Lil Uzi Vert beamed back into the popular consciousness over the weekend with “SPACE CADET,” a Soundcloud single that likely marks the first taste of the rapper’s forthcoming RED & WHITE EP. The bass-heavy cosmic-rap track rocketed straight into the Top 10 of the Genius Top Songs chart. The day after the song’s arrival, Uzi again made headlines by indicating they/them pronouns on Instagram
Built on production from Brandon Finessin, Bally, and ShaunGoBrazy, “SPACE CADET” is yet another chance for Uzi to proclaim their otherworldliness. As the song opens, Uzi celebrates their outsider status while possibly paying homage to the 2000s-era computer game 3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet, the music from which Uzi sampled on 2020’s “You Better Move.”
I am a space cadet, the geek, that real (Yeah, whatever)
Woah
(I love all you all animals)
Uzi may be a space voyager, but they love children’s entertainments produced on Planet Earth in the 2000s. In the opening lines of the first verse, they nod to both a popular Lego line and a character from SpongeBob SquarePants.
This shit Bionicle (This shit Bionicle, ayy)
I’m at the tippity top of my pinnacle (Ayy, I’m at the tippity— ayy, get it)
I’m underwater like I’m Squidward Tentacles (Woah, I’m underwater, ayy, yeah)
Later in the verse, Uzi connects space themes to terrestrial drugs and guns.
I’m so outer space (Yeah), I’m off of molly and sticks too (Yeah, slatt)
If we aim at your body (Woah), I swear we won’t miss you (Lil Uzi, woo)
They’re still thinking about illicit substances in the abbreviated second verse.
I’m off the X pill (Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo), yeah (X)
What is that? I don’t know (Yeah), think it’s a sex pill (Think it’s a sex, think it’s a sex, huh?)
There’s not yet a release date for RED & WHITE, but in an Instagram post announcing the EP, Uzi said it would serve as a precursor to their next full-length, The Pink Tape.
You can read all the lyrics to “SPACE CADET” on Genius now.
