Dumb It Down Lyrics

[Hook 2: Graham Burris]
You've been shedding too much light, Lu (Dumb it down!)
You're makin 'em wanna do right, Lu (Dumb it down!)
They're gettin' self-esteem, Lu (Dumb it down!)
These girls are trying to be queens, Lu (Dumb it down!)
They're trying to graduate from school, Lu (Dumb it down!)
They're startin' to think that smart is cool, Lu (Dumb it down!)
They're trying to get up out the hood, Lu (Dumb it down!)
I'll tell you what you should do (Dumb it down!)

[Verse 3: Lupe Fiasco]
And I'm brainless, which means I'm headless
Like Ichabod Crane is

Or foreplay-less sex is, which makes me saneless
With no neck left to hang the chain with
Which makes me necklace-less, like a necklace theft
And I ain't used my headrest yet
They said they need proof like a vestless chest
About the best-fed F-F jet in the nest

Who exudes confidence and excess depth
Even Scuba Steve would find it hard to breathe
Around these leagues;
my snorkel is a tuba
Lu the ruler around these seas
Westside Poseidon, Westside beside 'em

Chest-high and rising, almost touching the knees
Of stewardess and the pilot, lucky they make ya fly with
Personal floating devices, tricks falling out of my sleeves
David Blaine, make it rain

You make a boat, I make a plane
Then, I pull the plug and I make it drain
Until I feel like flowing and filling it up again

Westside!
[Hook 3: Gemini]
You putting me to sleep, nigga (Dumb it down!)
'S'why you ain't popping in the streets, nigga! (Dumb it down!)
You ain't winning no awards nigga! (Dumb it down!)
Robots and skateboards, nigga?! (Dumb it down!)
GQ Man of the Year, G? (Dumb it down!)
Shit ain't rocking over here, B (Dumb it down!)
Won't you talk about your cars nigga? (Dumb it down!)
And what the fuck is Goyard nigga (Dumb it down!)
Make it rain for the chicks (Dumb it down!)
Pour champagne on a bitch (Dumb it down!)
What the fuck is wrong with you? (Dumb it down!)
How can I get on a song with you? (Dumb it down!)

[Outro: Gemini]
Look B, here's my main, my two-way
Uh, what should I, ah, here take this
That right there, fuck what my boys'll talk about me, nigga
Nigga, you hot to me! I like you! (Dumb it down!)

[Outro 2: Lupe Fiasco]
Bishop G, they told me I should come down, cousin
But I flatly refuse: I ain't dumb down nothing!

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About

Genius Annotation

A sprawling polemic about the pressures to simplify one’s lyrics to appeal to the mainstream – Lupe will have none of it.

It is a song Russian novel-esque in its depth, and rich with references: 3 different hooks, lengthy verses, one intro, and multiple outros.

This song, among others, is why we have dubbed Lupe the RapGenius™ King of Lyrical Trickiness

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

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