1Train by A$AP Rocky Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Rails of Reality in Hip-Hop
Lyrics
Tell my A$AP killers get they pistols ready
Send ’em to the cemetery with obituaries
Don’t be scared nigga, is you ready?
I’ve been thinking ’bout all the O’s in my bank account (What?)
X the hoes in my bed is ’round the same amount (What?)
Ever since this new star fame came about
Or ever since me and Drizzy started hangin’ out
Young boy, let his gun bang, let his nuts hang
Transition to a Lamborghini from a Mustang
Drugs slang in the drug game with the hustling
(I know one thing) anything is better than that 1 train
Bag made of Goyard, cheffin’ like I’m Boyar-
Dee, probably selling D in your local courtyard
Braids like I’m O-Dog, my la familia go hard
Down to my inlaws, they outlaws with no laws
We outlawed then I bogart, any pros that got ‘proached at
With a toe-tag, get broke off, in the projects with a skateboard
I roll past and I blaze y’all like, “Doo Doo!” I hate y’all
When the beef cooked, I ate y’all like, “Mmm mmm,” let’s play ball
In a ballpark with all sharks and a blindfold, I rhyme cold
My K hot, your 9 cold, that bark like K9 drone that banana clip
Straight from the rip, I’ll make that shirt say RIP, I’m on some shit
If I’m not the hottest then Hell must’ve froze over
You thought it was safe then forgot what the code was
I carry traits of a traumatized soldier
Don’t look in my face, I might snap, I might choke ya
Spine right out of place, give me dap like you ‘posed ta
Darts at your posters, dark nights like this I metamorph like I’m ‘posed ta
I might slice my wrist or pretend like a vulture and drop off this cliff
Barely even conscious, talking to my conscience
Gettin’ deeper in these flows like conches
I’m on my convict, don’t drop bars, I drop prisons
Don’t sell rocks seen the spectrum through the prisms
Somehow bypassed the bias and the -isms
The violence and the killin’, so given
They seen my pigment and thought that was the ign’ance
Unfortunately I am not that type of niglet
But pass the pot let me skillet
Just got back to the block from a 6 o’clock with Jigga
And I’m thinkin’ ’bout signin’ to the Roc
But my niggas on the block still assigned to the rocks!
And I swear it hurt me soul I try to prevail
But when I preach it only hurt their sales
Like you’re only gon’ end up either dead or in jail
But you my nigga, wish you the best for real
When you mention my name amongst other white rappers
Or for that matter, any fuckin’ rapper,
Fuck it painter, skater, musician, trailer park dirt ditch diggin’
Burger flippin’, eat, sleep, shittin’ human bein’
You would be in trouble to body double or couple me
To these others ’cause comparatively speakin’
My reach is beyond the bubble that they put me in
My vision’s beyond the Hubble’s I huddle with Nubians
New beginning again you in school at 10, late
Radioactive’s goin’ gold and so? Great!
Do I give a flying duck if I’m applyin’
Love to my rhymin’ plus alignin’ us?
Alabama’s climbin’ up, wait, no I don’t give a flying duck
Nothing but a buckshot, chck-pow!
Motherfuck your life, pussy blood clot
Ain’t never been no rapper this cold since 2Pac was froze
And thawed out for spot date at a Coachella show, Yelawolf!
Weed a different color like a hoodrat bra and panties
And my flow be overhead like pots and pans in pantries
Antsy ’cause I’m high like Michael Jackson penny loafers
Moonwalkin’ on the sun, barefoot, with shades on
Bitch pussy smell like a penguin
Wouldn’t hit that shit with my worst enemy’s penis
Bitch when I say this I mean this, “Ho, I’m the meanest”
Dick so big, stretch from Earth to Venus
That molly got me nauseous, on shit, no off switch
Lawless, obnoxious, on that “suck my cock” shit
That is my synopsis, ostrich pot shit
Hoes on some God shit, stop it! You not this!
Novice, regardless, heartless and awkward
Cryin’ tears of vodka prima donna at the concert
Adonis smokin’ chronic ’bout to vomit gin and tonic
Just bein’ honest, tell me, isn’t that ironic?
Swiftly, I shift the Beamer 860
A heavy smoker so you know I brought the Blake with me
The moon’s reflection off the lake hit me
You should’ve stayed with me
Now many Asian bitches lay with me
The face is silky like a tablecloth (uh)
My shorty gallop in the morning on the beach like a Chilean horse (uh)
Red roses drop on boxes very often (uh)
Confetti torture, drinking Henny like I’m Kenny Lofton (uh)
Outstandin’
I fixed the game between Georgia Southern and Grambling
You see us scrambling, selling Susan Sarandon (Sarandon)
The cloud of smoke like the phantom (uh)
Damn this shit tastes like fantastic
You see me comin’ through in each state
Just so the lord could put the fork inside the cheesecake
Cuffed to my wrist I’ve got the briefcase
The gavel slam, I’m a free man, try not to eat ham (Big KRIT, shawty)
Spit like my last breath, casket rap, six deep
Eyes closed, the black is back, out come the ‘Lac with flats
After that, bottles I can’t pronounce, like, “How you ask for that?”
Why you ask for crack and all you had was scratch?
All I had was rap, when all they had was wack
All I wanted was love, all they had was dap
Fuck them haters and fuck them hoes and cherish your wins
The aftermath, ask LeBron, open palm slap a bitch
Walk the plank or break a bank, I’ve been in the business of sinkin’ ships
Chokin’ niggas out with the anchors that they anchor with
Resuscitations cost the label, I’m taxing if you want a hit
Clear, fuck your career, bitch, I was born here
Been a killer, ’86er, nigga, that’s my born year
Get the fuck from ’round here, that’s just my country ways
Suckin’ on your momma’s titty, bitchin’ while I was choppin’ blade
Grippin’ grain, fuckin’ hoes, candy paint like Everglades
Miss me with that rapper chatter, take that shit up with my bass
I put that on my sub, how could you ever doubt me?
Most rappers hoping the world end so they won’t have to drop another album
B.b. King saw the king in me, so why can’t you?
In order to come up close, you’ll have to dig up Cash and Elvis, too
Muddy water flow, Dixie rebel past fuck your Louis flag
Popping benji tags on your wifey’s ass
That’s out of line, but in living color?
I’m more like Miya Bailey on you rap motherfuckers, a true artist
The 2012 hit ‘1Train’ by A$AP Rocky is far more than a mere compilation of verses; it is a sprawling mural of urban life and the struggle for artistic and personal authenticity. With a locomotive’s unstoppable force, each verse thunders down tracks laden with profound introspection, street-smart wisdom, and a candid confrontation with the harsh realities of life in the limelight.
Rocky’s ‘1Train’ isn’t just a song; it’s an odyssey through the souls of some of the most poignant lyricists in the game. In deciphering the multilayered meanings etched into the bars of this ensemble masterpiece, one finds a raw and sobering narrative about fame, hardship, and the constant hustle for greatness against the odds.
Conducting The Underground Symphony
The track’s production, reminiscent of a bygone era of New York hip-hop, sets the stage for a symphonic collaboration among hip-hop heavyweights. A$AP Rocky orchestrates a lyrical locomotive that carries the voices of Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, Yelawolf, Danny Brown, Action Bronson, and Big K.R.I.T., each contributing their unique cadences, dialects, and tales from various corners of the hip-hop nation.
It’s a throwback to the posse cuts of yesteryears, evoking the same collaborative spirit that once coursed through the veins of the genre’s golden age. As the train barrels through, picking up one artist after another, their shared ambition melds together, creating a confluence of relentless rhyme schemes and vivid storytelling that transcends their differing regional styles.
A$AP Rocky’s ‘Bank Account’ Revelation
As A$AP Rocky kicks off, he muses on the ‘O’s in his bank account’, a double entendre representing both financial success (‘zeros’ in his balance) and the overwhelming feeling that wealth and fame bring about their own form of emptiness. Juxtaposing ‘X the hoes’ with the ‘O’s’, he comments on the disposable nature of relationships in the face of newfound stardom.
Rocky’s opening sets a crucial tone for the track, laying bare the transactional nature of fame. The wealth and attention buoy the spirit, but they also attract insincerity, turning organic human connections into strategic interactions. It’s a disorienting landscape where the true cost of fame isn’t tallied on bank statements but rather on the soul’s ledger.
The Kaleidoscope of Voices: Unearthing The Hidden Meanings
Beyond their individual stories and bravado, the artists use their verses to paint a broader picture of the diverse perspectives in hip-hop. Each has walked a distinct path to the ‘1Train’,-symbolizing the universal journey of artistic hustle-acknowledging the shared experiences of struggle, survival, and the pursuit of success.
These narratives are codified in their intricate wordplay and vivid imagery, commenting on everything from societal issues to personal demons. From Danny Brown’s ‘ostrich pot shit’ to Big K.R.I.T.’s nostalgic refrain rooted in Southern heritage, the verses converge into an interwoven tapestry that reflects hip-hop’s myriad dimensions.
Memorable Lines and Lyrical Punches
The song is rife with quotable moments that have found their way into the lexicons of rap aficionados. Kendrick Lamar’s ‘I’m Makaveli’s offspring, I’m the king of New York/King of the Coast, one hand, I juggle them both’ stirs the pot of East Coast/West Coast rivalry while claiming dominion over both.
Action Bronson’s comedic ‘Bitch pussy smell like a penguin’ exemplifies his ability to intertwine humor and visceral imagery. Meanwhile, Big K.R.I.T.’s statement of cultural resilience ‘Miss me with that rapper chatter, take that shit up with my bass’ not only demonstrates his lyrical dexterity but also his unwavering commitment to artistry over gossip.
The 1Train As A Metaphor For The Artistic Journey
Ultimately, ‘1Train’ serves as a metaphor for the relentless and often solitary journey of the artist. Each rapper aboard muses existential thoughts, battling the intoxicating highs of success and the lows of disenchantment. The ‘1Train’ symbolizes the path through which they each navigate the perilous terrain of the music industry—a singular vessel at times both liberating and constrictive.
The track acknowledges a shared destination, yet the terrain is complex, and morality is as grey as the city asphalt. It highlights the underlying unity in their struggles and triumphs. Here, the ‘1Train’ becomes a symbol both of artistic solidarity and of the inescapable nature of their shared musical quest.
