edamame

At its core, "edamame" is a celebratory anthem of self-made success, financial independence, and unapologetic swagger. The song juxtaposes the stereotypical hip-hop tropes of wealth, designer jewelry, and romantic conquests with bbno$'s signature brand of self-deprecating, meme-centric humor. While the explicit meaning is a straightforward boast about being rich and attractive to women, the implicit meaning leans into the absurdity of sudden internet fame and wealth. By comparing themselves to "Teletubbies" and the titular "edamame" bean, bbno$ and Rich Brian dismantle the traditionally aggressive posture of rap music, opting instead for a playful, almost goofy confidence. The song suggests that reaching the pinnacle of success doesn't require taking oneself too seriously; rather, it is something to be enjoyed with a massive grin and a sense of irony.

The track opens with an unabashed display of flamboyant wealth and carefree living. The artists immediately establish a scene of luxury, describing themselves on a yacht, popping bottles, and wearing heavy, clinking chains that signify their massive financial success. The central pursuit in their lives is accumulating "guala" (money), firmly separating themselves from those who lack their drive or status. They portray themselves as big-time players who attract equally impressive, independent women who confidently "drop it low." The narrative is laced with a sense of triumph, evidenced by a mother's pride in her son's rapid growth and success, mixed with a strict oath to never let romantic entanglements compromise their daily hustle.

As the verses progress, the focus shifts to the tangible rewards and eccentric realities of their newfound wealth. They rap about casual splurges, like buying a million stock options and moving away from street-level hustles. They visualize rocking massive arenas and bringing peace, while playfully imagining themselves driving a self-driving, hot pink car like they are the center of the universe. The lyrics touch on the dizzying effects of sudden fame, noting the strange addiction to the smell of money and the surreal nature of older, established individuals desperately seeking their attention. Despite warnings about "goofies" or fake people in the industry, the artists revel in their status, occasionally questioning their own reality with humorous disbelief by asking themselves, "Am I rich now?" after casual, extravagant encounters.

The climax of the lyrical narrative revolves around the song's incredibly catchy and bizarre core metaphor. The artists compare their explosive arrival and undeniable hotness to a pea popping out of an edamame pod. They bask in the metaphorical sunlight, equating their radiant, carefree joy to the vibrant world of the Teletubbies. This playful, almost childish imagery directly contrasts with the adult themes of immense wealth, casual hookups, and relentless ambition, creating a wildly entertaining and humorous story of two artists who refuse to take their massive success too seriously.

"edamame" was created during a highly productive studio session in 2021. The track began with Canadian rapper bbno$ (Alexander Gumuchian) and producer Diamond Pistols (Christian Dold) cooking up the infectious, brass-driven beat. Feeling the potential of the instrumental, bbno$ sent a text containing the track to Indonesian rapper Rich Brian (Brian Imanuel), an artist he deeply admired. According to bbno$, Rich Brian immediately texted back in all caps, "THIS SONG IS FIRE." Brian quickly recorded a verse, sent it over, and subsequently joined bbno$ and Diamond Pistols in the studio to finish the track. Interestingly, the duo's chemistry was so strong that they also recorded another track, "C'est La Vie" (which featured Yung Gravy), on the exact same day. The single was officially released on July 23, 2021, serving as the second single for bbno$'s sixth studio album, Eat Ya Veggies.

The track features a highly rhythmic and bouncy structure, largely driven by an upbeat tempo of approximately 106 BPM. The rhyme scheme varies between AABB and AAAA in the choruses and verses, relying heavily on perfect rhymes at the end of bars (e.g., yacht / lot / not / spot). However, the true rhythmic brilliance lies in the internal rhyming and staccato vocal delivery. The artists use short, punchy syllables that mirror the horn stabs in the instrumental. The meter frequently shifts into triplet flows, creating a "rolling" effect that propels the momentum forward. This interplay between the lyrical rhythm—which is tightly clustered and fast-paced—and the spacious, heavy musical rhythm creates an irresistible groove that commands physical movement, explaining its massive success as a dance track on social media.

Musically, "edamame" relies heavily on a bouncing, infectious horn loop paired with thick, rolling 808 basslines characteristic of trap and pop-rap. Producer Diamond Pistols employs Brazilian bass elements, giving the track a highly danceable, four-on-the-floor adjacent rhythm. Lyrically, the song shines through its stylistic vocal delivery. bbno$ and Rich Brian trade verses with seamless chemistry, utilizing triplet flows and syncopated rhythms that lock perfectly into the bouncy beat. The artists use assonance and internal rhyme ("Chain swanging, cling-clang...") to create a percussive vocal texture. Furthermore, the song heavily employs irony and juxtaposition, placing high-status rap braggadocio right next to nerdy, cartoonish references, which prevents the song from feeling arrogant and keeps it grounded in comedic entertainment.

"edamame" had a massive cultural impact, primarily driven by its explosive virality on TikTok. The track was used in over 10 million videos on the platform, ranging from dance challenges to comedic skits (including a viral trend of bbno$ raising his eyebrows to the beat), accumulating billions of views. This internet success translated directly to the charts: the song peaked at #13 on the Canadian Hot 100, broke into the top 100 globally on Spotify, and earned Multi-Platinum certifications in Canada, alongside a Gold certification in the US. The song was nominated for Rap Single of the Year at the 2022 JUNO Awards, cementing bbno$'s transition from an underground internet meme-rapper to a legitimate, chart-topping pop-rap star. Its upbeat nature also saw it featured in various media, video game collaborations, and a popular house remix by DJ Diplo.

The lyrics are packed with quirky imagery and humorous metaphors. The most prominent is the title itself, "edamame." The line "I'ma pop you like a pea, yeah, edamame" uses the physical act of squeezing an edamame pod as a metaphor for explosive energy, sudden appearances ("popping out"), and casual dominance. Another striking symbol is the comparison to Teletubbies ("baby in the sun like the Teletubbies"). The Teletubbies' sun features a giggling baby's face, which symbolizes pure, unadulterated joy and being the center of a brightly lit, idyllic universe. This perfectly captures the artists' carefree basking in their own success. Additionally, the recurring mention of "guala" (slang for money) and "chains clinking" serve as traditional hip-hop symbols of arriving at a high socioeconomic status, which they wear with a mix of genuine pride and comedic exaggeration.

The most crucial recurring motif is the chorus, beginning with the audacious line "Balls hanging low while I pop a bottle off a yacht." This hook is designed for maximum catchiness and shock value, anchoring the song's themes of extreme wealth and arrogant confidence. The phrase "edamame" and the imagery of "popping" recur to tie the song back to its quirky namesake and central theme of explosive success. Additionally, the motif of being a "big bag hunter" reinforces their relentless pursuit of money and status. The repetition of these phrases over the infectious horn loop builds familiarity and creates a hypnotic, anthemic quality that is easily memorized and highly singable.