Big Fish by Vince Staples Lyrics Meaning – Diving into the Depths of Hustle and Survival
Lyrics
Know what I’m saying?
You want that over there? You want that over there?
I got you
I was up late night ballin’
Countin’ up hundreds by the thousand
I was up late night ballin’
Countin’ up hundreds by the thousand
I was up late night ballin’
Countin’ up hundreds by the thousand
I was up late night ballin’
Countin’ up hundreds by the thousand
I was up late night balling
So far from my past misfortune
No sleepin’, late nights no eatin’
Gun squeezing, I’m a real Artesian
Ramona, I was round that corner
Still down, I’m a Norf Norf soldier
G slide right down Sawyer
When we slide, you won’t see morning
Another story of a young black man
Tryna make it up out that jam, goddamn
Bag back, let me make my bands, got plans
If you hatin’ don’t shake my hand
Take it easy, homie
Reminiscin’ sitting in that Benz
Of the twenty two bus stop way back when
With the 22, 5 shot eyes on scan
For the click, clack, clap or the boop, bop, bam, ’cause
I was up late night ballin’
Countin’ up hundreds by the thousand
I was up late night ballin’
Countin’ up hundreds by the thousand
I was up late night ballin’
Countin’ up hundreds by the thousand
I was up late night ballin’
Countin’ up hundreds by the thousand
It’s funny I was going crazy not too long ago
Women problems every morning like the Maury show
Swimming upstream while I’m tryna keep my bread
From the sharks make me wanna put the hammer to my head
At the park politicin’ with the kids
Tryna get em on a straight path, got the lames mad
Know they hate to see me make cash, got the space dash
In the foreign with the GPS addressed to your mama house
Compensation conversations what I’m all about
Took the smart route, never been marked out
Shoulda been dead broke, shoulda been chalked out
But it didn’t happen, now it’s time to get it cracking
Quarterbackin’ like I’m 40 Water mix the holy water with the Voss
Wanna be the boss then you gotta pay the cost
Learned it from the Dogg I’m from Long Beach
That’s the city where the skinny carry strong heat
I was up late night ballin’
Countin’ up hundreds by the thousand
I was up late night ballin’
Countin’ up hundreds by the thousand
I was up late night ballin’
Countin’ up hundreds by the thousand
I was up late night ballin’
Countin’ up hundreds by the thousand
I was up late night ballin’
Countin’ up hundreds by the thousand
I was up late night ballin’
Countin’ up hundreds by the thousand
I was up late night ballin’
Countin’ up hundreds by the thousand
I was up late night ballin’
Countin’ up hundreds by the thousand
Vince Staples, the Long Beach prodigy, hooks listeners with his hypnotically rhythmic track ‘Big Fish’. With its thumbing beats and raw, confessional lyrics, Staples doesn’t just create a song; he crafts an experience. ‘Big Fish’ is an aural snapshot of Staples’ rise from the dangers of street life to the heights of hip-hop notoriety.
Peeling back the layers of ‘Big Fish’, one can’t help but be drawn into the narrative of Staples’ nocturnal grind, where the stress of making ends meet and evading violence were as routine as breakfast. The refrain ‘I was up late night balling’ isn’t just about financial gain; it’s a testament to perseverance, ambition, and the unforgiving nature of the streets.
The Hook: More Than Just Bragging Rights
The chorus of ‘Big Fish’ is a relentless repetition, a mantra of survival. It’s easy to mistake it for just another braggadocious hook, boasting of wealth and success. But a closer listen reveals Staples’ nuanced approach to storytelling. ‘Countin’ up hundreds by the thousand’ isn’t merely about accumulating wealth, it’s about escaping a reality where the absence of those hundreds could mean life or death.
The ‘big fish’ is a metaphor for Staples himself, having outgrown the small pond of his troubled background. He swims in bigger, more dangerous waters now, but equipped with the wisdom and the scars of his previous life, he navigates with a sense of earned confidence and caution.
Life in the Deep End: Staples’ Unflinching Reality
Throughout the song, Vince Staples gives us vivid glimpses of his past—a time when each night brought the risk of violence and desperation. ‘Gun squeezing, I’m a real Artesian,’ he quips, asserting his authenticity and survival instincts. Yet, the mention of ‘Artesian’ carries a double entendre—not only denoting his realness but also hinting at the constant pressure he’s under, much like the natural spring water rising to the surface.
Lines like ‘G slide right down Sawyer’ transport the listener to Staples’ old haunts in North Long Beach, while ‘With the 22, 5 shot eyes on scan’ reflects the perpetual vigilance required to stay alive. It’s a narrative steeped not in glorification, but in gritty, lived truth.
Climbing Out of the Jam: The Hidden Meaning of Upward Mobility
Beneath the thumping baseline and Staples’ laid-back flow is a hidden narrative of upward mobility. ‘Another story of a young black man, Tryna make it up out that jam, goddamn,’ illustrates the universal quest for progress against stacked odds. Staples doesn’t bask in his status; he uses his platform to highlight the systemic hurdles faced by others trying to break the cycle of poverty.
His reflection on transformation—from sitting on a ‘twenty two bus stop’ to driving in ‘the foreign with the GPS addressed to your mama house’—serves as a powerful commentary on how dramatically life can change when one takes control of their destiny, regardless of societal barriers.
The Maury Prodigal and the Heavy Cost of Fame
In one of the track’s most memorable lines, Staples juxtaposes his personal struggles with a cultural reference, ‘Women problems every morning like the Maury show’. Here, he acknowledges the personal toll of his journey, where relationships become as tumultuous as the on-screen drama. It’s a facet of fame that’s as real as any hardship he faced on the streets, an ongoing battle to maintain a semblance of normalcy.
The verse further delves into the irony of wanting to escape the dangers of his past only to face new ‘sharks’ in his current life, prompting thoughts of despair—’make me wanna put the hammer to my head’. It’s a stark reminder that success doesn’t equate to happiness and that mental battles often continue after one has seemingly ‘made it’.
Undercurrents of Influence: Nodding to Hip-Hop Royalty
Staples pays homage to his roots and the titans of rap who paved the way for his ascent. ‘Quarterbackin’ like I’m 40 Water mix the holy water with the Voss,’ is a clever shout-out to E-40 and a play on his entrepreneurial spirit and Staples’ own elevated status. This line also evokes a sense of spiritual cleansing and wealth—a balance between his past and his present.
‘Learned it from the Dogg I’m from Long Beach’ cements his connection to the legendary Snoop Dogg, asserting his rightful place in the pantheon of Long Beach rappers. Staples isn’t merely a ‘big fish’; he’s a continuation of a legacy, channeling the street-savvy and lyrical prowess of those who came before him.
