Prison Deform Lyrics – Kodak Black

Prison Deform Lyrics Meaning

[Intro]
Here, Kodak is basically saying he thought about whether or not to release this song, but he decided to drop it because music is how he expresses himself. He treats it like his therapy — a way to speak his mind and show his emotions honestly, even if people might not always like what he says. It’s his art, and he wants listeners to feel what he feels rather than just hear the words.

[Verse 1]
This part dives deep into Kodak’s emotions, frustrations, and feelings of betrayal while he was locked up. He starts off describing how pressure and tension build up inside him because he hears people gossiping about him even while he’s in prison, through vents or rumors. He’s angry that people he thought were close to him are talking behind his back instead of supporting him. The frustration makes him lash out in his lyrics, saying that some people fake loyalty or suck up to others for attention. He feels trapped, wanting to “cool off,” meaning he just wants peace, away from violence and chaos.

He then talks about betrayal in relationships, both personal and professional. People he thought cared about him turned away when he was going through his lowest times. When he needed support, no one really cared. He compares that to movements or public figures that speak on justice but didn’t help him when he was in trouble. When he mentions things like “Black Panther” or Jay-Z, he’s really talking about how those who have influence didn’t step up for him even though they talk about helping their community. That disappointment hurts him because he expected at least some help or acknowledgment from people in powerful positions.

Kodak also talks about how people and the media twisted his words to make him look bad. He feels misunderstood and misrepresented — like people took things he said out of context just to attack his character. He says people tried to blame his problems on his fame or money, as if success automatically makes someone guilty or arrogant. He’s frustrated with that stereotype. He then mentions his struggles with the music industry — people at his label trying to push him out, fake friends eating off his success, and the legal system trapping him with no bail. It’s a cycle he can’t easily escape.

When he says “Prison reform, no prison deform,” he’s criticizing how the system claims to help inmates but is really broken. He’s calling it “deform” because it damages people more than it fixes them. He believes the justice system sets people up to fail instead of rehabilitating them. He also notices how celebrity inmates or famous people get treated differently from regular prisoners — some get better conditions, which he thinks is unfair. He contrasts how society treats different people and exposes hypocrisy in how “reform” is presented publicly.

Then he mentions racial inequality and injustice, saying cops aren’t friendly when you’re Black. He’s pointing out how the system and society treat Black men unfairly, from everyday life to high positions like Obama’s presidency. He talks about losing hope, using drügs, and people putting each other down because they feel unloved and stuck in struggle. His “prison deform” phrase keeps repeating as a chant against fake activism and failed reform efforts.

Toward the end, he talks about how society celebrates people’s pain more than their healing. He gives examples like Gucci Mane and Rick Ross — people said they were better or more interesting when they were in bad shape or in prison, rather than happy and healthy. Kodak hates that kind of mindset where people prefer to see artists suffer because it makes their art more “authentic.” He’s tired of that toxic view and calls it out, saying he just wants to live and not always be seen as someone trapped in trouble.

[Bridge]
He knows that after dropping a song like this, people will criticize him. But he doesn’t care because he’s telling the truth as he sees it. He’s just being real, saying what others are afraid to say, and expressing his feelings directly through his art.

[Verse 2]
Kodak continues by saying he’s always going to stay true to himself and his roots — what he calls “keeping the Z,” representing his identity and authenticity. He says again that the whole “prison reform” idea is a lie, and the system is built for failure. He explains how after prison, many people are put on probation, and most end up violating it because the system is designed that way. It’s like a trap — they set you free but keep you chained through rules that are almost impossible to follow perfectly.

He talks about how hard it is to tell someone who’s always carried a gun for safety to suddenly stop, especially in dangerous environments. He says people like him grew up scared and had to protect themselves because the world is unsafe. So when the system tells them to “put the gun down,” it’s not that simple — it ignores the reality of where they come from. He even flips it, asking why white officers or people in power don’t also “put their guns down.” It’s a way of saying, don’t just blame or police the poor or the Black community — look at the whole picture.

He also discusses how the system targets people through drügs, either by criminalizing what they use or trapping them in addiction. He argues that what someone puts in their body shouldn’t be used to judge their character or worth as a person. He hates how drug use becomes a reason to lock people up or separate them from their families instead of offering real help. He’s not saying drügs are good, but he’s frustrated with being criminalized for coping in a hard world.

He makes it clear that his art is his way of expressing himself, and people shouldn’t take it too seriously or be overly sensitive about it. He’s being raw and honest, painting his truth through music. It’s not about being politically correct — it’s about being human and real.

[Bridge]
In this part, he reflects on being in prison and how lonely it felt when the same people shouting about “prison reform” didn’t support him. He says that made him realize that the whole movement isn’t as real as it looks — people care only when it benefits them. He remembers putting in effort to raise awareness and even giving people a chance to help him, but no one really showed up. He feels used and forgotten, realizing that most people are only there when it’s convenient. His frustration comes from being a living example of how the system and society fail people but nobody truly steps up to fix it.

[Verse 3]
Here, Kodak opens up more personally. He says he doesn’t know Jay-Z personally and doesn’t blame him, but he’s disappointed that people with influence didn’t reach out when he was struggling. He understands that Jay-Z doesn’t owe him anything, but it still hurts when those with power choose silence instead of support. He compares it to someone having all the tools and connections to help but not doing it, even when they could.

He acknowledges that maybe people didn’t help because they were afraid he might mess up again or get in trouble — he admits he has a wild side, so he gets why they kept their distance. Still, that doesn’t stop him from feeling let down. He also talks about how people online and in public misunderstand him, always waiting for a reason to get mad at him again. But he insists he’s just expressing himself honestly, not trying to offend anyone.

He says sometimes people don’t understand how he talks or where he’s coming from because of his slang or background. That’s why he uses music to explain himself — it’s how he communicates best. He mentions “’nique,” probably referring to someone close or a mentor figure who believed in him and saw his potential, saying he could’ve been worth millions if things went differently. It’s bittersweet — he’s thankful for the belief but still feels hurt by the lack of support when things went wrong.

Kodak also gives props to Donald Trump for freeing him, saying he appreciates that more than all the “woke” movements that didn’t help. He clarifies that he’s not against being pro-Black — he’s proud of being a young Black man from the projects — but he’s calling out the hypocrisy in certain movements that only speak up selectively. He believes people should be willing to sit down with anyone who has the power to make change, even if they’re unpopular. He’s tired of people judging others for trying to solve problems in unconventional ways.

He says most people don’t really know what they’re talking about when it comes to politics — they just repeat what they see online without understanding the full picture. He doesn’t care about race when it comes to respect; he values real people, no matter the color. Then he brings back his anger toward the Black Lives Matter organization, saying they didn’t actually help him or others in real need. To him, the movement feels fake and controlled by the same system it claims to fight. He ends the verse saying he’s not even mad anymore — he’s just accepted how things are, that the system and the people in it often win while the truth gets ignored.

[Outro]
He wraps it up calmly, saying things will fall into place eventually, like stars aligning. But for now, he accepts that the world is messy and imperfect, and he’s just speaking his truth through it all.