Released: 2019
On “Dyin Breed,” Polo G lays out in stark terms the struggles, victories, and the harsh realities of his life and upbringing in a violent neighborhood. The track is an honest reflection of the bleakness of street life, a critique of the system, and a homage to those who made it through and those lost along the way.
“Real niggas is a dyin’ breed, but I’m still maintaining” – In this line, Polo G is clear about the dwindling authentic voices in the streets, but he’s still holding on strong, staying true to his roots and his experiences.
When he raps, “Made it out the hood, I still pop out on some gang shit,” he’s noting his achievements but also asserting that he is not disconnected from his roots. He’s made it out, but he’s still in tune with the streets, where gang culture is deeply entrenched.
“We grew up playin’ cops and robbers, I was never 12” – Now here, he reminisces about his childhood days, playing an innocent game of cops and robbers. “12” is street slang for the police, and Polo G is saying he was never on the side of law enforcement in those games, subtly hinting at distrust for the authorities in the hood.
“Now it’s 30 on my wrist, I paid a stack for these Chanels” – This is his evidence of progress, a statement of his wealth, proof he’s leveled up from those tough scenarios of his past. He has now got $30K worth of jewelry on his wrist and he can comfortably afford designer wears like Chanel.
“Lil Wooski lost his brothers, he gon’ give them niggas hell” – This line is a nod to his friend and fellow artist, Wooski, who has lost his brothers to street violence. Polo G is indicating a cycle of violence and revenge as a response to grief, that permeates the street life.
“Them was my sandbox niggas like I been with ’em since birth” – Sandbox friends are childhood friends, the ones he grew up with literally from the sandbox. He’s stating his deep-rooted loyalty to his day-ones, having shared the same struggles and experiences from the very beginning.
By the end of the track, we see a grappling Polo G, one who’s swallowed by the trappings of his new-found success, the codeine and prescription drugs, the painkillers referred as X pills and Percs – aching mentions that paint a vivid picture of an individual trying to numb his pains.
In conclusion, “Dyin Breed” is a testament of Polo G’s journey through the pressure-cooker that is the street life. It’s a piece of art which paints raw and visceral images of the hood, and a player who survived its jaws and made it to the top, albeit battered and bruised.
