Verified archive entry

Dirty Money

Dirty Money is a diss track by Nicki Minaj targeting Lil' Kim. Nicki Minaj and Lil' Kim's conflict centered on accusations of copied imagery, insufficient respect for an earlier generation and competition over the ‘queen’ position. Some records keep the target unnamed, so the annotation distinguishes documented feud context from what the individual lyric actually says.

ReleasedPending
Annotated1
ExplicitYes
Addressable transcript

Lyrics & breakdown

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

  1. 01

    [Intro:]

    02

    I don't wanna sound mad, though! I don't wanna sound mad!

    03

    I feel marvelous right now!

    04

    Dirty money!

  2. 05

    [Verse:]

    Multi-line diss block
    06

    Tell that bitch with the crown to run it like Chris Brown

    07

    She won 3 rounds, I'mma need a hundred thou

    08

    Like china town, bitches better bow down

    09

    Oh, you ain't know? bet ya'll bitches know now

    Block noteTells the rival queen to put money behind the crown

    TargetLil' Kim

    MeaningWhat it means: Nicki orders ‘the bitch with the crown’ to produce one hundred thousand dollars after three rounds, treating the queen title as a wager that must be financially defended. Why it was said: During her struggle with Lil' Kim over succession and respect in female rap, Nicki makes the crown measurable: inherited status and past reputation are not enough unless Kim can match the new star's current money and momentum.

    Wordplay‘Run it like Chris Brown’ links paying up—running the money—to Brown's name, while ‘three rounds’ makes the rivalry sound like a scored fight.

    ContextNicki Minaj and Lil' Kim's conflict centered on accusations of copied imagery, insufficient respect for an earlier generation and competition over the ‘queen’ position. Some records keep the target unnamed, so the annotation distinguishes documented feud context from what the individual lyric actually says.

  3. 10

    Fuck I gotta do to let 'em know that I'm the one?

    11

    Way I ride the drum they salute me in the slum

    12

    In the 6 hun the color of bubble gum

    13

    I'm with my nigga spits and my nigga, bun crum (waddup!)

  4. 14

    Yes, I'm the one, I'm the motherfuckin' one (chyeah!)

    15

    Hold more weight than the late big pun (oh!)

    16

    Bitches talk slick, but they ain't say nun (no!)

    17

    Mad cause I'm bad, 2 sticks in my bun (chyeah!)

  5. 18

    Yes, sir, look what i've done

    19

    They r-run, run when I come

    20

    Bum-stickity-bum, let me tell 'em where I'm from

    21

    Queens, little mama, gabbana, some nice pumps (chyeah!)