The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
You do your first bid and dirt to get your name known
You never talk too much to get your spot blown
Now you`re no longer just a face in the crowd
You`re gettin so much respect that niggaz might as well bow
And movin up with your hustle like you planned it
Rakin dough like the world`s greatest bandit
Always got one eye open, for the stick-up kids postin
So much cream chumps they can`t understand it
Ladies flock to your jock like it`s golden
Curious, to test the weight you be holdin
but you ain`t got no time, to be chasin felines
If she`s the chick that you pick then she gets chosen
People treat you like you`re ghetto royalty
And all your staff shows you utmost loyalty
You paid your dues, refuse to lose in this scenario
The rep grows bigga, you`re a legend and a hero
Your fame has gotten larger than your life
You`ve got a harem of bitches and killer niggaz that`s hype
They got your back, but you so fly you don`t need em
You shit what you`re eatin so you don`t peep the proceedings
They start schemeing, feeling that you`re too swollen
and that`s the reason why your cash and stash gets stolen
You start perspiring, because you`re paranoid
Still another confrontation that you couldn`t avoid
Prepare for drama, as if you were a stunt man
Back in the days you was a forty and a blunt man
Today you`re a Willie, now the weather`s too chilly
New York City ain`t the place to be frontin
Over your shoulders day and night`s where you look
Your so-called fam ran a scam, and you got shook
Go back to square one, better go talk to your son
See reps grow bigga in the life of a crook
Years ago, we were new jacks to this scene
Showed some effort, made fat records, but still saw no green
Know what I mean? They tried to stifle us
Nigga you could not believe how really ill and trife it was
Fed up so we headed on a serious mission
Wishin, that we could better our position
Two businessmen, Guru and Prim`, we enterprised
Too strong to be stepped on, creatively wise
The dedicated ministers of underground sound
When we`re doin our thing, you know we don`t fuck around
No matter how bizarre and different you think you are
your team wouldn`t dream of competeing with GangStarr
Premier in the rear with the beats and cuts
And Guru with the mic ready to tear shit up
Take us out the game nigga? How you figure?
The name is well kept, and the rep just gets bigga
You never talk too much to get your spot blown
Now you`re no longer just a face in the crowd
You`re gettin so much respect that niggaz might as well bow
And movin up with your hustle like you planned it
Rakin dough like the world`s greatest bandit
Always got one eye open, for the stick-up kids postin
So much cream chumps they can`t understand it
Ladies flock to your jock like it`s golden
Curious, to test the weight you be holdin
but you ain`t got no time, to be chasin felines
If she`s the chick that you pick then she gets chosen
People treat you like you`re ghetto royalty
And all your staff shows you utmost loyalty
You paid your dues, refuse to lose in this scenario
The rep grows bigga, you`re a legend and a hero
Your fame has gotten larger than your life
You`ve got a harem of bitches and killer niggaz that`s hype
They got your back, but you so fly you don`t need em
You shit what you`re eatin so you don`t peep the proceedings
They start schemeing, feeling that you`re too swollen
and that`s the reason why your cash and stash gets stolen
You start perspiring, because you`re paranoid
Still another confrontation that you couldn`t avoid
Prepare for drama, as if you were a stunt man
Back in the days you was a forty and a blunt man
Today you`re a Willie, now the weather`s too chilly
New York City ain`t the place to be frontin
Over your shoulders day and night`s where you look
Your so-called fam ran a scam, and you got shook
Go back to square one, better go talk to your son
See reps grow bigga in the life of a crook
Years ago, we were new jacks to this scene
Showed some effort, made fat records, but still saw no green
Know what I mean? They tried to stifle us
Nigga you could not believe how really ill and trife it was
Fed up so we headed on a serious mission
Wishin, that we could better our position
Two businessmen, Guru and Prim`, we enterprised
Too strong to be stepped on, creatively wise
The dedicated ministers of underground sound
When we`re doin our thing, you know we don`t fuck around
No matter how bizarre and different you think you are
your team wouldn`t dream of competeing with GangStarr
Premier in the rear with the beats and cuts
And Guru with the mic ready to tear shit up
Take us out the game nigga? How you figure?
The name is well kept, and the rep just gets bigga
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
The Rep Grows Bigga Lyrics as written by Keith Elam Christopher E Martin
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.