It Is What It Is Lyrics – Headie One

It Is What It Is Lyrics Meaning

[Intro]
The intro is short and likely serves as a signature or shoutout. “16, 16” could be a reference to an area code, an internal code for something meaningful to Headie One, or simply a rhythmic placeholder. “Yo, One” is a self-callout, establishing his presence before diving into the track.

[Chorus]
This part highlights the struggles of street life, focusing on friends getting arrested for drug-related crimes. “Bro got nicked in the T with a brick” means his friend was caught in a trap house (drug house) with a large quantity of drügs. The judge gave him “three in a bit,” meaning a little over three years in prison. Another friend got caught with a smaller amount (“a twos”) but received the same kind of sentence, showing how harsh the system is. Despite feeling frustrated, they accept it because that’s just how life works in their world. The phrase “it is what it is” shows a resigned attitude—there’s no changing the past.

The line “These Ralis can’t know we did what we did” emphasizes the importance of secrecy. “Ralis” likely refers to the police, and keeping their activities hidden is a priority. They don’t even give the police a “whiff” of what’s really happening. The mention of “country boy to a country boy” suggests movement between cities and rural areas, possibly for business or to evade law enforcement. The repeated lines reinforce the everyday reality of arrests and the need to stay off the radar.

[Verse 1]
This verse focuses on paranoia and the constant dangers of street life. The first lines describe how living in this world means always being on edge. “You don’t know nothing about paranoia if you ain’t had to sleep with the ting” means you can’t understand true fear unless you’ve had to sleep with a weapon for protection. The next line talks about enemy areas (“opp block”) being filled with surveillance cameras, making it risky to walk around. He even mentions moving with a limp, which could mean either an injury from past violence or a cautious way of walking to avoid being noticed.

The verse then shifts to his experiences with violence. “My bros spent the last five years doing drills” means his friends have been involved in attacks and street operations for a long time. He talks about “winning the Golden Boot with a shotgun,” using a football (soccer) reference to suggest he’s been highly active in dangerous situations. “Ever seen a man get kicked with a riff?” likely describes the impact of a rifle shot.

Later, he references drug dealing, saying he had “half a briz with a pot like Izz,” meaning he was cooking drügs. The phrase “flick of the wrist” could refer to both cooking crack coc*ine and handling weapons, showing his skill in both. He mentions how money from weapons (“hammers”) is being put toward a house (“depo’ down for a crib”), suggesting that he and his crew are trying to invest in something bigger. The final lines stress that this lifestyle runs deep—it’s not just a phase or something they can easily walk away from.

[Chorus]
This chorus repeats the same themes: arrests, harsh sentences, and the need for secrecy. It emphasizes the idea that their world operates under strict, often unfair rules, but they have no choice but to accept them. Friends are getting caught and doing time, and even though it’s frustrating, they continue on. The repeated phrases reinforce how common these experiences are in their reality.

[Verse 2]
This verse continues with the theme of arrests and legal struggles. “Bro got nicked for a Tokarev” means his friend was arrested for possessing a Tokarev pistol, a type of firearm. Even though he didn’t leave fingerprints on the gun, he still got sentenced to five years—showing how the justice system doesn’t always work fairly in their favor.

“Free Clip cah he’s known to beat off his stick” is a call to free a friend named Clip, who is known for using firearms. The next lines describe another friend who had never been to prison before but received a harsh 12-year sentence on his first offense. This highlights the unpredictability and severity of the legal system, which frustrates the artist. However, he repeats “it is what it is,” reinforcing the idea that they can’t change the system, so they just have to deal with it.

Paranoia continues to be a theme. “I don’t know who’s on obbo” means he doesn’t know who might be watching him—whether it’s undercover police or informants. He even looks at his friend suspiciously, questioning whether it’s him or someone else being targeted. The line “giving ten a hug” could mean facing a 10-year sentence, while the reference to footballer Matthijs de Ligt might symbolize being a key player in a dangerous game.

Despite all this, he still wishes for a different life. He’d rather be on a “baecation” (vacation with a girl) than dealing with street problems. His girlfriend doesn’t want to be involved in the drama, showing that even those close to him try to avoid this lifestyle. The verse ends with him mentioning the cost of a gun and comparing himself to footballer Michael Owen, possibly meaning he’s fast-moving or expensive like the player.

[Chorus]
Once again, the chorus repeats to drive home the reality of his world—friends getting arrested, long prison sentences, and the need for secrecy. It reinforces the message that this is just how life is for them, and no matter how frustrating, they have to accept it and keep going.

[Outro]
The outro is short and could be a reference to a personal code, area code, or just a signature phrase to close out the song.