D'Evils
“
Whoever said illegal was the easy way out couldn't understand
The mechanics and the workings of the underworld, granted
Nine to five is how to survive, I ain't trying to survive
I'm trying to live it to the limit and love it a lot
Life's ills poison my body
I used to say Fuck mic skills, I never prayed to God, I prayed to Gotti
That's right it's wicked, that's life, I live it
Ain't asking for forgiveness for my sins
— Jay-Z
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Whoever said illegal was the easy way out couldn't understand
The mechanics and the workings of the underworld, granted
Nine to five is how to survive, I ain't trying to survive
I'm trying to live it to the limit and love it a lot
Life's ills poison my body
I used to say Fuck mic skills, I never prayed to God, I prayed to Gotti
That's right it's wicked, that's life, I live it
Ain't asking for forgiveness for my sins" in the context of "D'Evils" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Jay-Z" (Song Lyrics, Reasonable Doubt (1996))
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
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About Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4 1969), better known as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, record executive, actor, entrepreneur, businessman, investor, and philanthropist and is the current president and CEO of Roc-A-Fella Records and the former president and CEO of Def Jam. He is one the most financially successful American hip-hop artists.
About Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4 1969), better known as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, record executive, actor, entrepreneur, businessman, investor, and philanthropist and is the current president and CEO of Roc-A-Fella Records and the former president and CEO of Def Jam. He is one the most financially successful American hip-hop artists.
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