Lion King On Ice by J. Cole Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Layers of Struggle and Success
Lyrics
(Your every touch)
I got blood on my hands, I ain’t gon’ lie
I got mud on my shoes, I ain’t gon’ lie
I got real, real big plans, I ain’t gon’ lie
Got a whole lot to prove, I ain’t gon’ lie
I got blood on my hands, I ain’t gon’ lie
I got mud on my shoes, I ain’t gon’ lie
I got real, real big plans, I ain’t gon’ lie
Got a whole lot to prove
Uh
Sip from the bottle for shit that we bottlin’ in
Goin’ live but we not on the ‘Gram
It’s the land of supply and demand
All my young niggas choppin’ up grams
And them choppas, won’t pry from they hands
Packin’ lead like they got a exam
If it’s beef, my nigga look just like home wreckers
They got they eye on your mans
I pray to God that it jam
Too many done died in these parts
So we gotta be smart if we tryna see August
Some nigga won’t make it past summer, regardless
I’m tryin’ my hardest to stack my deposit
These niggas be lookin’ at me like I got it
Deep down inside, though, I still feel as broke
As that nigga who just graduated from college
Scrapin’ up change that got left in my pockets
I’m tryna make nickels turn into a dollar
Ridin’ the train, way too shy to go holler
Just watched her get off at a stop, I’m a coward
Fuck it, though, you got a way bigger target
I’ma do it so big, they don’t know what to call it
Sound like a whole Lambo truck in my stomach
Bitch, I ain’t hungry, this feeling is starving
Gotta move mama from out them apartments
Gotta put ‘Ville on the map, we forgotten
Gotta hit hoes you hang up at your locker
Gotta get rich ’cause my granny pick cotton
Gotta make hits, ’cause if nothin’, I’m floppin’
Gotta stay me in the process
Nigga dissed me, it was nonsense
I sat ’em down like his father
My nigga asked, “Why you bother?”
We shoulda caught him and mobbed him
I said, “We gotta move smarter”
Don’t wan’ be the reason for one more sad song
I tried to warn niggas they wouldn’t last long
I hope that you see how they came and they went
They shots never hit but they made their attempts
May have a good year like their name on a blimp
But you know what it take to be poppin’ this long
Dedication on another level niggas never seen in they life
Celebratin’ all your first downs like they touchdowns, bring a price
Young Simba had a bustdown, yeah, the Lion King on ice
Niggas wanted me to look the part, had to stop takin’ advice
Put the jewelry to the side, had to find me, had to find God
Half the time, we be pacifyin’, what they expect from us?
But that’s treacherous, that shows less of us
I need y’all to see every part of me
Every scar and every artery
Every story that I can recall, then I can fall
I got blood on my hands, I ain’t gon’ lie
I got mud on my shoes, I ain’t gon’ lie
I got real, real big plans, I ain’t gon’ lie
Got a whole lot to prove, I ain’t gon’ lie
I got blood on my hands, I ain’t gon’ lie
I got mud on my shoes, I ain’t gon’ lie
I got real, real big plans, I ain’t gon’ lie
Got a whole lot to prove, I ain’t gon’ lie
Uh
Lately, I reflect on the times a nigga was low
I got it up off the floor, I’m stronger than ever before
I’m stronger than ever before, just like I planned to be
They wanna see me fold, it ain’t no thing to me
Thoughts when I was broke, “If only I could be”
Pockets holdin’ hope, it ain’t no thing to me
At night, I hit my knees, I pray for better days
Then found the better me, I got my head on straight
Up, up and away, just ridin’ my wave
I ain’t ever gon’ say nothin’
Nigga throw a shot my way, I just jot down names
But never gon’ say nothin’
Know you be stressin’, hate only block your blessin’
I’m never gon’ say nothin’
Quit all that flexin’, niggas live check to check
I’m never gon’ say nothin’, know that it’s destined
J. Cole’s ‘Lion King on Ice’ is a masterstroke of vulnerability and validation. Crafting a vivid narrative of the price of ambition, the struggles of inner-city life, and the fight to overcome personal demons, Cole paints a picture that resonates with the listener deeply. The song exemplifies the often-grueling pursuit of success and the individual’s battle against external pressures and internal doubts.
Much like the tale of Simba in the Lion King, ‘Lion King on Ice’ tells the story of a rise to the throne, fraught with trials and tribulations. Through introspective lines and a powerful delivery, Cole uses his lyrics to discuss themes of authenticity, responsibility, and resilience, shaping a multilayered analysis of what it truly means to ‘make it.’
A Royal Struggle: The Simba Parallel
The song’s title, ‘Lion King on Ice,’ conjures the image of Simba, the proverbial lion king, skating precariously on a thin surface. It’s a metaphorical goldmine. J. Cole compares himself to a young king who’s navigating dangerous territories (‘ice’) with the potential of slipping at any given moment. This delicate balance of maintaining one’s dignity while facing life’s icy adversities is central to the narrative.
It’s this element of risk, of potentially falling through, that binds Cole’s journey to Simba’s. He speaks of having ‘blood on my hands’ and ‘mud on my shoes,’ referring to the consequences and dirty work that come with striving for his dream, the real-life hardship that contrasts with the pristine, often glamorized image of success.
From Bottles to Battles: Internalizing the Struggle
Cole doesn’t shy away from discussing the mechanisms we use to cope with the pressures of life. The line ‘Sip from the bottle for shit that we bottlin’ in’ bears witness to the self-medication that is often a symptom of deeper issues, a temporary solution to the long-standing problem of existential dread as we confront our ambitions and fears.
The honesty in lyrics like ‘Goin’ live but we not on the ‘Gram’ serves to expose the dissonance between what we project to the world and the reality of our daily battles, a theme that strikes a chord in the era of social media curation where authenticity is frequently relegated behind curated highlights.
Untangling the Hidden Meanings: The Weight of Expectations
One of the song’s most piercing undercurrents is the weight of expectations. Cole grapples with what is projected onto him by his community (‘They wanna see me fold’) and counters it with the personal expectations he sets for himself, an armored vest he wears over the scars of previous failures.
The pressure is doubled when the spotlight shines on you, as Cole knows all too well. ‘Niggas wanted me to look the part, had to stop takin’ advice’ reveals the struggle to preserve one’s identity amidst the cacophony of opinions and advice that come with fame and success, while hinting at the dangers of losing oneself in the process.
A Catalog of Memorable Lines: The Syntax of Success
J. Cole’s raw and unfiltered confessionals are threaded with memorable lines that elevate the song’s recount of personal battles to universal truths. ‘Young Simba had a bustdown, yeah, the Lion King on ice’ is a testament to the flashy facade that often veils the grind behind the glitz while playing with the thematic symbol of the lion king living in a paradoxical state of luxury and challenge.
Lines like ‘I’m tryna make nickels turn into a dollar’ and ‘Gotta make hits cause if nothing, I’m floppin” expose the gritty, finely balanced nature of ambition, success, and survival. Here, Cole underscores every aspiring individual’s chase for transformation and recognition, a rally cry for those who understand the hustle.
The Victory Lap: Triumph Over Adversity
In a triumphant revelation of growth, Cole closes the thematic narrative arc with words of hard-fought victory: ‘Lately, I reflect on the times a nigga was low, I got it up off the floor, I’m stronger than ever before.’ It’s his testament to the rise from the depths of earlier verses. The journey isn’t just about surviving but thriving and finding the strength within the struggle.
Yet even in reflection, Cole remains on guard. The lines ‘Nigga throw a shot my way, I just jot down names, But never gon’ say nothin’ stand as a reminder of the poise required to stay the course. He acknowledges the shots, both literal and metaphorical, that come when one maintains their path amidst chaos, maintaining his composure and focus as he continues his ascent.
