Poor Decisions

## Single by Wale featuring Lupe Fiasco and Rick Ross

"**Poor Decisions**" is a song by Wale featuring Lupe Fiasco and Rick Ross. It was released as the lead single and 14th track from the Maybach Music Group (MMG) compilation album, *MMG Presents: Self Made, Vol. 3*, on July 2, 2013. It first premiered to *Vibe* on June 3, 2013, where they reported, "the three horsemen offer three different perspectives on the importance of making the right decisions no matter your circumstances or tax bracket."

## Analysis

Rick starts off with proposing those who make "poor decisions," such as selling cocaine instead of supporting their mother through a divorce, showing strictness instead of helping to raise their sons, and circumstances that lead to poorer lifestyles, such as having no fathers, being charged with drug crimes, and feeling isolated from the world. The hook reiterates 'Rich n\*\*\*as makin' poor decisions.' Lupe continues mentioning of hope ('believe in the odds'), racial injustice, poverty, poor food choices, and hip hop's influence on encouraging materialism. Wale jumps in to cover conspicuous consumption, where the generation he sees is 'selfish but livin' shallow.' Lupe's outro flips the statement to 'poor n\*\*\*as makin' rich decisions,' which appears to be a "better description" to him. This can be viewed by looking at the other perspective, where poor people make decisions that are valuable ("rich") to their lives; alternatively, the "rich" decision is by spending their money on what they want, rather than need, which costs them in a negative rather than beneficial way.

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Intro: Rick Ross]

*M-M-M-M-Maybach Music*

Huh, rich n\*\*\*as makin' poor decisions

Rich n\*\*\*as makin' poor decisions

Rich n\*\*\*as makin' poor decisions

Damn, check

Rich n\*\*\*as makin' poor decisions

All my little homies up in prison

I'ma let you know just how I'm livin'

[Verse 1: Rick Ross]

I can tell you 'bout the Mach Five

I can show you what them blocks buy

I can tell you 'bout my block ties

I can take you to the far side

Poor decision makin' plaguing n\*\*\*as' lives

You sellin' crack up on your momma porch

While she still goin' through her new divorce

He has a thrill as he raise his voice

When he really needs to raise his boys

Young thugs with so much talent

Young thugs havin' no balance

Young n\*\*\*as havin' no fathers

Young n\*\*\*as catchin' dope charges

Growin' up she say she felt alone

Now she strippin' for that pot of gold

Another fish in the bowl

They say her mother never played her role

I heard her mother always on the roll

Her mother always wearin' gold

Where I'm from, I guess that's how it goes

[Chorus: Rick Ross]

Rich n\*\*\*as makin' poor decisions

Rich n\*\*\*as makin' poor decisions

Rich n\*\*\*as makin' poor decisions, damn

Rich n\*\*\*as makin' poor decisions

Rich n\*\*\*as makin' poor decisions

All my little homies up in prison

Lupe, gotta tell 'em how you livin'

[Verse 2: Lupe Fiasco]

The beloved T-Rex says

"Grown man bars is somethin' you gotta deal with"

Whole hand cards but nothin' that you can build with

That sound like bullshit from out a bull mouth

Even the tepee is a full house

Simple shelter keep you out the cold

If we hold it close together, we'll never fold

Why you lettin' the devil beat you out your soul?

If you don't believe in God then at least believe in odds

This house of our is just a house of cards

Just without the yards, and nice adjacent parks

We was born black, but that shit'll make you dark

Even with a handful of hearts

Mind on the club just to find a little love, my regards

'Cause when your P-O-V is poverty

It's like D-O-C a lottery, that D-O-C be lock and key

Finna D-O-P-E, bob and weave and that boxer boxin' free

Up out them rings like it was Rocky III, caught up in the game now

Look at how we came out like olly olly oxen free

Golly, why they watchin' me?

Yeah, yeah, poor decider since like four, five or

Sugar-coated colored edibles

Instead of buildin' up a habit in them vegetables

Now early 30s, my blood pressure's incredible

Medical, yeah n\*\*\*a, I'm tellin' you

Coveting cars over community

Rappers influence your shootin' sprees

Turn around and publish bars like it ain't got shit to do with me

Easy to record so ruthlessly, rich n\*\*\*as

[Chorus: Rick Ross, *Lupe Fiasco*]

Rich n\*\*\*as makin' poor decisions (*Yeah*)

Rich n\*\*\*as makin' poor decisions

Rich n\*\*\*as makin' poor decisions

[Verse 3: Wale]

Yeah, uh, can't tell you 'bout that H dude

But I'll tell you 'bout this hate dude

And I'll show you where they raise a tool

It'll have a n\*\*\*a late for the labels or the latest shoes

I'm from an era where gold trinkets could buy attention

And the hoes thinking might blow your winky for a known emblem

Label whores who fuck a sale and suck a store

Lust apparel who dream of Rolls but can't Accord

Or afford a Dodge or a Ford

Where she end up on your knob 'cause she has never been adored

Lord help us, my generation come to an end

'Cause we all selfish but livin' shallow, how we gon' swim?

I mean really, why should I pretend?

Walk a day up in my tennis, my soul is possessed

I'm reppin' my set, no matter who posin' against

Once I got hot, they only good option to vent

Ralph, Genius

[Chorus: Rick Ross]

Rich n\*\*\*as makin' poor decisions

Rich n\*\*\*as makin' poor decisions

Rich n\*\*\*as makin' poor decisions, damn

[Outro: Lupe Fiasco]

Ay Ricky, I'ma flip the mission

How 'bout poor n\*\*\*as makin' rich decisions?

Yeah, poor n\*\*\*as makin' rich decisions

That shit right there is more efficient

I think that might be a better description

Poor n\*\*\*as makin' rich decisions

Can't afford 'em but you still gon' get 'em

That's a poor n\*\*\*a making rich decisions

Buyin' jewelry but you know your vision

Yeah, on a mission, hah

Maybe part two, yeah!

*M-M-M-M-M-M-M-Maybach Music*

## References

1. ↑ "VIBE Premiere: Wale Feat. Rick Ross & Lupe Fiasco 'Poor Decisions'". *Vibe*. June 3, 2013. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013.