Lemonade (feat. NAV)

"Lemonade" is a celebratory anthem centered on the themes of wealth, success, and the hedonistic lifestyle that accompanies newfound fame. The song, featuring verses from Gunna and NAV with a hook by Don Toliver, serves as a vessel for the artists to boast about their luxurious lives, filled with high-end jewelry, expensive cars, and drugs. The central metaphor, 'Ice, lemonade, my neck was dripping,' equates the massive amount of diamonds ('ice') on their chains to the condensation dripping from a cold glass of lemonade. This imagery powerfully conveys a sense of effortless opulence. The lyrics also touch upon the artists' past struggles, contrasting their previous lives of having 'nothing' and dealing with 'backstabbers' with their current state of being 'comfortably' wealthy. There's a recurring theme of loyalty to their roots and close friends ('never going to be the one turn on my brother') and family ('won't ever love a bitch more than my mother'), suggesting that despite the extravagant transformation, they hold onto a core set of values. The song is a quintessential 'flex' track, showcasing the material rewards of their success in the music industry.

The song chronicles the extravagant and hedonistic lifestyle that comes with fame and wealth, a significant transformation from a difficult past. The narrative begins by establishing a scene of ultimate luxury and recklessness, mentioning 'Xanny bars' and 'suicide doors' on a brand new car, immediately setting a tone of high-risk, high-reward living. The presence of 'college girls' and high-fashion brands like Raf Simons ('Rafs') further illustrates a 'rockstar life' so flush with money it becomes almost comical. The chorus acts as the song's central motif, using the metaphor of 'ice lemonade' to describe a neck dripping with diamonds. This image is coupled with the disorienting effects of 'codeine juice,' which causes the world to blur, exemplified by waking up to find the roof of a coupe missing. This duality captures the simultaneous clarity of immense wealth (the 'ice') and the hazy, dreamlike state induced by substance use and the surreal nature of their new reality.

NAV’s verse delves deeper into the specifics of this opulent world. He speaks of carrying Adderall ('Addy boys'), emphasizing a culture of performance-enhancing drugs. He contrasts his current success with a past life he describes as 'disgusting' and 'filled with backstabbers.' This reflection introduces a sense of gratitude and disbelief; he thanks God for his comfortable living, a stark contrast to having 'nothing' in his youth. The lyrics touch on themes of loyalty and severing ties, as he mentions burning bridges and letting the fire guide his path forward, a metaphor for decisively moving on from negative influences. He solidifies his top-tier status by describing lounging on a private jet ('left the PJs on a PJ') and being a 'big dawg' who needs no leash, signifying his independence and power. The imagery of being covered in 'water' and everything being 'on Fiji' reinforces the theme of abundant, flowing wealth.

Gunna's verse continues this narrative of opulence and loyalty. He starts by mentioning Percocet, another nod to the prevalent drug culture within this lifestyle. He boasts about his wealth and dismisses envy from others, stating they 'can’t miss what you never had.' His loyalty is a core theme, vowing to never turn on his 'brother' even when facing law enforcement and declaring he'll never love a woman more than his mother, a promise he stakes on his 'government name.' This provides a grounding element amidst the excess, suggesting a personal code of honor. He reflects on his journey, recalling a time of scarcity ('from fifty, I could go back empty') and asserting that despite his success, he remains unchanged at his core, never going 'against the grain.' The verse reinforces the idea that while his circumstances have drastically improved, his fundamental principles and loyalties remain intact. The song concludes by returning to the central 'ice lemonade' chorus, solidifying the primary image of dazzling, dripping wealth as the ultimate symbol of their arrival and success.

The creation of "Lemonade" was a multi-year process orchestrated by the producer collective Internet Money, founded by Taz Taylor. The song's origins trace back to 2017 with a track of the same name by artist Jozzy, co-written with Johnny Yukon and produced by Internet Money members. Don Toliver later recorded a demo version. When Taylor wanted to feature Toliver on Internet Money's debut album, B4 the Storm, Toliver's label provided the a cappella vocals from that old demo. Internet Money producers, including Taz Taylor, Nick Mira, and Alec Wigdahl, then decided to build a completely new beat from scratch around Toliver's vocals. Wigdahl added the distinctive guitar melody, which reminded Taylor of Travis Scott's "Yosemite." Initially considering Scott for the track, Taylor ultimately decided to add Gunna and NAV, who had previously collaborated on "Yosemite." The final production credits include Taz Taylor, Nick Mira, Alec Wigdahl, E-Trou, and Pharaoh Vice. The song was officially released on August 14, 2020, after being teased on social media by Taylor and Mira in the preceding months.

The rhythmic and rhyming structure of "Lemonade" is characteristic of the trap and melodic rap genres, prioritizing flow and vibe over complex poetic schemes. The song is set at a moderately fast tempo of 140 beats per minute (BPM). The drum programming features a halftime backbeat and intricate hi-hat patterns, including eighth notes and 16th-note fills, which create the genre's signature 'bouncy' feel. This rhythmic complexity in the percussion provides a dynamic foundation for the more relaxed vocal deliveries. The rhyme scheme is generally loose and conversational, often relying on assonance and slant rhymes rather than perfect rhymes, which allows for a more naturalistic and fluid delivery. For example, in NAV's verse, 'nothing' is paired with 'disgusting' and 'comfortably' with 'done with me', focusing on similar vowel sounds at the end of the lines. This approach allows the lyrics to ride the beat smoothly, with the interplay between the cadences of the rappers and the underlying instrumental track being a key element of the song's appeal.

"Lemonade" employs a range of musical and literary techniques to achieve its laid-back, yet luxurious feel.

• Musical Style: The song is built on a 'bouncy, guitar-laden' pop-trap beat. A key element is the melodic, gently plucked guitar riff played by Alec Wigdahl, which forms the song's main instrumental hook. The production, handled by five Internet Money members, features layers of sound including a prominent, gritty 808 bass, crisp hi-hats, and subtle additions like vinyl crackle to add texture. The structure has been compared to EDM, with buildups that lead into the beat drops, creating an energetic flow.
• Vocal Delivery: The artists utilize a melodic rap style, with sing-song flows that complement the beat's relaxed vibe. Don Toliver's smooth, catchy hook contrasts with the more direct, braggadocious verses from Gunna and NAV. The use of Auto-Tune is prevalent, contributing to the polished and ethereal sound of the track.
• Literary Devices: The lyrics are filled with modern hip-hop slang and brand-name dropping (Rafs, Rodeo, Fiji) to establish a sense of contemporary luxury. The primary literary device is the extended metaphor of 'lemonade' for diamond jewelry, which serves as the song's central conceptual hook. The narrative voice is consistently first-person, focusing on personal experience and achievements.

"Lemonade" achieved significant cultural impact and commercial success following its release. The song became a viral sensation, particularly on TikTok, where the "Lemonade" challenge contributed significantly to its popularity during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns. It became the highest-charting single for Internet Money, Don Toliver, and NAV, peaking at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also topped the charts in several countries including the United Kingdom and Portugal. The music video, directed by Cole Bennett of Lyrical Lemonade, featured a surreal, underwater theme reminiscent of SpongeBob SquarePants and garnered tens of millions of views. The song's success spawned two official remixes: one featuring Roddy Ricch, and a Latin remix with Anuel AA, further extending its reach. "Lemonade" was a landmark track for the producer collective Internet Money, cementing their transition from selling beats online to becoming chart-topping lead artists and a dominant force in modern hip-hop production.

The song's lyrical content is rich with symbolism and metaphors that glorify a lavish lifestyle.

• Ice Lemonade: The most prominent metaphor is 'Ice (Ice), lemonade, my neck was dripping'. 'Ice' is a common slang term for diamonds, and the artists compare the way their diamond-encrusted jewelry hangs and shines to the condensation dripping from a glass of cold lemonade. This creates a vivid, sensory image of extreme wealth and coolness.
• Suicide Doors: The mention of 'suicide door, brand new bag' refers to high-end luxury cars with rear-hinged doors, a classic symbol of status and wealth in hip-hop culture.
• Burning Bridges: NAV's line, 'Burned some bridges and I let the fire light the way,' is a metaphor for cutting ties with his past life and negative influences. The 'fire' symbolizes a decisive and illuminating break, guiding him towards his successful future.
• Water/Fiji: NAV's boast, 'I got water on me, yeah, everything on Fiji,' uses 'water' as another slang for diamonds, extending the theme of flowing, abundant wealth. Referencing Fiji, a brand of artesian water, elevates this imagery to suggest purity and premium quality.

The most significant recurring element in "Lemonade" is the chorus, performed by Don Toliver, which acts as the song's central hook and thematic anchor. The lines 'Ice (Ice), lemonade, my neck was dripping / Ice (Ice), lemonade, my neck was dripping' are repeated multiple times, cementing the primary metaphor for wealth in the listener's mind. This repetition makes the song highly memorable and catchy. Another recurring motif is the bridge, also sung by Toliver: 'Xanny bars, suicide door, brand new bag / College girls give a nigga head in my Rafs / Rockstar life, so much money it'll make you laugh, hey / These bitches, they hate, and you can't miss what you never had, hey, hey'. This section consistently prefaces the chorus, setting the scene of a debaucherous 'rockstar life' and reinforcing the themes of luxury, excess, and indifference to envy. The repetition of these sections provides a clear and cohesive structure to the song, making it easy to follow and sing along to, which was a key factor in its viral success.