Big Shot (with Travis Scott)

"Big Shot" is a multifaceted anthem that operates on several thematic levels. On its surface, the song is a powerful and assertive celebration of success, wealth, and status. Both Kendrick Lamar and Travis Scott engage in classic hip-hop braggadocio, using vivid imagery of luxury cars, wealth, and influence to paint a picture of life at the pinnacle of the music industry. The repeated phrase 'Big shot' serves as a self-affirming declaration of their importance and power.

The song's inclusion on the Black Panther: The Album adds a significant layer of meaning. The opening reference to 'Wakanda' frames the artists' personal success within the film's larger narrative of Black excellence, technological advancement, and unapologetic power. Kendrick's 'Wakanda flex' is not just a personal boast but a statement of cultural pride, aligning his achievements with the aspirational, Afro-futurist vision of the film.

However, the song is deepened by a persistent undercurrent of introspection and emotional conflict. The recurring question, 'Why you emotional?', directed at an unnamed subject (who could be a hater, a romantic partner, or even the artists themselves), contrasts sharply with the triumphant tone. This suggests a duality: the external presentation of an untouchable 'big shot' versus a more turbulent or complex internal reality. It questions the emotional cost of success and challenges the idea that wealth provides immunity from emotional struggles, adding a layer of psychological depth to the otherwise celebratory track.

The song opens with a welcome to Wakanda, immediately setting a tone of power and prestige linked to the world of Black Panther. The central narrative, primarily driven by Kendrick Lamar's chorus and verses, is a vibrant and unapologetic celebration of immense success and the luxurious lifestyle that accompanies it. The core imagery revolves around a high-end car, described with vivid sensory details: a rich, tan leather interior likened to 'peanut butter insides' and a pristine white exterior compared to 'cocaine white'. This vehicle serves as a rolling trophy, a tangible symbol of the artists' elevated status.

Throughout his verses, Kendrick Lamar, performing as his 'Kung-Fu Kenny' persona, details the mechanics of his success. He boasts of his influence, wealth ('got Benji'), and dominance in the rap game, referencing cultural icons like Diddy and 50 Cent to frame his own power and resilience. He paints a picture of a life lived at the apex, so high he's 'forgot about the floor,' with his brand so powerful it has his competitors on the defensive. He explicitly connects this personal success to a larger cultural movement with the line 'and I Wakanda flex,' grounding his individual achievements in the collective pride and power symbolized by the film. However, this celebration is constantly juxtaposed with a recurring, almost taunting question: 'Why you emotional?' This refrain acts as a check, questioning the listener's, or perhaps his own, emotional state in the face of such overwhelming material success. It suggests a disconnect between the outward display of invincibility and a hidden internal turbulence.

Travis Scott's verse continues the theme of a hedonistic, high-flying lifestyle. His signature Auto-Tuned delivery enhances the hazy, dreamlike quality of his lyrics. He makes references to 'syrup' (lean), space travel ('slide down Space City'), and indulgence, shouting out the late Houston rap legend Pimp C. His verse is a whirlwind of luxury, women, and the disorienting speed of life at the top. He reinforces the idea of being a 'big shot' through a series of rapid-fire boasts about wealth, jewelry ('rocks'), and influence. The narrative culminates not with a resolution, but with a return to the central chorus, reinforcing the cycle of lavish demonstration and the persistent, unanswered question about the emotional cost or complexity behind the facade. The song, therefore, tells a story of reaching the pinnacle of fame and fortune, showcasing all its glorious trappings while simultaneously hinting at the psychological complexities that lie beneath the surface of being a 'big shot'.

"Big Shot" was created as part of the Kendrick Lamar-curated soundtrack, Black Panther: The Album, for the 2018 Marvel film Black Panther. The album's creation was a unique and ambitious project. The film's director, Ryan Coogler, had long been a fan of Lamar and initially approached him to contribute a few original songs. However, after Coogler showed Lamar scenes from the nearly-finished film, Lamar and his producer Sounwave were so inspired by its message and energy that they decided to create a full companion album instead of just a few tracks.

Work on the album began while Lamar and Sounwave were on The DAMN. Tour in the summer of 2017. They would often go directly from the stage to a studio bus to work on ideas, hooks, and production. The beat for "Big Shot" was crafted by producer Cardo in October 2017. He sent the instrumental to Kendrick, who reportedly responded the same day with a rough version of the song's idea. The track was co-produced by CuBeatz, Matt Schaeffer, and Sounwave.

This song marked another collaboration between Kendrick Lamar and Travis Scott, who had previously achieved success with their 2016 hit "Goosebumps." Before the album's release on February 9, 2018, Kendrick Lamar strategically previewed the first six bars of his verse during his performance at the 2018 Grammy Awards, building anticipation for the project.

The rhyme and rhythm of "Big Shot" are central to its driving, confident energy. The song is set to a fast-paced trap tempo, creating a feeling of urgency and excitement suitable for a club or an action sequence. The rhythmic foundation is characterized by crisp hi-hats, deep 808 bass, and a steady, head-nodding beat that propels the rappers' verses forward.

Kendrick Lamar's rhyming is characteristically complex. He employs a mix of perfect rhymes and slant rhymes, but his primary technique involves intricate internal and multi-syllabic rhyme schemes. For example, in his first verse, he weaves together a chain of rhymes: 'Kenny,' 'plenty,' 'Benji,' and 'city,' which then transitions into 'Diddy' and 'Fiddy.' This dense rhyming, often falling in unexpected places within the bar, enhances the musicality of his flow and showcases his technical proficiency.

Travis Scott's section, while more melodic, also follows the rhythm closely, using his Auto-Tuned vocals as another instrument within the beat. The song's structure relies heavily on the repetition of the main hook, creating a hypnotic and memorable rhythmic and lyrical center that anchors the more complex verses.

"Big Shot" employs a variety of literary and musical techniques to create its confident and energetic atmosphere.

• Vocal Delivery: The song showcases the distinct vocal styles of both artists. Kendrick Lamar uses an aggressive, rhythmically complex flow, varying his cadence and intensity to emphasize his boasts. Travis Scott contributes his signature heavily Auto-Tuned, melodic rap style, creating a woozy, atmospheric texture that contrasts with Kendrick's sharp delivery.
• Musical Arrangement: The production, led by Cardo and CuBeatz, is built around a prominent, catchy flute melody layered over a hard-hitting trap beat with heavy bass. This combination of an airy, melodic element with a driving, percussive rhythm creates a sound that is both opulent and aggressive.
• Allusion and Intertextuality: Kendrick's lyrics are filled with allusions to pop culture and hip-hop history. He references Sean 'Diddy' Combs and 50 Cent ('dance on 'em like Diddy / Pop off and I pop back like Fiddy') to contextualize his own success and resilience. Travis Scott alludes to the late Texas rapper Pimp C, grounding his verse in Southern rap tradition.
• Repurposed Hook: The chorus of "Big Shot" reuses the melody and some lyrics from Kendrick Lamar's verse on Rich The Kid's 2017 track "New Freezer." This self-referential technique transforms a standout verse into a powerful, standalone hook, demonstrating Kendrick's ability to recycle and recontextualize his own work.

"Big Shot" was a notable track on Black Panther: The Album, a soundtrack that was itself a major cultural event. The album was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Its success was intrinsically linked to the monumental cultural impact of the film Black Panther, which was a landmark in cinematic representation. As part of this project, "Big Shot" contributed to a musical landscape that celebrated themes of Black empowerment and excellence.

The collaboration between Kendrick Lamar and Travis Scott, two of the biggest names in modern hip-hop, made the song a highly anticipated and popular cut from the album. Kendrick Lamar generated significant buzz for the track by performing a portion of his verse at the 2018 Grammy Awards before the song's official release. While it was not released as one of the album's official singles like "All the Stars" or "King's Dead," its high-energy production and star power made it a fan favorite and a staple in playlists and clubs, further cementing the cultural dominance of the Black Panther soundtrack as more than just a tie-in, but a significant artistic work in its own right.

The lyrics of "Big Shot" are rich with symbolism and metaphors that reinforce its central themes of wealth and status.

• Luxury Vehicles as Status Symbols: The most prominent metaphor is the luxury car described in the chorus: 'peanut butter insides' refers to a tan leather interior, while 'outside, cocaine white' vividly depicts a pristine white exterior. This car is not just a mode of transportation; it is a powerful symbol of extreme wealth and success, a tangible representation of having 'made it'.
• 'Gentiles' as a Metaphor for Otherness/Purity: Kendrick's line 'body look like Gentiles' is a complex metaphor. In a biblical context, Gentiles are non-Jews. Here, it is likely used to emphasize the car's 'pure' whiteness or its status as something set apart and distinct from the norm, an outsider in the world of ordinary vehicles.
• 'Wakanda Flex' as Cultural Empowerment: This phrase is a direct symbolic link to the film Black Panther. 'Flexing' is slang for showing off, so a 'Wakanda flex' elevates personal bragging to a symbol of collective Black power, pride, and excellence, mirroring the themes of the movie.
• Emotional Dissonance: The repeated question 'Why you emotional?' serves as a metaphor for the psychological tension that can accompany great success. It symbolizes the internal conflict or fragility that often lies beneath a hardened, successful exterior, questioning the very stability of the 'big shot' persona.

Several recurring phrases and motifs anchor the theme and structure of "Big Shot."

• "Big shot": This is the song's central motif and title. Its repetition throughout the track, especially in the chorus, functions as a powerful, self-affirming mantra. It establishes the song's core theme of being a person of great importance and influence.
• The Car Description ('peanut butter insides / Outside, cocaine white'): This vivid description is the song's primary lyrical hook. Its repetition drills the image of opulent success into the listener's mind, making the luxury vehicle a consistent symbol of the status the artists have achieved.
• "Why you emotional?": This question is another key recurring phrase. It acts as a counter-motif to the straightforward bragging. Its repetition introduces a layer of psychological complexity, questioning the emotional state of those witnessing this success, or perhaps even the artists themselves. This creates a tension between the external display and a potential internal reality.
• Ad-libs: Both artists use ad-libs ('yeah', 'hol' up', 'it's lit') that recur throughout the song. These vocalizations punctuate the verses, add energy and personality, and enhance the track's rhythmic texture, making it more dynamic and engaging.