Born in Queens, New York into a family of missionaries, Abra spent her first eight years in London, where her parents built the church they would ultimately work in. Her introduction to singing came from that church, too, where her father was pastor and her mother oversaw praise and worship. After London, her family settled in the quiet suburb of Lilburn outside Atlanta. At 14, Abra began playing guitar. She attended Parkview Highschool and was an active member of the drama department, graduating in 2007. Later in her teens, she began uploading her acoustic covers of rap songs onto YouTube. This led to her being discovered by Awful Records founder and rapper Father, who encouraged her to make original music. She later joined the label in 2014.
Her first EP, BLQ Velvet, was released in 2015. Her second EP, Princess was released by True Panther Sounds on July 15, 2016. It is her first release on a major label. The song "Fruit" off the album Rose was featured in an article on the best R&B songs of 2016 by The Guardian.
Regarding Abra's style of clothing, Vogue commented in 2016 that "deliberate contrasts are part of her artistic identity on the whole: Abra is a member of the mostly male-dominated Awful Records coterie, an outlier crew swiftly taking over Atlanta with a sound that stands apart from ATL's rap oeuvre".
Abra is one of the stars of the 2018 film Assassination Nation and plays Em.
Unlock It
Abra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's fitting in just right
You can take it from the lock on this one, baby
I know what I want, just follow me on my way
You say you were going my way
It could be so easy and you, you could have it all
If you make me happy, baby, baby
Unlock it
You want me, unlock it
You ain't breaking in, just stop it
Don't just pick, boy, pop it
Unlock it, unlock it
Unlock it for me
You ain't got the shortcut
You got the key, unlock it
All the doors could open
You better knock, knock
Slatt
Hold up (wait)
Young Carti, Young Carti, Young Carti a diva (wait)
Yeah (yeah), I'm pouring the lean, I'm smoking that reefer
(What, what, what, what) yeah
Got tats on my body, I look like Khalifa
Yeah (hold on), just texted my shawty, I wanna come meet ya
Yeah, I go in the booth, yeah, and walk on a feature (what, yeah, whoa)
I'm topping the charts, yeah, we topping the meters (what, what)
Yeah, my baby say she don't fuck with these bitches, okay cool (cool)
I told her I don't fuck with these niggas either, okay cool (okay)
I could get them knocked off when I see 'em (what, what)
If ABRA point the bitch out, I'm gon' get 'em
Unlock it (what)
You want me, unlock it
You ain't breaking in, just stop it
Don't just pick, boy, pop it
Unlock it, unlock it
Unlock it for me
You ain't got the shortcut
You got the key, unlock it
All the doors could open (unlock it)
You better knock, knock
In this song, Abra and Playboi Carti are addressing a lover, asking them to unlock their passion and love. The lyrics suggest that the lover has been holding back, but if they were to give in to their feelings, they would be able to have everything they desire. Abra sings about the experience of fitting in just right, and encourages her partner to follow her lead. Playboi Carti comes in with a rap verse, bragging about his success, his tattoos, and his ability to get rid of anyone who stands in his way. He acknowledges that his lover is wary of other people, but assures her that he feels the same. Together, they urge their partner to unlock their potential and allow themselves to love deeply and passionately.
Throughout the song, the idea of unlocking something is repeated several times, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for opening up emotionally. Abra and Playboi Carti use the imagery of keys and doors to illustrate this idea, with lines like "You got the key, unlock it" and "All the doors could open." The chorus is especially powerful, with its repeated plea to "Unlock it" and its warning to knock on doors before entering.
Overall, "Unlock It" is a catchy track that blends Abra's smooth vocals with Playboi Carti's rapid-fire rhymes. The lyrics are straightforward but effective, expressing the desire for deeper emotional connection and urging a hesitant partner to take a chance on love.
Line by Line Meaning
And I know what it's like when
I understand the feeling when
It's fitting in just right
Everything falls into place perfectly
You can take it from the lock on this one, baby
You can trust my instincts on this one
I know what I want, just follow me on my way
I have a clear vision, just trust and follow me
You say you were going my way
You claim to have similar goals as me
It could be so easy and you, you could have it all
Success can be achievable if we work together
If you make me happy, baby, baby
If you satisfy me emotionally
Unlock it
Open up to me
You want me, unlock it
If you desire me, show me your true self
You ain't breaking in, just stop it
Don't be fake or try too hard
Don't just pick, boy, pop it
Don't just pretend or play games
You ain't got the shortcut
You can't fake your way through
You got the key, unlock it
You have the potential to make this work
All the doors could open
There could be great opportunities and success
You better knock, knock
Put in the effort to succeed
Young Carti, Young Carti, Young Carti a diva (wait)
I am confident and talented
Got tats on my body, I look like Khalifa
I have tattoos and resemble Wiz Khalifa
Just texted my shawty, I wanna come meet ya
I texted my girlfriend to hang out
I'm topping the charts, yeah, we topping the meters (what, what)
Our music is successful and getting a lot of attention
Yeah, my baby say she don't fuck with these bitches, okay cool (cool)
My girlfriend doesn't like other women, and that's okay
I told her I don't fuck with these niggas either, okay cool (okay)
I don't like other men either, and that's okay
I could get them knocked off when I see 'em (what, what)
I can cause trouble for those who disrespect me or my girlfriend
If ABRA point the bitch out, I'm gon' get 'em
If ABRA identifies a problem person, I will take action
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Alexander Ridha, Gabrielle Mirville, Jordan Carter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind