Finesse Out The Gang Way
by Lil Durk (featuring Lil Baby)

Album: The Voice (Deluxe) (2021)
Charted: 39
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Finesse Out The Gang Way" finds Lil Durk recounting hard times and what it took for him to achieve a stellar career.

    I came from nothin', I had to go get it
    I had to finesse out the gang way


    Lil Durk admits in those early years, he never thought he could become a successful rapper.

    Been rapping since 2010
    Whoever thought I'd win?


    Lil Durk formed the rap collective Only the Family in 2010. Most of the OTF members, including Durk, were also part of the Black Disciples, a large street gang based in Chicago. He started taking his music career seriously the following year and signed with Def Jam in 2012.
  • The song also finds Lil Durk reflecting on the death of some of his fellow Chicago rappers and other associates. The murder of his childhood friend and OTF labelmate King Von hit him especially hard.
  • Lil Baby closes out the track with a ferocious verse where he reflects on his own come-up from the streets. He flexes his lavish lifestyle, boasting that he's now rocking French brands. ("I'm rockin' clothes I can't even pronounce").
  • Lil Durk has worked with Lil Baby before. Their previous collaborations include the Chicago native's "Downfall" and "3 Headed Goat" and the Atlanta rapper's "Off White Vlone."
  • Chopsquad DJ supplied the piano-led beat. His other credits include Trippie Redd's "Topanga" and Juice WRLD's "Wishing Well." Chopsquad was also the primary producer of King Von's Welcome to O'Block album.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Benny Mardones

Benny MardonesSongwriter Interviews

His song "Into The Night" is one of the most-played of all time. For Benny, it took him to hell and back.

Bob Daisley

Bob DaisleySongwriter Interviews

Bob was the bass player and lyricist for the first two Ozzy Osbourne albums. Here's how he wrote songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads.

Peter Lord

Peter LordSongwriter Interviews

You may not recognize his name, but you will certainly recognize Peter Lord's songs. He wrote the bevy of hits from Paula Abdul's second album, Spellbound.

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The Kingdom

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The KingdomSongwriter Interviews

The Bush frontman on where he finds inspiration for lyrics, if his "machine head" is a guitar tuner, and the stories behind songs from the album The Kingdom.

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song Titles

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song TitlesMusic Quiz

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have some rather unusual song titles - see if you can spot the real ones.

Hardy

HardySongwriter Interviews

The country hitmaker talks about his debut album, A Rock, and how a nursery rhyme inspired his hit single "One Beer."