Shotta Flow
NLE Choppa
Unpacking the Bravado in NLE Choppa's 'Shotta Flow'
NLE Choppa's 'Shotta Flow' is a track that brims with the young rapper's aggressive energy and confidence. The lyrics are a testament to his self-proclaimed status in the street and the rap game. The song opens with a wish for the Midas touch, an allusion to the Greek myth of King Midas, who turned everything he touched into gold. This sets the tone for the song, as NLE Choppa expresses a desire for success and wealth.
The bulk of the lyrics focus on NLE Choppa's toughness and readiness to confront his enemies. He compares himself to a menace and a beast, suggesting that he's both dangerous and uncontrollable. The references to tennis and the cartoon character Dennis the Menace playfully underscore his trouble-making image. The song is filled with violent imagery and boasts about his weaponry, which he claims is always at the ready. This hyperbolic portrayal of gang life and violence is common in certain hip-hop subgenres, serving as a form of storytelling and identity construction.
The song also touches on themes of loyalty and street credibility. NLE Choppa questions the authenticity of others, calling out those who pretend to be something they're not. The repeated questioning of 'What is your set?' challenges others to prove their affiliations, while also reinforcing his own. The language is raw and unapologetic, reflecting the harsh realities of the environment he describes. 'Shotta Flow' is a display of bravado and a declaration of NLE Choppa's place in the rap world, using vivid metaphors and street vernacular to paint a picture of his life and mindset.