The song "4,3,2,1" by Joell Ortiz is a reflection on the artist's past experiences in the streets and the challenges he faced growing up in a rough environment. The lyrics use numbers in a symbolic way to convey different aspects of his life and the progression of time. In the beginning of the song, Joell Ortiz rates his level of confidence and skill on a scale from one to eleven, asserting that he is beyond the normal range of measurement. He then mentions serving drugs (twelves) in thirteen different locations, suggesting his involvement in underground activities. The lyrics then touch upon the struggles of living in poverty, as the fifteenth refers to the drop of a welfare check, which is an important source of income for many low-income individuals. At this point, Joell Ortiz also mentions the use of a weapon (sixteens) to protect himself. The following lines describe the artist's younger years, stating that at seventeen, he had expensive dental fronts (coliseum fronts) and smoked numerous blunts (eighteen blunts). Around the age of nineteen, he suggests that the drug scene changed, with "dimes" (reference to drugs and/or women) going "out of style" and being replaced by "twenties." The song progresses to mention the sale of alcohol (twenty-one-dollar E&Js) and the artist's involvement in illegal activities, with cracks (drugs) found in his possession and making twenty-two thousand dollars. Joell Ortiz then mentions wearing the number twenty-three on his basketball jersey, representing his identity in the streets, while wearing Nike shoes. At twenty-four, he's on a bus, trying to write to the beat, suggesting his dedication to his music career. The lyrics then take a darker turn, as he references being locked up for a long sentence ("twenty-five to life at twenty-six"). However, he manages to make a comeback, stating that at twenty-seven, he released "+The Brick+" (presumably a successful project), and at twenty-eight, he delivers this new song. In summary, "4,3,2,1" reflects Joell Ortiz's journey through poverty, involvement in illegal activities, and his determination to overcome the odds and succeed in the music industry.
