Released: 2020 • Features: Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Yachty, Sueco
“Speed Me Up” is a vibrant, high-energy track by Wiz Khalifa, featuring Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Yachty, and Sueco. The song is a celebration of personal success, a narrative of triumph over struggle, and a call to keep pushing forward when others try to slow you down. It’s a testament to a never-say-die mentality, a survivor’s motto with a rap twist.
The opening line, “Daytrip took it to ten (hey)” is both a shoutout to the producing duo Daytrip and an assertive claim to carrying a full-throttle, no-holds-barred approach to life. The next set of lyrics are about the hardships and tribulations of life and how despite the pain, they’re not willing to let anyone take away their triumph. Lines like “bleed my knuckles, attack me for my finance” speak about the struggle to maintain the wealth achieved and the physical and mental toll it takes.
The repeated lines “So I run (yeah), keep me up… Speed me up (speed, yeah)” serves as an anthem. It reflects a running theme of determination and self-reliance, signifying that no matter what people say or try to bring them down, they’ll keep chasing their goals.
When Lil Yachty (“Boat”) comes on, he brings his playful braggadocio with lyrics “Bad young ting, six rings sittin’ under me” referring to success, and “These dudes actin’ like we ain’t who they wanna be” calling out people who pretend not to be influenced by them but are actually envious. ‘Ting’ here is a Jamaican slang term for a cute girl.
The line “Pocket full of green stacked up like a pot of peas” is an interesting play on words, as ‘green’ is akin to money, while ‘pot of peas’ is a reference to stacking money like you would peas in a pot. This line conveys financial achievement.
In the verse, “Don’t turn down the bass, someone tell the DJ leave me up”, Wiz Khalifa is alluding to him seizing the moment, requesting the DJ to keep his music loud. He also references LeBron and the number 23, to symbolize victory.
Never shying away from accolades, “New 911, it gon’ speed fast / He was talkin’ down, I level up on his” flaunts material wealth and personal development, while using the sports car Porsche 911 as a metaphor for speed and progress. Similarly, other lines throughout the song refer to moving fast, dealing with pain, and not looking back, signifying growth and perseverance.
They pay homage to the late rapper Nipsey Hussle (Nipsey the great), an artist known for his dedication to his craft and community. The line ‘Marathon, just like Nipsey the great’ symbolizes viewing success as a long-term race, a metaphor Nipsey himself often used.
In sum, ‘Speed Me Up’ is a testament to the relentless pursuit of success, despite the adversities, acknowledging personal growth and the determination to keep rising, no matter how many attempt to ‘bring them down’.
