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Chanel
Frank Ocean Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

My guy pretty like a girl
And he got fight stories to tell
I see both sides like Chanel
See on both sides like Chanel
Swimming laps through pool water
Heated like I'm underworld
Hide my tattoos in Shibuya
Police think I'm of the underworld
12 treat a nigga like he twelve
How you looking up to me and talking down? (Yeah)
Can't you see I am the big man? (Big man)
God level I am the I am (whoa)
Now film it with that drone cam in the pink like Killa Cam
Put a zoom on that stick, Noe
Up so close I'm on that kill
Remote controller on your lower back, yes the good
Dick could roll the eyes back in the skull
Rolling when you ride, poppin'
Rolling when you ride, ride the ride
Got one that's straight acting
Turnt out like some dirty plastic (ride)
2016 burnt some discs (dope)
2017 ideas playing off a Walkman
This a cult not a clique on the net
With a cup in a cup, Actavis
That's a double edge, issa knife (knife)
And I don't like to fight 'til I'm fighting (fighting)
Revenge in the air makes my lungs sick
Chopper in the sky like a gun trick (yeah)
Clips on clips like Mike (hello), it's really all

I see both sides like Chanel
See on both sides like Chanel

It's really you on my mind
It's really you on my mind
It's really you
It's really you on my mind

V both sides of the 12
Steam both sides of the L
Freeze smoke rings and they hail
Sleet snow grind for the wealth
Whole team diamonds is real
Showed 'em how to shine by theyselves
You need a cosign for your health
I need that bitch to grind on my belt
I know you need to try for my belt
I know you seen it driving itself
No matte black on the ride 'cause it's stale
But it's stealth

I see both sides like Chanel
I see both sides like Chanel

My pockets snug
They can't hold my 7
They banned my Visa
My Amex and Mastercards
I got new money
And it's all cash
I got new bags
And they all collabs

I rubber band a bunch of thousand dollar Delta gift cards
(I mean my baby bi)
Amazing the cash online unknown
(I mean my baby bi)
Blazing the dash counting money at home

My pockets snug
They can't hold my 7
They banned my Visa
My Amex and Mastercards
I got new money
And it's all cash
I got new bags
And they all collabs

I rubber band a bunch of thousand dollar Delta gift cards
(I mean my baby bi)
Amazing the cash online unknown
(I mean my baby bi)
Blazing the dash counting money at home

Overall Meaning

Frank Ocean’s song “Chanel” features a collection of seemingly disjointed thoughts and imagery that come together in a stream-of-consciousness style. The opening lines describe a man who is both pretty like a girl and has fight stories to tell, which can be interpreted as being both vulnerable and tough at the same time, much like the designer Chanel who utilizes both masculine and feminine aesthetics. The line “I see both sides like Chanel” is repeated throughout the song and can be interpreted as seeing the duality in everything, from life to love.


The lyrics continue with descriptions of pool water as heated like the underworld, the singer’s tattoos being hidden from the police in Shibuya, and references to a drone camera and zoom lenses. Imagery of violence is also present, with the singer comparing themselves to a chopper in the sky and the sound of clips like the rapper Mike.


The second verse continues with more thoughts and imagery, including a mention of freezing smoke rings and sleet snow grinding for wealth. The line “I see both sides of the 12” is a reference to police, who often use the phrase “I see both sides” to try and mediate conflict. The rest of the verse is focused on money and material possessions, with the singer describing their success with new cash and bags.


Overall, “Chanel” is a complex and multi-layered song that defies a simple explanation. It’s a combination of abstract ideas and vivid imagery that come together to create a highly unique listening experience.


Line by Line Meaning

My guy pretty like a girl
The singer is describing their friend's feminine appearance.


And he got fight stories to tell
The friend also has stories of violence to tell, despite his appearance.


I see both sides like Chanel
The singer can empathize with different points of view, like the double-sided Chanel logo.


See on both sides like Chanel
Reiterating that the artist can understand opposing perspectives.


Swimming laps through pool water
The artist is swimming.


Heated like I'm underworld
The water is warm like in the underworld.


Hide my tattoos in Shibuya
The singer masks their tattoos while in Shibuya, Japan.


Police think I'm of the underworld
The police suspect the artist is involved in illegal activity.


12 treat a nigga like he twelve
The police treat grown men like children.


How you looking up to me and talking down? (Yeah)
People should not condescend to the artist, despite admiring him.


Can't you see I am the big man? (Big man)
The singer is confident in his power.


God level I am the I am (whoa)
The artist may be comparing himself to a deity.


Now film it with that drone cam in the pink like Killa Cam
Record the scene with a pink camera drone, as rapper Cam'ron would.


Put a zoom on that stick, Noe
Use the zoom on the camera stick.


Up so close I'm on that kill
The camera angle is very close and intense.


Remote controller on your lower back, yes the good
The camera controller is attached to their lower back, which feels good.


Dick could roll the eyes back in the skull
The artist is bragging about their sexual prowess.


Rolling when you ride, poppin'
The singer is having fun while driving.


Rolling when you ride, ride the ride
Repeating that the singer is enjoying the ride.


Got one that's straight acting
The artist has a partner who appears heterosexual.


Turnt out like some dirty plastic (ride)
Their partner gets wild like cheap, disposable toys.


2016 burnt some discs (dope)
The artist made mix CDs in 2016.


2017 ideas playing off a Walkman
In 2017, they's exploring musical ideas using an old-school Walkman cassette player.


This a cult not a clique on the net
The artist's group is like a cult, not just a social media clique.


With a cup in a cup, Actavis
The singer is drinking cough syrup, which contains codeine and promethazine.


That's a double edge, issa knife (knife)
Drinking Actavis is risky and can be lethal.


And I don't like to fight 'til I'm fighting (fighting)
The singer will not initiate conflict, but will defend themselves when necessary.


Revenge in the air makes my lungs sick
The artist dislikes the toxic atmosphere of seeking revenge.


Chopper in the sky like a gun trick (yeah)
The helicopter looks like a gun magic trick.


Clips on clips like Mike (hello), it's really all
Referencing Mike Tyson's boxing technique, but it's all irrelevant.


It's really you on my mind
The singer is thinking about someone they love.


It's really you on my mind
Repeating that they can't stop thinking of that person.


It's really you
It really is just that person who the artist is thinking of.


V both sides of the 12
The slang term 'V' means to flip, so they see both sides of the cops.


Steam both sides of the L
They see both sides of the L (L train in Chicago) being used for illegal activity.


Freeze smoke rings and they hail
They can exhale smoke rings in cold air and they stay suspended.


Sleet snow grind for the wealth
They work hard in adverse weather conditions to make money.


Whole team diamonds is real
The singer and their crew have real diamond jewelry.


Showed 'em how to shine by theyselves
The singer taught their friends how to be successful independently.


You need a cosign for your health
Some people need validation to survive.


I need that bitch to grind on my belt
The artist needs someone to have sex with.


I know you need to try for my belt
The singer believes someone wants to have sex with him.


I know you seen it driving itself
They believe someone saw them driving a self-driving car.


No matte black on the ride 'cause it's stale
The artist didn't choose matte black for their car because it's too common.


But it's stealth
Despite the lack of matte black, the car is still subtle.


My pockets snug
The artist's money is secure in their pockets.


They can't hold my 7
Their pockets cannot contain their iPhone 7.


They banned my Visa
The artist's Visa card is no longer valid.


My Amex and Mastercards
Their American Express and Mastercard are also rejected.


I got new money
They have a different form of cash.


And it's all cash
The new cash is only physical bills, not digital.


I got new bags
The artist acquired new designer bags.


And they all collabs
The new bags are all collaborations between different high-end brands.


I rubber band a bunch of thousand dollar Delta gift cards
They have bound Delta gift cards worth thousands of dollars with rubber bands.


(I mean my baby bi)
This line is unclear without more context.


Amazing the cash online unknown
They are earning large amounts of money online in secret.


(I mean my baby bi)
This line is still unclear without more context.


Blazing the dash counting money at home
They are showing off how much money they count at home.




Lyrics © Global Talent Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group
Written by: Adam King Feeny, Christopher Breaux, Jacob Ludvig Olofsson, Rami Dawod, Michael Uzowuru

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Pride317

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
My guy pretty like a girl
And he got fight stories to tell
I see both sides like Chanel
See on both sides like Chanel
Swimming laps through pool water
Heated like I'm underworld
Hide my tattoos in Shibuya
Police think I'm of the underworld
12 treat a nigga like he twelve
How you looking up to me and talking down? (Yeah)
Can't you see I am the big man? (Big man)
God level, I am the I am (Woah)
Now film it with that drone cam, in the pink like Killa Cam
Put a zoom on that stick, Noé, up so close I'm on that kill
Remote controller on your lower back, yes, the good
Dick could roll the eyes back in the skull
Rolling when you ride, popping
Rolling when you ride, ride the Rodman
Got one that's straight acting
Turnt out like some dirty plastic (Ride)
2016: burnt some discs (Dope)
2017: ideas playing off a Walkman
This a cult, not a clique on the net
With a cup in a cup, Actavis
That's a double edge, "issa knife" (Knife)
And I don't like to fight 'til I'm fighting (Fighting)
Revenge in the air makes my lungs sick
Chopper in the sky like a gun trick (Pow)
Clips on clips like Mikey (Hello)
It's really all

[Chorus]
I see both sides like Chanel
See on both sides like Chanel

[Bridge]
It's really you on my mind
It's really you on my mind
It's really you
It's really you on my mind

[Verse 2]
V both sides of the 12
Steam both sides of the L
Freeze smoke rings and they hail
Sleet snow grind for the wealth
Whole team diamonds is real
Showed 'em how to shine by theirselves
You need a cosign for your health
I need that bitch to grind on my belt
I know you need to try for my belt
I know you seen it driving itself
No matte black on the ride 'cause it's stale
But it's stealth

[Chorus]
I see both sides like Chanel
I see both sides like Chanel

[Outro]
My pockets snug, they can't hold my 7
They banned my Visa, my Amex and Mastercards
I got new money, and it's all cash
I got new bags, and they all collabs
I rubber band a bunch of thousand-dollar Delta gift cards
(I mean my baby bi)
Amazing, the cash online unknown
(I mean my baby bi)
Blazing the dash, counting money at home
My pockets snug, they can't hold my 7
They banned my Visa, my Amex and Mastercards
I got new money, and it's all cash
I got new bags, and they all collabs
I rubber band a bunch of thousand-dollar Delta gift cards
(I mean my baby bi)
Amazing, the cash online unknown
(I mean my baby bi)
Blazing the dash, counting money at home



All comments from YouTube:

@fohunnidrob

He’s not gay, he is just a man with a lot of love for his homies

@hyuckra.7163

he is gay tho

yall i thought he was gay but he is BI he sees both sides like chanel

@freedom9729

laughing out loud this whole interaction

@alethiamorris2124

*Bi. He sees both sides

@rumpleforeskin7026

no homo

@jaundicepatient7898

hyuckra. r/whooooosh

150 More Replies...

@Aezthete

The flow of this song genuinely feels like a walk during a cloudy day in a big city with pretty lights

@Evertsz12

same

@user-hv4dk8ws1s

Fr

@dewfkactus8694

I can see it now🤔😶

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