He demonstrates a greater and more profound intellectual capacity than those who have studied at a higher academic level. Instead of paying thousands of dollars to attend university or college, he simply gained his knowledge from the higher consciousness given to him from a half-gram of weed (“higher” learnin).

0.5 grams costs five dollars.

What he trusts are snares, which are drums that are common throughout close to all rap instrumentals. “ride on ‘em” is slang for his ability to flow over the snares.

He thinks that he should tell you that after he writes his lyrics (sentencing), he goes to the microphone to record his thoughts but no one understands what he truly means.

Most people are clones and can’t think for themselves. Ad states that he can’t handle people like that and he needs to make it big to get away from it. Rap is his only option, there is no Plan B.

Ad is wondering how his mind can contain both severely unpleasant thoughts along with ones of such purity. The extreme contrast and imbalance prompts him to think that shooting himself might be the only way to get rid of all his negative thoughts and feelings.

We fight so hard to make it to the top, but once we reach our desired goals, we can still see all the problems and hardships that led us there.

Fans are just a support group that, while appreciated, won’t be there when you are in a tough situation and need help. If your friend is in a fight, your fans won’t be there to help him out. That’s where you need your family.

He only deals with pens (to write raps), no cocaine. A ki is short for a kilogram, referring to an amount of coke.

“pens, no ki’s” is also wordplay with the fictional character Pinnochio (pronounced pen-no-ki-oh), thus the reference to Geppetto, who was the man who built Pinocchio.