Homecoming

"Homecoming" operates on multiple thematic levels. On its surface, it's a quintessential trap anthem centered on braggadocio. Lil Uzi Vert flaunts his lavish lifestyle, detailing his wealth through expensive jewelry and cars, his sexual conquests with a woman named Nicki from his hometown, and his powerful status. The title itself is ironic, as the word "homecoming" never appears in the lyrics but alludes to his connection with this woman from Philadelphia during a return home, grounding his new, extravagant life in his origins.

Beneath the surface of hedonism, the song serves as a manifesto of Uzi's personal and professional evolution. He contrasts his past struggles, coming "straight out the mud," with his current position as a "boss" who deals with no middlemen, using a metaphor about NBA player Anthony Davis to underscore his demand for autonomy in his career. This reflects a journey from adversity to a self-made empire, where he now dictates the terms.

Furthermore, within the context of the album Eternal Atake, "Homecoming" plays a crucial narrative role. The album is conceptually divided into three sections representing different personas, with this track concluding the aggressive, hard-hitting "Baby Pluto" segment. The song's abrupt ending, where Uzi finds himself strapped in and pushes a button, serves as a transition, suggesting his abduction or awakening into the next phase of his cosmic journey, thereby bridging the braggadocio of "Baby Pluto" with the more spaced-out themes to come.

The narrative of the song unfolds as a brash and unfiltered monologue celebrating a life of immense wealth, sexual exploits, and street-hardened success. The protagonist begins by detailing a specific, casual relationship with a woman from his hometown of Philadelphia, whom he calls Nicki. He describes their physical interactions with explicit and unapologetic language, establishing a tone of dominance and emotional detachment. This personal anecdote serves as a launching point to broader themes of his elevated status. He likens his control and otherworldly nature to that of an alien, suggesting he operates on a different plane from everyone else.

The lyrics then pivot to assertions of power and business acumen. He references his Israeli Uzi and compares his direct, no-nonsense approach to business to NBA star Anthony Davis's departure from the Pelicans, a metaphor for cutting out the middleman and taking full control of his career. This declaration of being the "boss" is contrasted with his gritty origins, having come "straight out the mud." He details the harsh realities of his past, where survival meant being involved in activities that could leave rivals moving slow "like a snail" after being hit with slugs, a grim reference to violence. This past life is presented as the foundation for his current philosophy: saying what he feels and doing what he wants, a freedom earned through struggle.

As the song progresses, the focus sharpens on the spoils of his success. He boasts about his financial independence, contrasting his present ability to make millions with a past where people he later loaned money to wouldn't help him. This section is a testament to self-reliance and the satisfaction of proving doubters wrong. The imagery is opulent and materialistic, with mentions of expensive jewelry that looks 3D like an IMAX movie and luxury cars. The tone is relentlessly confident, almost a stream-of-consciousness flow of flexing his achievements and lifestyle. The song concludes with a sudden and dramatic shift in narrative, tying into the album's overarching science fiction concept. The protagonist abruptly questions his surroundings, asking, "Wait, what the fu', why am I strapped in?" This moment of confusion is immediately followed by the sound of a button being pressed and a sense of departure, suggesting he has been awakened from this boastful reverie only to find himself captured or about to embark on an involuntary journey, a key transition within the album's story arc.

"Homecoming" was released on March 6, 2020, as the sixth track on Lil Uzi Vert's long-awaited second studio album, Eternal Atake. The song was produced by the Pennsylvania-based producer Bugz Ronin, who was a significant contributor to the album, producing five tracks in total. The creation of the track was described by Ronin as a 50-50 collaboration. In a studio session, Uzi expressed a desire for a "hard s--t" beat after a period of low creative energy. Ronin began building the track by programming hi-hats and claps in FL Studio to create a bounce. As he added more sounds, he initially thought Uzi was disinterested because he was on his phone. However, he soon realized Uzi was actively writing the song's lyrics in his phone's notes app, perfectly in sync with the beat being created. The track was recorded and mixed by Kesha "K. Lee" Lee, a frequent engineer for Uzi, and mastered by Chris Athens. The song's original title was reportedly "Philly Jawn".

The rhyme and rhythm of "Homecoming" are central to its aggressive and captivating energy. The song is set to a tempo of 78 BPM, which, while technically in the 'Andante' or walking pace range, feels much faster due to Uzi's rapid vocal delivery and the driving trap beat. The track is in a standard 4/4 time signature.

Uzi's flow is characterized by intricate rhyme schemes and a relentless pace. He frequently uses multi-syllabic rhymes, creating a complex and impressive lyrical structure. For instance, in the opening lines, he rhymes "Philly" with "Nicki," "picky," and "sticky," and follows it up by rhyming "bougie" with "choosy" and "Uzi." This dense rhyming continues throughout, with lines like "alien," "Israeli," and "Pelicans" showcasing his ability to connect dissimilar words through sound.

The rhythm of his delivery often works in counterpoint to the beat's steady pulse. He speeds up and slows down his flow, stretching words like "I got..." before launching into the fast-paced hook. This dynamic interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the instrumental's heavy 808s creates the song's signature "bounce" and maintains a high level of energy, compelling the listener to stay engaged.

"Homecoming" showcases several of Lil Uzi Vert's signature stylistic techniques, both musically and lyrically.

Musical Techniques:

• Beat-Driven Structure: The production by Bugz Ronin is minimalist yet powerful, characterized by a dominant, bass-heavy 808 pattern and sparse instrumentation. There are moments in the track where most melodic elements cut out, leaving only Uzi's vocals and the hard-hitting 808s, creating a raw and impactful effect.
• Vocal Delivery: Uzi employs an aggressive and relentless flow that aligns with the "Baby Pluto" persona featured in the first third of Eternal Atake. His delivery is a rapid-fire succession of bars with minimal breaks, creating a sense of urgency and high energy. He also uses ad-libs and inflections to add texture and personality to the track.

Literary Techniques:

• Braggadocio and Hyperbole: The lyrics are built on exaggerated claims of wealth and power, such as his diamonds looking 3D like an "IMAX movie" or having "20 more million." This hyperbole is a core tenet of the trap genre, used to build a larger-than-life persona.
• Metaphor and Allusion: Uzi uses contemporary allusions, most notably to NBA player Anthony Davis, to create vivid metaphors for his own life and business principles. These references ground his otherworldly persona in relatable, real-world events.
• Narrative Framing: The song's abrupt conceptual ending, where he questions being "strapped in," is a key narrative device that connects it to the album's larger sci-fi story of abduction and space travel, turning a standard trap track into a piece of a larger puzzle.

"Homecoming" is a track from Lil Uzi Vert's highly anticipated second studio album, Eternal Atake, which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart in March 2020. The album's release was a major event in the hip-hop community after years of delays and teasers. As a standout track, "Homecoming" contributed to the album's overall success and narrative depth, charting at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is particularly significant as the final track of the album's first act, representing the aggressive "Baby Pluto" persona. Its unique, hard-hitting beat and Uzi's energetic flow were praised by fans and critics, with some considering it one of the best songs on the album. While it may not have achieved the standalone commercial success of singles like "Futsal Shuffle 2020," its role within the conceptual framework of Eternal Atake cemented its importance among Uzi's fanbase. The album itself is considered influential for its ambitious sci-fi concept and genre-blending sound, and "Homecoming" is a key component of that legacy.

"Homecoming" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that elevate its lyrical depth beyond simple bragging.

• 'The Mud': Uzi repeatedly states he got it "straight out the mud." This is a common metaphor in hip-hop for rising from a difficult, impoverished, or dangerous upbringing. It symbolizes his journey from humble beginnings in Philadelphia to stardom, emphasizing the grit and struggle that defined his past.
• The Alien Persona: Uzi raps, "I'm movin' the bitch, just like an alien." This line connects to the overarching sci-fi theme of Eternal Atake. It serves as a metaphor for his feeling of otherness and detachment from societal norms. He operates on a different wavelength, viewing the world and his interactions from an extraterrestrial perspective.
• Anthony Davis Reference: The line, "Anthony Davis, don't deal with the Pelicans," is a direct metaphor for Uzi's business philosophy. It references the NBA player's public demand for a trade to control his own career path. For Uzi, it symbolizes his refusal to work with middlemen, asserting his status as the boss who operates with complete autonomy.
• The Button: The song's final lines—"Wait, what the f—, why am I strapped in? ... I just got to hit this button"—are a crucial narrative symbol for the album's concept. The act of being 'strapped in' symbolizes a loss of control, suggesting abduction or capture, while hitting the button represents a leap into the unknown, transitioning him to the next stage of his cosmic journey.

Several recurring phrases and motifs anchor "Homecoming," reinforcing its central themes.

• The 'Girl from Philly': The most prominent recurring element is the hook, which details his relationship with "one girl from Philly, I think her name Nicki." This phrase is repeated multiple times and serves as the song's central lyrical anchor. It grounds Uzi's extravagant, globe-trotting persona in his hometown roots, creating a motif of connection to his past even amidst his success.
• Assertions of Wealth: Throughout the track, Uzi consistently returns to the motif of his immense wealth. This is expressed through recurring imagery of expensive jewelry ("water on my neck 3D like IMAX"), money ("20 more million"), and luxury items. This repetition serves to relentlessly build and reinforce his image of success and financial dominance.
• Street Origins ('The Mud'): The phrase "straight out the mud" or variations of it appear multiple times. This motif acts as a constant reminder of his difficult upbringing and serves as the justification for his current unapologetic and hedonistic lifestyle. It's a declaration that he has earned his success through hardship.
• Boss Mentality: The idea of being the "boss" and not dealing with a "middleman" is another recurring theme. It speaks to a motif of autonomy and control over his career and life, which is a central part of his artistic identity.