Verified archive entry

You Gotta Love It

You Gotta Love It is a diss track by Cam'ron targeting Jay-Z. The recording also credits Max B. Cam'ron's conflict with Jay-Z grew out of Roc-A-Fella business tensions, Dipset's relationship with Damon Dash and competing accounts of who created opportunities for whom. The lyrics challenge Jay-Z's authorship, loyalty, fashion, executive record and claim to have made Cam wealthy.

Released2006
Annotated6
ExplicitYes
Addressable transcript

Lyrics & breakdown

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

  1. 01

    [Intro: Cam'ron]

    02

    Uh Dipset! 'Fore I set it off

    03

    Okay first off, you a bitch, nigga

    04

    Only reason I'm doin' this

    05

    I'ma just name five reasons real quick, got 150, got 150

  2. 06

    First, you stole Roc-A-Fella from Dame

    07

    Second, you stole Kanye from Dame

    08

    Third, you stole Rocawear from Dame

    09

    Fourth, I seen the nigga throw that diamond up before them shots was fired

  3. 10

    Fifth, hold on, turn the beat off

    11

    I had to turn the beat off for this

    12

    You talkin' 'bout you a '80s baby, you 37 years old

    13

    You was born in 1968 and I open the Daily News

  4. 14

    How's the king of New York rockin' sandals with jeans?

    15

    Open toe sandals with chancletas with jeans on

    16

    How's the king of New York rockin' sandals with jeans and he 42 years old?

    17

    Back to business

  5. 18

    [Verse 1: Cam'ron]

    19

    You ain't the only one with big wallets

    20

    Got it, my shits brollic, dot it

    21

    But your publishing should go to Ms. Wallace

    22

    Honest, stealing Big's shit, he made two albums, you wilding

  6. 23

    And he can't dress, dawg, who styled him?

    Multi-line diss block
    24

    It was Rocawear when Dame had it

    25

    Now you got it, call it Cockawear, heh not in here

    26

    Dead it pronto, you won't see a car, no

    Block noteImagines the battle as physical destruction

    TargetJay-Z

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Dead it pronto, you won't see a car, no,” Cam'ron converts lyrical defeat into death, shooting, burial, or bodily harm directed at Jay-Z. Why it was said: Cam'ron's conflict with Jay-Z grew out of Roc-A-Fella business tensions, Dipset's relationship with Damon Dash and competing accounts of who created opportunities for whom. The lyrics challenge Jay-Z's authorship, loyalty, fashion, executive record and claim to have made Cam wealthy. The violent image makes the response sound final: instead of proposing an endless exchange, the artist depicts Jay-Z as unable to return for another round.

    ContextCam'ron's conflict with Jay-Z grew out of Roc-A-Fella business tensions, Dipset's relationship with Damon Dash and competing accounts of who created opportunities for whom. The lyrics challenge Jay-Z's authorship, loyalty, fashion, executive record and claim to have made Cam wealthy.

  7. 27

    Dame and Biggs' bitch for years, now you Juan ho

    Multi-line diss block
    28

    He own the 40/40, got you in Atlantic City

    29

    Pitch your budget outta Baseline, goddamn it's pretty

    30

    You love a Harlem nigga, we get it cooking it's true

    Block noteUses a degrading label to strip status

    TargetJay-Z

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Dame and Biggs' bitch for years, now you Juan ho,” Cam'ron replaces Jay-Z's chosen public identity with the degrading label in the quoted bar, making contempt—not neutral description—the point of the line. Why it was said: Cam'ron's conflict with Jay-Z grew out of Roc-A-Fella business tensions, Dipset's relationship with Damon Dash and competing accounts of who created opportunities for whom. The lyrics challenge Jay-Z's authorship, loyalty, fashion, executive record and claim to have made Cam wealthy. The insult supplies listeners with a short rival definition of Jay-Z; repeating that definition is meant to damage the authority the target brings into the feud.

    ContextCam'ron's conflict with Jay-Z grew out of Roc-A-Fella business tensions, Dipset's relationship with Damon Dash and competing accounts of who created opportunities for whom. The lyrics challenge Jay-Z's authorship, loyalty, fashion, executive record and claim to have made Cam wealthy.

  8. 31

    But now I look, we got more dudes in Brooklyn than you

    32

    Apparently, right? Down in Jeezy video

    33

    I should've kissed you on the cheek, you a pretty ho

    34

    And Jaz video you starred in it: Peter Pan

  9. 35

    I was hopping off the Greyhound: Peter Pan

    36

    How could he be the man? Ha, only reason fam

    37

    I don't suck dick or kiss ass and I'm conceited, damn

    38

    But we hawk yo, right where you walk bro

  10. 39

    You can fool the rest of the world long as New York know

    Multi-line diss block
    40

    We put you under ground clown, they gon' check the cellars

    41

    I know he 40 years old, I don't respect my elders

    42

    I respect the hustlers, plus the grinders and the sellers

    Block noteReduces the target to a dismissive caricature

    TargetJay-Z

    MeaningWhat it means: In “We put you under ground clown, they gon' check the cellars,” Cam'ron replaces Jay-Z's preferred identity with a degrading label intended to make the opponent look ridiculous or contemptible. Why it was said: Cam'ron's conflict with Jay-Z grew out of Roc-A-Fella business tensions, Dipset's relationship with Damon Dash and competing accounts of who created opportunities for whom. The lyrics challenge Jay-Z's authorship, loyalty, fashion, executive record and claim to have made Cam wealthy. The label gives the audience a short, repeatable frame for the feud; repetition of that frame can shape how Jay-Z is remembered.

    ContextCam'ron's conflict with Jay-Z grew out of Roc-A-Fella business tensions, Dipset's relationship with Damon Dash and competing accounts of who created opportunities for whom. The lyrics challenge Jay-Z's authorship, loyalty, fashion, executive record and claim to have made Cam wealthy.

  11. 43

    You's a customer buster, here go jet propellers

  12. 44

    [Chorus: Max B]

    45

    You gotta hate us the way we getting this paper

    46

    All my niggas are coming straight from minimum wages

    47

    Niggas dick-riding the Dip steady tryna play us (They tryna spray us)

    48

    But for robberies, we got 'em in flavors (DipSet)

  13. 49

    We them 40th niggas, we tote the guns (Dipset)

    50

    This is 40th nigga, we from the slums (Dipset)

    51

    Pushing 40 nigga, you not the one

    52

    It's Killa Season, holla at a nigga 'cause here it come

  14. 53

    You got to hate us the way we getting this paper

    54

    All my niggas are coming straight from minimum wages

    55

    Niggas dick-riding the Dip steady tryna play us (They tryna spray us)

    56

    But for robberies, we got 'em in flavors (DipSet)

  15. 57

    We them 40th niggas, we tote the guns (Dipset)

    58

    This is 40th nigga, we from the slums (Dipset)

    59

    Pushing 40 nigga, you not the one

    60

    It's Killa Season, holla at a nigga 'cause here it come

  16. 61

    [Verse 2: Cam'ron]

    Multi-line diss block
    62

    Killa! Let's go (bitch nigga)

    63

    Who can fuck with me? No mammal (Nope)

    64

    But we tote handles at your open toe sandals and you look like Joe Camel (Go sell some cigarettes)

    65

    Off of Roc-A-Fella, right? No contact

    Block noteTurns the target into a visual punchline

    TargetJay-Z

    MeaningWhat it means: In “But we tote handles at your open toe sandals and you look like Joe Camel (Go sell some cigarettes),” Cam'ron reduces Jay-Z to an exaggerated physical caricature instead of engaging the target's preferred public image. Why it was said: Cam'ron's conflict with Jay-Z grew out of Roc-A-Fella business tensions, Dipset's relationship with Damon Dash and competing accounts of who created opportunities for whom. The lyrics challenge Jay-Z's authorship, loyalty, fashion, executive record and claim to have made Cam wealthy. A visual insult is easy for an audience to remember and repeat; the goal is to make ridicule of Jay-Z travel beyond the song itself.

    ContextCam'ron's conflict with Jay-Z grew out of Roc-A-Fella business tensions, Dipset's relationship with Damon Dash and competing accounts of who created opportunities for whom. The lyrics challenge Jay-Z's authorship, loyalty, fashion, executive record and claim to have made Cam wealthy.

  17. 66

    But bust this fly joint they put inside his contract

    67

    I left the label right, lot of cats wonder how

    68

    Every time I diss that label I get fined a hundred thou'

    69

    Just for telling y'all, I get fined a hundred thou'

  18. 70

    Huh them cats are ill, five times a half a mil'

    71

    Wars to play, like a bumper sticker smack a grill

    72

    Paul Wall cap a grill but them cats are daffodils

    73

    East Coast, West Coast, slang yo cap get peeled

  19. 74

    Down in Houston, ask B I'm a mack for real

    Multi-line diss block
    75

    Hackie tell me, respect, better dwell me

    76

    Beyoncé, fiancé, check my second LP

    77

    I might bring it back, that's your girl, that's your world

    Block noteUses a relationship to provoke the target

    TargetJay-Z

    MeaningWhat it means: In “I might bring it back, that's your girl, that's your world,” Cam'ron uses a romantic or sexual relationship to embarrass Jay-Z and challenge the target's control over a private narrative. Why it was said: Cam'ron's conflict with Jay-Z grew out of Roc-A-Fella business tensions, Dipset's relationship with Damon Dash and competing accounts of who created opportunities for whom. The lyrics challenge Jay-Z's authorship, loyalty, fashion, executive record and claim to have made Cam wealthy. The reference is designed to provoke an emotional response and make the dispute publicly humiliating, where silence can be portrayed as acceptance.

    ContextCam'ron's conflict with Jay-Z grew out of Roc-A-Fella business tensions, Dipset's relationship with Damon Dash and competing accounts of who created opportunities for whom. The lyrics challenge Jay-Z's authorship, loyalty, fashion, executive record and claim to have made Cam wealthy.

  20. 78

    Had the thing, fucking singing 'bout slinging crack

    79

    Mr. Roc-A-Fella stop, stop, stop it fella

    80

    Still got our acapellas, but I will Akinyele-ya

    81

    (Put it in ya mouth, uh, put it in ya mouth)

  21. 82

    It ain't my fault I'm raw, I'm sorry B but I want a war

    83

    And he stabbed Un over Charli Baltimore (Fuckin' faggot)

    84

    Sucker for love, mmh-mmh, sucker for love

    85

    Kill a bitch, go to trial, hand be stuffed in the glove

  22. 86

    I'ma hop in the bed, dawg gon' just pop off her head

    Multi-line diss block
    87

    Tell ol' Jay-Z chill, Cochran is dead

    Block noteImagines the battle as physical destruction

    TargetJay-Z

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Tell ol' Jay-Z chill, Cochran is dead,” Cam'ron converts lyrical defeat into death, shooting, burial, or bodily harm directed at Jay-Z. Why it was said: Cam'ron's conflict with Jay-Z grew out of Roc-A-Fella business tensions, Dipset's relationship with Damon Dash and competing accounts of who created opportunities for whom. The lyrics challenge Jay-Z's authorship, loyalty, fashion, executive record and claim to have made Cam wealthy. The violent image makes the response sound final: instead of proposing an endless exchange, the artist depicts Jay-Z as unable to return for another round.

    ContextCam'ron's conflict with Jay-Z grew out of Roc-A-Fella business tensions, Dipset's relationship with Damon Dash and competing accounts of who created opportunities for whom. The lyrics challenge Jay-Z's authorship, loyalty, fashion, executive record and claim to have made Cam wealthy.

  23. 88

    [Chorus: Max B]

    89

    You gotta hate us the way we getting this paper

    90

    All my niggas are coming straight from minimum wages

    91

    Niggas dick-riding the Dip steady tryna play us (They tryna spray us)

    92

    But for robberies, we got 'em in flavors (DipSet)

  24. 93

    We them 40th niggas we tote the guns (Dipset)

    94

    This is 40th nigga we from the slums (Dipset)

    95

    Pushing 40 nigga you not the one

    96

    It's Killa Season, holla at a nigga 'cause here it come

  25. 97

    You gotta hate us the way we getting this paper

    98

    All my niggas are coming straight from minimum wages

    99

    Niggas dick-riding the Dip steady tryna play us (They tryna spray us)

    100

    But for robberies, we got 'em in flavors (DipSet)

  26. 101

    We them 40th niggas we tote the guns (Dipset)

    102

    This is 40th nigga we from the slums (Dipset)

    103

    Pushing 40 nigga you not the one

    104

    It's Killa Season, holla at a nigga 'cause here it come

  27. 105

    [Interlude: Cam'ron]

    106

    Y'all niggas don't want it with us man

    107

    This just round one, 15 rounds B

    108

    We ready, brake off bluff, professional concert, sell out 25 thousand

    109

    Acting like you gon' diss us

  28. 110

    You got anthrax over there man, and we George Bush man

    111

    You on some Saddam Hussein

    112

    Acting like you got something over there

    113

    You doing what Ma$e did, you making secret songs man

  29. 114

    Let it out man, get ready for 15 rounds man

    115

    And all I did was battle once

    116

    Everybody getting ready to step to the plate

    117

    And I'ma step up again and slam, grand-slam yo ass pardon me

  30. 118

    Dipset! I know you, I know you like that

    119

    I remember Dame sold you his old Pathfinder

    120

    Chipped in for the GS, you Jaz-O's son

    121

    Where's Sauce Money at? Where's the like, where they at?

  31. 122

    I'ma get back to all that, Dipset dog

    123

    Round one, let the games begin doggie

    124

    Hahaha, ain't laughing at ya ugly ass no more

    125

    You ugly dawg! You ugly! You ugly man, you ugly!

  32. 126

    My man Un said you look like Fraggle Rock and all that

    127

    You ol' Alf-ass nigga, get back to you nigga

    128

    Nigga oh!

  33. 129

    [Chorus: Max B]

    130

    You gotta hate us the way we getting this paper

    131

    All my niggas are coming straight from minimum wages

    132

    Niggas dick-riding the Dip steady tryna play us (They tryna spray us)

    133

    But for robberies, we got 'em in flavors (DipSet)

  34. 134

    We them 40th niggas, we tote the guns (Dipset)

    135

    This is 40th nigga, we from the slums (Dipset)

    136

    Pushing 40 nigga you not the one

    137

    It's Killa Season, holla at a nigga 'cause here it come

  35. 138

    You gotta hate us the way we getting this paper

    139

    All my niggas are coming straight from minimum wages

    140

    Niggas dick-riding the Dip steady tryna play us (They tryna spray us)

    141

    But for robberies, we got 'em in flavors (DipSet)

  36. 142

    We them 40th niggas, we tote the guns (Dipset)

    143

    This is 40th nigga, we from the slums (Dipset)

    144

    Pushing 40 nigga, you not the one

    145

    It's Killa Season, holla at a nigga 'cause here it come

  37. 146

    [Outro: Cam'ron Destiny's Child sample from Cam's "Do It Again]

    147

    Oh shit, yo dude make sure you got them old vocals

    148

    Bring 'em up real quick!

    149

    All them dimes we slung

    150

    All those crimes we've done

  38. 151

    All those times was fun

    152

    But would you do it again?

    153

    All them dimes we slung

    154

    All those crimes we've done

  39. 155

    All those times was fun

    156

    But would you do it again?

    157

    Yup, yup that's her

    158

    Yup we got 'em

  40. 159

    Yup that's her