“Back in Blood” by Pooh Shiesty (ft. Lil Durk)

Pooh Shiesty’s “Back in Blood” is a perfect example of a true gangsta rap. It features the vocalists elaborating on the code of the streets, i.e. an eye for an eye, or perhaps we can even say a bullet for a beef. That is to say that they present themselves as murderers, i.e. the types of individuals which no one in their right mind would want to get into a serious conflict with.

Pooh Shiesty

During his verse Pooh Shiesty comes off as if he is ‘hood experienced beyond his years, putting forth the idea that a murder can only be avenged by murdering the murderer. He goes on to detail that he is in fact well-armed and by all indications possesses no qualms about busting shots at opps. Indeed he and his homeys are the types who like to shoot someone face-to-face, if you will, as opposed to pulling off a drive by.

Lil Durk

Meanwhile Lil Durk comes off as someone who is most formidable in his own city. Verily he is “sheisty” in his own right, as in sometimes catching opps when they least expect it. He also seemingly references a real-life vengeance killing which, in a roundabout way, involved his own cousin. And overall he comes off similarly to his co-vocalist, as someone who is strapped and itching to pull the trigger if the opportunity presents itself.

Is “Back in Blood” about the Bloods gang?

Now with all of that aside, readers familiar with African-American ‘hood culture know that the word “blood”, which is heavily utilized throughout this track, is also a common reference to a powerful street gang. But upon researching the two vocalist at hand, it would appear that neither of them are affiliated with the Bloods, as they are called. 

Rather Lil Durk is down with a Chi-town crew called the Black Disciples, which would explain why he wears their current colors, black and red, in the music video to “Back in Blood”. And as for Pooh Shiesty, he is known to be part of a clique referred to as the Choppa Gang which is primarily a musical collective. However, interesting to note is that he does allude to having beef with “these blue faces”, which reads as if it is a reference to the Crips, who happen to be the main rivals of the Bloods.

Song’s Chorus

And finally concerning the chorus, Pooh Shiesty uses the opportunity to threaten fake gangstas. In his eyes, fake gangstas are those who like to talk smack exclusively on the internet and are incapable of real physical violence. He threatens these people with real violence. 

And in summation, as with the overall theme of the track, he presents himself and his cohorts as individuals who are verily and truly living that street life.

Facts about “Back in Blood”

“Back in Blood” is the first collaboration between Pooh Shiesty (Memphis) and Lil Durk (Chicago). It was released by Atlantic Records and Gucci Mane’s 1017 Records on the date of 5 November 2020. And it is also the lead single from Shiesty’s first official mixtape, entitled “Shiesty Season”, an effort which reached debuted on the Billboard 200 impressively at the number 4 position.

According to Pooh Shiesty, it was Lil Durk’s idea for the two of them collaborate.

Hardcore fans of Chi-town rap will recognize that “Back in Blood” was officially just a day prior to the shooting death of King Von, another rapper from Chicago who was closely affiliated with Lil Durk. And as such Dirk and Shiesty partially used the occasion of this track’s music video, which was directed by regular Chi-town collaborator Jerry Phd (aka Jerry Production), the pay tribute to the slain rapper. Also Von himself is briefly featured in the clip, and the video contributed significantly to the track’s overall success.

“Back in Blood” proved to be a notable hit, indeed Shiesty’s breakthrough song. For instance, it marked the first time he has made it onto the Billboard Hot 100, and it reached number 8 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs list. Additionally it has been certified gold by the RIAA. And the track also charted in Canada, in addition to achieving number one status via Apple Music Charts.

The track’s producer, YC, also co-wrote “Back in Blood” with Shiesty and Durk.