WHO? WHAT! by Travis Scott Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Complex Layers of Hustle and Fame

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Travis Scott's WHO? WHAT! at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

Know what I’m saying, know what I’m saying
Know what I’m saying

Heard they talkin’ shit ’bout I
Who, what, when and why (who?)
I’m alive, just took one to revive (yeah)
Keep that vibe when we show up and collide (‘llide)
Me and the guys move just like the F-O-I (ooh)
In the Hills but still keep them ghetto ties (Hills)
Was talkin’ Frenchy’s but she thinkin’ Ocean Prime (Prime, yeah)
Know she keep a open mouth and open mind
I don’t open up her door, she open mine
I need less stress and I need more ties, yeah (skrr, skrr)
We on the jet quest, mobbin’ with the tribe, yes (skrr, skrr)
In the headrest one of twenty-five, yes (skrr, skrr)
Ain’t seen the best yet, open up your eyes, yeah

One, two, three, four, five, that’s the countdown ’til I slide (slide)
Pork and rinds, how I grew up on my side (eat it up)
Ain’t no fence just a hundred acres wide (nope)
When shit get tense, we twist up and we get fried

I picked my favorite dancer I done pay her rent (cash, cash)
At Christmas time it’s no Saint Nick we got the Grinch
I smack that ass she threw it back in self defense (yeah)
We took the crib, flood the backyard like it’s the beach
We did some things out on the ways that we can’t speak
All I know it was Mo Bamba on repeat
I don’t think these things I took is helpin’ me (oh yeah)
I could borrow some more
Had to guzzle the fours
Had to count up the O’s (big bag)
Had to summon the hoes (ayy)
Dodge the federal (12)
I rolled through the light (skrr, skrr)
Rollin’ the dice (ayy)
Rock on my ice (all ice)
Poppin’ that Gucci (Gucci, Gucci)
This down and groovy
To get down, get groovy
That bitch brown and choosey (hey)
Shawty (shawty), in the supersonic (yeah)
Brand new La Ferrari (woo), my bitch ridin’ iconic

Yeah, yeah
One, two, three, four, five, that’s the countdown ’til I slide (slide)
Pork and rinds, how I grew up on my side
Ain’t no fence just a hundred acres wide
When shit get tense, we twist up and we get fried

Was born in the movie (movie)
Never make excuses (no)
It was time to move it (time to move)
It was God and the Uzi (God and the uzi)
We were trained to use it (hey)
They were trained to use it (train)
Shoot you like Cupid (shoot)
Hit your medulla, yeah

Shoot at, shoot at intruders (yeah)
Then shoot your producer
This shit for the gang, get banged and fuck on the group, she a groupie (yeah)
Left out when she choosey, hmm (yeah)
Big bankroll it’s soothin’, hmm (yeah)
Pull up with the sticks in the Sprinter bus, I’m makin’ them cuddle up this not a movie

Yeah, yeah
One, two, three, four, five, that’s the countdown ’til I slide (slide)
Pork and rinds, how I grew up on my side
Ain’t no fence just a hundred acres wide
When shit get tense, we twist up and we get fried

Within the vibrant soundscape of hip-hop, there lies a tapestry of narratives, emotions, and declarations that go beyond the beat. Travis Scott in his song ‘WHO? WHAT!’ crafts a vibrant picture of life through a lens of self-assurance and braggadocio. It’s a track that seems, on the surface, to revel in the pomp of success, yet upon closer examination, offers a more nuanced portrayal of what it means to navigate the highs and lows of fame.

Travis Scott’s ‘Astroworld’ remains a pivotal moment in modern hip-hop, not just for its sonic innovations but for its intricate storytelling. ‘WHO? WHAT!’ though often overlooked amidst the album’s hits, encapsulates a piece of this complexity—melding the celebratory with the confessional, and the mundane with the grandiose.

Diving into the ‘Astroworld’: The Context of ‘WHO? WHAT!’

Positioned within the boisterous odyssey of ‘Astroworld’, ‘WHO? WHAT!’ stands as an adrenaline-fueled ride. Scott’s album is a journey through a metaphorical amusement park—a place where every track offers a different thrill. This song, while it might not take you to the highest peaks of the park, still whirls you around with enough force to make your head spin.

In the same way that an amusement park is designed to overwhelm the senses, ‘WHO? WHAT!’ bombards the listener with rapid-fire lyrics, thunderous beats, and an overall assertion of dominance. It is within this overwhelming delivery that Scott showcases his versatility as an artist, able to blend intense energy with intricate narratives.

The Subtext of Survival: Analyzing Travis Scott’s Bravado

The bravado in ‘WHO? WHAT!’ serves a dual purpose. On one hand, it is a celebration—a victory lap for Travis Scott’s ascent in the music world. There’s an undeniable swagger as he delivers lines about financial success, exclusive lifestyles, and romantic conquests. But beneath the braggadocio is a story of survival; as much a statement of presence (‘I’m alive’) as it is of dominance.

Lines like ‘Heard they talkin’ shit ’bout I / Who, what, when and why’ not only poise Scott above the fray of critics and haters, they also mark his territory in a landscape filled with contenders. He doesn’t just exist in this world; he thrives, deflecting animosity and maintaining a steady rise. There’s a resonating defiance in every verse that speaks to the cutthroat nature of the industry.

Lifestyle Revelations: The Dichotomy of Excess and Authenticity

Travis Scott’s reference to locations—from the ‘Hills’ to ‘Frenchy’s’ and ‘Ocean Prime’—paints a picture of a lifestyle teetering between extravagance and roots. This geographic name-dropping signifies a transitory existence—one that juggles opulence with the real. It is a delicate balance that hints at the inescapable gravitational pull of one’s origins, despite the intoxicating allure of affluence.

This duality breathes life into the song and adds layers to Scott’s persona. His movement ‘just like the F-O-I’ paired with the statement about ‘ghetto ties’ introduces the juxtaposition of status and solidarity. There’s pride in the climb, yet an undeniable connection to the starting point, cementing his narrative as not just a tale of personal success, but a broader commentary on social mobility.

The Cryptic Pulse of ‘WHO? WHAT!’: A Deep Dive into the Song’s Hidden Meaning

Travis Scott weaves a complex web of symbolism and metaphor throughout ‘WHO? WHAT!’. Allegories of ‘shooting like Cupid’ and ‘flood the backyard like it’s the beach’ intermingle to create a fantastical dreamscape that distorts reality. It’s in this imaginative space that Scott explores his own psyche, unveiling the emotional weight tethered to his fame.

Moreover, the surreal visions of success and its adjacent lifestyle become a canvas for discussing the impact of his actions and decisions. The seemingly nonsensical imagery when Scott mentions ‘Mo Bamba on repeat’ or the ‘Rollin’ the dice’ reinforces the chaotic and unpredictable nature of life at the top, often leaving as much room for interpretation as it does for sensation.

Notable Quips and Quintessential Quotes: The Memorable Lines of ‘WHO? WHAT!’

Amidst the complex layers of Travis Scott’s ‘WHO? WHAT!’, certain lines cut through with a razor-sharp wit, embedding themselves in the listener’s mind. The phrase ‘Ain’t seen the best yet, open up your eyes, yeah’ serves as a compelling reminder that the artist is far from reaching his zenith, perpetually on the brink of the next big revelation.

Then there’s the arresting, ‘At Christmas time it’s no Saint Nick we got the Grinch’, a line that flips the script on holiday cheer with a sly nod to the darker edges of excess and hedonism. It’s these types of lines that showcase Scott’s ability to merge the catchy with the cunning, ensuring that ‘WHO? WHAT!’ leaves an indelible mark on the minds of those who traverse its beats.