Crabs In A Bucket
Vince Staples Lyrics
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Crabs in a bucket
Wanna see you at the bottom, don'tcha love it?
When they're hatin' so you hit 'em with the encores
Sendin' shots but you at the top floor
Let 'em pop shit, give 'em some drugs to go pop with
Need white women at the shows unconscious
If not that then ciphers turned artists
Get with that or get in the moshpit
Where's your moxie, in truth from Poppy
Young man, you not actin' too cocky
Prolly 'cause I'm feelin' like the world gon' crash
Run a hundred somethin' on the E-class dash
Them feelin' funny, guarantee gon' flash
Cock back, blast, put him in the bag
Prolly gonna regret it in the retrospect
Got a lot of problems I ain't let go yet
Spend a lot of money on the CDG
Ain't I lookin' lovely on the TV screen?
Battle with the white man day by day
Feds takin' pictures, doin' play by play
They don't never want to see the black man eat
Nails in a black man's hands and feet
Put 'em on a cross or you put 'em on a chain
Lines be the same, he don't look like me
Rollcage on the GT3
Had a show on stage like a DVD
Put me in the MOMA when it's over with
I used to look up to the sky, now I'm over shit
Remember that I still got you
I still got you here
I swear that they come and got you
Hidden in my head
Tryna vanish
I've got to care
You can try paycut, baby
Now it's under there
Never crossed my mind to think
Maybe you'd have flashed a glance at me
It never really crossed your mind
Ever really crossed your mind
I never had another chance to breathe
In "Crabs in a Bucket," Vince Staples raps about the negativity, jealousy, and resentment he's experienced throughout his life. The chorus represents the metaphor for the negative and cyclical behavior of crabs trapped in a bucket who never let one another escape to safety. Vince comments on how this behavior is common among humans, claiming that people would rather see someone fail than succeed. Even when someone succeeds, people still try to bring them down. The encores Vince talks about represent successes or accomplishments he's made, but no matter what he does, he meets backlash. Vince talks about the drug culture, the consumption of white women, and the pressure to conform as an artist, analogizing that these things promote negative behavior within the community.
In the second verse, Vince raps about the equality battle Black people have fought for many years, only to encounter an unseen and systemic approach by the government to compartmentalize them. Vince sheds light on a harsh reality by explaining that black artists can only be given recognition when the majority approves of them. This verse represents the racism that is embedded in our society and the consistent setbacks African Americans have faced for centuries.
The track ends with an emotionally powerful moment where Vince talks about his friend's death, and how it's showing him that he needs to make a positive change. He realized that he needed to concentrate on making a change, not only for himself but also for his loved ones who look up to him. He acknowledges confronting his anxiety and aims to live his life a much happier and freer version of himself.
Line by Line Meaning
Crabs in a bucket
People who do not want to see you succeed
Crabs in a bucket
People who do not want to see you succeed
Wanna see you at the bottom, don'tcha love it?
They take joy in you failing
When they're hatin' so you hit 'em with the encores
When people hate on you, give them more to hate on
Sendin' shots but you at the top floor
People will try to bring you down, but you are still successful
Let 'em pop shit, give 'em some drugs to go pop with
Give your haters something to self-destruct with
Need white women at the shows unconscious
People want to experience extreme and wild situations even if that means harming others
If not that then ciphers turned artists
If not sleeping with women then to associate with the music scene
Get with that or get in the moshpit
Join the cool kids or be left out
Where's your moxie, in truth from Poppy
Where is your confidence, do you even know yourself?
Young man, you not actin' too cocky
You are not confident enough in yourself
Prolly 'cause I'm feelin' like the world gon' crash
The world feels like it's going down the drain
Run a hundred somethin' on the E-class dash
Drive my car to escape my problems
Them feelin' funny, guarantee gon' flash
People who give off weird vibes will eventually show their true colors
Cock back, blast, put him in the bag
Will resort to violence to solve my problems
Prolly gonna regret it in the retrospect
Will likely regret these violent actions in hindsight
Got a lot of problems I ain't let go yet
I have a lot of unresolved issues
Spend a lot of money on the CDG
Spend money on brands like CDG to impress others
Ain't I lookin' lovely on the TV screen?
Looking for validation from others
Battle with the white man day by day
Daily struggle against institutionalized racism
Feds takin' pictures, doin' play by play
Government surveillance, constant harassment
They don't never want to see the black man eat
Racism and systemic oppression blocking Black success
Nails in a black man's hands and feet
Reference to Jesus being crucified, relates to systemic oppression of Black people
Put 'em on a cross or you put 'em on a chain
Both slavery and modern-day prison industrial complex are forms of oppression against Black people
Lines be the same, he don't look like me
Lines of oppression are the same across all forms of oppression, but those affected are not always the same
Rollcage on the GT3
Reference to owning a high-end sports car
Had a show on stage like a DVD
Feels like life is a performance
Put me in the MOMA when it's over with
Wants to be recognized after death
I used to look up to the sky, now I'm over shit
Loss of innocence, disillusionment with life
Remember that I still got you
I will always have your back
I still got you here
I am here for you
I swear that they come and got you
The world is against us
Hidden in my head
I keep these worries locked away in my mind
Tryna vanish
I try to ignore these worries
I've got to care
Despite trying to ignore my problems, I still care
You can try paycut, baby
Money won't solve my problems
Now it's under there
Hide away our worries and pretend we're fine
Never crossed my mind to think
I never considered that things could be different
Maybe you'd have flashed a glance at me
I never had a chance with you
It never really crossed your mind
You were never interested
Ever really crossed your mind
The thought of being with me never crossed your mind
I never had another chance to breathe
I never had a moment of peace
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lakisha Kimberly Robinson, Vincent Staples, Justin Vernon, Zack Sekoff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@anandaaryasatya6229
[Intro: Vince Staples]
Crabs in a bucket
[Verse 1: Vince Staples]
Crabs in a bucket
Wanna see you at the bottom, don't you love it?
When they're hatin' so you hit 'em with the encore
Sendin' shots but you at the top floor
Let 'em pop shit, give me some drums to go pop with
Need white women at the shows unconscious
If not that then topless, earned all this
Get with that or get in the moshpit
Where's your moxie? Ain't you from Poppy?
Young man, you not actin' too cocky
Prolly 'cause I'm feelin' like the world gon' crash
Read a hundred somethin' on the E-class dash
If I'm feelin' funny, guaranteed gon' flash
Cock back, blast, put 'em in a bag
Prolly gon' regret it in the retrospect
Got a lot of problems I ain't let go yet
[Verse 2: Vince Staples]
Spend a lot of money on the CDG
Ain't I lookin' lovely on the TV screen?
Battle with the white man day by day
Feds takin' pictures doin' play by play
They don’t ever want to see the black man eat
Nails in the black man's hands and feet
Put him on a cross so we put him on a chain
Lying to me, sayin' he don't look like me
Rollcage on the GT3
How a show on stage like a DVD?
Put me in the MoMA when it's over with
I used to look up to the sky, now I'm over shit
[Outro: Kilo Kish]
Remember that I still got you
I still got you here
It's rare they'd come across you?
I kept you hidden in my head
Drowning in my own ocean
I forgot to care
And you can drop the anchor, baby
I know what's under there
It never really crossed my mind to think
Maybe you'd avert your glance at me?
Ever really cross your mind
Ever really cross your mind
I ain't never had no chance to breathe
@JOSETORRES-xd7eh
the intro instrumentals from this give such a esoteric ethereal vibe you cant quite explain it. its like looking out into the ocean and seeing how vast and magnificent life is
@davidbell1684
This album makes everything else sound outdated. Vince is a Legend
@javeonteturner7061
Damn nah fr rn everybody makin house music now
@yeah5874
I don't understand why this wasn't a big hit, best song on the album by far
@KontKoekje
the beginning of the song brings so many nostalgic feelings even tough i can't figure out what memories specifically, issa trip bruh
@erictrommer
Couldn't have put it better
@killar1one
ever listened to mario judah die rough? there’s something in the instrumental reminding me of it…
@liltick102
u just feeeling the music m8
@zzzzzz.....
I agree ++
@prod.romeshunna
It sounds like a video game menu