a lot cover art

a lot

21 Savage English

Intro: 21 Savage

I love youTurn my headphone down a little bit, yeahFor so many reasonsYeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (I do), yeah, yeah yeah yeahYeah, yeah, ah, ah, woah, woah, woah, yeah

Pre-Chorus: 21 Savage

How much money you got? (Straight up)How much money you got? (Straight up)How much money you got? (Straight up)How much money you got? (A lot)

Chorus: 21 Savage

How much money you got? (A lot)How many problems you got? (A lot)How many people done doubted you? (A lot)Left you out to rot? (A lot)How many pray that you flop? (A lot)How many lawyers you got? (A lot)How many times you got shot? (A lot)How many niggas you shot? (A lot)How many times did you ride? (A lot)How many niggas done died? (A lot)How many times did you cheat? (A lot)How many times did you lie? (A lot)How many times did she leave? (A lot)How many times did she cry? (A lot)How many chances she done gave you fuckin' around with these thots? (A lot)

Verse 1: 21 Savage

Every day that I’m alive, I'ma ride with the stickI'd rather be broke in jail than be dead and richTold my brothers take my breath if I turn to a snitchBut I’m 21 4L, ain't no way I'ma switch

Interlude

Break it down, I break it downI break it down, I break it downI break it down, I break it downI break it down, I break it down

Verse 2: 21 Savage

Penitentiary chances just to make a couple bucksMy heart so cold I could put it in my cupGang vs. the world, me and my dawg, it was usThen you went and wrote a statement, and that really fucked me upMy brother lost his life and it turned me to a beastMy brother got life and it turned me to the streetsI been through the storm and it turned me to a GBut the other side was sunny, I get paid to rap on beats

Chorus: 21 Savage

How much money you got? (A lot)How many problems you got? (A lot)How many people done doubted you? (A lot)Left you out to rot? (A lot)How many pray that you flop? (A lot)How many lawyers you got? (A lot)How many times you got shot? (A lot)How many niggas you shot? (A lot)How many times did you ride? (A lot)How many niggas done died? (A lot)How many times did you cheat? (A lot)How many times did you lie? (A lot)How many times did she leave? (A lot)How many times did she cry? (A lot)How many chances she done gave you?Fuck around with these thots (A lot)

Interlude: J. Cole

Break it on down, I break it on downI break it on down, I break it on downYeah, I just came from the AI drove back home, six-hour drive, six-and-a-halfBefore I left, I stopped by to see my nigga 21 in the studioHe had two of his kids with him right in the studio, that's when I knewYou a stand-up nigga, I love seein' shit like that

Verse 3: J. Cole

QuestionHow many faking they streams? (A lot)Getting they plays from machines? (A lot)I can see behind the smoke and mirrorsNiggas ain't really big as they seem (Hmm)I never say anything (Nah), everybody got they thing (True)Some niggas make millions, other niggas make memes (Hmm)I'm on a money routineI don't want smoke, I want creamI don’t want no more comparisonsThis is a marathon and I’m awareI been playing it back from a lack of promotionsI never was one for the bragging and boastingI guess I was hoping the music would speak for itself, but the people want everything elseOkay, no problem, I'll show up on everyone albumYou know what the outcome will beI’m batting a thousandIt's got to the point that these rappers don't even like rappin' with meFuck it ’cause my nigga 21 Savage just hit meAnd told me he saved me a spot on a new record he gotHe call it "a lot," I open my book and I jotPray for Tekashi, they want him to rotI picture him inside a cell on a cot'Flectin' on how he made it to the topWondering if it was worth it or notI pray for Markelle 'cause they fucked up his shotJust want you to know that you got it, my niggaThough I never met you, I know that you specialAnd that the Lord blessed you, don't doubt it, my niggaDennis Smith, Jr., stay solid, my niggaI'm on a tangent, not how I planned itI had some fans that hopped and abandoned shipWhen they thought that I wasn't gon' pan out, I got a planThey say that success is the greatest revenge, tell all your friendsCole on a mission, cementin' the spot as the greatest that did itBefore it all ends, nigga

Chorus: 21 Savage

How much money you got? (A lot)How many problems you got? (A lot)How many people done doubted you? (A lot)Left you out to rot? (A lot)How many pray that you flop? (A lot)How many lawyers you got? (A lot)How many times you got shot? (A lot)How many niggas you shot? (A lot)How many times did you ride? (A lot)How many niggas done died? (A lot)How many times did you cheat? (A lot)How many times did you lie? (A lot)How many times did she leave? (A lot)How many times did she cry? (A lot)How many chances she done gave you?Fuck around with these thots (A lot)

Outro

Break it on down, I break it on downI break it on down, I break it on downI break it down, I break it downI break it down, I break it downI break it on down, I break it downI break it down, I break it downI break it down, I break it downI break it down, I break it down, I br-
What the song means

The song explores the paradox of success: having money but also having many problems, enemies, and painful experiences. It reflects on hardship, survival, betrayal, and the cost of street life and fame. J. Cole adds commentary on fake success in the music industry and offers encouragement to those doubted by others.

Learn a word

4L — Forever (slang)

"21 4L" means 21 Savage is committed to his lifestyle/crew forever

21 Savage

1 song

All lyrics