“RAPSTAR” by Polo G

The hip-hop industry has been experiencing some sort of a spiritual awakening as of late concerning what is perennially a favorite topic of famous rappers, which is having more money than the rest of us. For instance, Tekashi 6ix9ine, of all people, recently went on a ‘money can’t buy happiness’ rant that would even make Gandhi proud. And the track (“Rapstar”) we’re reviewing today via Polo G is similarly themed, at least ideologically.

But at the end of the day of course, asking a mainstream rapper not to boast is like asking a dog not to bark. 

Lyrics of “Rapstar”

So the chorus commences with Polo reminding us that he is in fact making it, being able to buy a BMW on a whim for instance. And he is indeed living that life, complete with adoring fans and cash flowing like water. 

He also alludes, in typical rap fashion, to his exceptional sexual prowess. And honestly there’s nothing in the chorus that would really indicate that the rapper is discontent in any way, shape or form.

Verse 1

However, the first verse reveals that everything isn’t all gravy on the inside. Or stated differently G may like money and b*t*h*s in general, but he isn’t too fond of the other aspects of being a celebrity. 

For example, he finds himself perpetually exhausted. Also, despite actually being depressed, he has to put on a smiling face whenever he’s out in public. And all of the associated stress is pushing him towards drug addiction. 

Moreover he is missing the ‘old him’, as in more or less concluding that he was actually happier before blowing up.

Verse 2

The second verse commences with Polo giving a shoutout to Tupac who he also acknowledged, in a roundabout way, in the first verse. 

And verily the way he comes off on this track is similar to Pac, treading that thin line between spiritual concerns and the realities of the physical world he lives in. And also like Pac it would appear that the latter has dominion, such as the vocalist touting his gang affiliation. 

But again, it becomes pretty clear that at this point in his life Polo is not happy. And another reason for such, which is introduced in this passage, is that he regularly deals with dishonest people. 

Indeed in a way G comes off as if he’s just sick and tired of the bulls**t which is sometimes part and parcel of living on this “Earth” in general. And this is despite the fact that he’s only 22 years old at the time of the track’s release.

Being a Celebrity can be challenging

But more to the point wouldn’t be that life itself is bad, but rather life as a celebrity is not all it’s cracked up to be, and furthermore we can even say is detrimental. 

That is in fact the thesis sentiment once you get pass all of the braggadocious references to wealth, violence and sex. 

Perhaps said thesis can be lost to some listeners considering that more bars are dedicated to boasting than complaining. 

So perhaps we can close by saying that as Polo G develops as a rapper, he may eventually reach a state where, like the late Tupac Shakur, he’ll be able to drop a song like this while simultaneously sticking to its main topic.

“Rapstar” Music Video

The music video to this track features Polo G’s son, whose name is Tremani. And as at the release of this song, the rapper is 22 years old.

Polo G

Polo G is a rapper from the mean streets of Chicago. As the story goes he was never a gangster at heart yet still got involved in drug dealing, being incarcerated in his teens a few times as a result. 

However, during his third stint in the bing he fortunately met an older, more experienced and respected inmate who was able to convince Polo to put more energy into his true passion, which was making music. And that sequence of events eventually led to him establishing a music career.

Release Date of “Rapstar”

This is a track which Polo G first teased, being unnamed at the time, in May of 2020. He later officially announced the title and release date, via Instagram, on 5 April 2020.

“Rapstar” finally came out on 9 April 2021, and it is a product of Polo G’s third album, “Hall of Fame”. The first two, entitled “Die a Legend” and “The Goat”, came out respectively in 2019 and 2020. 

And the latter of those two fell a spot shy of topping the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum stateside, in addition to reaching sixth place on the UK Singles Chart. 

And his biggest hit single-wise also came out in 2020, which would be the track “Martin & Gina”, which swiftly achieved RIAA double-platinum status.

The year 2020 also witnessed Polo G, in collaboration with Columbia, establish his own record label, which is called ODA (Only Dreamers Achieve) Records.

Performance on the Charts

“Rapstar” held #1 success in three countries.

It reached a wider audience being a Top-10 hit in the following parts of the world: