass in rhythmic delivery and idiomatic cultural references, making it an excellent resource for students looking to understand the vernacular of contemporary urban American English.

[English]

Yeah

For the city, though

Yeah

They gotta light the tower up for this

Yeah

Okay

Out in the six, I'm a national treasure

The niggas that back me gon' back me forever

R.I.P. Kobe, but y'all niggas brokie

That's probably why y'all be shackin' together

Capo and Lita got habits together

Like couples vacation, they packin' together

Like rushin' to finish, they'll slap it together

The charge is like COVID, they'll catch it together

They hate me so much, it's a sickenin' thing

They must've heard wrong on the call

I sent 'em a sack 'cause I wanted you shipped to the king

When you was a part of the team

We used to be plannin' our Mexico trip in the spring

We must've been dealin' the spur of the moment

'Cause why did we think you could get us a ring?

They braggin' 'bout how you went home, the fuck are they on?

Crodie, we threw 'em away

G Pop sent us a real one from Daygo

And next thing we knew, we was doin' parades

Fuck, all you pussy, man, who could relate?

Might just go take me a walk by the sea

They diss on the boy 'til they blue in the face

I put all the faces that's blue in the safe

Really can't find me the words

You niggas is birds, I wish that I knew what to say

Move to your block, I don't see your face

Your first time back since back in the day

First time lit since back in the day

We needed that chip since back in the day

My mind on the money, I'm rackin' my brain

And none of you pussies is actin' the same

Yeah, none of you p- is actin' the same

None of you p- is actin' the same

Mind on my money, I'm rackin' my brain

Go to the hotel right after your game

I'm comin' to your show and get back on the plane

But don't stick around in the six

Don't stick around in the six

Yeah

Boy gotta dip out the six, run out the six, just like you did (okay)

Why was TPS at my crib until you boys slid? It is what it is

Check signin' is my kink, pushin' out ink, I feel like a squid (okay)

I would probably need a YouTube search just for me to do a laundry load

Alex Moss tryna bring me back a hundred years from now, he got my body froze (okay)

All these niggas want a head tap, I did more damage off a body blow (o-)

I can't hit you off the iPhone shit, let me hit you off the lobby phone (okay)

Niggas gotta be around here, don't swivel 'cause we are not alone (o-)

Niggas gotta be around ice, on the same shit, like we monotone (okay)

Niggas gotta be around ice with the sticks, I'm like a hockey coach (o-)

Niggas better have a bag with a pipe like they came from a- (okay)

What? Bag with a pipe like they came from a Scottish home (o-)

Damn, way niggas talkin' 'bout ice, must be a sale on microphone (okay)

How you niggas go from askin' for some tickets? Now you niggas tryna stop the show (o-)

Ironic 'cause the Iceman was a nice man, now I'm hot and cold (okay)

Boy gotta dip out the six, run out the six, just like you did

Why was TPS at my crib until you boys slid? It is what it is

Check signin' is my kink, pushin' out ink, I feel like a squid (okay)

O-

Okay

O-

Okay

O-

Okay

O-

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
treasure /ˈtrɛʒər/ A2	noun - a valuable person or thing
national /ˈnæʃənəl/ B1	adjective - relating to a nation or country
vacation /veɪˈkeɪʃən/ A2	noun - a period of time spent away from home or work for pleasure
sickenin' /ˈsɪkənɪŋ/ B2	adjective - causing nausea or strong dislike
spur /spɜːr/ C1	noun - something that prompts or encourages an action (spur of the moment)
relate /rɪˈleɪt/ B2	verb - to feel sympathy or understanding for someone
ironic /aɪˈrɒnɪk/ B2	adjective - happening in a way contrary to what is expected
damage /ˈdæmɪdʒ/ B1	noun - physical harm caused to something
swivel /ˈswɪvəl/ C1	verb - to turn or rotate quickly
monotone /ˈmɒnətoʊn/ C1	adjective - lacking in variation in tone or pitch
kink /kɪŋk/ C2	noun - a peculiar sexual preference or a twist in something
brain /breɪn/ A2	noun - the organ of soft nervous tissue in the skull

Key Grammar Structures

• The niggas that back me gon' back me forever

  ➔ Relative Clause (Defining)

  ➔ "That back me" modifies "the niggas", specifying which group is being discussed.

• We used to be plannin' our Mexico trip in the spring

  ➔ Used to + be + V-ing

  ➔ "Used to be plannin'" refers to a past habit or continuous state that no longer happens.

• They must've heard wrong on the call

  ➔ Modal Verb of Deduction (Must have + Past Participle)

  ➔ "Must've heard" expresses a logical certainty about a past event.

• When you was a part of the team

  ➔ Subjunctive / Colloquial usage of 'was' with 'you'

  ➔ "You was" is common in AAVE/colloquial speech instead of standard "You were".

• Might just go take me a walk by the sea

  ➔ Ethical Dative (Intransitive use with 'me')

  ➔ The 'me' in "take me a walk" is an emphatic pronoun, adding a personal tone to the action.

• I put all the faces that's blue in the safe

  ➔ Relative Clause with contraction "that's"

  ➔ "That's" here acts as "that are", modifying "all the faces".

• Boy gotta dip out the six, run out the six

  ➔ Gotta (Obligation/Modal)

  ➔ "Gotta" is a contraction of "got to" (have to), expressing necessity.

• I would probably need a YouTube search just for me to do a laundry load

  ➔ Conditional (Second Conditional structure)

  ➔ "I would..." uses the conditional to express a hypothetical or unlikely scenario.