Travis Scott's song 'I KNOW ?' presents a confessional narrative on the artist's struggles with substance use and the impact it has on his relationships and sense of reality. It depicts a nocturnal world where indulgence and excess blur the lines between sincerity and intoxication. Travis oscillates between moments of self-awareness and denial, acknowledging the concern others have for him but also reveling in his hedonistic lifestyle.
Throughout 'I KNOW ?,' Travis Scott embarks on a tortuous emotional journey that grapples with the tempting, yet perilous, allure of drugs and alcohol. In the song's chorus, Travis directly addresses a partner at 5 AM, questioning the sustainability of their intimate connection amidst his intoxicated state. The repetitive emphasis on 'I know' hints at an inner turmoil and recognition of his destructive habits, allowing listeners to delve deep into a psyche marred by dependency.
The verses unsparingly portray a life awash with hedonistic pleasures as Travis Scott indulges in fleeting interactions, suggesting a superficial layer of satisfaction masking deeper discontent. The references to a life of luxury and seemingly endless options for romantic encounters juxtapose against the contentment and stability that evade him, presenting a dichotomy of the highs of fame and the emptiness it can bring when the night winds down.
As the song progresses, Travis confronts the confusion that such a lifestyle engenders, personified by the blending images of different women into one. The surreal atmosphere created by the track's sparse instrumentals and haunting piano riff amplifies the dissonance between Travis Scott's public persona and personal struggles. The song serves as a somber reflection where glitz and glamour give way to vulnerability and the quest for genuine connection.
Despite the raw portrayal of self-awareness, there's a persistent tone of denial and escapism. By the end of the track, Travis Scott admits to lying and expresses regret about his choices, yet also resigns himself to the possibility that his thoughts might just be the product of his intoxication. This resignation encapsulates the overarching emotional journey—a fight between acknowledging the need for change and the seductive embrace of the same patterns that necessitate such change.
"One of one, I'm in the zone right now"
Travis Scott is expressing a feeling of uniqueness and complete absorption in the moment, potentially heightened by his intoxicated state.
"I got twenty bitches suckin' like bisons"
While Travis uses 'bisons' metaphorically to describe a large group of women, this could also be a play on words with the vacuum brand Dyson, suggesting a voracious sexual appetite elicited by his fame.
"I just eeny, meeny, miney, roll the dices, I pick her"
Travis compares his selection of women to a carefree game of chance, echoing a nursery rhyme, and indicating his nonchalant attitude and abundant options.
"Before I had you right inside my arms"
This lyric suggests a prelude to loss, reminiscing about a time when he held someone close before his lifestyle pulled them apart.