CHICK by BROCKHAMPTON Lyrics Meaning – Dissecting Self-Acceptance in a World of Critics
Lyrics
He look crazy as hell
But he dress well (oh my god)
Why his face look puff?
Why he look like that? (You look like a)
Why your hair like that? (Like a chipmunk or something)
Why your teeth like that? (Or like a prairie dog)
Why your cheeks like that?
I got this shitty moustache, and a new haircut
Short but tall enough to ride every ride so it’s fair enough
Teeth crooked but my breath fresh just like the evergreens
My attitude is bit like, a psys- fuck
He means psychopath
I bet the marble feel good on your bare foot
I’m in the backyard hidin’ out like I’m bigfoot
And I won’t cater to you
Yeah I am not Carrabba’s, and I ain’t taking orders
Here for the loot, and to inspire some of you
To do what you do despite all the “Fuck you’s”
‘Cause they shit on your shit, stab you right in the back
‘Til you’re shittin’ on the toilet with Grammys in your lap
Niggas talk a lot of shit in a safe place
Aiming with they keyboard, they shootin’ uppercase
I’m bookin’ tour dates, money in the suitcase
Commander and the chief like, Barack Hussein
Same nigga, two names, I am onto new things
Flyin’ out of Houston, lemme say a few things
I don’t give a fuck about you or your screen name
I’ma be a star even if I say the same things
‘Cause them same things keep me on the wavelengths
I drop another verse and you gon’ have to pay me
Glock with no safety, seen niggas on the pavement
Over gang affiliations, guns with extensions
Seen niggas get anxious, all these internet gangstas
I’m runnin’ outta patience, nigga, stick to your day shift
And watch what you’re sayin’, and please keep prayin’
‘Cause niggas talk big ’til that price on their head
I feel the voices always drown out all the noise in the room
They don’t employ you for your purpose, they just need a platoon
Another number in a line ready to march in the tombs
I ain’t the one to assume, I put the coon in tycoon
We colonizing the moon, I see you look to the sky
And start to wish it was you, sometimes I wish I was me
Sometimes I’m watchin’ my life
I’m dissociated from what eats my heart up at night
Sleep on a cloud of my strife
I ain’t afraid of the heights, they all afraid to appall
I’m just afraid of excitement being a trip to the mall
I need a summer to fall, I need a winter to spring
Got all these seasons within me, building a story to sing
Don’t need a dollar and a dream, I need a billion and facts
I need a trillion in wealth, y’all niggas need to relax
I wanna build up the culture, they wanna dream in the trap
I took the zoom off my lens and I saw the world in my lap
I’m not tryna be like you, when I grow, money in the bag
Keep the sand in the bag, all my niggas in the bag
I’m not tryna be like you, when I grow, money in the bag
Keep the sand in the bag, all my niggas in the bag
I’m not tryna be like you, when I grow, money in the bag
Keep the sand in the bag, all my niggas in the bag
I’m not tryna be like you, when I grow, money in the bag
Keep the sand in the bag, all my niggas in the bag
I’m not tryna be like you, when I grow, money in the bag
Keep the sand in the bag, all my niggas in the bag
I’m not tryna be like you, when I grow, money in the bag
Keep the sand in the bag, all my niggas in the bag
I’m not tryna be like you, when I grow, money in the bag
Keep the sand in the bag, all my niggas in the bag
I’m not tryna be like you, when I grow, money in the bag
Keep the sand in the
BROCKHAMPTON has never been one to shy away from raw expressions of identity and emotion. In their track ‘CHICK’, the band stitches together a tapestry of introspection, personal trials, and society’s relentless scrutinization. Through a mélange of powerful verses and a hypnotic chorus, they navigate the treacherous waters of fame, self-image, and the pursuit of authenticity.
The song, a vibrant and visceral exploration of the self, delves into each member’s unique experiences with scrutiny and success. What emerges is not just a singular meaning but a multitude of perspectives that coalesce into a candid contemplation of their journey in the public eye.
Scrutiny Under the Limelight: Embracing the Flawed Self
BROCKHAMPTON opens ‘CHICK’ with a barrage of rhetorical questions aimed at one’s appearance, immediately setting the tone for a track that swings hard at superficial judgments. But rather than cower, the group flaunts their so-called imperfections as badges of honor. This anthem of acceptance echoes louder than the ridicule, transforming ‘shitty moustaches’ and ‘crooked teeth’ from insults into symbols of self-acceptance.
This is a celebration of the authentic self, marred by its perceived flaws but bolstered by an unshakeable confidence. The band members’ voicing of their physical quirks doesn’t just mock the shallowness of their doubters; it’s a powerful assertion of their humanity, a stark reminder that they are more than the sum of their public personas.
Metaphors of Isolation and Economic Aspirations
Imagery of standing ‘in the backyard hidin’ out like I’m bigfoot’ signifies the artist’s isolation in fame’s intricate forest. While fans and critics often see only the glamour, the artist experiences a unique solitude that comes with being misunderstood or misrepresented. This isolation is juxtaposed with the pursuit of wealth and influence, as money and Grammys become both the measure and the medium of their impact.
Furthermore, ‘CHICK’ proffers a vision of success beyond the conventional (‘I need a trillion in wealth’). BROCKHAMPTON envisions a reinvestment in culture, an elevation of their collective narrative — a stark contrast to the trap of materialism characterized by ‘dreaming in the trap’. Thus, the song wrestles with the duality of their experience: the isolation inherent in their position, and the ambition to harness their platform for cultural development.
Navigating the Digital Battleground
The group’s candid discourse on the perils of the internet age is unforgiving. In an era where ‘Niggas talk a lot of shit in a safe place,’ BROCKHAMPTON challenges the anonymity of online critics that ‘shootin’ uppercase’, revealing the disconnect between virtual bravery and the stark violence of the real world. The reference to ‘guns with extensions’ tilts the focus from mere words to the physical dangers artists face in their communities.
Yet, rather than being silenced or unsettled by this online vitriol, the group reaffirms their determination to push forward on their creative path. The lyric ‘Commander and the chief like, Barack Hussein’ isn’t just a nod to authority and respect; it’s a self-endorsement, a claim to their autonomy and a rejection of outside control over their narrative.
The Hidden Depths: From Disassociation to Dominance
‘CHICK’ wades into the internal chaos of the artists’ psyche, revealing an acute awareness of the price of fame. References to ‘dissociation’ and battling with inner turmoil at night suggest a struggle to stay connected to one’s sense of self amidst external pressures. The ‘cooning tycoon’ metaphor satirizes the willingness to exploit cultural stereotypes for gain, which they unmistakably reject.
BROCKHAMPTON refuses to be reduced to a caricature. The line ‘I see you look to the sky and start to wish it was you’ speaks to the envy and aspirations of others, contrasting it with their own complex reality. By taking ‘the zoom off my lens’, they’re advocating for a broader view, one that rejects myopic dreams in favor of genuine growth and prosperity.
Memorable Lines: A Mantra of Money and Meaning
Throughout ‘CHICK’, the recurrent lines ‘I’m not tryna be like you, when I grow, money in the bag’ serve as a defiant mantra against conformity and complacency. The band is not pursuing wealth as an end but as a tool for progression, keeping ‘the sand in the bag,’ a possible allusion to maintaining a solid foundation amidst the fluidity of fame.
This insistence on self-assured growth leaps out as a creed for the artists, a statement of intention that declares their refusal to emulate what others perceive as the ideal trajectory of success. The refrain builds a hypnotic anchor that roots the song’s themes of resilience and authenticity, neatly tying together the threads of individual identity amidst collective vision.
