Chorus
I do anything for the money, let the money drive me crazy
I'ma trap, hit a lick, just to pull up in the latest
In the streets, in the club, man I guess that's how they made me
Every night, getting lit, I like to party like the 80's (Zaytoven)
For the blue strips, doing the most, for them blue strips, doing the most
Selling prescription pills, doing the most, for them blue strips, doing the most
I do anything for the money, let the money drive me crazy
I'ma trap, hit a lick, just to pull up in the latest
In the streets, in the club, man I guess that's how they made me
Every night, getting lit, I like to party like the 80's
Verse 1
Ay, By the pounds, yuh, cut it up, bust it down
Then go hit the mound, yeah
Pitch it, get it out the ground, yeah
Get it up out of the mud
Don't come to me for the dub
I got them quarters and halves
Sell the whole thing if I have to
Blue strip, blue strip, blue strip, watch me whip this new whip
Ain't my life too foolish (foolish)
Grandma said don't do this (don't do it)
But I got a new chick (yeah), and lil' mama too thick (yeah)
And she like them red bottoms
Addicted to blue strips
I know I'm livin' too fast (fast), I know I'm blown' this cash (cash)
I try to find me a way out, they try to put me in shackles
On a roll with the transport, lot of powder in the passport
Ain't anticipate the task force, this ain't really what I asked for (yeah)
Pre-Chorus
Yeah, the money got me trapped, in the mix
Plus my babies hungry and I'm tryin' to pay my mama rent
They say go to college, high school ain't prepare me to get it
I'ma felon, too, can't get no job fresh up out the pen
Chorus
I do anything for the money, let the money drive me crazy
I'ma trap, hit a lick, just to pull up in the latest
In the streets, in the club, man I guess that's how they made me
Every night, getting lit, I like to party like the 80's
For the blue strips, doing the most, for them blue strips, doing the most
Selling prescription pills, doing the most, for them blue strips, doing the most
I do anything for the money, let the money drive me crazy
I'ma trap, hit a lick, just to pull up in the latest
In the streets, in the club, man I guess that's how they made me
Every night, getting lit, I like to party like the 80's
Verse 2
Bands will make her dance, pop a perc and pop a Xan
In the club with her girlfriends tryna cop a bag
Go hard for the Goyard
Got that new Mercedes parked in front of your yard
Twerking for that check, mean no disrespect
But shawty getting older, she don't know what's next
She might be Cardi B, she thinking Amber Rose
She's stacking up her money, she hope it never folds
Maybe she'll let it go, she know she meant for greater
But she was broke a month ago but now she getting paper
I don't condone it but I don't condemn, I know she a gem
'Fore we hate we outta volunteer to help her change careers
Chorus
I do anything for the money, let the money drive me crazy
I'ma trap, hit a lick, just to pull up in the latest
In the streets, in the club, man I guess that's how they made me
Every night, getting lit, I like to party like the 80's
For the blue strips, doing the most, for them blue strips, doing the most
Selling prescription pills, doing the most, for them blue strips, doing the most
I do anything for the money, let the money drive me crazy
I'ma trap, hit a lick, just to pull up in the latest
In the streets, in the club, man I guess that's how they made me
Every night, getting lit, I like to party like the 80's
Lecrae & Zaytoven - Blue Strips
Blue Strips Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Released in 2018, "Blue Strips" by Lecrae featuring production from Zaytoven offers a raw depiction of life driven by the relentless pursuit of money. The song plunges into the mindset of an individual caught in a cycle of illegal activities, where the primary motivation is acquiring wealth, symbolized by the "blue strips" (referring to US dollar bills). The opening lines establish this theme directly, declaring a willingness to do "anything for the money," which becomes a driving force, sometimes to the point of feeling like it is leading them "crazy."
The narrative unfolds, detailing actions taken to acquire these blue strips, including trapping, hitting a lick, cutting and selling substances "by the pounds," and even selling prescription pills. The goal is clear: obtaining the latest material possessions like a "new whip" and affording luxuries like "red bottoms" for a partner. This lifestyle is portrayed as fast-paced and dangerous, with recognition of living "too fast" and blowing cash, alongside the ever-present threat of law enforcement, like the "task force," which wasn't anticipated and feels like "ain't really what I asked for."
Beneath the surface of the flashy lifestyle and illicit activities lies a deeper, more complex motivation revealed in the pre-chorus. The money, while driving the actions, also feels like a trap ("the money got me trapped, in the mix"). The pursuit is not solely for personal gain but is also fueled by immediate needs and lack of perceived alternatives. There are hungry babies to feed and a mother's rent to pay. Education didn't provide the necessary skills, and a criminal record makes finding legitimate employment impossible fresh out of prison. This paints a picture of desperation and limited options leading to the depicted path.
The song extends its analysis beyond the initial perspective in the second verse, introducing the story of a woman involved in a similar struggle for financial gain, seen "twerking for that check," taking pills, and trying to "cop a bag" or "stacking up her money." Like the main character, her actions are driven by the need to escape poverty ("broke a month ago but now she getting paper"). The lyrics observe this situation without outright condemnation, acknowledging her as a "gem" and suggesting the potential for a different path ("she know she meant for greater"). There is an implicit recognition of the systemic pressures and lack of opportunities that push individuals into these circumstances, framed by a desire to "volunteer to help her change careers" rather than merely judging. The overall narrative presented is one of people trapped by circumstances, driven by the powerful need for money to survive and provide, leading to dangerous choices while hinting at the underlying human value and the possibility of a different future.
