Metropolis by Logic Lyrics Meaning – Unpacking the Artist’s Journey Through Self-Discovery and Pursuit of Success

Lyrics

Sometimes I feel like I’ve drifted, I feel different I feel gifted
I’ve been high so long, don’t need to smoke to get lifted
I’ve been under pressure looking for nikki
Whenever she is around, you know I come quickly
Vivid memories of Chicago, south side where I go
From Reggies to The House of Blues, progress is the model
Man the first show that I ever done sold out was in chicago
Yeah, yeah, living like I’ve been ready to die
Maybe not, I don’t know why my mind is changing
Rearranging this dangerous melody, uh
Yeah, and I know that ain’t nobody finna ever be ahead of me
All that competition right there is dead to me
Yeah, uh, yeah, I’ve been turning the pages
Feeling the vibe, shit is outrageous
Boy, I’ve been feeling courageous
This shit right here, I’ve been at it for ages
Feels like I’m running through mazes, everybody has they phases
Yeah, vibe with this, bad bitch in the whip and I ride to this
And I’m feeling it uh, hope when I’m forty I’m still in it
One of the few that be killing it uh
Yeah, young motherfucker that be giving what he living
On the road to success you know that I’m driven
But they didn’t wanna publish it, but right now I’m on some other shit
I’m in a different world, I’m with a different girl
I’m with the same team, but it’s a different scheme
Remember back when I couldn’t even pay the bills
And I’ll never forget how that feels back when I would

Buy it, break it, roll it, light it, smoke it, inhale it I’m gone
Buy it, break it, roll it, light it, smoke it, inhale it I’m gone

Okay, doing what I gotta do, flying at this altitude
I look out of the window like goddamn, that’s what I really do
Don’t know why I fear the planes, sometimes I was to sustain
If I look back on it I would do it all over again
Nikki, nikki, where you been? I can’t wait to breathe you in
Been on this plane way too long, I can’t wait to see you again
Oh my God this turbulence has got me sippin’ on this liquor
Crazy racist white bitch looking at us like “who are these niggas?”
First class, on they ass, all complain that’s when I dash
Just landed in Europe and this model bitch is tryna smash
Now I’m riding on the train, all this shit inside my brain
Just left a hotel in Belgium, damn them waffles was insane
Smoking blunts in Amsterdam, oh my God this is my jam
May-December by Mos Def in my headphones, that’s the man

I know, I know that I got it if I, do what I gotta do to get by
And they wonder why I never get high
And they wonder why I never get high
I know, I know that I got it if I, do what I gotta do to get by
And they wonder why I never get high
And they wonder why I never get high

Okay, fuck affiliation, I’m that dude that did it on his own
The thoughts inside my mind, be fuckin’ with me when I’m all alone
I really like this girl she bad as fuck, why must I run away?
It feel like self assassination, I can’t put this gun away
God damn, what’s the plan, not complacent where I am
Reminiscing when I hit the road back in that mini van
Broke as fuck, not a dollar, whipping that Chevy impala
Praying that we make it out this city, Lord willin’, insha’allah
Up to date the couple years, now my idols are my peers
I was on the road to nowhere till I decided to veer
Put my everything into this shit, you know, I know you know this
Used to give a fuck what people thought, hoping that they would notice
Stop giving a fuck cause music gotta be the only motive
Mind racing on and off the track, I’m going locomotive

I can’t believe you don’t like Tarantino
Ugh, I don’t like him because, like, when it’s non like non-tarantino-esque
I think it’s a good movie
You mean like Inglorious Basterds?
I didn’t see that
What?!
I didn’t, I don’t know
Oh my god, have you seen Pulp Fiction
Yeah, but I don’t really remember it
What you talking about? Have you seen uh
This is funny cause we’re on the train, have you seen, fuck! What’s his name
The guy from the movie, in the place on the on the train? With the scenery?
Uh, I’m tryna remember right now, dammit, Source Code
No
You haven’t seen that?
With the dude from Donnie Darko
Who’s that?
Oh my God
Well I still wanna know what your favorite Tarantino movie is

I know, I know that I got it if I, do what I gotta do to get by
And they wonder why I never get high
And they wonder why I never get high
I know, I know that I got it if I, do what I gotta do to get by
And they wonder why I never get high
And they wonder why I never get high

Drifting amongst the clouds of existentialism and laced with the smoke of introspection, ‘Metropolis,’ a lyrical canvas painted by hip-hop maestro Logic, embarks on an odyssey through the mind of a visionary at the precipice of his awakening. Through a series of vivid tableaus, Metropolis delves not into a city of skyscrapers, but a metropolis of thought, self-realization, and the ephemeral nature of success.

The song, an intricate layering of Logic’s personal anecdotes and philosophical musings, gestures towards a much larger story—his battles with addiction (nicknamed ‘Nikki’), a glimpse into his past struggles, and the echelons of fame he scales. Yet, it’s his grappling with the very fame and skill that elevates him, ultimately uncovering a deeply human narrative, one stitched with threads of vulnerability, ambition, and the relentless search for meaning.

High without a High: Bridging the Natural with the Altered State

From the very first lines of ‘Metropolis,’ Logic posits a transcendence that comes not from substances, but from an innate ‘giftedness.’ As he declares, ‘I’ve been high so long, don’t need to smoke to get lifted,’ he asserts the intoxication of his own creative force and sense of purpose. His high is one of flow, the powerful surge of being engrossed in the creative process, a cerebral elevation untouched by the haze of narcotics.

This initial verse sets the tone for a song rich in duality—the highs and lows of life and art, juxtaposed with the tangible rush from drugs versus the ephemeral lift from success and self-recognition. It’s a potent declaration from an artist who has found elevation in his craft, distancing Logic the man from Logic the rapper, with his identity firmly grounded in his artistry.

Escaping Nikki: The Personification of Temptation

‘Looking for Nikki’ isn’t a foray into romance but a metaphorical manhunt for addiction personified. ‘Whenever she is around, you know I come quickly’—a lyric fraught with the simultaneous allure and destructiveness of substance abuse. Logic’s struggle with addiction has been a recurring theme in his discography, and here, Nikki symbolizes the siren call of vice that he continually strives to outpace.

Nikki becomes a shadow throughout his journey, a presence that threatens his progress yet drives his pursuit to transcendence. The mention of her throughout the song underscores Logic’s awareness of the threat she poses and the fight to maintain his creative and personal integrity against the grip of dependency.

The Roots and Wings of Ambition: From South Side to Stardom

In a heartfelt nod to his beginnings, Logic transports us to Chicago’s south side where his dreams took flight—from ‘Reggies to The House of Blues.’ A city known both for its steel-clad infrastructure and soulful music history, Chicago in ‘Metropolis’ serves as both a literal and figurative home base for the artist’s career.

The line ‘Man the first show that I ever done sold out was in Chicago’ punctuates his reflection with a milestone moment, a reminder of the grind and the glow-up. It’s a rite of passage for the rapper, a toast to the days of doubt swallowed by the sweet taste of fruition.

Finding Harmony in Chaos: The Hidden Meaning of Racing Thoughts

‘This dangerous melody’ Logic mentions is the cacophony of a mind constantly in motion. Much like the city he references, his thoughts bustle with life—varied, relentless, overwhelming. The song’s bridge sees him confessing to a mind that flits from topic to topic, ‘on and off the track,’ an allusion to the unstoppable locomotive of his brain.

The turbulence of such mental meandering leaves the listener with a potent hidden message: success is as much a mental marathon as it is a visible accomplishment. Logic embodies this sentiment, depicting not only the struggle of maintaining a mental equilibrium amidst fame and creativity but also the wistful acceptance of this frenetic internal rhythm as part of the artist’s nature.

Metropolis’s Memorable Lines: Catchphrases of a Generational Voice

‘Buy it, break it, roll it, light it, smoke it, inhale it I’m gone’—the catchy refrain serves as a jubilant, yet ironical, anthem, underscoring the hedonistic cycle Logic aims to transcend. Yet, the poignancy of ‘Mind racing on and off the track, I’m going locomotive’ captures the essence of the human condition in the digital age—restless, unfocused, and voraciously consuming life at breakneck speed.

The words dance on the precipice of irony and self-realization. These lines resonate with a generation caught in the throes of overstimulation and the quest for meaning, embraced by an audience who finds solace in his journey—a journey that encapsulates the triumphs, pitfalls, and the restless pursuit of somewhere beyond the skyline of Metropolis.