I BEEN BORN AGAIN by BROCKHAMPTON Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Layered Soul of a Supergroup
Lyrics
It’s a three-peat, CC, bitch, you in the D-League
Where you from, though? Can’t come around here, this shit is gated
We made it, happy belated, I see the rage hit
It’s better if I try not to talk about the shit that’s always on my mind
Money on my mind (that’s right), couple hunnids at a time
Try to fuck me blind, duckin’ down, hear me whine
We outside now (that’s right), milk carton in the back
We don’t like to fuck around with the niggas in the back
Pullin’ triggers in the ‘Lac (that’s right), May the praise stay bad
Ayy, Dad, Hercules want his fuckin’ waves back, stay strapped (that’s right)
Dancin’ like a bad bitch, love on top my mattress
Hope the Good Lord catch this, I ain’t tellin’ backwards
Lie just like an actor, Hollywood is batshit
Mama in the South still, gold all in my mouth still
Rappin’ ’bout dick still, and I lease a house still
Move my nigga out still, need my nephew out here
God gave me a good deal
Miss my little niggas down low like a big wheel
Bitch, I wanna hit still
This shit for my partna ‘nem, Devil keep on robbin’ them
Expressin’ for myself, like I’m fuckin’ Dennis Rodman (that’s right)
Like I’m Dennis Rodman
Diamond dentures for my partna dem (that’s right)
Golden rubbers from my pocket, friend
Ain’t no answer, that’s my partna dem (that’s right)
She so bad, I let her touch my butt (yeah)
Merlyn, what the fuck!
Line ’em up, you know that I’m shootin’ (that’s right)
It ain’t no one business who or what we doin’ (that’s right)
Hit this gas, they break the glass and keep it movin’
To you basic bitches, I know I’m a nuisance
Sugar, yeah, gimme some
Gimme dome, I’ma smoke some
Y’all ain’t want the smoke, been smokin’
Garden gnome shrooms, y’all, who is y’all?
This what it mean to ball?
Okay, Chateau Marmont, Shangri-La
Valet parking, drive a shit whip
But I ain’t broke, bitch
Rock my own shit, hit my own switch
Watch the clock tick, never ran and hid
Tell it like it is
Dead on the nail, call me hammerhead
Texas ’til I’m dead
BBQ and cornbread, like I’m corn-fed
Here we go again, hit ’em one more ‘gain
Screwed up from The Woodlands
Number six, been through hell, think I’m heaven-sent
Ask the preacher man, said I need Jesus, like I ain’t know
Guess I found him, I am blessed man
Breakin’ dividends, let the money stack, see you copycats
I ain’t trippin’, but copy that
It’s a wrap, keep my distance
Where’s Waldo, but we winnin’
Me and my dogs ain’t finished (that’s right)
The real know, what’s a billfold
You can’t fold, I stay grinnin’
No peekin’
Go ahead and try harder
You ain’t gotta ask to put up with nobody
You oughta be ashamed of yourselves
Get on your damn knees and pray sometimes with your muhfuckin’ ass
You oughta be ashamed of yourselves
Get your muhfuckin’ ass on out there
That’s all you gon’ be, a muhfucker
You oughta be ashamed of yourselves
Send ’em out the door
They ain’t knockin’ no more
Send ’em-send ’em out the door
They ain’t knockin’ no more
Send ’em-send ’em out the door
They ain’t knockin’ no more
They ain’t knockin’ no more
They ain’t-they ain’t knockin’ no more
Send ’em out the door
They ain’t knockin’ no more
Send ’em-send ’em out the door
They ain’t knockin’ no more
Send ’em-send ’em out the door
They ain’t knockin’ no more
They-they-they ain’t knockin’ no more
They ain’t-they ain’t knockin’ no more
(That’s right)
When BROCKHAMPTON’s ‘I BEEN BORN AGAIN’ hits your speakers, it’s not just another track; it’s a mosaic of raw introspection and brazen confidence. As the hip-hop collective often does, this anthem serves as an intricate diary entry—a chronicle of their journey from the shadows of societal expectation to the limelight of self-actualization. The track rapids through the psyche of BROCKHAMPTON, exploring themes from individuality to spirituality, making it more than just verse and hook.
To delve into ‘I BEEN BORN AGAIN’ is to dissect a chimeric beast; each verse from the different members of this eclectic group adds a fragment to the narrative. The song acts as a rebirth, hence the titular proclamation, describing a transformation or come-up that’s both metaphoric and literal.
The Gatekeepers of Success: Breaking Through the Barriers
The visceral opening lines paint a picture of hard-earned respect and gated communities—symbols of success within the reach of BROCKHAMPTON. These artists are not strangers to struggle, and the song suggests a journey of persistence that has led to a belated recognition. They extol how they’ve risen ‘out on the deck,’ no longer confined, and they’re fiercely protective of this new standing.
Yet the celebration is spiked with an awareness that rage and envy follow achievement. The acknowledgement of ‘rage hit’ among those left behind or those who doubt echoes through the lines, encapsulating the bitterness often paired with success.
Masked Existence: When the Limelight Shadows Real Talk
Part confession and part proclamation, ‘I BEEN BORN AGAIN’ touches on the dichotomy of celebrity. The artists express how they struggle with authenticity—facing the temptation to conform or mask their truths (‘lie just like an actor’). Hollywood, as mentioned, epitomizes the facade, a place where reality is distorted and the genuine self can be obscured.
The irony isn’t lost as they mention still rapping ’bout dick’ and material gains while confronting deeper desires, such as wanting their family (‘nephew’) close. This tug-of-war between persona and person is a critique of the industry and a candid reflection on their own complicity.
Not Your Everyday Icons: Invoking Dennis Rodman
BROCKHAMPTON’s allusion to Dennis Rodman, the NBA’s quintessential bad boy, isn’t accidental. Rodman’s unapologetic individuality, on and off the court, resonates with the group’s own narrative. They, too, aim to lead lives unbound by conventional standards, embracing a maverick identity in a cookie-cutter world.
The repetition of ‘that’s right’ acts as an affirmation, a stamp of approval on their own terms. Merlyn’s exclamation, ‘Merlyn, what the fuck!’ breaks the fourth wall, showing a self-awareness that they’re pushing boundaries.
Esoteric Escapades: The Hidden Meaning Beneath The Surface
At a glance, the references to self-indulgent experiences (‘Gimme dome, I’ma smoke some’) seem straightforward. Peering deeper, they signify escape and relief, a respite from the relentless pressure and scrutiny of fame. The song reaches its psychedelic peek with ‘Garden gnome shrooms,’ inviting the listener into a world warped by success and excess.
The allusion to Chateau Marmont and Shangri-La—which have been oasis for the rich and famous—further eludes to a paradise that’s both idyllic and isolating. They revel in hard-earned opulence while grappling with the alienation that such a fantasy world brings.
A Call To Roots Amongst Hedonistic Excess
Despite the cosmopolitan tapestry of the song, BROCKHAMPTON anchors their chaotic celebration with down-to-earth lines: ‘Texas ’til I’m dead, BBQ and cornbread, like I’m corn-fed.’ Such allusions serve as a reminder of roots and humility amidst the uproar of newfound prosperity—a touchstone in the whirlwind of their success.
This return to their beginning is a poignant gesture; like spiritual penitents or Odyssean characters, they bear the knowledge of where they’ve been to understand where they’re destined. In this, the song becomes an anthem of identity and origin, of not losing oneself in the twister of triumph.
