To better understand Lil Pump’s ode to the mercantile world, “Gucci Gang,” I analyzed some of the more profound song lyrics. Pump declined to comment when Kanye and Kant reached out for a quote. Nevertheless, extrapolating from just the raw lyrics of “Gucci Gang” is a welcome challenge.
“Spend three racks on a new chain”
Mr. Pump willingly spends three racks on a new “chain.” Rappers often use the term “chain” as a synonym for necklace. In “Gucci Gang,” however, this term takes on a darker connotation. Marx writes that the only thing workers have to lose is their chains. Mr. Pump is spending money to buy the very chains that enslave the common people!
“I can’t buy a b**** no wedding ring, rather go and buy balmains”
“Workforce” in French is “la main-d’œuvre.” Ergo, Pump uses his immorally gained capital to buy the wage labor of the plebian workforce.
“Me and my grandma take meds”
In only six words, Mr. Pump analyzes the dangerous and tragic nature of the United States’ opioid problem. Opioids, whose uses are associated with elder generations and “grandmas,” has become an epidemic within the American working class, particularly in rural communities. Left-leaning politicians largely ignore the plight of these citizens, due to their tendency to vote for the opposing (conservative) candidates. Casting aside this voting bloc marks a critical theory in socialist strategy in the American political system as this population not only needs economic support but also has the power to swing important elections.
Concluding ReMarx
Finally, let us end with the fundamental idea of a “Gucci Gang,” or the bourgeoisie. The brand Gucci, synonymous with wealth and luxury, serves as a metaphor for capital. As Mr. Pump identifies with the exclusive social structure of a “gang” based upon this extravagance, he situates himself firmly inside of the realm of the bourgeois.