Meaning of “Shea Butter Baby” by Ari Lennox & J. Cole
This track is an intimate love song in which American artists Ari Lennox and J. Cole play the roles of two lovers expressing a strong intimate attraction to each other. Apparently the track is entitled “Shea Butter Baby” in reference to Ari’s use of this product in her hair, as the song implies that after a hot session with her lover his pillow is stained with this fatty substance.
Whereas the lyrics of this song aren’t nearly as offensive as other explicit tracks circulating the airwaves these days, it is still quite naughty nonetheless. For instance, the pair makes references to being intimate in an alley near a trash can. Cole’s solo verse also makes seemingly multiple references to a particular act with his woman, which we shall not mention here. However, being the class act that he is, Cole implies that he won’t perform this with a female unless she is someone who he intends to have a lifelong relationship with.
Meaning-wise, this track is standard fare in terms of a hip-hop based, adult-themed love song. However, what makes it different is that the artists, especially J. Cole, use metaphors and other literary tools to make it more generally palatable than many of its contemporaries.
Facts about “Shea Butter Baby”
- Writer(s): This track was written by music producers and songwriters Mike Will Made-It and Elite alongside the song’s primary artists: Cole and Lennox.
- Producer(s): The co-writers of this track, Mike and Elite, also produced the track, along with producer Shroom.
- Release Date: This song was initially released on 16 November 2018.
- Recording Label: The labels behind the production and release of “Shea Butter Baby” are Ear Drummer Records and Interscope.
- 1st Interesting Stuff: Both Ari Lennox and Elite (the track’s co-producer) are artists signed to J. Cole’s record label, Dreamville.
- 2nd Interesting Stuff: Contrary to what some have said, this isn’t really the first time that Lennox and Cole are working together. The pair first worked together on Cole’s 2016 song “Change”. Lennox contributed additional vocals to that track.
On which album does “Shea Butter Baby” appear?
The song appears as the 7th track on the album Creed II: The Album. This album is the soundtrack album for the American sports drama film Creed II (2018). It’s important to mention that producer Mike Will Made-It was the executive producer of the entirety of the aforementioned album.
Did you know – According to DNA tests, Lennox is one-third Nigerian, and she was recently prompted to visit Nigeria as a result.
What is shea butter?
It is a type of fat that is derived from the seeds of the shea tree found in Africa. Shea butter is good for both the skin and hair. It is for this reason that it is commonly used in the cosmetics industry.
This interpretation demonstrates a distain and lack of understanding of the genre and the culture. Trying to translate lines independent of the whole is futile.
First, to refer to shea butter as a “fatty substance” is ignorant and offensive. That type of thing would get you popped up side the head in the streets. And it would be well deserved.
The lines “shea butter baby fucking up your pillow and sheets” is not a reference to “a hot session with her lover” and his pillow being “stained with this fatty substance.” It
metaphor to describe how like shea butter is for hair, her love for him is both good for him but messy. It’s a way to say what she has to offer is imperfect but everlasting. Her love will leaves a print on his heart like shea butter will leave a print on his pillow. She’s the one, if he will have her.
The line, “lost in the alley make love by a trash can ” is not literally “referencing being intimate in an alley near a trash can.” The correct meaning is obvious. She is telling him what she wants. Yes you like me physically but can you love me completely. She asks if he’s down to give her what she wants and needs in the context of a relationship. She asks him if he wants to be her. If so, she is willing to ride with him the long way. She will ride with him into the unknown (lost in the alley), loving him through the good, the bad and the ugly. (make love by a trash can).
Then you get more disrespectful. You debase J. Cole’s beautiful, romantic declarations of love and loyalty for his one and only. You said he refers to “A sex act” he will only perform with a woman he “intends to have a lifelong relationship with.” Side note, that sentence is wordy and needs revision.
J. Cole’s line “The places you only gonna lick when you rock with her forever,” uses the notion of oral sex to say, he wishes to stimulate and know her inner most vulnerable side; the things a person doesn’t see about another on the surface. You only share so much with friends, family, causal dates etc. As her man, he wants to become one with her and share the deep intimacy of a life partner. He uses the physical intimacy of performing oral sex as a metaphor for spiritual intimacy. Hes wears to know what no one else knows about her by being privy to her secrets, fears, wants, needs, past traumas, future dreams, etc. These are the things he wants to “lick” or know.
You trying to reduce his meaning to base, animal fornication is just stupid. There is no other way to see it. First, they are literally having sex by trash cans, now j.cole is using his talent and ltime write and perform words that literally say he will only perform oral on a wife. Why would he say some stupid shit like that and put it to music? How can you think that is the meaning? What is wrong with you? Since you can’t be stupid, one is left to believe you are being condescending and passive aggressive about your dislike of the music.
If this travesty of an interpretation is what you truly though the song was saying, then I would consider asking someone more familiar with this genres to write it. However, if this disrespectful translation was just your way of demonstrating your dislike for the song, which makes more sense as the truth, then shame on you.
If you have to write about something you don’t respect or like, it is unprofessional to butcher someones art and refuce it to filth. Then to add in your negative bias on top of the ignorant interpretation. It’s tacky and shows you have no class. Do better or pass it to someone who has enough intergrity to do the job correctly.