Apeshit by The Carters Lyrics Meaning – Unleashing the Power Couple’s Cultural Commentary
Lyrics
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Stack my money fast and go (fast, fast, go)
Fast like a Lambo (skrrt, skrrt, skrrt)
I be jumpin’ off the stage, ho (jumpin’, jumpin’, hey, hey)
Crowd better savor (crowd goin’ ape, hey)
I can’t believe we made it (this is what we made, made)
This is what we’re thankful for (this is what we thank, thank)
I can’t believe we made it (this a different angle)
Have you ever seen the crowd goin’ apeshit? Rah!
Gimme my check, put some respeck on my check
Or pay me in equity, pay me in equity
Or watch me reverse out the debt (skrrt)
He got a bad bitch, bad bitch
We livin’ lavish, lavish
I got expensive fabrics
I got expensive habits
He wanna go with me (go with me)
He like to roll the weed (roll the weed)
He wanna be with me (be with me)
He wanna give me that vitamin D (D!)
Ice ornaments, icy style tournaments (woo)
You ain’t on to this (no)
Don’t think they on to this (no)
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Bought him a jet
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Shut down Colette
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Phillippe Patek
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Get off my dick (uh, hey)
Gimme the paw, gimme the ball, take the top shift (ball)
Call my girls and put ’em all on a spaceship (brr)
Hang one night with ‘Yoncé, I’ll make you famous (hey)
Have you ever seen the stage goin’ apeshit? Rah
Stack my money fast and go (fast, fast, go)
Fast like my Lambo (skrrt, skrrt, skrrt)
Jumpin’ off the stage, ho (jumpin’, jumpin’, hey, hey)
Crowd better savor (crowd goin’ ape, hey)
I can’t believe we made it (this is what we made, made)
This is what we’re thankful for (this is what we thank, thank)
I can’t believe we made it (this a different angle)
Have you ever seen the crowd goin’ apeshit? (Offset!)
I’m a gorilla in the fuckin’ coupe
Finna pull up in the zoo
I’m like Chief Keef meet Rafiki, who been lyin’ “King” to you?
Pocket, watch it, like kangaroos
Tell these clowns we ain’t amused
‘Nana clips for that monkey business, 4-5 got change for you
Motorcade when we came through
Presidential with the planes too
One better get you with the residential
Undefeated with the cane too
I said no to the Superbowl, you need me, I don’t need you
Every night we in the endzone, tell the NFL we in stadiums too
Last night was a fuckin’ zoo
Stagedivin’ in a pool of people
Ran through Liverpool like a fuckin’ Beatle
Smoke gorilla glue like it’s fuckin’ legal
Tell the Grammy’s fuck that 0 for 8 shit
Have you ever seen the crowd goin’ apeshit? (Rah)
Stack my money fast and go (fast, fast, go)
Fast like my Lambo (skrrt, skrrt, skrrt)
Jumpin’ off the stage, ho (jumpin’, jumpin’, hey, hey)
Crowd better savor (crowd goin’ ape, hey)
I can’t believe we made it (this is what we made, made)
This is what we’re thankful for (this is what we thank, thank)
I can’t believe we made it (this a different angle)
Have you ever seen the crowd goin’ apeshit? Rah!
Haters in danger (dangerous)
Whole lot of gangin’ (gang)
35 chains (chains, chains)
I don’t give a damn ’bout the fame (nope)
G8 planes (tshh, tshh)
Alexander Wang (woo!)
She a thot that you claim (woo!)
Can’t be toppin’ my reign (c’mon, c’mon, c’mon)
Poppin’, I’m poppin’, my bitches all poppin’
We go to the dealer and cop it all (cop it all)
Sippin’ my favorite alcohol (alcohol)
Got me so lit, I need Tylenol (Tylenol)
All of my people, I free ’em all (free ’em all)
Hop in the whip, wanna see the stars
Sendin’ the missiles off, drinkin’ my inhibitions off
250 for the Richard Mille, yeah yeah, live in a field
My body make Jigga go kneel
Man, my momma, my Lord, my shield
Look at my jewelry, I’m lethal (lethal)
These diamonds on me, they see-through (see-through)
I’m a Martian, they wishin’ they equal (equal)
I got M’s on the back like Evisu
Gimme the paw, gimme the ball, take a top shift (she went crazy)
Call my girls and put ’em all on a spaceship
Hang one night with ‘Yoncé, I’ll make you famous
Have you ever seen the crowd goin’ apeshit? Rah!
Stack my money fast and go (fast, fast, go)
Fast like a Lambo (skrrt, skrrt, skrrt)
I be jumpin’ off the stage, ho (jumpin’, jumpin’, hey, hey)
Crowd better savor (crowd goin’ heavy)
I can’t believe we made it (this is what we made, made)
This is what we’re thankful for (this is what we thank, thank)
I can’t believe we made it (this a different angle)
Have you ever seen the crowd goin’ apeshit? Rah!
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Fast and go
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Amidst the pulsating beats and the spirited ad-libs, ‘Apeshit’ stands as The Carters’ triumphant war cry within the music industry, a braggadocious and powerful celebration of success against the odds. Released in 2018 as part of the collaborative album ‘Everything Is Love,’ the song throws punches with its lyrics layered with meaning, commanding respect in every sphere they dominate.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z, music’s reigning power couple, use ‘Apeshit’ as a platform to not only showcase their wealth and achievements but also to underscore the African American struggle and triumph within the fabric of modern America. Through the song’s bars, they navigate the complexities of race, fame, and economics, solidifying their status as cultural icons.
An Ode to Black Excellence and Wealth Accumulation
The Carters waste no time flexing their financial muscles, metaphorically speeding through life with ‘Lambo’-like efficiency and flair. Their accumulation of wealth isn’t just for show; it’s a testament to their astute business acumen. ‘Stack my money fast and go’ isn’t simply a flashy hook; it’s a mindset—a declaration of economic independence and a blueprint for success within the black community.
‘Apeshit’ becomes the anthem of the hustler, the artist, the entrepreneur. It’s The Carters’ celebration of breaking barriers and attaining a level of autonomy that’s often elusive in the minority narrative. They aren’t just playing the game; they are writing new rules, building legacies while simultaneously calling out systems that have long kept artists in financial shackles.
The Cultural Dynamic of Turning Rejection into a Rallying Cry
Jay-Z’s verse dissects the song’s deeper discontent with the entertainment establishment. The lines ‘I said no to the Superbowl, you need me, I don’t need you’ refer to declining to perform at the 2018 Super Bowl halftime show in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick. It’s a stance of unwavering support for racial justice that questions the status quo, suggesting that cultural clout transcends any platform offered by traditional institutions.
Moreover, the lyric ‘Tell the Grammy’s fuck that 0 for 8 shit’ speaks volumes. It references Jay-Z’s 2018 Grammy snub, using it not as a sign of defeat but as a catalyst. The Carters underscore that their success, their cultural impact doesn’t need validation from bodies that historically overlook the contributions of black artists.
A Visual and Lyrical Showcase of Reappropriated Spaces
Much like the setting of its accompanying music video in the Louvre—a space traditionally Western and white—’Apeshit’ lyrically reclaims places that aren’t ordinarily associated with black triumph. The Carters are ‘staging a coup,’ symbolically and literally, through lines such as ‘Motorcade when we came through, Presidential with the planes too,’ proving that their presence in these spaces is no longer an anomaly.
This notion of reclamation is essential because it expands beyond physical spaces. It delves into the arenas of power, influence, and respect—commodities often denied to or begrudgingly given to black artists. The song is a reckoning, a declaration that they are here, deserving and unapologetic.
Brushstrokes of Vanity and Victory in Memorable Lines
‘Ice ornaments, icy style tournaments’ and ’35 chains, I don’t give a damn about the fame’ drip with the luxury expected of music royalty. But these aren’t just flossy lines meant to sate a listener’s appetite for glamour. Each bar delivers a punchy reminder that The Carters don’t just wear wealth; they wield it—as a symbol of triumph over adversity and as armor against criticism.
The brash celebration of financial success becomes an act of defiance, a bold statement against historical disenfranchisement. It’s like each ‘yeah’ punctuated throughout the song is another step upon the staircase they’ve built, leading beyond the reach of their detractors.
Unraveling the Anthemic ‘Apeshit’ for the Hidden Meanings Within
Beneath its veneer of aggressive luxury rap, ‘Apeshit’ serves as a cipher that addresses matters like ownership in black artistry, the value of equity over cash, and the continuous fight for recognition. Phrases like ‘pay me in equity’ speak to a deeper message about wealth and control in an industry known for taking more than it gives.
Coupled with cultural references, such as likening themselves to Rafiki and the Beatles, The Carters plot their position on a spectrum that’s larger than contemporary music—it extends into the realm of timeless influence and legacy. ‘Apeshit’ is more than a song; it’s a historical document sealed with the seal of The Carters, reverberating with messages that will undoubtedly echo for generations to come.
