Although the current annotation is interesting, I’m not convinced it’s what Bey’s referring to. What do y'all think? I’ve copied the suggestions into the thread. I’m leaning with the whole Albino Alligators movie thing at the moment…

https://genius.com/8641017

Lyric in context:

I see it, I want it, I stunt, yellow-bone it
I dream it, I work hard, I grind ‘til I own it
I twirl on them haters, albino alligators
El Camino with the seat low, sippin’ Cuervo with no chaser

Suggestions so far:

I believe it’s a nod to the way white musicians “bite off” or take from black musicians and black culture in general. Albino denotes the color, alligators brings light to the biting imagery.

• @madisondew

The term comes from an anecdote claiming that alligators will use an albino among them as a sacrifice, so that the opposing alligators will be distracted and become prey themselves.

• @Atuktuk

Albino alligators, aka the “haters” could be referring to the critics bashing her appearance, the afro and nose she speaks of earlier in the song. Features that would only be picked on by ignorant people looking to take a bite out of her confidence.

• @JRK120

This is what happens when you are searching for meaning in something that is pretty straightforward.

Albino Alligators is in reference to Hermes Berkin Bag that’s made of Albino Croc skin.

She grinds, so now she can own a $200k bag.

• @ShottaNIC

Albino Alligators is a reference to the movie 1996 movie Albino Alligators which was set in New Orleans. The film does allude to the fact that the albino alligator is too weak to do anything other than be used as a sacrifice to distract prey. Similarly, Beyonce’s haters that would like for her to not achieve success, deem her as Illuminati, or look down upon the ethnic features of her child… are often poor whites and self-loathing females who are being used by a wealthy male white class to work against their own interests. She is essentially calling them pawns. In the process, they distract from Beyonce’s mission of feminism and self-love regardless of race, creed, sexuality, etc.

• @black_mermaid

This could also be a further elaboration on the allegations that she’s been bleaching her skin, or that people are shaming her for her lighter complexion. In a sense, I think she’s actually repurposing the slur and using it against the hate towards her.

• @cke

@genius-editorial-board @Professor_Rupture

How intelligent do we believe Beyonce’s writing to be? I feel as though it could be a combination of some of these, tbh.

@sosad21kinik – i know right. in the context of the lyrics, the hermes bag makes sense but in the context of the song, the movie thing does too..

I think the most immediate meaning of the line is the one that approaches it as “albino alligators” referring to white critics that tear through her music.

From there, it could get more in depth and also be a reference to the movie AND handbag.

The skin bleaching feels like the biggest stretch just ‘cause it’s probably the most out of context? Maybe?

Albino alligators refers to both bloodthirsty white capitalists. AND how she’s flexing on her haters with a unique fashion statement. Albino alligator skin is some next level fashion shit.

And if – ‘albino alligators’ is a reference to the “survival anecdote”, it would be in a playful foundational way. Meaning she thought it was a cool anecdote and tethered it to an obvious meaning like “bloodthirsty white capitalists”.

I think you guys are on to something. Albino Alligators are rare as fuck, imagine if she procured some albino alligator skin for some sort of handbag or a pair of shoes?

are often poor whites and self-loathing females who are being used by a wealthy male white class to work against their own interests.

Damn… Not sure about that at all.

Albino Alligators is in reference to Hermes Berkin Bag that’s made of Albino Croc skin.

Kind of agree with this tbh. IF we put something in about it referring to white critics, it will surely be speculation? I mean does she have many white critics? Or is she speaking on the way prominent white people dismiss black music as a whole (thinking Bill O'Reilly etc, I don’t know a huge amount cause I’m not American but I know Jay has blown up at Bill O'Reilly before).

I’m not sure she is refering to “bloodthirsty white capitalists” so to speak. Jay and Bey probably deal a lot with that kind of person, I know Jay is in business arrangements with those type of people, and he’s never spoken disparagingly of them.

Kind of agree with this tbh. IF we put something in about it referring to white critics, it will surely be speculation? I mean does she have many white critics? Or is she speaking on the way prominent white people dismiss black music as a whole (thinking Bill O'Reilly etc, I don’t know a huge amount cause I’m not American but I know Jay has blown up at Bill O'Reilly before)

I’m so tired of the ‘critics’ trope in music. Everyone just jumps straight to critics.

I’m not sure she is refering to “bloodthirsty white capitalists” so to speak. Jay and Bey probably deal a lot with that kind of person, I know Jay is in business arrangements with those type of people, and he’s never spoken disparagingly of them.

?? He’s ALWAYS spoke disparagingly of them… And SNAKES is the number one term behind white people. I’s fashionable to refer to white people as cold blooded, as reptiles.

Don’t you think that fits into the BPP theme?

Or is she speaking on the way prominent white people dismiss black music as a whole (thinking Bill O'Reilly etc, I don’t know a huge amount cause I’m not American but I know Jay has blown up at Bill O'Reilly before).

Oops missed this part. Yeah this is it… people like Bill O' Reilly

@ewokABdevito yeah critics i mean people being critical or disparaging, not just music critics.

WHen does Jay speak badly about white businessmen? He doesn’t bit the hands that feed him. Kanye and Dame do regularly but not often Jay.

@Theonlydjorkaeff the 5 percenter affiliation? They believe the white devil are snakes and serpents.

I think this is a fashion reference. Either she’s talking about a purse, as someone suggests, or more likely (since she uses the plural) she’s talking about a pair of shoes, or probably a pair of white alligator skin cowboy boots.

Gator shoes are definitely a big meme, and are often used in lyrics as a sign of some fly pimp shit. The context of this line—twirling on the haters, in an el Camino—also leads me to believe she’s just stunting on some fashion shit here, rather than trying to say something deep and obscure.

Also read something in google that says albino alligators are only found in the wild in Louisiana, which is related to the songs theme.

—Sent from Mailbox

@bfred Do you really feel that way? Or is it a PC interpretation?

Also read something in google that says albino alligators are only found in the wild in Louisiana, which is related to the songs theme.

What’s the song’s theme? Obviously it meshes with the South, but it also completely meshes with BLM and BPP. I’m 70/30 that albino alligators is a “snake term” as well as a fashion statement.

rather than trying to say something deep and obscure.

There’s nothing deep or obscure about making a jab at someone in lyrics that are meant to jab… in fact, it would be what you would expect.

It produces the desired effect… it would be impossible for someone operating out of her history so to say (so whether she or her camp wrote the lyrics not to acknowledge the ambiguity. Albino alligator is not only a rare animal, but it’s a rare word coupling.

I mean obviously its the gatorskin shoes, but to deny the rest is to just put a cap on a flame that is most definitely visible.

I think it also resonates with the “G’s” move in silence overtones around the whole art piece, in that you would THINK the song was just about the south if you haven’t seen the video… That’s the clue.