Kung Fu by Cordae Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Struggle and Strategy in the Climb to Success
Lyrics
Let me tell you how I come through with the 1-2
Kickin’ shit like kung fu
Treat a bad bitch like she average
I’m a savage, lil’ hoe, what you wan’ do?
I’m about cash if the route fast
I’ma get that lil’ nigga, by any means
Momma complain ’bout my Balmains, but it’s all sane
Couple racks in my skinny jeans (ayy)
Hit it up, one time
Niggas gonna get it ’til the sun rise (ayy)
School of hard knocks, I’m alumni
Bitches on my dick like fungi
Won’t stop, what’s that?
Keep the Tommy on me like a Rugrat (ayy)
Niggas used to trap where the bus at
Tell momma I’ma quit, but I love cash (ayy)
I’ma just get it and get it again
Come ups I split with my friends, ayy
Twenty’s them twenty’s them twinny twin twin
Tryna flip Ford to a Benz
I’ma get it, I’ma get it regardless
Bussin’ jugs and used to trap out the college
Give me brain, I swear that bitch is a scholar
No snakes around me, only snake on my collar
I’m a thief in the night, pray to Jesus to Christ
Better hope he believe in your life
Free my lil’ nigga Saudi, was catching them bodies
He fighting his demons to light
All my niggas be trapping, your niggas be rapping
They robbed you, you asking what happened
Got a new bitch from China, she wearing designer
I’m lacing her in the new fashion (ayy)
Let me tell you how I come through with the 1-2
Kickin’ shit like kung fu
Treat a bad bitch like she average
I’m a savage, lil’ hoe, what you wan’ do?
I’m about cash if the route fast
I’ma get that lil’ nigga, by any means
Momma complain ’bout my Balmains, but it’s all sane
Couple racks in my skinny jeans (ayy)
Hit it up, one time
Niggas gonna get it ’til the sun rise (ayy)
School of hard knocks, I’m alumni
Bitches on my dick like fungi
Won’t stop, what’s that?
Keep the Tommy on me like a Rugrat (ayy)
Niggas used to trap where the bus at
Tell momma I’ma quit, but I love cash
I’ve been all around the fucking globe
Baby what ya know?
Motherfucker better tuck and roll
Got places to go
And niggas missed the last flight
Livin’ in the fast life
Momma said you never act right, Goddamn
Guess I’m a bad guy
But I’m on my grind like a halfpipe
‘Cause I switch it and flip it and cook it up mad nice
‘Til I see them flashlights, then I’m gone
Fast flash like, my future’s a tad bright
Because when they rent is due, and your Benz is new
And your old friends be resenting you
Like my women brown, and my Benjies blue
Shit is fucked up when they envy you
‘Member niggas got killed over Penny shoes
Where I’m from niggas dying like Kenny do
Take a hit of this PAC and this Henny juice
Only one of me, but there’s plenty of you
It was all a dream, reminiscing of a smaller thing
Grandma cooking like Paula Deen
It ain’t all it seems, grew up with the starving teens
And growing plants, still watering
Let me tell you how I come through with the 1-2
Kickin’ shit like kung fu
Treat a bad bitch like she average
I’m a savage, lil’ hoe, what you wan’ do?
I’m about cash if the route fast
I’ma get that lil’ nigga, by any means
Momma complain ’bout my Balmains, but it’s all sane
Couple racks in my skinny jeans (ayy)
Hit it up, one time
Niggas gonna get it ’til the sun rise (ayy)
School of hard knocks, I’m alumni
Bitches on my dick like fungi
Won’t stop, what’s that?
Keep the Tommy on me like a Rugrat (ayy)
Niggas used to trap where the bus at
Tell momma I’ma quit, but I love cash
Daytrip took it to 10
Amidst a musical landscape rich with lyrical exploration, Cordae’s ‘Kung Fu’ strikes a chord, resonating with the fierce hunger of ambition and the gritty, relentless pursuit of success. The song is an aural canvas painted with the brash brushstrokes of youthful energy and the somber hues of life’s stark realities.
Elevating beyond mere braggadocio, Cordae’s message twines through beats and bars with a fusion of street-wise philosophy and a calculated, almost martial approach to overcoming life’s obstacles. This article delves into the depth behind the daring rhymes, spotlighting not just the song’s overt punchlines but also the shadowplay of its profound implications.
A Samurai’s Spirit in the Heart of the City
At its core, ‘Kung Fu’ is a vivid embodiment of Cordae’s martial strategy towards life – precise, fearless, and unyielding. The title itself isn’t merely a reference to Asian combat arts but symbolizes the artist’s disciplined approach to his career and life. In much the same way a kung fu master hones their body and mind, Cordae sharpens his lyrical skill and street acumen to confront the challenges of his environment.
The notion of treating ‘a bad bitch like she average’ and being ‘a savage’ envelops more than the surface-level interpretation of relationship dynamics. It’s an assertion of perceived self-worth and a rejection of societal expectations. In the Darwinian jungle of rap, Cordae declares himself an apex predator, untamed by the allure of fleeting pleasures and fixated on the prize.
Relishing the Risks: The Allure of the Fast Lane
As if riding shotgun through Cordae’s life journey, we’re taken on a high-octane ride with verses that acknowledge the magnetic pull of the ‘fast life.’ Whether it’s ‘keep the Tommy on me like a Rugrat’ or surviving ‘school of hard knocks,’ the language is steeped in survivalism and the duality of danger and desire. The lines map out a blueprint of his ascent from the trap to the top of the charts.
The acknowledgment of darkness that accompanies this climb is not just for narrative flair. It’s an open window into the soul of the struggle, the internal battle between the dreams instilled by a hopeful mother and the seductive siren of ‘fast cash.’ Cordae doesn’t glorify this life; he reports from the front lines, showing listeners the grim reality where decisions are made not out of malice, but out of necessity.
The Verse That Pulses with Hidden Meanings
‘I’m a thief in the night, pray to Jesus to Christ / Better hope he believe in your life’ these words aren’t just verses; they are a confession and an omen, underscoring a moral complexity that doesn’t escape Cordae’s keen awareness. These lines serve as a reminder that survival in the ruthless landscapes of his youth often meant walking a blurred moral line, where choices are sometimes made in the shadows.
The mention of his ‘lil’ nigga Saudi,’ who is ‘fighting his demons to light’ fleshes out this narrative, illustrating a brotherhood united by their plight, even as they diverge in their journeys. It’s a shout-out to both the fallen and the fighting, a testament to the humanity that persists even in the heart of what some would hastily write off as mere cold criminality.
Metaphorical Mastery and Memorable Lines
It’s no coincidence that Cordae references cartoon characters like the Rugrats while juggling themes of gun possession – a deliberate contrast that poignantly highlights the abrupt loss of innocence experienced by those who grow up in harsh realities. This stark juxtaposition paints a picture of endangered youth, using nostalgic icons as a stark measure of the premature adulthood they face.
From ‘bitches on my dick like fungi,’ to ‘Couple racks in my skinny jeans,’ Cordae lays down a trail of vivid imagery that’s unforgettable. It’s a linguistic flamboyance that combines playfulness with the raw truth, a lyrical sleight of hand that ensures the song’s stickiness while delivering punches of authenticity.
A Reflective Cadence and the Call of Roots
As the song wanes towards its later verses, Cordae reins in the wild stallions of his earlier lines, trotting through memories of ‘Grandma cooking like Paula Deen’ and the dreams that once seemed out of reach. It’s a nod to his origins, illustrating that no matter the heights reached, there’s a grounding force that ensures he remains tethered to his beginnings.
He weaves a societal critique with personal anecdotes, linking sneaker violence to the broader context of systemic inequality. Here, Cordae emerges as a storyteller who, with crystalline clarity, manifests the full spectrum of his experience – from the adversities of his environment to the aspirational escape that his artistry promises.
