I Cram To Understand U Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I used to be in love with this guy named Sam
I don't know why, 'cause he had the head like that of a clam
But you couldn't tell me nothin', 'cause Sam was number one
'Cause to me, oh my gosh, he was one in a million
I shoulda knew the consequences right from the start
That he'd use me for my money and then break my heart
But like a fool in love, I fell for his game
But I got mine, so I show no shame
In Empire winked his eye, and then he kept walkin'
All of those who live in Brooklyn know just what I'm talkin'
The roller disco where we all used to go
Just to have some fun back in 1981
You know the place, Empire Boulevard

Is where I first saw the nigga, and he tried to play hard
But I knew the deal, 'cause I knew his brother Jerry
And Sam, he just broke up with his girlfriend Terri
So Jerry introduced Sam and I that night
He said, "Hello, my name is Sam" I said, "Hi, my name is Lyte"
We yipped and we yapped and we chit and we chat
About this and that, from sneakers to hats
He said, "Look, I'm in the mood for love
Simply because you're near me

(Let's go) To my house, lay back and get nice
Watch television, Riunite on ice"
I said, "Slow down, I know you wanna shake me down
But I'm not one of the girls that go rippin' around"
[Chorus]
Just like a test, ju— just like a test
Ju— Just like a test, I cram to understand you


[Verse 2]
Next month, I finally went to his house
I walked into the door, there was a girl on the couch
I said, "Who's the frog, the bump on the log?
You chump, you punk, how could you do me wrong?"
Singing sad songs about your love is so strong
You said, "Wait Lyte, you're confused, the girl is my cousin"
Your brother agreed, but later she said that she wasn't

[Chorus]
Just like a test, ju— just like a test
Ju— Just like a test, I cram to understand you

[Verse 3]
Forgotten, next month we went to the Deuce
Well, I thought it kinda strange 'cause you had lots of juice
You knew the dopes, the pushers, the addicts, everybody
Asked ya how you met 'em, said you met 'em at a party
Then these girls tried to tell me you were sellin' the stuff
I said, "It's not your business, so shut the fuck up"
They said, "Oh, okay Lyte, think what you wanna think
But it's gon' be some shit when your man becomes a fiend"
I said, "Look, don't bust a move, I don't even know you
To put it light, I really don't care to"
They kinda got mad and sort of offended
They said, "We only lookin out for your best interest"
I said, "Thanks but no thanks" in an aggravated tone
"When I wanna find out, I find out on my own"
[Chorus]
Just like a test, ju— just like a test
Ju— Just like a test, I cram to understand

[Verse 4]
Then my cousin said she saw you with this lady named C
Well, I'm clawin' my thoughts, I wonder who she could be
You're spending all your time with her and not a second with me
They say you spend your money on her and you're with her night and day
Her name starts with a C and it ends with a K
I strained my brain lookin' for a name to fit this spellin'
But I just couldn't do it 'cause my heart kept yellin'
Burning, begging for affection from you, Sam
But just like a test, I cram to understand you
Thought I knew you well enough to call you a man, but

[Chorus]
Just like a test, ju— just like a test
Ju— Just like a test, I cram to understand you

[Verse 5]
Then it came a time you started looking kinda thin
I asked you why, you said, "Exercise, tryna stay slim"
I bought it even though I knew it was a lie
'Cause it really didn't matter, you were still lookin' fly

But oh no, oh no, you started askin' me for money
Butter me up, beg me and call me your honey
So I gave you two yards, and then I gave you one more
You picked up your jacket and you flew out the door
You came back an hour later and you asked me for a ten
I said, "I only got a twenty", you said, "Give me that, then"
I said, "Nope, I'll tell you now, you better stop slobbin'
Find you a job, or you better start robbin'"
So I stepped off with a giant step
Picked up my belongings, and I just left
And now I see you in Empire every Sunday
Juicin' the girls up for some money and a lay
But every time I see you doin' it, I just ruin it
Tell 'em how ya on crack, smoke, sniff, and chewin' it
As for this girl, Miss C, oh well
I was shocked as hell when I heard, Samuel
When your homeboys told me, I almost went wack
That the girl you was addicted to, her name was Crack
[Pre-Chorus]
Just— Just— Just— Just—

[Chorus]
Just like a test, ju— just like a test (Her name was Crack)
Ju— Just like a test, I cram to understand you
Just like a test, ju— just like a test (Her name was Crack)
Ju— Just like a test, I cram to understand you
Just like a test, ju— just like a test (Her name was Crack)
Ju— Just like a test, I cram to understand you
Just like a test, ju— just like a test (Her name was Crack)
Ju— Just like a test, I cram to understand you
Just like a test, ju— just like a test (Her name was Crack)
Ju— Just like a test, I cram to understand you
Just like a test, ju— just like a test
Ju— Just like a test, I cram to understand you

[Outro]
Just like a test, ju— just like a test
Ju— Just like a test, I cram to understand you

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About

Genius Annotation

“I Cram To Understand U” was MC Lyte’s debut single. She wrote it when she was only 12 but it wasn’t pressed to vinyl until she was 16 years old.

In it, Lyte tells the story of meeting a man named Sam in 1981 who, while it seems he is cheating on her with another girl, it turns out he is actually addicted to crack cocaine. Her reason for writing “I Cram To Understand” was to warn people about the bad effects of drugs:

My mother used to work at North General Hospital in Harlem. Whenever I would go there would be a slew of heroin and crack addicts. I would never want that for myself or any other young person that I knew so I was going to make it my responsibility to tell people about drugs so that they could avoid them at all costs.

Medium.com reminisced about the song, noting:

She took a complex social issue that destroyed many black communities in the 80s and discussed it through the universal theme of love, thus humanizing addiction and giving listeners a new way of approaching the conversation.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did MC Lyte say about "I Cram To Understand U"?
Genius Answer

From Check The Technique (2007):

Milk heard that rhyme before he made that beat up, so he knew how he was going to do it. I did it a cappela to show him what it was all about.

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