Broke In A Minute by Tory Lanez Lyrics Meaning – Unpacking the Braggadocio in Hip Hop’s Elevation Anthems
Lyrics
Fuck these niggas talkin’ ’bout, nigga?
Haha
Yo, when they swing that way to the right
You swing to the left, you heard?
Woo, damn
I ain’t been broke in a minute, don’t get offended
Tore off the bow in a Bentley, fucking your ho in her kidney
Fuck up the city, I do not dance, I jiggy
Gun is tucked under this Fendi
I like it, I spend it, I just came right out the jeweler
The ice on my neck and my wrist and my fist, I ain’t finished
I was just workin’ at Denny’s
Came back and counted some millions
I ain’t no regular civilian
Red, yellow, green, look like my neck a chameleon
Uh, okay spin it, uh, damn, I ain’t been broke in a minute
I hit his bitch, he offended
I’m in Givenchy and Fendi, bitch, let me finish
I crack that Chevy for forty
My scammer busting bottles of the ’08
I cannot cuff, shes fucking on my brozay
I’m just gon’ fuck and treat her like a throwaway
Ooh, damn, I ain’t been broke in a minute
I’m at the mall out in Venice
I need it, swiping the digits
Calling up Kelz, he did 250 on biddie
It ain’t no biggie, ugh, Moncler kick it
Fucked that lil’ bih, made a viddie
She want to leak it, she want to send it
Aye, fuck that bitch, my face wasn’t in it
Damn, bitch do scams off bitty
Bands in my hand look pretty
Hit another band on the gram I’m litty
When I was broke, man, she fronted
But then I got rich and I hit it
Homie, I don’t dance, I jiggy
Weed is so strong, I feel like I’m Popeye off the spinach
I cut the corner and bend it
Bitch, I’m a menace like Dennis
Don’t sell me pussy, I need a percentage
If you gon’ fuck me, this shit is expensive
Nordstorm Rack, swipe my gifty
Damn, I ain’t been broke in a minute
Woo, woo, woo
I ain’t been broke in a minute
Damn, woo
I ain’t been broke in a minute
Woo, woo, woo
Damn, I ain’t been broke in a minute
Woo
Damn, I ain’t been broke in a minute, damn
Tory Lanez’s ‘Broke in a Minute’ is not just a brash exhibition of wealth, but a nuanced anthem of personal transformation and triumph. The track, layered with ostentatious lines and sonic bravado, radiates the age-old narrative of rags to riches, yet with a modern twist reflective of Lanez’s personal journey within the hyper-competitive world of hip-hop.
From the onset, Lanez bombards listeners with a relentless barrage of exultations celebrating his escape from financial precarity. As the beat pounds and his rhymes cut through, listeners are swept into a whirlwind of opulence and defiance. But is there more to ‘Broke in a Minute’ than its surface level boasts? The lyrical depth and artistic choices beg a deeper dive.
Turning Tables: From Denny’s to Diamonds
The symbolism of transformation is at the heart of ‘Broke in a Minute,’ where Lanez contrasts his past employment at Denny’s, a symbol of an ordinary, perhaps struggling life, with the glamorized present filled with ‘millions.’ The shift from ‘just workin’ at Denny’s’ to ‘counted some millions’ encapsulates the aspirational dream many pursue but few attain.
The juxtaposition of his former life with the grandeur of his success serves not just as a self-affirmation but as a beacon of potentiality for his listeners. Lanez’s journey from humble beginnings to a magnate of the music industry embodies the hustler’s spirit, offering a narrative of hope and persistence.
A Palette of Wealth: Luxuries as a Measure of Success
Throughout the song, Lanez doesn’t just mention wealth, he revels in it, providing a vivid palette of the luxurious life. He name-drops brands like Bentley, Fendi, Givenchy, and Moncler, painting a picture of exclusivity and high fashion. These are not mere possessions; they’re trophies, each a testament to his triumphs over hardship.
Lanez’s use of luxury brands as a measure of success is a familiar trope in the genre, but here it feels more personal, a concrete representation of milestones reached and celebrated. This language of opulence is wielded to assert his position and to differentiate himself from his past identity as a ‘regular civilian.’
The Conspicuous Absence: Unveiling the Hidden Costs of Fame
Digging below the gilded surface, ‘Broke in a Minute’ hints at the hidden costs of fame. Lanez touches on the disposable nature of relationships in his new reality where lovers are ‘treated like a throwaway,’ and intimacy is a transaction. It suggests a complex emotional landscape where wealth has altered interpersonal connections, often rendering them superficial.
This revelation is a sobering counterbalance to the electrifying depiction of wealth. It implies that while one may escape financial struggles, new challenges arise in maintaining authenticity in relationships. Lanez’s words cast a shadow over the glittering exterior, prompting listeners to question the real price of prosperity.
A Snapshot of Resilience in Memorable Verses
Lanez crafts memorable lines that embody his unyielding approach to life and his art. ‘I cut the corner and bend it / Bitch, I’m a menace like Dennis,’ he raps. This line showcases a duality – his capacity for ingenuity and adaptability, as well as an acknowledgement of the chaotic, disruptive force he’s become within the industry.
Such verses are sticky not only for their sonic quality but for their embodiment of resilience and rebellion. Lanez claims his narrative as an outsider who subverted expectations, becoming a force to be reckoned with, both a menace to the industry’s status quo and an innovator within it.
The Cultural Staple of Braggadocio in Hip Hop’s Narrative
Lanez’s ‘Broke in a Minute’ ultimately blends the personal with the cultural, exemplifying the long-standing tradition of braggadocio in hip hop. It serves as both self-adulation and a broader comment on the genre’s fascination with wealth and the defiance of social and economic barriers.
Through his unapologetic flaunting, Lanez not only stakes his claim as a victor in the face of adversity but also champions the genre’s core tenet of self-made success. The song nods to hip hop’s roots in storytelling and survival, using bravado as the vehicle for a narrative that continues to resonate deeply with audiences.
