Transcript

Ain't You Nathaniel B
Ain't You Nathaniel B
Ain't You Nathaniel B

“Ain’t you Nathaniel B?” 🤓

Hold up ain’t you Nathaniel B

Scathing. A true masterclass of lyricism delivered in one simple line, truly a literary universe contained within a single sentence.

When one discusses the lyricism within rap music it's common to see a few names mentioned.

Maybe MF DOOM, Eminem, Mr Kendrick Lamar, or, if like me, you're a little older, maybe RZA, or Slick Rick will come into the conversation.

But I don't think those are accurate, or fair to the dissection of this line.

Proper comparison and analysis of this line requires us to look not to a rapper, but to a bard... and not just any bard, THE bard.

Yes, I believe there is a Shakespearian quality to this line. "Hold up, ain't you Nathaniel B?"

The writer even suggests we 'hold up', signalling the xenoliterary statement about to be delivered to us, and him suggesting us to in fact hold up in order to properly process what he is about to say.

It is obvious to anyone the line is not meant to be complimentary, in fact, the statement is intended as an insult!

This is common in spoken verse exchanges, which is what appears to be happening in the video.

Now, of course, you ask yourself, "well, who is Nathaniel B? if he's trying to insult him why not compare him to someone we know?".

This is the wrong way to approach the analysis.

Of course, don't feel bad, it takes a learned individual to understand concepts of this nature, especially a concept that flirts so sensitively with the metaphysical.

If the young man were to compare the other man to someone generally perceived as negative, if he'd compared him to an infamous celebrity, or perhaps someone local to the group of people who is known as being less than savoury - there would be no magic.

The real genius here is the fact that we, and seemingly even the audience present, have no idea who this "Nathaniel B" is.

He is an enigma, a John Doe, a D.B Cooper.

So how would it be an insult? Well here's where it becomes Shakespearian.

It is obvious from the man's delivery and intellect - of course, he must be at the top level of literary scholars to think of a line like this on the spot - that he knows who Nathaniel B is.

HE is the only one who knows who Nathaniel B is, his opponent, nor any of the audience knows who this Nathaniel B is.

This line suggests that no one's opinion of this man matters except his!

HE is the only one know knows who Nathaniel B is, and he is suggesting that this man IS Nathaniel B, the unknown man!

This means that this mans entire worth is known, created and measured only by this man.

By making his opponent the unknown Nathaniel B, he takes his agency to be someone, because he knows who he is, and he is the only one who knows who he is!

Effectively with one line he is telling us he created this man, and he is the only one who can judge him, and assumedly his judgement is negative.

I've been almost unable to sleep since first hearing this line.

I am just waiting for this young man to release some music, he is truly the man who will take rap from the level it is at now to the point of serious literary discussion, and I simply cannot wait.