The song shows ECCO2K engaging in an inner dialogue and talking to himself. He is the “lil black boy” that he speaks of.
Perhaps he is talking to his younger self and trying to give younger Ecco some advice.
Black Boy
Ecco2K Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey lil black boy
Hey lil black boy
Dreads and makeup
Where'd your head go
Wake yourself up
Brave lil black kid
Wasted, burned out
Chasing the sun
No joke this time I'm really ghosting
Yeah he's got Margielas but he's still posing
I woke up sober, now I'm J.K. Rowling
I'll wake up soulless one day, I just know it
I only have one heart and it's still broken
But if I give it to you would you hold it
And if it went missing then would you notice
And would you kiss me if I gave you roses
Why are you afraid
Why are you afraid
Wake up with no face
Who am I today
Why are you afraid
What are you afraid of
Look the other way
(Ugh) you're all the same
Don't let it escape
You gotta kill that snake
Feel like RS-68's
Burn out and get wasted
Hey lil black boy
Dreads and makeup
Where'd your head go
Wake yourself up
Brave lil black kid
Braids and black ones
Wasted, burned out
Chasing the sun
Hey lil black boy
Where'd your head go
Brave lil black kid
Wasted, burned out
In ECCO2k's song "Black Boy," the artist talks to a young black boy who is struggling to find his place in life. The song starts off by addressing the boy's appearance - "Dreads and makeup" - and questioning where his mind is at - "Where'd your head go? Wake yourself up." ECCO2k emphasizes the boy's bravery and strength despite his struggles, calling him a "Brave lil black kid" with "Braids and black ones" (meaning black shoes).
The second verse shifts to ECCO2k's own struggles with sobriety and the fear of losing himself to addiction. He references luxury fashion brand Margiela, suggesting that material possessions don't necessarily eliminate personal issues. He questions whether anyone would notice if he lost his soul and wonders if someone would cherish his heart if he were to offer it. The chorus repeats the question "Why are you afraid?" and suggests the importance of confronting fears and not ignoring them. ECCO2k ends the song by urging the listener to not let their problems escape and to "kill that snake" (a metaphor for facing challenges head-on).
Some possible interpretations of the song could be a commentary on the pressures and challenges that young black men face in today's society, as well as highlighting the importance of mental health and self-care. ECCO2k's personal struggle with addiction and fear of losing oneself could also be seen as a relatable and relevant issue for many young people.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey lil black boy
Addressing a young black male
Hey lil black boy
Addressing a young black male
Hey lil black boy
Addressing a young black male
Dreads and makeup
The black boy has dreadlocks and is wearing makeup
Where'd your head go
The black boy is lost and confused
Wake yourself up
The black boy needs to snap out of it
Brave lil black kid
The black boy is courageous
Braids and black ones
The black boy has braids and black clothes
Wasted, burned out
The black boy is exhausted and drained from a reckless lifestyle
Chasing the sun
The black boy is pursuing a dream, however unlikely it may be
No joke this time I'm really ghosting
The singer is departing, and this time for real
Yeah he's got Margielas but he's still posing
The black boy is trying to impress but isn't being genuine
I woke up sober, now I'm J.K. Rowling
The singer is now sober and has clarity
I'll wake up soulless one day, I just know it
The singer fears they will lose their identity
I only have one heart and it's still broken
The singer is still hurting from past trauma
But if I give it to you would you hold it
The artist is asking if someone is trustworthy enough to hold their heart
And if it went missing then would you notice
The artist is wondering if someone would even notice if their heart was lost
And would you kiss me if I gave you roses
The singer is asking if someone would reciprocate their affections
Why are you afraid
The singer is asking why someone is scared
Why are you afraid
The artist is asking why someone is scared
Wake up with no face
Someone is waking up with an identity crisis
Who am I today
Someone is feeling lost and unsure of themselves
Why are you afraid
The singer is asking why someone is scared
What are you afraid of
The artist is asking what is causing someone's fear
Look the other way
The singer is suggesting to avoid confrontations
(Ugh) you're all the same
The singer is dismissing everyone as being the same
Don't let it escape
The singer is urging someone to not let their opportunity slip away
You gotta kill that snake
The artist is advising to eliminate obstacles
Feel like RS-68's
The artist feels like rocket engines, always moving forward
Burn out and get wasted
The singer is warning of the dangers of overindulging and burning out
Hey lil black boy
Addressing a young black male
Where'd your head go
The black boy is lost and confused
Brave lil black kid
The black boy is courageous
Wasted, burned out
The black boy is exhausted and drained from a reckless lifestyle
Contributed by Cole I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.