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‘14 Songs Referencing ‘Shooters’ in Various Contexts’ features songs with lyrics mentioning shooters in the context of violence (most prominently), sports (basketball), and drugs. 

How many bleeping times have you heard rappers reference shooters in their songs? The correct answer is a lot.  Violence, often the context for the reference, is used a prominent theme in rap music. However, the shooters reference can come in various forms or fashion – various contexts.  The 14 main songs on this playlist feature lyrics containing the word “shooters” and/or related references.  In many contexts, it does mean guns.  However, sometimes it’s a basketball reference or even a drug reference.  Not every song named or containing the term itself is included – that would be way too many songs.  Without further ado, 14 Songs Referencing ‘Shooters’ in Various Contexts.

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1. Tory Lanez, “Shooters”

Writers: Charles Dumazer & Daystar Peterson | Producers: C-Sick

Memories Don’t Die • Interscope • 2018

“All I wanna do is go out trappin’ with the shooters
Wrist so froze you should see how I been movin’
Shawty said she down enough to flex with all the shooters
Shawty, are you down to give the head to all my shooters, oh.”

In the context of “Shooters,” it’s safe to say that Tory Lanez isn’t explicitly referencing basketball.  That said, he does makes reference to the sport, specifically retired WNBA player, Lisa Leslie.

“Police tryna catch me with the shooters
You not from the ends, you cannot fool us
I caught a felony and beat that shit the next week
I stack it tall, Lisa Leslie cause.”

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2. Future, “Draco”

Writers: Gary Hill & Nayvadius Wilburn | Producers: DJ Spinz

FUTURE • Epic • 2017

“Draco season with the book bag
Rat tat, got a little kick back
Hundreds on hundreds got a good batch.” – Chorus

 

Fall back shooter like KD
Back in the kitchen with Curry…

Heard you been talkin’ bout the kid
Knowin’ damn well that’s a flagrant (technical)…” – Verse 2

 

“Keep an F&N at your home…” – Verse 3

“Draco” refers to the famous Romanian weapon, the Draco AK 47 Pistol. While there are ample gun references on this record, Future also throws basketball into the mix on the second verse, referencing Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and the flagrant foul.  Given the rapper’s limited topics and prolific output, it is easy to find other instances of Future rapping about guns.  On his guest feature on Meek Mill’s “Jump Out the Face”, on the second verse he raps:

“I Keep them shooters on deck, I approve it

Get me a truck of them things, I’ll move it.”

On “Patek Water” from SUPER SLIMEY, he also speaks about shooters, and his usual bag of tracks.

“Ay, what kinda water is that? That’s Patek water

Ay, what kind of shooters is them? Just place ya order

Ay, what kinda whip is that? It came imported

Oh, you rockin’ LeBron’s set, 40 pointers.”

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3. Katy Perry, “Swish Swish”

Ft. Nicki Minaj

Writers: Brittany Hazzard, Duke Dumont, Katy Perry, Onika Miraj, PJ “Promnite” Sledge, Roland Clark & Sarah Hudson | Producers: Duke Dumont

Witness • Capitol • 2017

“Swish swish, aww I got them upset
But my shooters’ll make ‘em dance like dubstep
Swish, swish, aww, my haters is obsessed
‘Cause I make M’s, they get much less.” – Nicki Minaj, Verse 3

No, Katy Perry hasn’t suddenly added shooters to her arsenal.  Okay, bad pun. Nicki Minaj is the source of the reference on her guest verse on “Swish Swish,” playing into the basketball-oriented theme of this supposed diss track.

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4. Kendrick Lamar, “DUCKWORTH.”

Writers: Adolf Topic, Bill Curtis, Don D. Robey, Earl Shelton, George Williams, Janez Boncina, Jean Matyka, John King, Johnny Flippin, Joseph W. Scott, Kendrick Lamar, Naomi Saalfield, Paul Bender, Pero Ugrin, Perrin Moss, Richard Cornwell & Simon Mavin | Producer: 9^th Wonder

DAMN. • Interscope • 2017

“Had a couple of shooters

Caught a murder case, fingerprints on the gun they assumin’

But witnesses couldn’t prove it

That was back when he turned his back and they killed his cousin

He beat the case and went back to hustlin’.”

Kendrick Lamar is a different breed of rapper than many – that goes without saying.  Within the busy production and sound of “DUCKWORTH.,” these lyrics being a new section of the record.  Essentially, there’s a production switch at this point of the narrative, with the tempo slackening.  Before “DUCKWORTH.,” K-Dot rapped about shooters on “Backseat Freestyle” (good Kid m.A.A.d. City, 2012).  He spit:

“And I pray you n*ggas is hatin’, shooters go after Judas

Jesus Christ, if I live life on my knees ain’t no need to do this.”

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5. 21 Savage, “Bank Account”

Writers: Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Leland Wayne & Shayaa Joseph | Producers: 21 Savage & Metro Boomin

Issa Album • Epic • 2017

“I pull up in ‘Raris and shit

With choppers and Harleys and shit…

Triple homicide, put me in a chair…

Draco make you do the chicken head like Chingy…

Please proceed with caution, shooters, they be right with me…”

This excerpt from “Bank Account” is fascinating. Choppers seems to double as motorcycles as well as assault rifles.  Obviously, it leans more towards a violent tilt, surrounding by references to homicide, the famous (or infamous) Draco AK 47 Pistol, and our keyword, shooters.

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6. Migos, “Bad and Boujee”

Ft. Lil Uzi Vert

Writers: Kiari Cephus, Kirsnick Ball, Leland Wayne, Quavious Marshall, Robert Mandell & Symere Woods | Producers: G Koop & Metro Boomin

Culture • 300 Entertainment • 2017 

“Don’t move too fast, I might shoot ya (huh?)
Draco bad and boujee (draco)
I’m always hangin’ with shooters (brrah)
Might be posted somewhere secluded (private).” – Quavo

Quavo embraces violence when referencing shooters on the second verse of “Bad and Boujee.” He references the famous Romanian semi-automatic weapon, the Draco AK 47 Pistol.  “Bad and Boujee” is just one of many songs where Migos reference shooters.  On “Get Right Witcha” Offset raps about them for example (“Send my shooters, come and take your life…”).

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7. Slim Jesus, “Drill Time”

Drill Time • Slim Jesus • 2015

“Got a couple shooters and they ride with me
And they down to shoot when it’s drill time
Pull up and we get to drumming
Let thirty shots out that Glock nine.” – Chorus

“I got a big 40 with a thirty-clip, and I call that b*tch my f*ckin’ mop
I paid 350 for a Fendi belt, and that double F hold up my strap.” – Verse 1

“Got a fifty-clip sticking out the MAC
So that’s fifty shots for your goofy ass…
Run up on me tryna rob, and that thirty blap…” – Verse 2

Slim Jesus went viral in 2015 with the release of his violent, gun-oriented rap record, “Drill Time.” Back in 2015, I wrote an opinion editorial about the record – Why Slim Jesus’ ‘Drill Time’ is Bad for Hip-Hop.  Essentially, Slim Jesus stated that “Drill Time” was fake, and despite the fact that he enjoys rapping about guns, he doesn’t live like that.

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8. Desiigner, “Shooters”

Writers: Khalil King & Sidney Selby | Producers: Mekado

New English • Def Jam • 2016

“I’m finna pull up with the shooters

Finna pull up with the shooters…

40, knock your head off, fall off with the Ruger…” – Hook

“So when we catch you ass, we gon’ snooze ya
Turnin’ .44 into the Ruger.” – Verse

Although it’s a brief record, “Shooters” is nothing short of a banger from Desiigner.  No, the gun references and violence aren’t particularly nice (“40, knock your head off…”), but, the energy is awesome.

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9. The Weeknd, “Tell Your Friends”

Writers: Abel Tesfaye, Carl Marshall, Carlo Montagnese, Christopher Pope, Kanye West & Robert Holmes | Producers: Abel Tesfaye, Carlo Illangelo” Montagnese, Kanye West & The Pope

Beauty Behind the Madness • Republic • 2015

“Don’t believe the rumors, b*tch, I’m still a user
I’m still rockin’ camo and still roll with shooters.”

The Weekend is NOT talking about guns in this context, which is a break from many of the songs on this playlist.  When he asserts he “Still roll(s) with shooters,” he’s referring to those who use drugs.  He confirms fame hasn’t ended his drug habits on the chorus:

“Go tell your friends about it

Go tell your friends about it

I’m that n*gga with the hair

Singin’ ‘bout poppin’ pills, f*ckin’ b*tches, livin’ life so trill.”

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10.Bobby Shmurda, “Hot N*gga”

Writers: Ackquille Pollard & Orlando Tucker | Producers: Jahlil Beats

Shmurda She Wrote • Epic • 2014

“Grimey savage, that’s what we are
Grimey shooters dressed in G-Star
GS9, I go so hard
But GS for my gun squad
And, b*tch, if it’s a problem we gon’ gun brawl
Shots poppin’ out the AR
I’m with Trigger, I’m with Rasha, I’m with A-Rod
Broad daylight and we gon’ let them thangs bark.”

To Bobby Shmurda’s credit, at least he’s a fly shooter, styling those premium G-Star jeans. That said, probably not a good idea to “let dem guns blam” in the day… or at all…

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11. A$AP Rocky, “LVL”

Writers: Michael Volpe & Rakim Mayers | Producer: Clams Casino

LONG.LIVE.A$AP • RCA • 2013

“It’s Mr. Pistol Popper screaming, ‘F*ck a copper’
I just bought a crispy choppa, finna f*ck your block up, blocka!
Even cracked the pavement that’s for n*ggas hating
I been impatiently waiting to show you n*ggas Satan
… got my crew behind me
Shooters round me, keep them looters round me
Keep a tool around me, it’ll keep you fools from round me
Couple of them dudes surround me
With a gat, with a strap in a backpack
When they cap cap, leave you flat, better back back
On a fast track, ratatat, n*gga that’s that.”

Do the lyrics really require any additional explanation or in-depth analysis? No. “On a fast track, ratatat, n*gga that’s that.”

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12. Waka Flocka Flame, “Let Dem Guns Blam”

Ft. Meek Mill

Writers: J. Luellen, J. Malphurs & R. Williams | Producers: Joshua “Southside” Luellen

Triple F Life: Friends Fans & Family • Warner Bros. • 2012

“My chopper filled up, let them things blam

My handguns got extendos, let them things blam…

Let them guns blam, b*tch, you know I am

I go Kanye, Jay-Z H.A.M., this the Summer of Sam” – Verse 1

“Won’t stop ‘til I see a body drop …

Strapped up with that tech…

This a 44 bulldog it cannot jam…” – Verse 2

Ah, the chopper returns on this violent joint. Clearly, as Waka Flocka Flame encourages the guns to blam, they are going to fire and hit the intended target.  The Sumer of Sam (Son of Sam) reference may be the most notable.  David Berkowitz used a .44, which Waka Flocka Flame references in the second verse.

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13. Ace Hood, “Bugatti”

Ft. Future & Rick Ross

Writers: Antoine McColister, M. Williams, N. Cash & W. Roberts | Producers: Mike WiLL Made-It

Trials & Tribulations • Cash Money • 2013

“I’m tryin to bubble every summer a new LP

You gotta love me I got shooters out the D-League.” – Rick Ross, Verse 3

Rick Ross has used lines about shooters many times in his rhymes.  In this context, he opts for a reference to basketball – specifically the NBA and the developmental league.  On his own hit, “So Sophisticated”, Ross raps: “My Lil Haiti shoots will have yo ass on TMZ.” Later, on the intro from “War Ready”  (Mastermind), he spits: “War ready / You got shooters, I’ve got shooters.”

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14. Chief Keef, “Hate Bein’ Sober”

Ft. 50 Cent & Wiz Khalifa

Writers: C. Jackson, C.J. Thomaz, K. Cozart & T. Pittman | Producer: Young Chop

Finally Rich • Interscope • 2012

“Too young for me she want Sosa, shooters in the Range Rover
That’s GBE, when them two-two-threes get to flyin’ b*tch its over” – 50 Cent, Verse 2

50 Cent is referencing .223 rifle cartridge.  Essentially, he makes a threat that when the shots fly, she’s dead.

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