Let us REALLY examine Oceans (Most of this Was done myself with a lil help from Rapgenius because they do go OD on a few lines)
[Intro]
(You see this ************)
(White, White, White)
Frank Ocean Hook
"I see elephant tusk on the bow of a sailing lady(Boat)
Docked on the Ivory Coast"
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Keep in mind the commercial where he speaks on the duality of The song (slavery/success). the obvious comparison is frank speaking on the view a slave would see among being put on a ship but also nowadays the ivory coast can also be seen as a place of luxury where people go yachting.
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you also have the reference to Ivory which triggers the black/white dichotomy of the song & the actual color of Ivory, which is a tannish off white color which could refer to cocaine (which makes sense because it's referenced througout the song)
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"Mercedes in a row winding down the road"
another view at the luxury side, expensive cars... also when drugs are unloaded from a boat there are usually cars lined up to recieve the shipment.
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"I hope my black skin don't dirt this white tuxedo
Before the Basquiat show and if so
Well **** it, **** it"
He's still keeping up the luxury by mentioning the Tuxedo, The fear of him tarnishing his white tuxedo considering white has always been received as purity.
Tuxedo is also the title of a Basquiat’s canvas, the work is completely black and white.
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"Because this water drown my family
This water mixed my blood
This water tells my story
This water knows it all"
On one end the obvious reference of the water is to slavery. We were brought across the oceans on boats, throughout these rides many were killed, drowned, raped etc etc. the Ocean was the site of all these atrocities hence why the water knows it all.
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The water can also be used as a reference to drug use. water(drugs) have drowned several black family's since it hit causing people to share needles and blood, transmitting diseases in the process, drugs as any fan of Jay can tell has always been a huge part of his story.
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"Go ahead and spill some champagne in the water
Go ahead and watch the sun blaze
On the waves of the ocean"
Referring again to success it's not rare for the rich to spill champagne while on a yacht but its also a nod to pouring out liquor to those that have passed. In This case the millions of blacks that lost their life crossing these oceans.
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"Dope boy still smelling like cocaina
White boat, white robe"
Referencing his Come up as a drug dealer to now cruising across the seas in his robe (Keep in mind the Cleanliness and purity that the color white represents)
"Can he be more cleaner"
still making reference to white but no longer is he still selling coke, he's now Jay z all his money is clean and pure.
"The oil spill that BP ain't clean up"
A triple entendre making reference to BP itself, corporations trying to change him and strip him of his blackness, and another reference to the amount of black lives lost in that ocean that will never be forgotten.
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"I'm anti-Santa Maria
Only Christopher we acknowledge is Wallace"
More History that was manipulated Jay has no respect for Christopher Columbus he was a mass murderer who is celebrated like a hero. He rather celebrate the life of His Friend Christopher Wallace (Notorious BIG)
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"I don't even like Washingtons in my pocket
Black card go hard when I'm shopping"
no Love for George Washington either he was a known racist and slave owner, also a reference to how he rather use his blackcard instead of cash at all.
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"Boat dock in front of Hermes picking cotton
Silk and fleeces, lay on my Jesus"
Jay-Z continues along with the ocean theme by using the “boat” metaphor to refer to his Maybach being parked outside of the the Luxury Designer Hermes store while he’s shopping for clothes(Picking cotton). Also a literal reference back to slave days when they use to pick cotton from fields.
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"Silk and fleeces, lay on my Jesus
Oh my God, I hope y'all don't get seasick"
Keeping up with the cotton from the last line he then names two other fabrics slaves were forced to pick and explains how they lay upon his dimaond jesus chain (another show of luxury/wealth). Still holding on to the ocean imagery he uses seasick as a reference to the actual slaves crossing across the water & The people who hate on him for having all these luxurious things.
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"See me in **** you never saw
If it wasn't for these pictures they wouldn't see me at all"
Still keeping the theme of Ocean (See/Sea), Jay Has made a living of being the one to start new trends and come out with things most don't know about... also a clever play on the word seesaw. Jay feels as if people ain't seeing him in rap 7 also in a literal sense he ain't where all them other rappers at.
"Aww, whole world's in awe
I crash through glass ceilings, I break through closed doors"
Pretty Obvious this man has become a figure for being in a space your not SUPPOSED to be in. He's constantly making history and whether you like it or hate it everyone is paying attention.
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"On the ocean, I'm in heaven
Yachting, Ocean 11"
when's he's in the ocean he's estatic because he knows he's made it. he thens mentions Oceans 11 which is a movie about career criminals who finally made the big heist and can just relax. Jay is no stranger to that he was a hustler who made it out and now enjoys his lucrative life.
It can also be seen in a literal sense of when he's on the ocean he feels at home like you would in heaven. His roots, ancestors were killed and remain part of that same water he's now around them.
ALL FIRST VERSE.... but ya'll ****** still skimmin go right ahead pleboi.
, but I was most intrigued by the songs "Soon you'll understand" and the one about deadbeat dads, Jay is rapping with such substance and emotion, that I had foolishly forgot he could. With that said, I'm no Antidope, as that takes years if dedication and practice to stan on that level, but Jay has to be close to the GOAT.
