Ride or Die: Terms and Conditions
“― Question. Would you die for me? ― Yes. ― That’s too easy. Will you… Would you live for me? … Hmm? ― Yes.” I will give the first person to tell me where this line is from $10.
The other day I was having a conversation with my girl about the term “ride or die” and if anyone really understands what they are signing up for when they sign on to be a ride or die. But before we get into all that let’s break down what a ride or die actually is. Now, there is no Webster definition of the term but their competitor, urban dictionary, defines the term as, “when you are willing to do anything for someone you love or someone you really appreciate in your life. The person who you stand by in any problem…” The saying was created to describe the relation between notorious criminal couple Bonnie and Clyde. It was no secret that Bonnie was down to withstand anything with her lover Clyde and vice versa. However it was not until hip hop got a hold of the saying that it really caught on. The saying typically described women who would remain loyal to their men in the face of danger etc. Notable relationships that have popularized the term and the expectations would be Gucci Mane and his wife, Keyshia Ka’Oir, T.I. and Tiny and Nicki Minaj and her husband Kenneth Petty. I would even go as far as to say a relationships like Jay-Z and Beyonce contribute to the popularity of the term, especially with their song entitle Bonnie and Clyde.
I personally feel like these relationships really glorify the term, which in turns has everyone quick to sign up but I feel like no one really reads the terms and conditions.
Most people in a relationship, a serious relationship, have no issues with sticking around in the face of financial or emotional trouble. I will even go as far as to say they are willing to work through infidelity. These things are typical in a person life and relationship. But are you willing to stick around and work through excessive cheating, what about a life of crime or drug addiction(like real drugs not weed or some shit). Most of the relationships that portray the ride or die mentatlity come with way more issues that financial trouble or even minimal cheating. For example before Gucci Man and Keyshia tied the knot she endured way more than any woman should. There was excessive cheating and Gucci ended up going to jail for a long period of time and was very public with his “rapper lifestyle”. During that time I know the relationship could not have been easy, but they were able to work it out to the point where Gucci left his wife some money while he was in jail and she turned that shit into millions for him when he got out. I know many people were expressing how much she deserved her marriage considering everything that she put up with, but I find it hard to believe that any one of those people who were championing her would do the same. Especially considering how fickle people are when it comes to dating.
There really are so many factors to discuss on being a ride or die that we could be here all night. My objective with this piece is to get you to start the conversation on what the terms and conditions of being a ride or die are and if people understand them because next week on my podcast doingDOPEshit! the team and I as well as a special guest [my girl] will be discussing in detail if people are really understanding the terms and conditions.