Lyrics
[Produced by DJ Premier] [Intro] Rock, rock, rock on Rock, rock, rock on I'm going to tell you the truth whether you like it or not Can I prove it? Yes Lord, no more days like those [Verse 1: Royce Da 5'9"] Allow me to put some sense on you coons Too much success, um, here comes your doom They told you niggas the sky's the limit Then they turn around and tell you that there's footprints on the moon You rise to fame and die, so they can say that you barely won And they keep your masters, your kids become bastards Having to ask executives for their daddy records Sounding like Blind Mellow Jelly son Look in my eyes, you can tell I'm violent I might go diving inside a fine female on the Maldives island I vow to never fail my phonics until I'm real iconic And you can throw me in a cell, I got it I go to jail 'bout eight, go "oh well," then post bail ''bout nine-ish I treat that bitch like it's a hotel, check in it, then check out it Then tell my niggas, let the rest doubt it These rap niggas bugged out, like divas, they drugged-out thugged-out receivers I meet them at their stash place, heat them Then tell them, they better drag race the fuck away from me Or get their mug shot, like Bieber I catch him at the bus stop while he reading This .45 will give him the same hollow Lux got I represent the must-haves and whatnots Niggas that used to cut class to touch cash and buck shots [Chorus: Dwele] You should know (But you don't really want nothing) You should know (Talk a bunch of shit, motherfucker stop fronting) You should know (So what you saying yo? Keep playing y'all niggas will burn) You should know (Fuck the whole world) [Verse 2: Royce Da 5'9"] Freedom or jail, clips inserted A baby's being born, same time a man is murdered The beginning and end, you on a block, playing killer with your knife Without a gun you're an option, be cut out for the game Or they're gon play rock, paper, scissors with your life I'm usually more spiritual at night 'Cause murder's in the air, more like a Pippen Nike Whipping white, the white American kryptonite Living a scripted life, a different kick, a different type Whoever fixing chicken rice, I'll spend the night In the morning go home to my wife, before she try and sell my shit Ninety nine percent sure that she gon' try and smell my dick Thirsty niggas is praying to hell I slip The baddest bitches, the last bitches you would've ever imagined Would've had chlamydia, getting dragged to cities City after city, niggas paying cash for the love of ass and titties [Chorus: Dwele] You should know (But you don't really want nothing) You should know (Talk a bunch of shit, motherfucker stop fronting) You should know (So what you saying yo? Keep playing y'all niggas will burn) You should know (Fuck the whole world) [Verse 3: Royce Da 5'9"] (Pick it up) I don't know why y'all so highly regarded You rhyme like you're borderline mildly retarded I show you what my father done started I rhyme on a god level, the godliest artist Y'all follow artists who target their audience But not me, I target the artist, follow the target Holding a strap, pointing it at sinners And that's when I tell them like Kobe to Shaq, "You lazy and I'm tired of your jogging" Shoot at their feet 'til the dance start,I'm going H.A.M. in the slaughterhouse Fuck you and your damn charts, and your crowd participation I'm putting a land mine under your stage, had his place raining fan parts And called that shit crowd precipitation I'm more premier than my own DJ and Pac's brother I came out of my momma's womb with a box cutter Lyrical spitting image that mirrors the birth of Slim None of these rappers can work with me, I work with them [Chorus: Dwele] You should know (But you don't really want nothing) You should know (Talk a bunch of shit, motherfucker stop fronting) You should know (So what you saying yo? Keep playing y'all niggas will burn) You should know (Fuck the whole world) [Outro: Royce Da 5'9"] On the vocals You have Detroit's own Dwele Providing the instruments We have The incomparable Adrian Younge And on the wheels of steel DJ Premier Yeah (I say, and I'll say it again I'm not the kind of person who come here to say what you like)
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Meaning of "You Should Know" by PRhyme
The track opens with a bold declaration: "I'm going to tell you the truth whether you like it or not." This sets a confrontational tone, immediately signaling that the lyrics aren't here to coddle the listener. The narrator, Royce Da 5'9", positions himself as an unflinching truth-teller, ready to expose the harsh realities of the music industry and the rap game. The core tension lies in the dichotomy between perceived success and its often-illusory nature. The lyrics highlight how artists are fed narratives like "the sky's the limit" only to find their careers manipulated, their masters retained, and their legacies diminished. This creates a sense of betrayal, where fame can lead to "doom" and artists become pawns in a system that ultimately profits from their downfall, leaving their families in precarious positions. Royce employs vivid, often violent imagery to underscore his lyrical prowess and the stakes involved. He contrasts the aspirational "Maldives island" with the gritty reality of potential incarceration, treating jail "like it's a hotel." His aggressive stance is further emphasized by threats of violence against rivals, depicted as "bugged out" and easily dispatched. This raw, unapologetic delivery, coupled with sharp wordplay like comparing his lyrical impact to "Pippen Nike" or his birth to "a box cutter," asserts dominance and a commitment to authentic, uncompromised artistry. The effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their unflinching honesty and the sheer force of their delivery. The narrator doesn't shy away from the dark side of the industry or the potential consequences of his words and actions. By grounding his boasts in a critique of systemic exploitation and personal resilience, he crafts a narrative that feels both deeply personal and broadly resonant for anyone who has felt underestimated or trapped by external forces. The repeated chorus, "You should know," serves as a final, potent warning, urging listeners to acknowledge these truths or face the consequences.
This AI-assisted editorial analysis was reviewed, improved, and approved by the LyricsWeb editorial team.
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Credits
- Writers
- DJ Premier
- Adrian Younge
- Dwele
- Royce Da 5'9"