The Way That I Am Lyrics – Joyner Lucas

The Way That I Am Lyrics Meaning

Joyner starts off reflecting on where he came from, mentioning how rough his environment was. He’s talking about being in a dirty, hard place—both physically and mentally. He used to smoke and carry a gun just to cope with life. He makes it clear he’s not the same person anymore. Things used to be confusing, but now he’s seeing life more clearly, even if it’s still messy. When he was a kid, he just wanted love, but it always ended up hurting him. If he had known better, he would’ve avoided those painful relationships before they burned him.

He talks about his parents next. His mom was tough, and his dad wasn’t really supportive—more focused on discipline than love. His dad tried to chase a music career but didn’t succeed, and that failure trickled down into how he raised Joyner. Even though his dad taught him how to rap, it felt like he was never really there as a father. Joyner wanted a real dad, but felt abandoned. His dad basically gave up his role for legal control, and Joyner replaced that missing love with material things and pressure. He wants people to understand that he’s changed a lot—he’s not who he used to be. And even though he’s got money and fame, it hasn’t taken over his mind. Still, he’s been through some deep stuff and wishes people had warned him about it.

He points out that there are people who owe him money or loyalty and haven’t paid up. He’s not taking the blame for thinking they were his real friends. He used to call them his brothers, but now he sees through them. They turned fake, and he’s done with them. He sees a lot of people pretending, especially around money. He’s got wealth now, but he’s not trying to show off unless he feels like it. When he wants to flex, he’ll just open the safe and pull out the real stuff. He knows how to move smart and doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone.

He talks about how people compare him to Eminem, which he takes as a compliment. Eminem’s “Marshall Mathers LP” had a big impact on him during tough times. That album turned him into a die-hard fan. Joyner was dealing with so much pain back then, and hearing Em helped him process it. It’s wild for him to think that now he’s become the kind of artist people say they relate to in the same way. He’s recognizing the full-circle moment of becoming what he used to look up to.

The hook comes in, with Joyner owning his identity. Everything he’s been through, all the stuff that shaped him—it’s just the way he is now. There’s a sense of pride in that. He’s not trying to hide his past or pretend to be something else. He’s just being real about his journey.

In the next part, he talks about taking risks. He’s gambling with life and willing to fight for what he believes in. He throws some shade, pointing out how some people settle for less or make weak choices, like marrying someone they shouldn’t trust. He’s not here to be nice—he’s being blunt. He even mentions how he’s raising the price on what he deals with, probably referring to his art or his hustle. He calls out fake energy, people who act like their life is meaningful when it’s actually toxic.

Then he flips things a bit and gets more metaphorical. He says his angels are black and Satan is white, flipping the usual imagery to show how nothing is what it seems. He talks about mixing broken things into something that looks normal, maybe saying how pain and struggle are being dressed up to look like success. When he talks about his weapon and being ready to use it, it’s not just about violence—it’s more about being sharp and focused, ready to defend his space. He doesn’t care for social media fame. He’s not online looking for attention, unlike others who live in the comments section and just talk. He calls them fans in disguise and tells them to take a hike.

Joyner paints a darker image next, saying if those fake people keep pretending, they’re just heading toward their own downfall. He sees the hatred in people’s eyes and knows they’re not real. He’s not surprised by their lies anymore. Then he calls out the music industry directly. He sees through the fake setups and gatekeepers trying to keep him out. But he’s not waiting for approval—he’s forcing his way in and taking his spot. He knows the industry looks down on him, but instead of waiting for their praise, he takes all their criticism and turns it into something powerful—like building a collage out of all their opinions.

He circles back again to the comparison with Eminem. That connection means a lot to him, especially because that music helped him survive emotional pain. He was going through so much back then, and hearing someone like Em say things he felt gave him strength. Now, he’s that artist for other people. It’s a full loop—from being a listener full of pain to being a voice that people relate to.

The hook comes back, hammering in that point again—he is who he is, shaped by everything he’s been through. That identity is locked in now. He’s not trying to fit into a mold or follow rules. He’s just living and expressing himself exactly the way life made him. And for him, that’s more than enough.