Under the Water (fg. IV)

The overarching meaning of Under the Water (fg. IV) is tied deeply to the album's central theme of Facing Giants, which symbolizes confronting massive personal, emotional, or societal obstacles. The song uses the metaphor of being submerged in water to represent the feeling of being overwhelmed, depressed, or stifled by these metaphorical giants. It explores the psychological weight of immense pressure, capturing the sensation of sinking into one's own subconscious where the noise of the outside world is muted, yet internal struggles are magnified. The duo's name itself, AllttA, stands for A little lower than the Angels (a reference to Psalm 8:5), reflecting their persistent thematic focus on human vulnerability, mortality, and the philosophical exploration of the human condition. In this track, the water represents both a suffocating force and a necessary space for profound introspection, examining how individuals navigate the depths of their own anxieties and fight to resurface.

The narrative of the track plunges the listener directly into the depths of an overwhelming, metaphorical ocean. The protagonist finds themselves sinking below the surface of their own life, surrounded by a heavy, suffocating darkness that represents their anxieties and the immense pressures they face. As they descend further into this watery abyss, the sounds of the outside world—the expectations of society, the noise of daily struggles, and the voices of those they left above—become muffled and distant. In this submerged state, the protagonist is forced to confront their inner giants, the massive, looming fears and unresolved traumas that reside in the darkest trenches of their subconscious mind. The water acts as both a prison and a sanctuary; it is terrifying in its vastness and ability to crush them, yet it offers a strange, quiet isolation away from the chaotic surface.

As the journey continues, the protagonist wrestles with the physical and emotional sensation of drowning. They express the desperate need for air, mirroring a real-life struggle to find hope and clarity when severely depressed or overwhelmed by circumstances. The haunting voices that echo through the water serve as manifestations of their own self-doubt and regrets, pulling them in different directions. Despite the paralyzing cold and the loss of direction, there is a profound moment of introspection where the protagonist examines their own resilience. The narrative captures the exhaustive effort required to kick against the heavy currents, battling the lethargy that the deep water induces. It is a poignant exploration of survival, detailing the silent, invisible wars fought within the mind. The story does not necessarily conclude with a triumphant break through the surface into the sunlight; rather, it remains focused on the endurance required to exist in this submerged space, highlighting the raw vulnerability of feeling completely engulfed by life's relentless tides while still fighting to maintain a sense of self and ultimately hoping to breathe freely once again.

The track was created by AllttA, a French-American electronic hip-hop duo formed in 2015. The group consists of the renowned French beatmaker and producer 20syl (widely known for his work with Hocus Pocus and the DMC world champion DJ collective C2C) and the American rapper Mr. J. Medeiros, formerly of the underground hip-hop group The Procussions. Under the Water (fg. IV) was officially released in December 2017 as the fourth installment of a serialized single rollout for their project Facing Giants, which saw its full vinyl and digital release in early 2018. The acronym fg. IV directly denotes its place as the fourth track in the Facing Giants conceptual series. The creation process involved blending 20syl's signature organic acoustic textures and electronic machines with Medeiros' surgical vocal flow and poetic lyricism, a collaborative vision they had been cultivating since their initial meeting on tour in 2004.

The track employs a dynamic, syncopated rhythmic structure that is a hallmark of AllttA's French-Californian electronic hip-hop style. The beat is built on unconventional, off-kilter drum patterns that create a slight sense of unease, perfectly complementing the song's theme of struggling against a current. Mr. J. Medeiros heavily utilizes internal rhymes, multi-syllabic rhyme schemes, and slant rhymes. Rather than resting comfortably on the downbeat, his vocal delivery weaves through the instrumental gaps, creating a fluid, almost liquid cadence. This constant push-and-pull between the lyrical rhythm and the glitchy musical rhythm captures the turbulent, shifting nature of water.

Musically, the song showcases 20syl's masterful ability to fuse organic analog textures with futuristic electronic beats. He employs glitchy drum programming, deep sub-bass frequencies, and intricately layered vocal samples to create a dense, immersive sonic environment. The use of spatial audio effects, such as heavy low-pass filters and echoing reverbs, mimics the acoustic properties of being underwater, making the listener physically feel the submersion. Lyrically, Mr. J. Medeiros utilizes a surgical flow, marked by precise rhythmic syncopation that dances effortlessly over the complex digital boom-bap beats. His literary techniques rely heavily on extended metaphors, imagery of sensory deprivation, and complex internal rhyming structures that mirror the unpredictable, swirling currents of a deep ocean.

While Under the Water (fg. IV) did not dominate mainstream pop charts, it significantly resonated within the alternative and underground hip-hop communities, particularly in France and the United States. The song, alongside the Facing Giants album, cemented AllttA's reputation as genre-bending innovators who successfully bridge the gap between traditional boom-bap rap and modern electronic music. The track is frequently praised by music critics and fans for its intricate production and thoughtful lyricism, often being cited as a standout moment on the album that perfectly encapsulates the duo's unique gloomy ambiance and surrealist hip-hop style. Furthermore, the instrumental version of the track has found an independent life, being heavily favored by beatmakers and featured in numerous ambient and study playlists.

The central symbol of the song is the water itself, which serves as a multi-layered metaphor for the subconscious mind, emotional depression, and societal pressure. Being completely submerged illustrates the sensory deprivation and isolation that accompanies severe mental health struggles or daunting life challenges. The haunting voices heard in the track symbolize intrusive thoughts, self-doubt, and the lingering echoes of past failures. Furthermore, the album's overarching symbol of Giants represents any insurmountable obstacle—be it an internal demon, a career hurdle, or a systemic issue—that the protagonist must face while fighting for breath in the watery depths.

The recurring motif of being under the water serves as a hypnotic anchor throughout the track, continually pulling the listener back to the central theme of submersion and suffocation. This phrase is repeated not just as a lyrical hook, but it is reinforced by musical motifs—such as recurring filtered synth swells that sound like waves washing over the ears. Additionally, the recurring fg. (Facing Giants) tag in the song's title ties it directly to the overarching narrative motif of the album, reminding the listener that this drowning sensation is just one phase of a larger battle against immense obstacles.