The song previously leaked in 2021.[1] It originally featured Tyler, the Creator, but he was cut from the final version.[2] ASAP Rocky performed an early version of the song on Amazon Music Live in December 2022.[3] Certain lyrics in the song have fueled rumors that Rocky and his partner Rihanna are married.[1][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
The song was used in an advertisement for Beats Electronics, in which Rocky goes to buy diapers for his son, named Rza, at Rihanna's request.[10][11][12][13] It was shot and directed by Rocky in Tokyo and released alongside the song.[14]
Composition and lyrics
The production begins with Pharrell's signature "four-beat" intro, followed by reverbed horn sounds[2][15] and an array of synthesizers.[15][16] In the chorus, ASAP Rocky interpolates the melody of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana and vows to speak out on what he believes in: "We grow, we learn and we live (Woo, woo) / I might start a riot (Woo, woo, woo) / We grow, we learn and we live (Woo, woo, woo) / Opposite of quiet (Woo, woo, woo)".[8] In the post-chorus, he details his fashion inspiration from wrestler Roddy Piper, who was known to wear kilts in the ring: "I just bought designer kilts, yeah, I Roddy Pipe it (Uh, uh) / I just put some BDs on my whip with lime green pipin' (Woo, woo, woo, woo, woo)".[2][8] His first verse is performed almost a minute into the song, starting with a shout-out to his "wife", who is believed to be Rihanna: "My wife is erotic, I'm smokin' exotic (Woo, woo) / My whip is exotic, my crib is a cottage (Woo, woo, woo) / A wholе lotta cheesy, we gettin' that cottage (Woo, woo) / A wholе lotta brains, I skipped out on college (Woo, woo, woo)."[2][8][9][16][17] Lyrically, Rocky brags about the expensive cars and clothes in his lifestyle[8] and questions his critics.[18] In the second verse, he continues to make references to Rihanna,[8] name-drops Brent Faiyaz,[16] and hints at a new collaboration with Rihanna.[8][9]
Music video
An official music video was released on July 25, 2023. Directed by ASAP Rocky and his AWGE collective,[14] it finds Rocky riding through the streets of Kansas City in a massive tank as a marching mob of similarly dressed and masked people surround him,[12][13][19] pulling large blow-up statues behind him.[13] Rocky also shows off an array of cars, including a decorated Mercedes-Benz,[19][20] along with tanks and fighter planes,[20] handling business calls, representing his son RZA via a massive belt buckle,[19] promoting Rihanna's Fenty Skin brand,[20] throwing money all over himself in the street.[13]
ASAP Rocky worked with his stylist Matthew Henson and London designer Mowalola Ogunlesi on styling for the video. The clip shows him wearing a pixel Damier-patterned Louis Vuittonboilersuit courtesy of Pharrell, Gerrit Jacob's American flag gear, a 1996 parachute bomber jacket designed by Issey Miyake and paired with Bottega Veneta boots, a long, slick trench coat of the same brand paired with an Hermès bag, a Coucoubebe leather jacket reading "DUMB SHIT", and an anti-FIFA football jersey with "HUMAN RIGHTS" plastered across the chest created by Hattie Crowthe.[14][21]
.jpg)
