Released: 2001 • Features: Styles P
“We Gonna Make It” is a braggadocious joint from Jadakiss, featuring Styles P, that packs a raw look into the gritty reality of street hustling. This joint speaks about the hardships of life in the hood, the drug game, and the unwavering determination to succeed, all baked with stark lyricism that reflects the artists’ real-life experiences.
The song kicks off with Jadakiss describing his drug-dealing operation with a vivid metaphor. The line “They gotta use the scale that they weigh the whales with” illustrates the magnitude of his hustle. He emphasizes his luxurious lifestyle, highlighted in his lines about his swanky beachside million-dollar house and his opulent Jeep and Bugatti. Yet, he outlines the danger in his lines, “Kicking down the door and we burning niggas naked,” speaking to the violence associated with this lifestyle.
In the chorus, the phrase “We gon’ make it” underscores an unwavering determination to succeed against all odds. It represents the hustle and ambition of those trying to transcend their circumstances, hinting at their readiness to outwork and outlast whatever obstacles the streets might throw at them.
Jadakiss continues his narrative in the second verse, highlighting his aversion to rental expenses, hence why he says “I bring my cars on the plane with me”. He also references his financial abundance, claiming he’s run through so much coke, the profits could have built schools in Cuba – a potent illustration of the money flowing through the drug trade.
The mention of “old niggas that had it” is a critique of old-school hustlers who may have once held status but ultimately turned informants, a major violation of street ethics. Jadakiss then connects his business to the hit ’90s R&B group Soul For Real’s popular song “Candy Rain,” by saying “We Soul for Real in the hood, we make Candy Rain,” equating his drug dealing operations to producing hits.
The third verse is where Jadakiss gets a bit philosophical. His line “Why we don’t laugh at death, and cry at birth” reflects the twisted reality of life in the streets, where death can seem less tragic than bringing a new life into a hopeless situation. The mention of eager young men ready to pull the trigger emphasizes the cutthroat, survivalist mentality prevalent in the streets.
Through it all, “We Gon’ Make It” hits hard with its gritty portrayal of street hustling and the relentless ambition to rise above all adversities. It embodies the rawness and resilience embedded in the hip-hop ethos. The final line, “Jadakiss, motherfucker, I’mma see you in hell,” encapsulates Jadakiss’s fiery defiance till the end.
