Released: 2023
“What’s Understood” by Kevin Gates is a gritty portrayal of life, struggles, and unspoken truths of a hustler’s existence. The song speaks to themes of loyalty, survival, and understanding within the street life, where not everything needs to be articulated if one truly lives by the unspoken rules of the game.
The hook, which repeats the phrase “What’s understood need not be explained if you really living,” underscores the song’s main message. It emphasizes that those who genuinely understand the hustle and the street codes don’t need verbal confirmation. It’s an implicit understanding that bonds people with similar experiences.
In the first verse, Kevin Gates sets the scene with mundane details about missing calls and his brother reading car magazines, juxtaposing these ordinary moments with the tension of a criminal lifestyle. This paints a picture of someone who is grounded in his roots but has aspirations for something beyond just getting by.
Gates reflects on broader social issues like Obama’s re-election, illustrating a disconnect between political progress and the immediate concerns of those entrenched in street economies. His dismissal of political news when “the coke dry” suggests a hierarchy of needs, where survival takes precedence over everything else.
The line “Dope high, getting less for shows” signifies the pressure of branching out to maintain income, reflecting on how success in one arena demands diversification and adaptation in others. The allusion to different markets suggests Gates’ strategic mindset in dealing with both legal and illicit activities.
Throughout the song, Gates makes multiple references to the criminal justice system, such as Eric calling collect and receiving a motion for discovery. This illustrates the omnipresence of legal struggles in the lives of many involved in street dealings, reinforcing the song’s realism.
He portrays a juxtaposition of his luxurious lifestyle, with mentions of foreign cars and expensive pints of Actavis, against the gritty reality of the streets. This duality showcases the contradiction between outward appearances and inner challenges.
Gates also touches upon relationships, expressing a reliance on the women in his life over some of his male counterparts, implying that his “baby mamas” are more trustworthy than his friends. This highlights a recurring theme of betrayal and loyalty in street culture.
In one part, Gates narrates how appearances can be deceptive in his environment. Phrases like “Handshakes fake, lot of snakes here” convey the duplicity prevalent among his peers. It’s a reminder to remain vigilant in an environment where one wrong move could be fatal.
The repetition of the hook further ingrains the core message as Gates stresses on personal authenticity and the unspoken truths that define one’s way of life. In essence, the song is both a proclamation of survival and a reflection on the invisible codes that govern the world Gates inhabits.
Historically, Gates’ music is marked by raw honesty and vivid storytelling, a continuation of the Southern rap tradition. “What’s Understood” not only reinforces his persona but also invites listeners into a world where words are secondary to actions and silent understanding.
