Song Meaning

Crooked I's "3 Bitches" is not the misogynistic anthem its title might suggest. Instead, the song meaning lies in a complex relationship with the streets, where violence, ambition, and a relentless pursuit of survival reign supreme. The three 'bitches' are revealed in the outro as guns, drugs, and life itself – a trinity of obsessions that define his existence. He doesn't love these three things in a conventional way, but rather acknowledges their intertwined, often destructive, influence on his path. The hook, featuring Knoc-Turnal, provides a melodic counterpoint, but even this 'rooftop lady' feels less like a romantic interest and more like another fleeting escape from the harsh realities Crooked I describes. The song paints a vivid picture of a world where loyalty is tested, enemies lurk, and death is a constant presence. Crooked I's lyrics are densely packed with imagery of street life. He references everything from the crack epidemic's legacy to the ever-present threat of violence. Lines like "Death to my enemies / A shot to the head took my good friend's memory" reveal the psychological toll of this environment. The rapper is not merely glorifying violence; he's illustrating how trauma and the need for self-preservation warp one's perspective. The repeated lines about seeking revenge, “they gotta die for what they did to me,” underscore the cyclical nature of violence and the difficulty of escaping its grip. There’s a clear sense of paranoia and hyper-vigilance driving his actions. He sees betrayal everywhere, even distrusting medical professionals who might be in league with his enemies. Beyond the violence, “3 Bitches” is about the hustle. Crooked I portrays himself as a shrewd operator, navigating a treacherous landscape with cunning and force. He boasts about his financial success, turning money into a character that he teaches to speak like Oprah, a symbol of wealth and influence. But even this pursuit is tinged with darkness. The line “Give me your money, your guns, or your life” highlights the desperation and moral compromises inherent in his quest for success. The mathematical metaphors in the second verse, where he uses terms like “trigonometry” and “calculus” to describe violence, are not just clever wordplay; they reveal a cold, calculating approach to survival. Ultimately, “3 Bitches” is a raw and unflinching exploration of the psychological impact of street life, where love, loyalty, and morality are constantly tested by the harsh realities of guns, drugs, and the relentless pursuit of survival.

Crooked I & Knoc-Turn’al - Rap

3 Bitches

2 Plays

Duration: 4:12

[Intro: Crooked I] I was raised in the 80s by niggas who pushed crack Who was raised in the 70s by niggas who pushed smack Who was raised in the 60s by some niggas who pushed black It's '08 now, all that shit done got pushed back They say life is a bitch (Still she my sweet Mrs.) Making money is a bitch (Still Crooked keep riches) Packin' guns is a bitch (But still, my heat vicious) I say "Ain't that a bitch?" Just me and my 3 bitches [Chorus: Knoc-Turnal, Crooked I] I fly high in the sky with my rooftop lady (Yeah) Said she wanna fly high just to be my baby (Yeah) She just wants to kick it She just wants to kick it (Yeah) with a true O.G. like me Just me and my 3 bitches I fly high in the sky (Yeah) with my rooftop lady Said she wanna fly high (Yeah) just to be my baby She just wants to kick it (Yeah) She just wants to kick it with a true O.G. like me Just me and my 3 bitches [Verse 1: Crooked I] C.O.B. till a nigga got grey hair Haters wanna kill me, cops never play fair Got the West on my back 'cause I ain't scared Feel like when Pac passed, he named me the main heir Street life soldier, heater keeps smokin' like a peace pipe Put you in the breeze like Doja Being nice is over Adidas, nigga, each stripe cobra Teachin' money to speak like Oprah Death to my enemies A shot to the head took my good friend's memory He don't even remember me Even though it's his head, it fucked mine up mentally Selfish as it sounds, they gotta die for what they did to me Fuck his leg, I'ma bust him in his head Dozen shots in cuzzin to have a discussion with the dead If I slip up and they touch me with the lead Don't rush me to the hospital, them suckas wanna cuff me to the bed Listen, the underbelly of society is speakin' If it's beef ya seekin', you should aspire to be a vegan If you speakin' on green, I'm thinkin' you preachin' to the choir and the deacon My chain shinin' brighter than a beacon Yeah, whatever the budget, whenever cheddar's the subject My Beretta hold you niggas up better than crutches And a nigga know it ain't right Give me your money, your guns, or your life Me and my 3 bitches [Chorus: Knoc-Turnal, Crooked I] I fly high in the sky with my rooftop lady (Yeah) Said she wanna fly high just to be my baby (Yeah) She just wants to kick it She just wants to kick it (Yeah) with a true O.G. like me Just me and my 3 bitches I fly high in the sky (Yeah) with my rooftop lady Said she wanna fly high (Yeah) just to be my baby She just wants to kick it (Yeah) She just wants to kick it with a true O.G. like me Just me and my 3 bitches [Verse 2: Crooked I] You don't like my frown, too bad I'm mad dog Hoes say Crooked mean Even when he smile, dude mad Nigga, brown durag Nigga, pants got that wild goon sag When I step out, them house shoes drag Grippin' on my pistol while I'm sippin' on my Cisco When the block is hotter than chicken when it's sizzlin' in Crisco (Fo' sho) I'm spittin' at this thick hoe The brizzles say she's strippin' for quick dough She pop pizz'ills and sniff blow Break bread with a boss, I don't give a damn Ya man don't like it, I crush the niggas Millican Hollow tips kill a man Shots spin you in mid-air like you some kinda ceilin' fan Damn, who's realer than me? 'Cause where I'm from, it's nothing to slaughter Niggas bust guns when they oughta put a slug in your daughter Turn your sons into martyrs Movin' like sharks, when it's blood in the water You hustlin', but see, I'm hustlin' harder Mathematic with rounds, I bust Squeeze the trigonometry on the 40cal-culus Subtract you down to dust Divide your wig, plus Knock a square out you cowards When shots ring to the 3rd power (Yeah) Nowadays, crime fuckin' pays I'm superglued to Long Beach, I'm stuck in my ways Niggas know I'm ballin', wanna know how I get down, man Don't check SoundScan, better check PoundScan [Chorus: Knoc-Turnal, Crooked I] I fly high in the sky with my rooftop lady (Yeah) Said she wanna fly high just to be my baby (Yeah) She just wants to kick it She just wants to kick it (Yeah) with a true O.G. like me Just me and my 3 bitches I fly high in the sky (Yeah) with my rooftop lady Said she wanna fly high (Yeah) just to be my baby She just wants to kick it (Yeah) She just wants to kick it with a true O.G. like me Just me and my 3 bitches [Outro: Crooked I] Guns, drugs, life Love all three C.O.B., nigga

Credits

Writers: Crooked I
Knoc-Turn’al

3 Bitches

3 Bitches

Lyrics

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Credits