... let me tell you what I ain't
We ain't thugs for the sake of just bein thugs
Nobody do that where we grew at, nigga duh
The poverty line we not above
So out comes the mask and gloves cause we ain't feeling the love

from Jay-Z – Say Hello Lyrics on Rap Genius

Meaning

This is pure poetry.

Jay isn’t committing crime due to some ideal of being a thug; desperate times call for desperate measures and robbing and stealing is a way to escape poverty.

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... let me tell you what I ain't We ain't thugs for the sake of just bein thugs Nobody do that where we grew at, nigga duh The poverty line we not above So out comes the mask and gloves cause we ain't feeling the love

... let me tell you what I ain't
We ain't thugs for the sake of just bein thugs
Nobody do that where we grew at, nigga duh
The poverty line we not above
So out comes the mask and gloves cause we ain't feeling the love