Hate Me Lyrics – Joyner Lucas

Hate Me Lyrics Meaning

The song kicks off with frustration. Joyner’s tired of the regular 9-to-5 grind. It’s not paying enough, and he’s exhausted from working jobs that don’t offer any real way out. He’s looking for something better, something that actually puts money in the bank. He’s stuck in a cycle where no matter how hard he tries, he can’t seem to catch a break or get ahead.

He’s stressing about bills, especially rent, which always hits on the 18th. That pressure builds when everything around him is falling apart. The place he lives in is hot with no air conditioning, and he feels like he’s drowning. There’s no relief in sight, and it feels like even the weather is against him. He mentions looking for the sun like KD, referring to NBA star Kevin Durant, probably pointing to chasing hope or success just like KD chases wins.

When you’re broke and desperate, bad choices start looking like options. Joyner admits he didn’t want to go down a dark path, but the pressure is real. He’s got kids to feed and late fees piling up. A cousin even tries to steer him into selling drügs, but he’s not about that life. Still, he’s aware that in his world, options are few, and people are constantly trying to break out of the struggle in any way they can.

He knows that people are watching him, blocking his path, and hoping he fails. But he’s got a drive to succeed, even if it means doing something extreme if rap doesn’t work out. He refuses to stay in the dirt forever. He wants what he deserves, like actress Taraji P. Henson fought for her success. He wasn’t sitting around waiting for a shot — he was grinding, working hard while others were just chasing temporary highs or distractions on social media.

While others were partying or getting lost in drügs, he was focused on his craft. He mentions having ADHD since he was a kid, which means staying on track hasn’t been easy. But even with that, he’s kept pushing toward his dreams. He didn’t need long breaks or time off — just a chance to catch some momentum. Once he gets going, he’s a force of nature.

The next part flips the energy. People thought he was out of the game, but he shows up stronger than ever. He’s got responsibilities — his child needs shoes, the car note is due, rent is due — life doesn’t stop for anybody. That pressure makes him dangerous, not because he wants to be, but because survival brings out that edge. He warns others to keep their eyes open, because when you push someone who’s got nothing to lose, anything can happen.

If you’re going to hate him, then he’s going to give you a real reason to. He’s been through so much, and if people judge him, they better understand the struggle behind his actions. He didn’t just end up here — he fought, he suffered, and he carried a lot on his back. If anyone wants to see him fail or try to come for him, they need to realize how serious it’s gotten.

He then goes into how badly he wants success. He’s not asking — he’s taking it. He needs money, like yesterday. He compares himself to André 3000 from Outkast, implying he’s got talent and uniqueness. Then he brings up Delonte West, someone known for personal struggles, suggesting he’s had moments of relapse or breakdown too. The stress almost took him out, but he pulled himself back together and kept chasing his goals.

He talks about keeping up in the rat race, even though the system feels like it’s trying to trap him. He remembers how school told him he could be anything, but he never really believed it. It felt like a lie — like they were just training him to work for someone else, not to be free or rich. And he didn’t want that life, the kind where you work 9-to-5 and still don’t make it.

So, he talks about taking risks just to get a little money, to live like a boss even for a short while. He’s been through things people don’t even realize — doing shady stuff just to get by, making plans while in the dirt, betting on himself when no one else would. It’s not glamorous. It’s raw survival.

He’s given his heart to the wrong people and been left empty. He’s been so broke he could only afford to shop at discount stores. He’s done things he knew were wrong — like selling drügs to people he once cared about — because when you’re deep in the trenches, emotions fade. You become numb. Life hardens you, and all that’s left is getting by however you can.

Even when he thinks through his choices, he realizes he’s better at hustling than anything else. He’s had to outsmart tough situations, because nobody handed him anything. Everything he’s done has been a risk, a calculated move to break out of poverty and pain.

And again, he reminds everyone that even when people thought he was done, he came back harder. The responsibilities haven’t changed — his child still needs shoes, rent is still due. That pressure is still pushing him, making him dangerous again. He’s ready to snap if he has to.

People better pay attention and not underestimate him. He’s been through too much to let someone else’s opinion bring him down. If they’re going to throw hate his way, they better be prepared for the fire he’s about to bring. They don’t know what it took for him to survive, to push through every wall, to keep fighting even when he was broken.

He says again that if people hate him, he’s going to make sure that hate is earned. He’s not going to let them write him off or misunderstand what he’s been through. They better know what it’s cost him just to stay standing. And for anyone trying to get in his way, they should be worried — because he’s not going to stop, and he’s not going down easy.