Whateva Will Be by A Tribe Called Quest Lyrics Meaning – Uncovering the Layers of Social Commentary and Self-Identity
Lyrics
Just another dummy caught up in the system
Unruly hooligan who belongs in Spofford
Verse gettin’ that degree at Stanford or Harvard
Threatened by my work ethic, the way I speak, yo
Should I be mentally weak, verse being Malik
Yo, should I be trapped in the trap? Would you prefer that?
Fourth grade reading level but he knows how to rap
Are you amused by our struggles?
The English that’s broken?
The weed that I’m smokin’?
The guns that I’m totin’?
The drugs that I’m sellin’?
No need for improvement
Fuck you and who you think I should be, forward movement
Melanated shrouded in complexity
Brain charge shocking like ‘lectricity
Mouth translate happens organically
The media relates to what it thinks it sees
Judging steps in shoes from a path they never walked
Shot down in a blaze over phrases, how to talk
Dark skinned, walk with a bot, portrayed villain
I’m chillin’, felon down to the DNA crime willin’
Subliminate their youth, hyper-sexualize their women
They ain’t got the strong enough hold, so they built the prisons
Pumping false religion to all of these niggas’ systems
Every voice devoid of the truth
Come on, listen
Man look at this, man look at this
Whatever will be will be
Like a billionaire investin’ in a nigga’s dreams
Certainly a head scratcher, like Pac and Big’s killers’ capture
Or a women with the wisdom who’s leadin’ the way
The rarity is in the rear, but never today
Man, picture a PD lettin’ good records play
On the strength of what it is, not the finesse of your biz
And your lady calls you dirty, her dirts under rugs
You’ll find out only if she tells you, take her kiss and hug, cuz
In the answer for cancer in a prodigious kid’s mind
Yes, the government will fund learning is free for everyone
And from that lie, your leaders will rise in the eyes
Of despair and adversity in some universe this verse will be true
Everybody runnin’ when they see the stars comin’
But whatever’s gonna be will be
Everybody runnin’ when they see the stars comin’
But whatever’s gonna be will be
Some will dash to the mountain, some will crawl
And the weakest amongst them, they will fall
But the strongest in faith, they will stand tall
Everybody runnin’ when they see the stars comin’
But whatever’s gonna be will be
I just wanna feel as liberated as lions in Liberia
‘Cause recently my heart turned cold as Siberia
‘Cause everywhere I go, bein’ cold is the criteria
Let’s see how well you know all your Tribe trivia
Green and the white, we servin’ that Nigeria
North side of Queens, one-nine-two is the area
This is for my dawgs from Shih Tzus to Terriers
Fuck it, it’s showtime
Tip, make sure they hearin’ ya
As the intricate beats of A Tribe Called Quest’s ‘Whateva Will Be’ settle into the ear of a discerning listener, there lies a dense underbrush of cultural critique and personal reflection. A Tribe Called Quest, known for their cerebral approach to hip-hop, delivers in this track a multi-layered exploration of societal constructs, racial dynamics, and the elusive nature of destiny.
Peeling back the layers of ‘Whateva Will Be’, it becomes clear that this track is not just another catchy tune, but a thesis on identity, power structures, and the audacity to defy pre-determined paths. It’s a song that stretches beyond the simplicity of its chorus into the complexities of existential thought.
Deciphering the Underlying Social Critique
‘Whateva Will Be’ opens up with a blunt and provocative question regarding fate and systemic oppression. The lyrics confront the stereotypes and expectations thrust upon the narrator, addressing themes of incarceration, systematic failure, and the mocking curiosity of onlookers who find entertainment in the struggles faced by black communities.
But the song refuses to be hemmed in by despair. It instead presents a resilient voice that embraces educational achievements and hard work as weapons against an oppressive narrative. The juxtaposition of ‘trapped in the trap’ with the aspiration to excel ‘at Stanford or Harvard’ sets the tone for a profound conversation on the limitations placed by society and the potent desire for self-actualization.
The Conundrum of Identity and Self-Reflection
A Tribe Called Quest weaves identity and the pressure to conform into the fabric of ‘Whateva Will Be’. The contrast between ‘fourth grade reading level’ and ‘knows how to rap’ encapsulates the pigeonholing of personas based on race and socioeconomic status. Here, we delve into the internal dialogue of someone who’s aware of their own potential despite the outsiders’ narrow perspective.
Malik, one of the pseudonyms of late member Phife Dawg, is invoked as a metaphorical antithesis to perceived weakness, exemplifying the empowering force of embracing one’s true self. When contemplating Malik versus the expected caricature, the lyrics dismantle the concept that one must fit into a predefined mold dictated by cultural biases.
Addressing the Justice System’s Harsh Reality
A searing look at the justice system surfaces in the narration, highlighting themes of wrongful convictions and the construction of prisons as a means to maintain control over black lives. The line about ‘hyper-sexualize their women’ and ‘pumping false religion’ suggests that the societal institutions have not only jailed bodies but also sought to subjugate spirits.
These grave accusations are flanked by acknowledgment of the media’s skewed representation of people of color and the superficial understanding of the struggles they endure. This aspect of the song underlines how mass media can often distort reality, perpetuating damaging stereotypes instead of showcasing truth and fostering empathy.
The Song’s Most Memorable Lines and Hidden Agendas
Within the track’s infectious rhythm, specific phrases hit with the impact of revelation. ‘Like a billionaire investin’ in a nigga’s dreams’, for instance, underscores the absurdity of rare support juxtaposed with widely pervasive neglect. Similarly, ‘The answer for cancer in a prodigious kid’s mind’ posits the potential in the youth that goes unfunded and unexplored.
These lines suggest that there is deep-seated hypocrisy and irony in the world—where prodigious talents are overlooked, where healing knowledge is inaccessible, and where the systems in place would rather invest in incarceration than in nurturing the minds of the future. It’s a subtle dig at the hidden agendas that strangle dreams and de-prioritize genuine progress.
A Journey from Despair to Liberation
The song draws towards a close with a raw yearning for freedom—likening the narrator’s desired freedom to ‘lions in Liberia’. It’s a reference both to the natural state of unbridled life and to the historic return of freed enslaved people to form the nation of Liberia; a connection that resonates with the pursuit of an identity unchained by societal expectations.
Yet the final verses also recognize that such liberation is still aspirational within a world ‘bein’ cold as Siberia’. In this unforgiving climate, the lyrics remind us that liberation is not universally granted but fought for, giving the song a bittersweet tinge that while the struggle for self-determination continues, the outcome is not guaranteed. Thus, the mantra ‘Whateva Will Be Will Be’ becomes an echo of resilience amidst an uncertain future.
