Released: 2017 • Features: JAY-Z, Tyler, The Creator
“Biking” by Frank Ocean, featuring heavyweights JAY-Z and Tyler, The Creator, unfolds as a rich tapestry that weaves together themes of freedom, struggle, and self-reliance within the metaphorical framework of cycling. It’s a slow-burn track that melds introspection with braggadocio, exploring personal growth, the cyclical nature of life, and the pursuit of success through the lens of riding a bike.
The track kicks off with JAY-Z’s verse, setting the tone with a reflection on the cyclical nature of life – “What goes around comes around.” He drops cultural references faster than a hot knife through butter, from Audemars Piguet watches to Russian oligarchs, using luxury items as symbols of achievement while nodding to the hustle required to reach the top. JAY-Z’s wordplay is tight, moving from braggadocious lines to deeper, introspective moments, examining the essence of success and the solitude it can bring. It’s a complex mix, like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube blindfolded, but the message is clear – success is hard-won and often comes with its own set of challenges.
Frank Ocean takes the baton with a chorus and verse that dive deeper into the metaphor of biking as a journey through life. His lines are more direct yet layered, with mentions of biking alongside figures like Daniel (a reference to his brother) and grappling with an identity marked by fame (“Torso marked up like a vandal”). Ocean’s verse is a meditation on handling what life throws at you (“God gave you what you could handle”) and finding your balance amidst it all. It’s like he’s painting with words, illustrating the ups and downs, the freedom, and the challenges of navigating life’s path. Biking becomes a metaphor for self-propulsion through life’s cumbersome terrain.
Tyler, The Creator closes out the lyrical journey with a verse that combines his trademark wit with an introspective edge. He talks about personal growth (“I landed a trick, got my impossibles”) and the desire for legacy and offspring (“Think I want me a lil’ one that look like my clone”), all while staying true to his unique voice. Tyler uses biking as a symbol for progress and the struggle against life’s resistance, with clever nods to the physical effort of biking uphill and the effortless thrill of coasting downhill. It’s an intricately delivered piece that juggles the dualities of pain and pleasure, work and reward, bringing the song’s thematic concerns full circle.
Throughout “Biking,” the trio of Ocean, JAY-Z, and Tyler explore the complexities of life, success, and identity through a symphony of reflective lyrics and metaphoric imagery, all tied together with the common thread of cycling. As the beats roll on like the steady pedaling of a bike, the song itself becomes a journey—a ride through the trials, tribulations, and triumphs that define the human experience. It’s more than just a song; it’s a philosophical musing on wheels, inviting listeners to find their own rhythm in the ride of life.
