GIVE ME A REASON

NF

Lyrics

[Verse 1] Yeah, enough with the love, I need to be hated again I need somebody to wake up the beast and really get under my skin I need somebody to push me, tell me that I ain't no good with the pen I need somebody to poke and pry and really get into my head I need somebody to laugh, tell me I'm trash, tell me I might as well quit I need somebody to grab the blade in my back, stab, and give it a twist I need somebody to smash, break all my plaques Tell me I shouldn't exist I need somebody to ask why you even rap "You'll never be one of the" (Hey) I need somebody to brag and show me their cash And tell me, "You'll never be rich" I need somebody with stats and numbers and facts Tell me I ain't got no hits I need somebody who's wack and ain't got no class to tell me I'm not on they list I need somebody to act like I'm in the past so I can remind 'em I'm here I need somebody to

[Chorus] Give me a reason, woah, give me a reason Ayy, give me a reason, woah, yeah Give me a reason (Woo, woo, woo) I forgot what that struggle like (Mmm) I forgot what that hustle like (Mmm) I forgot what that humble like (Mmm) I forgot what that, I forgot what that (Ayy)

[Verse 2] I ain't forget about nothin', to keep it a hundred, I'm honestly bored I wanna feel like I felt when nobody was followin' me and I had no awards I wanna get back to hearin' them call me a wannabe Shady who ain't got no voice I want the people that promised they'd always be with me to leave me and walk out the door I want the fans to quit buyin' them tickets and tell me they don't want to see me on tour I want the label to drop me and tell me it's over, the music ain't makin' no noise I want the critics to call me a gimmick and tell me they thought I was better before I wanna hear you keep talkin' the way that you talkin' when no one's around to record (I wanna) Woo, yeah, I want a story I wanna hear about how you ain't feelin' the music and why it ain't better than yours (I wanna) Woo, yeah, tell me some more I wanna hear about, I wanna talk about I wanna air it out, I need somebody to

[Chorus] Yeah, give me a reason, woah, give me a reason Ayy, give me a reason, woah Give me a reason (Woo) I forgot what that struggle like (Ayy) I forgot what that hustle like (Ayy) I forgot what that humble like (Ayy) I forgot what that, I forgot what that (Woo)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main message of "GIVE ME A REASON"?

The song's core message is that adversity and struggle are essential fuel for NF's creativity and drive. After achieving success, he feels "bored" with the love and praise, and he craves the opposition and negativity that once motivated him to prove everyone wrong. He needs "a reason" to awaken the beast inside.

Why does NF say he "needs to be hated again"?

NF feels that being hated and underestimated is what originally sharpened his skills and gave him his competitive edge. Now that he's successful, he misses that external pressure. He believes that hatred and criticism would "wake up the beast" and push him to create even more powerful and aggressive music.

What does "I forgot what that struggle like" mean in the song?

This line is partly ironic. While he claims to have "forgotten," the whole song is about his desire to remember and re-experience that feeling. It highlights his current state of comfort and success, which he views as a creative inhibitor. He's become so accustomed to success that the raw hunger from his early days ("the struggle," "the hustle") has faded.

How does this song fit into the overall theme of NF's "HOPE" album?

"GIVE ME A REASON" serves as a bridge between the dark, aggressive persona of NF's past work and the more optimistic theme of the "HOPE" album. It shows him acknowledging that while he is moving towards hope, the "beast" fueled by negativity is still a part of him and a tool he can use. It's a moment of self-awareness about what drives him as an artist.

Is NF being serious when he asks for critics and fans to turn on him?

It's a form of artistic hyperbole. While he likely doesn't want to lose his career, he is serious about the feeling behind the words. He's expressing a genuine artistic frustration and a desire for the kind of conflict that inspires his best work. He's inviting a challenge to prove he's still at the top of his game.

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GIVE ME A REASON Meaning About NF (Wikipedia) All Lyrics

The Deeper Meaning of "GIVE ME A REASON"

The Hunger for Adversity

"GIVE ME A REASON" is NF's declaration of creative restlessness and a powerful commentary on the paradox of success. Having reached the pinnacle of his career with awards, wealth, and a loyal fanbase, he finds himself "bored" and creatively uninspired by the lack of conflict. The song is a raw plea for the very thing most people avoid: hate, criticism, and opposition.

NF argues that the "struggle" and "hustle" of his early days were the fire that forged his lyrical prowess. The feeling of being an underdog, of having to prove his worth against doubters, was his primary motivation. He lists a litany of insults he wishes to hear again—that he's "trash," has "no hits," and "shouldn't exist"—not out of self-loathing, but because he knows that negativity is the key to "waking up the beast" within him.

The chorus, "I forgot what that struggle like," is a poignant admission. He has become comfortable, and in that comfort, he fears losing the edge that made him who he is. The track is an audacious challenge to the world: give him a reason to fight again, so he can remind everyone, and himself, of the ferocious artist that adversity created.

About The Track

"GIVE ME A REASON" is a standout track from NF's 2023 album, "HOPE." In a departure from the album's overarching themes of healing and optimism, this song sees NF tapping back into his aggressive, confrontational persona. It serves as a meta-commentary on his own success and the artistic complacency that can come with it. Produced with his signature cinematic and intense sound, the track is a lyrical exercise where NF paradoxically wishes for the return of hardship and criticism, believing it to be the ultimate fuel for his creative fire. It showcases his complex relationship with his own fame and his unwavering desire to remain hungry and at the peak of his lyrical game.