Faneto

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuEx6lNHZjM (VERY EXPLICIT)

I'm taking an unfamiliar approach to unfamiliarity, by dealing with a "poem" I'm quite familiar with. Faneto, by Chief Keef, is a party staple and is regarded as one of the most hype songs of all time. This is especially true for Chicago natives. Even though I had moved to Champaign by the time Sosa dropped this "classic," coming from Chicago, I was incredibly familiar with Chief and listened to Faneto when it came out. Unlike some of my friends, I didn't understand why people loved the song so much. I didn't really pay attention to the lyrics, but off of sound alone, it did not get me as hype as it got others. But despite this, the song blew up. Even other artists, like The Carters (Jay-Z and Beyonce) and 6ix9ine, made odes to the song by referencing the lyrics in their songs Apeshit and STOOPID. All this time, since the dropping of the song, I have been familiar with the song, but never brought myself to be familiar with the lyrics themselves. So with this assignment in mind, I decided to delve a bit deeper.

I knew it was gangster rap, but looking at the lyrics it became clear Sosa was referencing his life in gangbanging. Something I am completely unfamiliar with. A lot of people listen to Sosa because of their Chicago background or childhood want to be a gangster, as I did, but looking back there's nothing even remotely enticing about what he's rapping about. I can't relate to it even a little, and I hope none of my friends who enjoy the song can either. He slowly progresses through the song talking about running from the cops, doing drugs, getting money, shooting up Jersey, and f***ing girls. He does this to almost "flex" in a way: brag about the life he leads and things he's done. I understand it's what brought him fame and there's a reason for him to be proud, as he's been known to kill since he was 16, a "flex" among his peers, but looking at this from any reasonable angle, it's outrageous. Given that, however, this song will always be unique for how familiar and unfamiliar it is to most listeners.