The song 'Space Cadet' by Metro Boomin featuring Gunna lyrically orbits around the themes of wealth, luxury, and detachment. Gunna compares himself to a 'space cadet,' illustrating his elevated status and lifestyle through a space motif. The verses depict a rags-to-riches story, as Gunna reflects on his past struggles and contrasts them with his current success, indulging in designer clothes, fancy cars, and recreational drug use.
The emotional journey of 'Space Cadet' begins with a triumphant ascendancy, reflecting the outer space setting in which the artist Gunna likens himself to. Gunna's verses echo this rise from a challenging past to a lofty plateau of excess and opulence. Listeners are taken through a celestial escape as he navigates through a constellation of wealth, material pleasures, and a sense of disconnection from the ordinary that comes with his newfound status. This high-flying escapade sets the tone for a dreamlike ride through the rapper's universe.
As the song progresses, a lavish lifestyle unfolds: exotic vehicles, expansive mansions, and the trappings of high fashion. Gunna's narrative details a stark transformation from scarcity to abundance—a classic hip hop storyline—yet one expressed through ethereal and luxuriant imagery. There is a sense of effortless ease in this new reality; the gravity of life's usual hardships seems to have no hold on this self-proclaimed space cadet, suspending listeners in weightlessness.
However, the journey isn't without its turbulence. Mentions of drug use throughout the track allude to a coping mechanism or an escape—a nod to the pressures and isolation that often accompany fame. The emotional vacillation between pride in his success and reliance on substances for relief adds a layer of complexity to the track, providing subtle insights into the less glamorous sides of a glitzy lifestyle.
Ultimately, the song lands on a plane of acceptance and revelry in this lifestyle. The repetition in the chorus, the consistent references to luxury and hedonism, and the overall tone suggest a resolution to fully embody the lifestyle he's calling out. Listeners close out the song having traversed a starry sky of emotional highs and lows, settling into the constellation of Gunna's present life—distant, yet dazzling.
"Bought a spaceship, now I'm a space cadet (Space cadet)"
Gunna uses a metaphor to describe purchasing a luxury car—likely the Rolls Royce Wraith with its starry interior—comparing it to a spaceship, suggesting an otherworldly escape from previous life struggles.
"Chanel shoes overseas, they was patent leather"
Here, Gunna conveys his international escapades and expensive taste, highlighting his access to luxury items that are perhaps elusive to the average person.
"Alien, feel like I'm livin' on my own planet"
This line embodies the feeling of alienation or being different from the rest, possibly referencing the isolation that comes with fame.
"Addicted to codeine, where the lean at?"
Gunna openly mentions his use of codeine, a common theme in rap that speaks to substance use as a form of escapism or coping with the pressures of success.