The song 'New Choppa' by Playboi Carti featuring A$AP Rocky explores the themes of wealth, street credibility, and the contrasting lifestyles that come with fame. The artists boast about their financial success and weaponry as metaphors for power and influence, all set to a darker trap beat indicative of A$AP Rocky's style, signifying their status in the rap game and their detachment from the more mundane aspects of life.
The song kicks off with a braggadocious tone, immersing the listener in the high of newfound success and the dizzying display of affluence. Playboi Carti and A$AP Rocky weave through their verses laced with references to luxury brands, substance use, and weaponry, often used in hip-hop as symbols of both hedonism and protection. The nature of the 'new choppa'—a colloquial term for an automatic weapon—serves as a stark reminder of the environment from which the artists have emerged, contrasting opulence with the realities of street life.
As the chorus hits, there's a repetitive emphasis on accumulation and ascent, with the phrase 'run it up' suggesting a relentless pursuit of wealth and status. The confidence exudes through the carefree dismissal of competition or adversaries—'I ain't hearing what you say'—giving the feeling that the artists are operating in a space fully under their own control, where the rules of the outside world do not apply.
A deeper dive into A$AP Rocky's verse takes the listener down the lane of self-assured dominance, as he casually drops the names of basketball legends and flaunts luxury brands. The emotional undertone here is one of cool detachment and self-satisfaction, as the artists have reached a point where their lifestyle is beyond the grasp and understanding of the average person.
Towards the close of the song, there's a subtle shift from these grandiose flexes to a chilling acceptance of violence and intimidation as part of their reality. This serves as a sobering reminder that beneath the veneer of success lies a relentless and sometimes ruthless journey. The 'new choppa' becomes a symbol not only of power but also the means through which such a lifestyle is sometimes sustained. The emotional journey ends on a pragmatic and somewhat ambiguous note, leaving listeners to reflect on the complexities behind the glamorized imagery of the high life in hip-hop.
"New choppa, new choppa, it came with the beam"
The term 'choppa' is slang for a type of automatic weapon, highlighting themes of power and aggression prevalent in hip-hop culture, serving as a metaphor for the artists' rise in the industry.
"Alexander of McQueen"
A reference to the luxury fashion brand, Alexander McQueen, symbolizing the wealth and high status associated with the brand, and highlighting the artists' success and taste for fine clothing.
"I roll up an L in the lobby"
Here, 'roll up an L' refers to preparing a marijuana blunt, which underlines the artists' carefree attitude towards drug use and the luxury of indulging openly in public spaces such as a hotel lobby.
""For the most part I rap," when they ask what my hobby is"
A$AP Rocky downplays his success and career as if rapping is simply a 'hobby,' implying the ease with which he performs and the natural talent he possesses, further bolstering his elite status within the rap community.