NF Give Me A Reason Meaning and Review

NF’s “Give Me A Reason” is a standout track from his EP FEAR, showcasing the rapper’s signature introspective lyricism while experimenting with a dark, moody production. From the opening bars, the whirring synths set an atmospheric tone that immediately grabs attention. The instrumental creates a sense of urgency and tension, perfectly complementing NF’s lyrical plea for challenge and conflict. It’s a track that thrives on its contrast, catchy yet raw, polished yet emotionally abrasive.

Hunger Through Adversity

Lyrically, NF dives deep into the theme of hunger through adversity. He repeatedly emphasizes his need to be hated, poked, and pushed, framing criticism as a driving force for artistic growth. Lines like “I need somebody to grab the blade in my back, stab, and give it a twist” illustrate his desire for struggle to fuel his craft, highlighting the vulnerability beneath his confident delivery. The song cleverly juxtaposes fame and success with the craving for friction, showing NF’s introspection on how comfort can dull creativity.

Compelling Vocal Performance

NF’s vocal performance on this track is particularly compelling. His cadence shifts effortlessly between rapid-fire delivery and elongated, emotive phrasing, emphasizing the desperation and frustration in his words. The repetition of the chorus, “Give me a reason”, feels like a mantra, amplifying the sense of urgency and need for external provocation. This vocal intensity pairs seamlessly with the production, creating a cohesive sonic experience that draws listeners into NF’s mindset.

Production Highlights

The production, handled by Jeff Sojka and NF, is a standout element that elevates the track. The layered synths and booming percussion create an expansive yet claustrophobic atmosphere, echoing the tension of the lyrics. The balance between melody and aggression in the instrumentation mirrors NF’s internal struggle, making the song not just a statement on hunger and challenge but also an immersive emotional journey. Its usage as UFC 309 walk-up music for Michael Chandler underscores its motivational and confrontational energy.

Give Me A Reason Review

“Give Me A Reason” is a masterclass in pairing introspective lyricism with powerful production. NF captures the duality of success and struggle, expressing the paradox of craving both love and hatred to maintain his creative fire. It’s a track that is both reflective and anthemic, showcasing NF at his most raw, vulnerable, and relentless. For fans of emotionally charged hip-hop, this track reaffirms NF’s ability to translate personal conflict into universally resonant music.

Listen To NF Give Me A Reason 

NF Give Me A Reason Lyrics Meaning Explained

The meaning of Give Me A Reason by NF is a reflection on the paradox of success and the role of struggle in fueling creativity. The song explores the idea that comfort, admiration, and accolades can dull an artist’s drive, while criticism, doubt, and adversity reignite the hunger to create at a high level. NF expresses a desire to be challenged, pushed, and even hated, framing external opposition as essential for growth. Through intense, introspective lyrics and evocative metaphors, he examines the tension between achievement and the need for friction, showing that the fire of artistic passion often comes from resistance rather than praise.

Verse 1: Craving Challenge

In the opening line, “Yeah, enough with the love, I need to be hated again,” NF directly comments on the cost of success. In earlier songs, such as The Search and Intro III, he often rapped about feeling isolated and burdened by his struggles. Here, he suggests that being “loved” through success and admiration has made him creatively bored, and he needs the struggle and negative energy, being “hated again,” to motivate the “beast” inside him. This theme continues with “I need somebody to wake up the beast and really get under my skin” and “I need somebody to push me, tell me that I ain't no good with the pen.” NF expresses a desire for external criticism and provocation to reignite his creative drive. Lines like “I need somebody to poke and pry and really get into my head” and “I need somebody to laugh, tell me I'm trash, tell me I might as well quit” emphasize that he craves mental and emotional friction as a way to fuel his artistry.

The intensity of this desire for challenge escalates in “I need somebody to grab the blade in my back, stab, and give it a twist” and “I need somebody to smash, break all my plaques / Tell me I shouldn't exist.” These darker, almost violent metaphors highlight NF’s belief that adversity is essential for growth. Similarly, “I need somebody to ask why you even rap / 'You'll never be one of the—'” and “I need somebody to brag and show me their cash / And tell me, 'You'll never be rich'” reflect his craving for confrontation from critics and competitors. He wants measurable opposition, as seen in “I need somebody with stats and numbers and facts / Tell me I ain't got no hits,” and validation through overcoming doubt from those who might dismiss him, including “somebody who's wack and ain't got no class to tell me I'm not on they list” and “somebody to act like I'm in the past so I can remind 'em I'm here.” Even low-quality criticism serves as motivation, allowing him to prove his relevance and skill.

Chorus: The Mantra

The chorus, with its repeated plea, “Give me a reason, woah, give me a reason / Ayy, give me a reason, woah, yeah / Give me a reason,” acts as a mantra for NF’s desire to face opposition and adversity. He reflects on the consequences of his current success, admitting, “I forgot what that struggle like / I forgot what that hustle like / I forgot what that humble like.” These lines acknowledge the paradox of success, where admiration and comfort dull the intense drive that shaped him as an artist. The repetition emphasizes his longing to reconnect with the hunger that fueled his earlier work.

Verse 2: Longing for the Underdog Days

In the second verse, NF expands on this theme, stating, “I ain't forget about nothin', to keep it a hundred, I'm honestly bored.” He is aware of his past struggles but feels unchallenged in the present. This longing is expressed further in “I wanna feel like I felt when nobody was followin' me and I had no awards” and “I wanna get back to hearin' them call me a wannabe Shady who ain't got no voice.” The latter line references critics who have compared him to Eminem, a comparison that NF acknowledges but frames as part of the drive he misses from earlier in his career.

NF also emphasizes the desire for personal and professional setbacks in lines like “I want the people that promised they'd always be with me to leave me and walk out the door” and “I want the fans to quit buyin' them tickets and tell me they don't want to see me on tour.” Even adversity from his label and the music industry itself is desired, as in “I want the label to drop me and tell me it's over, the music ain't makin' no noise.” Criticism and doubt, including from critics, are positioned as tools for reigniting creative energy: “I want the critics to call me a gimmick and tell me they thought I was better before.”

Desire for Authentic Criticism

NF emphasizes his desire for authentic confrontation in “I wanna hear you keep talkin' the way that you talkin' when no one's around to record / I wanna hear about how you ain't feelin' the music and why it ain't better than yours.” He craves honest, raw feedback that challenges him directly, reinforcing the central theme of the track. The chorus repetition, “Yeah, give me a reason, woah, give me a reason / Ayy, give me a reason, woah / Give me a reason / I forgot what that struggle like / I forgot what that hustle like / I forgot what that humble like,” underscores the paradox NF grapples with: success and admiration can dull the drive, while struggle and opposition ignite it. The song is ultimately a reflection on hunger, adversity, and the complex relationship between challenge and creativity.

NF Give Me A Reason 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)