Released: 2022
In “Blow,” Moneybagg Yo offers an unfiltered inside look into his flamboyant lifestyle, his rise from the streets to stardom, and the issues that come with it. The song portrays the dichotomy of street life and fame, putting a spotlight on the hustler’s mentality of squandering money on ephemeral things while also highlighting the repercussions of his previous life.
The hook makes it crystal clear, he enjoys spending recklessly on drugs, clothes, diamonds, and even his adversaries. “Blow a lot of money on dope, blow a lot of money on clothes…Blow a lot of money on diamonds, the main reason why I be shinin’.” These lines showcase his indulgence in street and flashy lifestyle. Moneybagg Yo also opens up about his past struggles in the trap (a place where illegal drugs are sold and bought), where he lost money yet managed to recover it through his rap career.
Moneybagg Yo also illustrates his return to the streets despite his fame. “Fuckin’ off money on in the hood, in the dice game, what they hit for” attests to his unwillingness to cut ties with his old neighborhood, despite the odds. He acknowledges wasting cash on things like dice games, a common betting game on the streets, symbolizing his connection to his roots.
Addressing his enemies, he proclaims, “Blow a lot of money on opps, I’m tryna put ’em in a fronto.” Here, the term ‘opps’ signifies his oppositional forces, while ‘fronto’ is a popular type of tobacco leaf used to roll up and smoke. Essentially, he’s saying he’s wants to squelch his enemies, metaphorically smoking them like a blunt.
The line “Hard to sort out all the fake from the real, Gotta look at this shit for what it is,” signifies the struggle of recognizing genuine friends from fake ones in the face of fame and threatens anyone who crosses him: “Your gangsta don’t matter no more.” Moreover, he remains critical of individuals who have snitched, stating, “you caught a body but gave up a statement.”
The last verse of the song emphasizes his relentless hustle. He boasts about his selling prowess saying, “Flip my backend, 90 Gs, smart investment, 50 Ps.” “Backend” here refers to his earnings from shows or deals, ’90 Gs’ and ’50 Ps’ refer to monetary amounts in thousands and pounds (a unit of cannabis), respectively. It paints a picture of a man who’s defied the odds, from dealing drugs to sealing record deals.
Moneybagg Yo wraps up “Blow” by reinforcing his status as a trendsetter, bragging about his ubiquity, and portraying his sexual conquests. All of which brings us back to the central theme of the song—his hustler mentality, unwavering allegiance to the streets, and relentless pursuit of wealth and success, no matter the cost.
