Released: 2000 • Features: City Spud
Alright, we’re about to dive into Nelly’s well-loved anthem, “Ride Wit Me”, featuring City Spud. This classic joint is a celebration of Nelly’s newfound success, centered around themes of luxury, hedonism, and the allure of fame and wealth. The track encourages listeners to join in the high life, while pointing to the roller coaster of emotions Nelly feels due to his sudden rise.
We got the hook kicking off the track. Nelly asks “where they at?” a common hip hop phrase indicating the presence of party-goers or potential love interests. He goes on to invite listeners to ride with him, puffing on L’s (slang for marijuanas) in his “Benz-E” (short for Mercedes-Benz). These lines also introduce a repeated refrain — that living large brings its own set of complications, symbolized by the question “Oh, why do I live this way?” The answer? “Hey, must be the money”. Nelly’s making it clear that his lifestyle is directly tied to his financial success.
Moving on to Nelly’s first verse, it’s all about the club scene and the ladies who catch his eye. He makes a playful comment about women’s attitudes, which he doesn’t mind as long as they’re “thicy-thicy-thic” – a compliment for a woman with a full, curvaceous figure. He connects his lyrics to the visuals of his music videos, creating an inclusive experience for his fans.
City Spud hops in the next verse, diving deep into the experience of newfound wealth. He talks about making purchases on the plastic (credit card), enjoying the ‘impact’ it makes. He contrasts this lifestyle to his past, implying that he no longer needs to rely on illegal activities (“‘caine,” a reference to cocaine) for income. He boasts about having his car (“whip”) under his own name – a symbol of both financial freedom and adult responsibility.
We got Nelly back in the third verse, focusing on those who once doubted him only to become fans and even asking help. He reflects on his transformation into a “fly guy” who can afford luxury items like the wood interior in his Range Rover. Talks about his “icy grip” or diamond-studded wristwatch. His commentary isn’t just about his own success; it’s a broader reflection on the nature of fame and the surreal experience of living in the public eye.
Finally, the closing refrains reiterate the themes established earlier — financial freedom, hedonism, and the constant allure of money. Nelly comes back to the question, “why do I live this way?” This track, like many hip-hop anthems, is a celebration of a lifestyle that many strive for, but few attain, with all of its glitz, glamour, and underlying complications.
