Released: 2023 • Features: Lil Uzi Vert
“Blood Moon” by Mike WiLL Made-It with Lil Uzi Vert serves as a bold proclamation of their unmatched swagger, lifestyle and skill in the hip-hop world. Packed with off-the-wall imagery, braggadocious claims, and myriad pop culture references, the song unfolds as an ostentatious display of high living and hip-hop prowess.
Opening with a series of exclamations (‘whoa-whoa’) and onomatopoeic sounds (‘pew, pew’), Mike WiLL Made-It sets the tone for the audacious lyrical journey ahead. This might just come off as catchy syllables but in the rap game, it’s about setting a vibe, a rhythm that the bars will ride on later.
When Lil Uzi Vert makes his entrance with “Stepped in this bitch like a killer”, it signals his arrival – not just on the track, but in the game, staking his claim with confidence and swagger. The phrase “clip on my waist, got a damn caterpillar” refers to a large magazine for a firearm, a common symbol of power and threat in hip-hop lyrics. The “damn caterpillar” could be seen as a metaphor for his potential: just as a caterpillar morphs into a butterfly, Uzi hints at his ability to rise and dominate in the industry.
Further into his verse, Uzi employs clever wordplay and cultural references. “Pentagram, pentagram, star wit’ a circle,” references the symbol associated with occult and witchcraft, potentially suggesting his mystical ability to bewitch audiences with his rap skills. The line “Bitch thought I was just Urkel” unveils an interesting comparison: Urkel, a comedic character from the 90s sitcom “Family Matters,” was often underestimated and dismissed. Uzi insinuates he’s been underestimated too, but his success says otherwise.
The phrase “Feel like the Moon, I relate to the sun” is a slick play on words referencing his feeling of being ‘otherworldly’ or ‘celestial’. This could be a symbolic nod to his growing fame and prominence in the hip-hop scene, shining bright like the sun yet distant like the moon.
In the next verse, Uzi employs a Christmas-themed imagery with “I’m a star at the top of the tree / Told the girl “Leave,” like Christmas Eve.” The ‘star at the top of the tree’ refers to himself being the best, while ‘Leave, like Christmas Eve’ suggests a playboy lifestyle of fleeting romantic encounters. Further, the line “At the Waldorf Astoria, no Marquis” offers a glimpse into the luxurious lifestyle led by him, dropping names of luxury cars (‘Rari) and upscale hotels (Waldorf Astoria).
All in all, “Blood Moon” is an audacious and ostentatious display of Uzi and Mike WiLL Made-It’s place in the rap game. It’s about swagger, it’s about flexing, it’s about living the life, it’s about creativity, wordplay, and ultimately, it’s about showing that they are at the apex of the hip-hop world.
