DISSNATION
Verified archive entry

Be A Gentleman

By 50 Cent · Targeting Jay-Z

Be A Gentleman is a diss track by 50 Cent targeting Jay-Z. The record answers Jay-Z after the two rappers exchanged lines following 50 Cent's name-checks on “How to Rob.”

Released2002
Annotated2
ExplicitYes
Addressable transcript

Lyrics & breakdown

Demo lines only. Select a line number to copy a stable deep link.

  1. 01

    [Chorus]

    02

    It's best you be a gentleman and you watch what you say

    03

    For Jesus Christ can't save you, once you go 'gainst the grain

  2. 04

    [Verse 1]

    05

    Yo, no more freestyles and verses killin' Sticky and Ja

    06

    I'm movin' on now, I got bigger fish to fry (Uh-huh)

    07

    Since How To Rob, a lot of niggas been namin' names

    08

    Monkey see monkey do, I done changed the game (Uh-huh)

  3. 09

    Still niggas actin' like I don't get down or something

    Multi-line diss block
    10

    Like I ain't the next nigga to wear the crown or something

    11

    You gon' talk about your chips 'til we run in your crib

    12

    Then, you gon' ask dumb questions like, "Can I live?"

    Block noteQuestions the target's judgment

    TargetJay-Z

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Then, you gon' ask dumb questions like, "Can I live?",” 50 Cent characterizes Jay-Z as unintelligent, careless, or unable to understand the situation being addressed. Why it was said: The record answers Jay-Z after the two rappers exchanged lines following 50 Cent's name-checks on “How to Rob.” The insult makes the target's decisions part of the evidence: a poor response can be framed not as strategy, but as proof that Jay-Z never understood the contest.

    ContextThe record answers Jay-Z after the two rappers exchanged lines following 50 Cent's name-checks on “How to Rob.”

  4. 13

    "Look, If I shoot you, I'm famous

    Multi-line diss block
    14

    If you shoot me, you're brainless"—you said it yourself

    15

    I'm slick enough to twist your lines and send them back at you

    16

    Swift enough to snatch the Mac and pop that at you

    Block noteChallenges the target's public standing

    TargetJay-Z

    MeaningWhat it means: In “"Look, If I shoot you, I'm famous,” 50 Cent questions whether Jay-Z's attention, audience, or reputation reflects genuine respect. Why it was said: The record answers Jay-Z after the two rappers exchanged lines following 50 Cent's name-checks on “How to Rob.” Visibility can be mistaken for victory, so the artist recasts Jay-Z's recognition as temporary, manufactured, or disconnected from credibility.

    ContextThe record answers Jay-Z after the two rappers exchanged lines following 50 Cent's name-checks on “How to Rob.”

  5. 17

    Take it personal see if I won't send you to hell

    18

    I've done told Tone and Poke, they better have my bail

    19

    But if it's over a mil, don't put the crib up, dun

    20

    'Cause if 50 get free, nigga, 50 gon' run

  6. 21

    [Chorus]

    22

    It's best you be a gentleman and you watch what you say (Brrat, brrat!)

    23

    For Jesus Christ can't save you, once you go 'gainst the grain (It's gangsta!)

    24

    It's best you be a gentleman and you watch what you say (Brrat, nigga, take that!)

    25

    For Jesus Christ can't save you, once you go 'gainst the grain (It's gangsta!)

  7. 26

    [Verse 2]

    27

    Look, I'm supposed to be cocky, I ain't poor no more

    28

    I ain't gotta steal from the corner store no more

    29

    Got my own crib, I ain't sleepin' on the floor no more

    30

    Bouncers don't try to play me at the door no more

  8. 31

    But when they see me, they say, "Search him, he might have the nine" (Yeah!)

    32

    "He might shoot this motherfucker up like Shyne"

    33

    It's been a while since a new nigga came tight like this (Uh-huh)

    34

    Ya man, he aight, but he ain't quite like this

  9. 35

    Niggas is feelin' it, the Benz pullin' up on the set (Uh-huh)

    36

    Me jumpin' out, 30 thou on my neck (Uh-huh, uh-huh)

    37

    That shit you said wasn't nuttin' to sweat (What)

    38

    But you was outta line so here's what you get

  10. 39

    A verbal ass-kicking, Jesus Christ sent me to test ya

    40

    Let's see how see how... he reacts under pressure

    41

    Til Makaveli returns, it's all eyes on me

    42

    Til the feds build a case or find files on me

  11. 43

    [Chorus]

    44

    It's best you be a gentleman and you watch what you say (Brrat, brrat!)

    45

    For Jesus Christ can't save you, once you go 'gainst the grain (It's gangsta!)

    46

    It's best you be a gentleman and you watch what you say (Brrat, nigga, take that!)

    47

    For Jesus Christ can't save you, once you go 'gainst the grain (It's gangsta!)

  12. 48

    [Outro]

    49

    It's gangsta

    50

    2000 shit

    51

    Yo

    52

    Y'all know what you need to do?

  13. 53

    Get together

    54

    Make a "We Are the World" record

    55

    Faggot-ass niggas