hustle

A poetic way of saying you started from nothing — not even zero, like negative life mode. Means grinding from the bottom with no help, no handouts, no fairy godmother, just survival instinct and stubborn ambition.

“Man said he got it out the mud — I believe him, his shoes still dirty.”

Rap slang for getting money fast and loud — not the gentle, accountant-approved version, but the “stack until the rubber band cries for help” type. It also implies momentum: keeping your grind moving, pushing numbers, making the bag grow like it’s on performance-enhancing supplements.

“I’m tryna run it up ‘til my phone stops loading my balance.”