YMCA Lyrics – Kodak Black

YMCA Lyrics Meaning

[Intro]
In the beginning, Kodak talks about hanging out with his crew around the YMCA. It’s a place where they used to chill, scheme, and hustle to get by. The lines show how they grew up in that rough environment, always on the lookout for opportunities and trouble, just trying to make something happen in their early street days.

[Verse]
Here, Kodak opens up about his life’s ups and downs — from being broke and wanting love to reaching success but still carrying the same street energy. He starts by expressing how he wants someone’s love while struggling with inner emptiness. There’s a sense that he’s been through tough emotional moments and that his experiences have made it hard for him to trust people. When he talks about being “back then at the YMCA,” he’s remembering where it all started — a time when he and his friends had nothing, hustling just to survive. Now, he’s driving a black Benz on the highway, showing how far he’s come.

He mentions specific names like Fred, Greg, Marcus, and Tracy — people who were part of that grind with him. Making “eighty bands” at the YMCA shows how those early schemes paid off. But even with money and fame, he questions loyalty, wondering if people ever really keep it real. It’s a mix of pride and disappointment, showing that success didn’t fix the feeling of being let down by others.

Kodak then turns to the streets, giving a shoutout to young hustlers chasing money, taking risks, and trying to make it big. He reflects on how he got too comfortable in a fancy hotel, realizing that comfort can make someone lose their edge. He also shouts out his people and places that shaped him, keeping his roots close even after success. Mentioning “my lil’ n[s thirteen” and “we f[* with Odell” hints at how the younger generation around him is following similar paths, growing up fast and caught in that same lifestyle.

He talks about repping his block — 26136 and ZML — which shows his pride in where he’s from. When he says he dreamed of this back at the Boys & Girls Club, it shows how far he’s come from humble beginnings. Still, there’s tension in his relationships. He feels unappreciated, saying he didn’t get anything special back from someone he cared about, so he just cuts them off emotionally. There’s a mix of pain and coldness — he’s protecting himself.

As he continues, he reminds listeners that even though he’s focused on music now, he can still handle himself in the streets if needed. “Reach for my waist” hints at being ready to defend himself. Buying chokers for his girl is his way of showing love and control — it’s both affectionate and symbolic of his lifestyle. When he says he’s been alright since getting out, it points to his release from jail and feeling free again. Wearing all white like Sammy Sosa shows confidence and transformation, like he’s starting fresh.

He then gets personal, missing his cousin and feeling the pain of losing close people. The memory of trying to steal a purse back at the YMCA adds a flashback to their mischievous youth. He makes it clear he’s not looking for trouble now, just trying to stay out of serious situations while still surrounded by danger. Even when someone asks him for money, he admits he doesn’t always have it, showing that fame doesn’t mean constant wealth.

As he repeats the lines about being at the YMCA and now in the black Benz, it’s like a reminder of his journey — from struggling at the bottom to riding high with his crew. The talk about “jiggas kicking in” and “everybody got a gun” gives a glimpse into his reality — parties mixed with drügs, danger, and adrenaline. He acknowledges it all casually, as if it’s normal.

When he talks to his girl again, he tells her to show love beyond words, asking for loyalty and time together away from distractions. Turning her phone off and ignoring her man shows how complicated his relationships can get — full of secrecy and temporary connection. Still, there’s emotion under the surface — a need to feel loved even if the situation isn’t perfect.

By the end of the verse, Kodak circles back to where he started, reflecting on how the younger generation is growing up the same way he did. He warns that these “baby Snipes” — the new hustlers — shouldn’t be underestimated because they’re just as tough. It’s like he’s proud and protective at the same time. The verse closes with that nostalgic loop: they were “thugging at the Y,” showing that no matter how far he’s come, the past is always part of him.

[Outro]
At the end, Kodak keeps things light and playful, talking about shooting the video at the YMCA while joking about people doing the famous YMCA dance. It’s a mix of humor and pride, showing his “gleeful” attitude and Z identity. He’s celebrating his success, his crew, and the wild creative energy around him, ending things on a confident, street-smart, and carefree note.