The Chance the Rapper 'Coloring Book' Lyrics That'll Awaken the '90s Kid in You
Chicago's own Chance the Rapper dropped his latest mixtape, Coloring Book, late Thursday night, following up 2013's Acid Rap. Much of the 14-track mixtape is a sepia-toned nostalgic visit to Chance's youth — even the title evokes childhood.
Here are all the '90s kid references in Coloring Book that will have you putting down your Nickelodeon Magazine (please) and pausing your Free Willy VHS so you can pay full attention:
"Boy I'm at your head like Craig did Deebo."
On the mixtape's second song, "No Problem," Chance drops a reference to the 1995 movie Friday, starring Ice Cube and Chris Tucker. Specifically, he's talking about the scene where Ice Cube's Craig beats up Deebo. Google it if you want.
"Aye aye, Captain."
In his verse on "No Problem," 2 Chainz slips in a reference to Spongebob Squarepants, specifically the show's earworm of a theme song. Yes, technically Spongebob is still on, but it premiered back in 1999 — and we all know the early seasons were the best.
"Blockbuster movies"
In one of the most wistfully nostalgic tracks on the mixtape, "Summer Friends," Chance reminisces about passing time in the summers as a kid growing up in Chicago, spending time at the "ice cream truck and the beauty supply," and of course, renting movies from Blockbuster. Which, if Chance was anything like us, involved hours of walking up and down the aisles because the movie you actually wanted to see had already been checked out.
"Dying laughing with Krillin saying something bout blonde hair."
In "Blessings," a song rife with Christ imagery and religious references, Chance casually slips in a reference to Dragon Ball Z characters Krillin and Goku — which may seem out of place until you realize that people are constantly getting resurrected in the cartoon.
"Wendy you've aged/ I thought you'd never grow up."
This line, a reference to Peter Pan, appears on "Same Drugs" (while Peter Pan didn't come out in the '90s, its VHS version did). The bittersweet reference to the end of the story, when Peter and Wendy pull apart because one grows up and the other stays a child, speaks to a nostalgia most strongly felt by people who have only recently become adults — like '90s kids.
"Electrify the enemy like Hedwig til he petrified."
This literary reference comes on "How Great." All '90s kids read Harry Potter (unless you're a total muggle), so everyone should know that (spoiler alert) Hedwig the owl dies.
"Any petty Peter Pettigrew could get the pesticide."
Another Harry Potter reference on "How Great" — this time a shoutout to sucky people like Peter Pettigrew, who gave up Harry's parents to Voldemort. Also the pesticide thing, because Peter was both a literal and figurative rat.
"I was lost in the jungle like Simba after the death of Mufasa/ No hog, no meerkat, hakuna matata by day"
We shouldn't even have to explain this line from Jay Electronica's verse on "How Great" to you — not only do '90s kids love The Lion King, they also loved those color-changing collectible Lion King spoons. You know the spoons we mean.
"Scars on my head, I'm the boy who lived"
Wow, Chance the Rapper truly loves Harry Potter. This line from "Finish Line/Drown" is Chance equating himself with Harry (minus the British accent and magic powers).
"Gimme the water/ I need the kind from Space Jam"
Is there anything more '90s than Space Jam? This line off "Finish Line/Drown" refers to Michael Jordan's "secret stuff" (which we all know was just a normal water bottle).
"Call me Mister Mufasa, I had to master stampedes"
OK, this one might make you cry just thinking about it: In this line from "Blessings (Reprise)" Chance is referring to the death scene from The Lion King... you know, THE DEATH SCENE?! The saddest moment of your '90s childhood?
All lyrics from Genius.
