Them Themes: Natty Jedi — Doobie French II
Themes are a part of everyday life. If you’ve payed attention to the story of your day, at the end of it, there is at least a single theme which it can be defined by. Hopefully that day isn’t completely dull and there are different themes or different aspects of a theme that represent various moments.
Here we’re going to breakdown some themes in the song, “Doobie French II (Himonym)”, by Natty Jedi, he explores humanity’s innate desire to thrive, conquer, or reach new heights through the observations and experiences of drug use, academia, being a role model, as well as, touching on the concept of race in western society.
If you don’t already know, doobie is a term synonymous with joint in regard to marijuana cigarettes which some people smoke to get high. Some people smoke for fun and escapism, but for others it’s a means for spiritual elevation and higher consciousness.
From the stance of the majority of the first world population, cannabis is a drug not to be used for any reason. For those of certain faiths like Hindu and Rastafari, consuming the plant brings one closer to God and its use is recommended. Angel dust, “dust of angels”, is mentioned in the opening bars of the song as an allusive comparison to cannabis’ spiritual benefits in how angels are the divine beings that communicate between humans and God. If cannabis is a gateway drug as some would proclaim, then there are people will go beyond that threshold to chase a greater high in angel dust.
The number 95 has a particular significance in the early parts of this song being that in most cases where something is being scored, a 95 is an A, though it’s still not 100. The artists attitude toward numbers is brought about by the age old battle quality v. quantity in the context of western society. Is it the journey of the score or result which is most important?
The bar “search for the dust of angels on flight 95” is reference to the Nike Air Zoom A.K.A. Jason Kidd sneakers. Though Kidd is very much a great in his own right, during his career, he was often compared to Michael Jordan who is generally dubbed as the greatest of all time and the quintessential 100 to Kidd’s 95. Jordan has the most notable career and most valuable sneaker. The Kidds are just as stylish and Jason Kidd’s career is just as successful.
We hear 95 again in the song as it pertains to road culture. Folks speed in their vehicles for reasons like impatience, to feel like a boss on the road, car testing, thrill seeking, or road rage. In this case, speeding 95 mph, on interstate 95, to make it to chemistry class on time and hopefully ace an exam, is all in the pursuit of success that will hopefully be brought about by knowing the “atomic mass of iodine”. Our socio-economic status is majorly based on the level of education we’ve attained. From the time we’re conceived, parents are saving money for college and practicing their speeches on academia because the “right” education set us up for life.
Natty Jedi bars an internal thought while interacting with the kids on his block who are trying to do the Shmoney dance, which looks ridiculous, without knowing the context of the song, “Hot N*gga”.
“Now who am I to say don’t do that mess? It’s foolishness. I’m 21 at mom’s house with dreams of doing uber shit. You look up to me ’cause facial hair ain’t worn by foolish kids, am I high?”. Video games and television portrays men with facial hair as sage like. From a child’s perspective this makes complete sense and to the kids on the block, Natty Jedi is seen in a similar light. After telling them about the song, Natty Jedi feels more like a hypocrite than any type of mentor or role model because following one’s artistic passions is also foolish to those who don’t understand.
At this point in society we know, or should realize, that race is social construct made and, for the most part, maintained by white people so they feel superior. Natty Jedi points out this “high” as “a rule made by man we abide”, considering that the term white supremacy is often used in current conversation, people of color are subconsciously acknowledging that they feel they are below white people.
The following bar “bleach my skin so I seem more divine” refers to how racial superiority was propagated through mental and physical enslavement justified via a false sense of piety. Michelangelo furthered this concept when he painted the Creation of Adam in the Sistine Chapel as well as Da Vinci with Last Supper, both paintings depict God, Jesus and other biblical figures with white faces and features.
Throughout the duration of his song, Natty Jedi explores what it means to be high on multiple levels without giving one clear definition, because there is no one way to define that state of being. It’s all a matter of choice, perspective and circumstance and these things change with different experiences.