Night Job by Bas Lyrics Meaning – The Late Night Confessional of a Lyrical Juggernaut
Lyrics
See a hundred bandits, each put a hundred bands up
They can’t call us bandits no more
Same hood, same corner store
But them same old hoes ain’t wearing panties no more
I’m on my night job, slim waist with them fat thighs
Never been baptized, but she soak me all in her holy water
I’m one of five, she the only daughter
She ain’t used to sharing, I ain’t used to caring
Let’s play truth or dare
Cause lately my lifestyle’s like dynamite
I’ma go lights out like dynamite
Smoke one, that I might
I’m on my night job, always knew how to play these cards of mine
Fuck rap, we seen harder times
Jump back like Vinny Carter prime
I’m on mine
I won’t let it out until you let me know if you love it
Aye baby, I’ma take it low
I’m on my night job, y’all niggas jivin’, I’m back up in position
Earnhardt, I’ma catch some nigga slippin’
Burn hard on a track and get to whippin’
I’m on my night job, why is it always blacks that get detention?
For my nigga with the pass to get the flip in
Boy that trap is a accurate description
I’m on my night job, finally got Bassy off the corner
‘010 niggas thought he was a gonner
He ducked shots, now it’s “Bas we gotta phone her”
I’m on my night job, flew the posse out to Rome and
Won’t tell you ’bout no Basquiats don’t want ’em
Nigga word to Selassie, I’m zonin’
I’m on my night job
Got old niggas tryna bite cause they can’t capture
The feeling from days ‘fore the game passed ’em
Niggas out here lookin’ like a bunch of Dame Dash’s
Nicorette, that’s patchwork
That ain’t better than your last work
Cigarette, let the ash burn
Omen said don’t worry ’bout the last word
I’ma hit the gas swerve on ’em, Skrrr
Too high to riot, that’s my best excuse for being lazy
Being an artist, that’s the best excuse for being crazy
I’ve been so infatuated, went to Clark and graduated
Now she on my face time and my nigga she just masturbated
Fuck a album release party, I’m out in the streets shawty
How many rappers I killed, counted at least 40
Nah I ain’t God, but shawty down on her knees for me
I’m horny like that Coltrane album
A Love Supreme, that’s cold fame album
Lately I’ve been dancing like a Soul train album
Lately silly making songs bout how they hate me
They’ve been loving me this whole time
My only adversary was my own mind
Killed my ego now I’m snappin’ like it’s ’09
With a gold mine of inspiration for y’all
Fuck your co-sign, that nigga can’t fuck with Cole neither
Don’t ask for a feature, We bring a whole liter of Ether to eat ya
We gotta eat for niggas, keep reachin’
If these bullets was heat seeking they wouldn’t even reach you niggas
I’m on mine
Bas’ track ‘Night Job’ featuring J. Cole, is not just a nocturnal anthem for the hustlers, it’s a woven tapestry of introspective rhymes that captures the essence of grind and sacrifice. The song from his second album, ‘Too High to Riot,’ serves as a conduit for Bas to lay out his thoughts, frustrations, and the weight of his journey through life as an artist struggling to find authentic success in a world of fleeting fame.
Yet, beneath the pulsating beats and looped samples, ‘Night Job’ delivers lyrical density that requires listeners to peel back layers to understand the complexities of the narrative Bas is unfurling. The song isn’t just a glimpse into his psyche—it’s emblematic of a generation striving for significance in a seemingly indifferent society.
The Night Shift: A Metaphor for Grind and Grit
When Bas serenades about being ‘on my night job,’ he’s diving deep into the grind of his career—the nonstop push to make it in the rap game. It’s a relentless work ethic, often unseen by others, taking place while the world sleeps. The darkness of night becomes a cloak under which the real magic of perseverance and self-belief is tested and proven.
The reference to ‘riding my city’ is both literal and symbolic, painting a picture of Bas navigating the streets that raised him, while also steering through the complexities of his burgeoning career. This night shift is continuous and sacrificial, with the ‘hundred bandits’ representing his crew’s commitment and unified goal of success and recognition.
Verses Dripping with Cultural Reflections
Bas does not shy away from injecting his lyrics with potent social commentary. The lines ‘why is it always blacks that get detention?’ speak volumes about racial profiling and the systemic injustices faced by African Americans. By taking his ‘night job’ into these thematic areas, Bas elevates the song from a personal reflection to a testament on broader societal issues.
The comparison of ‘old niggas tryna bite’ to ‘a bunch of Dame Dash’s’ is a cunning nod to the struggles within the hip-hop industry—where pioneers may sometimes find it tough to evolve with the genre’s rapid changes. It’s a callout to the intrinsic problem of cultural stagnation and the desperate clinging to past glories.
The Hidden Meaning: Breaking Cycles and Personal Triumph
‘Finally got Bassy off the corner,’ is more than a simple line about leaving street corners; it signals a significant turning point in Bas’ life. It signifies an escape from a predestined lifestyle of hardship and limited options, and the realization of his dreams against all odds. The corner represents a starting block, a trap that he has successfully navigated.
‘Killed my ego now I’m snappin’ like it’s ’09,’ further delves into the transformation Bas has undergone. There’s a clear stripping down of pride and a rebirth through humility that now allows him to tap into a pure form of creativity, undimmed by ego or external validation.
Ethereal Escapes and Inner Demons
Musings such as ‘Being an artist, that’s the best excuse for being crazy’ encapsulate the existential struggles that Bas wrestles with. He lays bare the often unseen mental and emotional toil that comes hand in hand with creative expression. The fight against one’s own mind, addressing inner demons, and channeling that battle into artistry are central themes pulsating throughout the song.
The mention of ‘A Love Supreme’ by John Coltrane juxtaposes the sacred with the profane, illustrating Bas’ dive into his deep-rooted desires and vices that keep him human while acknowledging the redemptive power of creating something timeless and profound.
Memorable Lines That Carve Out His Legacy
Lines like ‘Too high to riot, that’s my best excuse for being lazy’ serves a double entendre, wittily commenting on both the apathetic tendencies of his generation and the intoxicating effects of fame that can dull the edge of activism. Yet, Bas invokes his education from Clark University as the backbone of his enlightened outlook—an alternative to the lethargy that threatens to envelop his peers.
With a final defiant cry, ‘Fuck your co-sign,’ Bas asserts his autonomous rise in the hip-hop world, rejecting the need for validation from established names. It is within these bars that Bas claims his space in the rap pantheon, not through legacy endorsements, but through the sheer force of his unique voice and the resonance of his ‘night job’.
