It’s the second single off JID’s forthcoming ‘The Forever Story.’
Atlanta rapper JID is sitting in the Top 5 of the Genius Top Songs chart with his new single “Dance Now.” The song arrived August 9 alongside an announcement that JID will release his third album, The Forever Story, on August 26. The 15-track project will also include “Surround Sound,” JID’s team-up with 21 Savage and Baby Tate from earlier this year.
It’s the second single off JID’s forthcoming ‘The Forever Story.’
Atlanta rapper JID is sitting in the Top 5 of the Genius Top Songs chart with his new single “Dance Now.” The song arrived August 9 alongside an announcement that JID will release his third album, The Forever Story, on August 26. The 15-track project will also include “Surround Sound,” JID’s team-up with 21 Savage and Baby Tate from earlier this year.
Produced by Christo and Aviad, “Dance Now” is a complicated head-nodder filled with religious references and ruminations on the choices we make in life. The song opens with a sample of the 2014 tune “Yoel’s Niggun” by Zusha, a Hasidic funk-soul band from New York City. It’s an example of nigun, a type of Jewish vocal music built on the repetition of nonsensical phrases.
Bum-bum-bum, ba-dum-bum, bum-bum
Bum-bum-bum, ba-dum-bum, bum-bum
Bum-bum-bum, ba-dum-bum, bum-bum
JID then barrels into the first verse talking anything but gibberish. He begins by reflecting on people’s perceptions of his talent and opinions on the path his career might take given his association with J. Cole’s Dreamville label.
They say “JID a scribbler, he silly with it”
“When he spittin’, I hope he don’t sell his soul”
“He should be good, man, he signed to Cole”
Later in the verse, JID makes clever mention of rapper Omeretta’s recent song “Sorry Not Sorry,” which establishes very strict rules for what parts of the Atlanta metro area actually count as Atlanta.
Got a couple family members in Atlanta
Not Atlanta, we let Omeretta decide
In the pre-chorus, JID raps the song’s title phrase—the kind of thing you might say to someone as you shoot at the dirt beneath their feet. It’s unclear whether JID’s addressing someone who’s crossed him, or who’s run afoul of God.
There’s a nine in my pants, hand cocked
You gon’ try to recant, you can’t now
I could step on the ant, ant pile
I’ma shoot at the ground, dance now
The chorus goes to fellow Atlanta rapper Kenny Mason, who seems to have struck a deal with his deity that allows him to live a pretty thrilling life.
Oh, what a handsome gift (Yeah)
To live and unlive the sin (Uh)
Ridin’ with bags and bricks (Uh)
And my lil’ nasty chick (Yeah, ah, ah, ah, ah)
But maybe this bargain isn’t as good as it seems.
That’s what I asked of Him (Uh)
Told me He’d grant my wish (Yeah)
Don’t dance with the devil (Oh, oh)
You’ll never dance again (Oh, oh)
In the second verse, JID seemingly plays with the “Mamma say, mamma sa ma coosa” outro bit from Michael Jackson’s Thriller track “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.” MJ famously nicked the phrase from Cameroonian musician Manu Dibango’s 1972 song “Soul Makoosa.” In Cameroon’s Duala language, “makossa” means “dance,” which fits neatly into the theme of JID’s song. (Shoutout to Genius user @WilliamViaBlank for drawing the connection.) A few lines later, JID calls back to a memorable JAY-Z line from “Murder to Excellence,” off 2011’s Hova/Kanye collab Watch the Throne.
Uh, momma said, “The messiah’s in moccasins”
Tryna save the kids in them apartments
And show a way to live with other options
Opulence, decadence, black excellence and lots of it
Speaking of “other options,” JID uses the next lines to highlight the kinds of choices he gets to make given his success in the rap game—even if he doesn’t see himself as part of the rap game.
I could cop the newest Bimmer, Bentley or Balenciaga’s
I could pay for this lil’ nigga’s scholarship
I ain’t caught up in rap nigga politics
JID closes the second verse with some cautionary lines about how young men in Atlanta sometimes get caught up in a lifestyle that leads to imprisonment or death. In doing so, he spells out “f-a-x,” so you know he’s speaking truth.
I took my drive, my plug on the West side
Of Atlanta, he known to finesse guys
With the hammer on Campbellton, headshots
On the camera, knock out a dreadlock
That’s a felony charge, he caught a F
Niggas come to the A and get X’d out (X)
In the visually stirring “Dance Now” music video, JID navigates a treacherous cityscape that highlight many of the issues he addresses in the lyrics.
[Verse 1: JID]
J-I-D back in the city with it
Jiddy done been all across the globe
They say "JID a scribbler, he silly with it"
"When he spittin', I hope he don't sell his soul"
"He should be good, man, he signed to Cole"
"He from the hood, nigga, down the road"
"He was just juggin' right by the store"
Then they saw the patrol, it was time to roll
Saw the patrol, it was time to ride
Motor runnin' on Memorial Drive
Got a country cousin cruisin' with the blammer
In Savannah at the Florida-Georgia line
Got a couple family members in Atlanta
Not Atlanta, we let Omeretta decide
They just gon' let that Beretta fly
'Cause you niggas buggin', spray pesticides
It's me and the bros, it's no extra guys
And they movin' weight, it's no exercise
We could pick a date to come stretch you out
Only showin' muscle when it's flexin' time
You could see the hustle, you could recognize
Overcame struggle when the Devil tried
Lemme bear it all when I'm tellin' God
You know I'ma rant when I talk to Jah
[Pre-Chorus: JID]
Nigga said that I can't, damn lie
Ain't dappin' no hand, sanitize
We gon' slide on your man, landslide
There's a nine in my pants, hand cocked
You gon' try to recant, you can't now
I could step on the ant, ant pile
I'ma shoot at the ground, dance now
Dan—, ooh, dan—, pshh, dan—
[Chorus: Kenny Mason]
Oh, what a handsome gift (Yeah)
To live and unlive the sin (Uh)
Ridin' with bags and bricks (Uh)
And my lil' nasty chick (Yeah, ah, ah, ah, ah)
That's what I asked of Him (Uh)
Told me He'd grant my wish (Yeah)
Don't dance with the devil (Oh, oh)
You'll never dance again (Oh, oh)
[Post-Chorus: JID & Kenny Mason]
Dance now, dan—, dan—, pshh, dan—
Dance now, dan—, dan—, pshh, dan—
Dance now, dan—, dan—, pshh, dan— (Ah, ah, ah, ah)
Dance now, dan—, dan—, pshh, dan— (Oh, oh, oh, oh)
(I'm not a—, I'm not a—, uh)
[Verse 2: JID]
I'm not a two-steppin' man, I said, "I do not dance"
It's a gun inside my pants, and the whole world's in his hands (Dance)
It depends, penny for your sins (For your sins)
Shootin' up the block, can't stop revenge (Oh)
Nappy dreadlocks like a rasta man (Rasta man)
Where the story ends and the plot begins
Uh, momma said, "The messiah's in moccasins"
Tryna save the kids in them apartments
And show a way to live with other options
Opulence, decadence, black excellence and lots of it
I could cop the newest Bimmer, Bentley or Balenciaga's
I could pay for this lil' nigga's scholarship
I ain't caught up in rap nigga politics
Play with me and you playin' yourself
Playin' with death, say him a prayer
Cathy and Carl got a K on the shelf
I'm in DeKalb county, yo we carryin' caterin' chef
Cookin' up another plate of the best
Me and Christo got it poppin' like it's Crisco
Fried chicken, I'm lickin' her thighs
Then I put my face in her breasts
I took my drive, my plug on the West side
Of Atlanta, he known to finesse guys
With the hammer on Campbellton, headshots
On the camera, knock out a dreadlock
That's a felony charge, he caught a F
Niggas come to the A and get X'd out (X)
But I only been here 'cause I'm tryna help
Only one you can help is yourself now
[Pre-Chorus: JID]
Nigga said that I can't, damn lie
Ain't dappin' no hand, sanitize
We gon' slide on your man, landslide
There's a nine in my pants, hand cocked
You gon' try to recant, you can't now
I could step on the ant, ant pile
I'ma shoot at the ground, dance now
Dan—, ooh, dan—, pshh, dan—
[Chorus: Kenny Mason]
Oh, what a handsome gift
To live and unlive the sin (Uh)
Ridin' with bags and bricks
And my lil' nasty chick (Ah, ah, ah, ah)
That's what I asked of Him
Told me He'd grant my wish
Don't dance with the devil (Oh, oh)
You'll never dance again (Oh, oh)
[Post-Chorus: JID & Kenny Mason]
Dance now, dan—, dan—, pshh, dan—
Dance now, dan—, dan—, pshh, dan—
Dance now, dan—, dan—, pshh, dan— (Ah, ah, ah, ah)
Dance now, dan—, dan—, pshh, dan— (Oh, oh, oh, oh)
[Outro: Kenny Mason & Jesse Royal]
Life is a journey, you know? Not a destination
Lean not towards the egoistic intonations (Ah, ah, ah, ah)
Positive vibrations bring real liberation (Oh, oh, oh, oh)
It's the will of the heart, the strength of the mind
And the love of the creator that will help us rise out of these sadistic situations (Ah, ah, ah, ah)
And experience the purity that exists in our creation, you know? (Oh, oh, oh, oh)