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Movie and Hip-Hop have a novel relationship being that you may at all times discover a reference to a specific film in a rap track. One film particularly that at all times will get a nod out of your favourite rapper is The Matrix.
There isn’t a denying how a lot of a stranglehold The Matrix has on popular culture. It’s made evident as a result of movie’s many references in different films, tv exhibits, cartoons, and music, particularly in Hip-Hop. Because the film’s 1999 launch, The Matrix, plus its mind-blowing plot, has discovered its method into the songs of many rappers over time.
With Lana Wachowski’s highly-anticipated 4th movie within the franchise, The Matrix: Resurrections, proper across the nook, you’ll be able to wager there will likely be much more Matrix-related bars popping up in new songs. Till we cross that bridge, Hip-Hop Wired determined to focus on the numerous situations rappers like Kendrick Lamar, JAY-Z, Nas, B.o.B, A$AP Rocky, Common, Nicki Minaj, and extra labored in Matrix-related lyrics into songs.
Peep them within the gallery beneath.
1. Kendrick Lamar – Backseat Freestyle (Specific)
The Compton MC referenced iconic film franchise in his monitor “Backseat Freestyle” off his stellar album good child, m.A.A.d Metropolis. On the track, Lamar rapped, “Goddamn I really feel amazin’, rattling, I’m within the Matrix. My thoughts is livin’ on cloud 9, and this 9 is rarely on trip.”
Damaged down, it means Lamar is feeling good with out a care on the earth as if he’s nonetheless plugged into the simulation just like the poor souls trapped inside The Matrix and don’t know what’s going on in the true world.
2. Nas – “Sly Fox”
Legendary Queens rapper Nas’s third eye was open whereas crafting his 2008 Untitled album. On the track “Sly Fox,” Nasty Nas urged his listeners to “unplug” from poisonous information or, as he referred to as it, The Matrix doctrine however keep cautious of huge brother (the federal government) at all times maintaining a tally of you. On the track, he rapped, “Watch what you’re watching, Fox retains feeding us toxins. Cease sleeping, begin considering exterior of the field. And unplug from the Matrix doctrine. However watch what you say. Large Brother is watching.”
3. Widespread – “They Say” Feat. Kanye West
Widespread was in his bag on his phenomenal album Be. On one of many album’s standout tracks, “They Say,” that includes Kanye West, the Chicago referenced the movie’s signature capsules placing his personal spin on it. On the track he rapped, “The skinny line between love and hatred. I’m the black tablet within the Matrix, the saturated life. They are saying life is what you make it. So I wait fast on a spaceship so I can take it.”
A deep dive into that bar, Widespread is saying blue nor the purple tablet in The Matrix; he’s the black tablet: the absorption of all colours mixed.
4. B.o.B – “The Children” Feat. Janelle Monae
Earlier than he turned a infamous flat earther, B.o.B captivated our minds with bars. On his track “The Children” off his beloved debut album The Adventures of Bobby Ray, he referenced The Matrix. On the track that additionally options Janelle Monae he rapped, “We’re trapped contained in the matrix. Pressured to play our palms. We’re full of a lot hatred. The children don’t stand an opportunity.”
Damaged down B.o.B expresses hopelessness for the state of our tradition, particularly the youth. We’re caught with our circumstances as in The Matrix as our unfavorable emotions eat us.
5. Nicki Minaj – “Fly” Feat. Rihanna
Nicki Minaj additionally obtained in her Matrix bag. On the monitor “Fly” off her album Pink Friday, the Queen used the movie to reference dodging all of the photographs thrown her method. On the track, she rapped, “They obtained they weapons out aimin’ at me. However I turn out to be Neo once they aimin’ at me. Me, me, me in opposition to them. Me in opposition to enemies, me in opposition to mates. Someway, they each appear to turn out to be one. A sea filled with sharks, they usually all scent blood.”
Damaged down, Minaj in contrast her scenario to when Neo dodges bullets. She will be able to evade no matter her enemies throw at her. Additionally, even when Neo was shot, he got here again stronger than earlier than.
6. JAY-Z – “Excuse Me Miss” Feat. Pharrell
Even Jigga referenced The Matrix’s “purple or blue” tablet second. On the traditional grown and attractive monitor “Excuse Me Miss” that includes Pharrell off his double album The Blueprint 2: The Reward & The Curse, he rapped, “She will get a glimpse of Shawn, and she or he likes that. He 2-ways her, so she writes again. Smiley faces in any case of her phrases. Both she the one, or I’m caught in “The Matrix.” However fuck it, let the Fishburne. Crimson or inexperienced tablet, you reside, and also you be taught, c’mon.”
Jay-Z is hoping the girl he likes is the one for him, but when she isn’t, he’s going to let the fish burn, a play on phrases that references Lawrence Fishbourne appearing as Morpheus within the Matrix.
7. Kendrick Lamar – “DNA”
Kendrick Lamar as soon as once more referenced The Matrix on the banger “DNA” off his album DAMN. On the track, he rapped, “My DNA not for imitation. Your DNA an abomination. This how it’s whenever you’re within the Matrix. Dodgin’ bullets, reapin’ what you sow. And stackin’ up the footage, livin’ on the go.”
Kendrick relates his life as a rapper. He should always keep away from bother, to Neo dodging bullets within the Matrix.
8. Danny Brown – “XXX”
Detroit rapper Danny Brown additionally in contrast himself to The One aka Neo on his monitor “XXX.” On the track, he rapped, “And I’m sorta like Neo with the Matrix code. Attempt to escape it, hoping the medicine will numb my soul. Say I’m getting previous, time’s working out. Repeating instrumentals, tryna determine patterns out.”
Danny has the cheat codes to life, very similar to Neo in The Matrix.
9. Janet Jackson – “No Sleeep” Feat. J.Cole
J.Cole determined to take a web page out of his mentor, JAY-Z’s e book with a name again to Jigga’s Matrix-inspired lyric throughout his visitor function on Janet Jackson’s “No Sleeep.” Within the track, the North Carolina rapper spit, “The one swimming by way of my thoughts, that was at all times you. Our time collectively has impressed a track or two. Or three, or 4, or extra, mi amor. I’m positive both you’re the one or I’m caught within the Matrix. Staying up for hours whereas we speak and get wasted.”
J.Cole hopes the item of his affection is actually the one for him, very similar to Neo is “the One,” but when she’s not, he should stay out his life in an unsatisfactory world.
10. A$AP Rocky – “Electrical Physique”
Rihanna’s boo couldn’t resist throwing in a Matrix reference in his track “Electrical Physique” with a nod to the enduring inexperienced code Neo sees when he totally realizes his energy as The One. Within the track, he rapped, “This 12 months, I turned it into the racist. All I wanna see is inexperienced faces. All I wanna depend is inexperienced numbers. Man, that shit is bizarre, lookin’ just like the Matrix
Much like scenes by which Neo travels by way of the code of the Matrix, A$AP needs to see inexperienced faces and numbers, implying he needs to earn a living.
11. Large Sean – “Sacrifces” Feat. Migos
Large Sean couldn’t assist however level out the truth that each he and Keanu Reeves’s character in The Matrix shares the identical final identify on the track “Sacrifices.” Within the track, he rapped, “I sacrifice to your leisure boy. I’m Mr. Anderson within the Matrix. Test the final identify it’s all details and the human race is all about pacing.”
Not solely is Large Sean feeling impenetrable like Neo, however his full authorized identify can also be Sean Michael Leonard Anderson. This is identical final identify as Neo’s real-life persona in The Matrix, Thomas Anderson.
