"If You Know You Know" (formerly known as simply just "If You Know") is a song by Virginia Beach rapper Pusha T that serves as the opening track and sole promotional single to Pusha T's third solo studio album, DAYTONA (2018).[1] The song features production from the album's executive producer Kanye West as well as additional uncredited production from collaborators Plain Pat and Noah Goldstein.[2]
In the song, Pusha T litters vague references to the drug activities he and his associates have been involved in, the phrase “If You Know You Know” relates to anyone who has gone down the similar path to the “Drug Dealing” lifestyle as Pusha T.[3]
Production[]
The song features production from Kanye West as well as uncredited production from Plain Pat and Noah Goldstein. The song features a very prominent sample of Air's 1972 song "Twelve O’Clock Satanial".[4] The song runs at a tempo of 77 BPM in the B key with a minor mode and a time signature of 4/4.
Background[]
The song was initially created during the earliest sessions for the album for the album when it was still under the name "King Push" in 2016 and was initially just a mumble freestyle idea for a song produced by Charlie Heat and BNYX. That same month Push finished the entire song and the beat was tweaked in January 2017.[5]
When the album's direction had slightly shifted from a sequel to King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude to a standalone album entitled Blowbama, the song had been carried into it. The-Dream had recorded backing vocals for the song in March and the song landed a placement as the seventh track on an early track listing for the album, though was not met with a release as the direction had yet again changed except more drastically later into March 2017 when Push and Kanye West had began working more for both of their albums Blowbama and LOVE EVERYONE.
In early-April, the song's beat and structure had been completely revamped by Kanye, Plain Pat, and Noah Goldstein, replacing the more electric BNYX beat with a more classic sound and cutting The-Dream's vocals for a different vocal sample that fit the new beat more.[6] Kanye would record a reference for the bass line that he would add in later versions and the song would be finished by the end of the month.[7]
The song wouldn't come out for over a year since its completion date and would release as the opening track to DAYTONA on May 25th, 2018, the first of the series of albums made during the Wyoming sessions that year.
Music video[]
Less than a month after the song's release on June 20, Pusha T would release an official music video to the song. The video was directed by Shomi Patwary and features Pusha T riding around in a white Ferrari before being pulled over by white police officers for potentially moving cocaine as the song itself would heavily suggest. Despite remaining calm and collected, the music video ends with Pusha T being brutalized by the police.[8]
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1: Pusha T]
Pullin' up in that new toy
The wrist on that boy rockstar like Pink Floyd
Waving at rude boy, I'm wavin' at you, boy
Ran off on the plug too like Trugoy
Imagine me do-boy, you could never do what I do, boy
Still, duckin' shit that I did, boy
N***as in Paris 'fore Hit-Boy
These ain't the same type of hits, boy
Shit can get litter than lit, boy
You don't take these type of risks, boy
'Cause this boy been throwin' that D like Rich Boy
You missed, boy; ya numbers don't add up on the blow
That was ten years ago – if you know, you know (Yeah)
[Break: Pusha T]
If you know, you know
If you know, you know
[Verse 2: Pusha T]
This thing of ours, oh, this thing of ours
A fraternity of drug dealers ringin' off
I just happen to be alumni
Too legit, they still lookin' at me with one eye
The company I keep is not corporate enough
Child Rebel Soldier, you ain't orphan enough
A rapper turned trapper can't morph into us
But a trapper turned rapper can morph into Puff
Dance contest for the smokers
I predict snow, Al Roker
(If you know, you know)
I only ever looked up to Sosa
You all get a bird, this n***a Oprah
[Chorus: Pusha T]
Bricklayers in ball shorts
Coachin' from the side of the ball courts
(If you know, you know)
One stop like a Walmart
We got the tennis balls for the wrong sport
(If you know, you know)
If you know 'bout the carport
The trap door's supposed to be awkward
(If you know, you know)
That's the reason we ball for
Circle round twice for the encore
(If you know, you know)
[Verse 3: Pusha T]
You ever been hit with the water weight
Then had to weigh, "Do you war or wait?"
(If you know, you know)
When we all clickin' like Golden State
And you and your team are the motorcade
(If you know, you know)
Been grantin' wishes like a genie
To bad hoes in two-piece bikinis
I've been hidin' where you can see me
The skybox is right next to RiRi's
Solely responsible for showin' rappers how to stand
On the front lines when trappers started throwin' bands
Where were you when Big Meech brought the tigers in?
'Cause I was busy earnin' stripes like a tiger's skin
[Chorus: Pusha T]
Bricklayers in ball shorts
Coachin' from the side of the ball courts
(If you know, you know)
One stop like a Walmart
We got the tennis balls for the wrong sport
(If you know, you know)
If you know 'bout the carport
The trap door supposed to be awkward
(If you know, you know)
That's the reason we ball for
Circle 'round twice for the encore
(If you know, you know)
References[]
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/track/6bGwKHXHNLmTy6yt147FPh?si=7df7164f233549e9
- ↑ https://genius.com/Pusha-t-if-you-know-you-know-lyrics/q/producer
- ↑ https://genius.com/Pusha-t-if-you-know-you-know-lyrics
- ↑ https://www.whosampled.com/sample/574510/Pusha-T-If-You-Know-You-Know-Air-(Hard-Rock)-Twelve-O’Clock-Satanial/
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/31a2d52058c910ddff1d224437ce12ac
- ↑ https://krakenfiles.com/view/eNX8t9KFEO/file.html
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/c9429e1fe218fdebbeff4aa41e936841
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_You_Know_You_Know