Wockesha

Album: A Gangsta's Pain (2021)
Charted: 20
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Wockesha" is Moneybagg Yo's name for the addictive beverage "lean," or "purple drank." Made with soda or fruit juice mixed with prescription-strength cough syrup and hard candy, the concoction is popular in southern United States hip-hop culture.

    During this trippy cut, Moneybagg personifies lean as a woman called "Wockesha" and explores their toxic relationship. The rapper derived the name from Wockhardt, an Indian pharmaceutical company who manufactures cough syrup.
  • Once a lean addict, Moneybagg had been clean of the drug for a while before recording this cut. He told Billboard about writing a song about his old habit: "You had to just blank out, you had to just go into the studio and close your eyes and think about everything you've done. That's what I did, just close my eyes and reflect back on everything."
  • YC, Javar Rockamore, and RealRed's production incorporates a sample of the keyboard riff from Debarge's 1983 song "Stay With Me." Though the song was never a hit, "Stay With Me" has been a popular choice for sampling by hip-hop, R&B and pop acts, including Notorious B.I.G. on his 1994 cut "One More Chance," Ashanti on her 2002 hit "Foolish," and Mariah Carey on her 2008 track "I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time."
  • Moneybagg Yo likens his past relationship with lean to a romantic relationship, noting how hard it can be to quit both. "It's like relapsing, and that's the same thing people do with drugs and other stuff," he told Apple Music of the somber song. "They'll say, 'I'm through doing this, I'm through doing that,' but then they'll get back on it. So, I just went off the concept of that. I'm just painting pictures."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dr. John

Dr. JohnSongwriter Interviews

The good doctor shares some candid insights on recording with Phil Spector and The Black Keys.

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple PilotsSongwriter Interviews

Stone Temple Pilots bass player Robert DeLeo names the songs that have most connected with fans and tells the stories behind tracks from their Tiny Music album.

Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders

Chrissie Hynde of The PretendersSongwriter Interviews

The rock revolutionist on songwriting, quitting smoking, and what she thinks of Rush Limbaugh using her song.

Bob Dylan Lyric Quiz

Bob Dylan Lyric QuizMusic Quiz

Think you know your Bob Dylan lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

Music Video Director David Hogan

Music Video Director David HoganSong Writing

David talks about videos he made for Prince, Alabama, Big & Rich, Sheryl Crow, DMB, Melissa Etheridge and Sisters of Mercy.