Trojan Horse
by Dave (featuring Central Cee)

Album: Split Decision (2023)
Charted: 12
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Songfacts®:

  • "Trojan Horse" is the chorus-less opening track of Dave and Central Cee's 4-track EP Split Decision. The duo go toe-to-toe, spitting seven verses between them about their ascent to the throne and the treacherous traps that fame and fortune bring.
  • Dave kicks things off, taking us back to the days when he couldn't afford fancy kicks. He reminisces about his one precious pair, scrubbing them clean with meticulous care. The young rapper took immense care of his cheap footwear, feeling like Real Madrid's Brazilian winger Vinícius Junior.

    Cench jumps in, leaving the past behind as he flaunts his present lifestyle. He keeps himself protected, surrounded by famous women, ticking them off his checklist like a boss. Meanwhile, his guestlist is filled with bare gunmen.

    Later in the track, Dave's generosity dwindles, but there's a reason behind it. He questions those who handed him the scissors only to get upset when he cuts them off. They walked the two-man step, but he watches his back vigilantly, knowing that trust can be a slippery slope.

    And trust issues don't discriminate - Cench has learned that lesson the hard way in his rapid rise to the top. The fame-filled lifestyle messes with his head, making him question who might betray him.
  • Dave brings the fire in the fifth verse, where the song title takes center stage.

    Give her the Trojan, give her the Trojan Horse, I feel like Troy

    Dave plays with wordplay, hinting at giving a woman a Trojan, a well-known brand of contraception. Yet, he suggests he won't use it, implying the possibility of impregnation - a Trojan Horse, a metaphorical baby bombshell.

    Now, let's dig deeper. The Trojan Horse was a legendary wooden horse that was used by the Greeks to trick the Trojans into letting them into their city during the Trojan War. The horse was filled with Greek soldiers, and when the Trojans opened the gates, the soldiers rushed out and attacked Troy. "I feel like Troy" suggests Dave is feeling vulnerable and exposed.
  • Dave created the string-backed beat himself. It samples "Trisha's Lullaby" by Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir from the soundtrack of the 2009-10 Japanese anime television series Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.

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