"Cobra" is a song by American rapper Megan Thee Stallion. The single was released on November 3, 2023. The single was released by Hot Girls Productions and serves as the lead single, as well as the eighteenth and final track to Megan's third studio album, Megan.
Background[]
On October 19, 2023, 1501 Certified Entertainment announced that the label and Thee Stallion had "mutually reached a confidential settlement to resolve their legal differences", ending a three-year lawsuit and settling in Megan's favor. On October 23, 2023, Thee Stallion began teasing the release of her first solo single since she released her second studio album Traumazine in August 12, 2022. She posted a video on her Instagram channel. The video depicted Megan's lips up-close, with her stating "just as a snake sheds it's skin, we must shed our past, over and over again." On October 27, 2023, it was announced Thee Stallion would be delivering "Cobra" to all streaming platforms on November 3, 2023. The artist then proceeded to share 2 movie-themed posters in support for the album. The music video for "Cobra" was directed by Douglas Bernardt and premiered the same day as the release date. Thee Stallion had stated the reason behind the symbolism of the cobra animal that “Cobras exemplify courage and self-reliance. They stand tall and fierce in the face of challenges, teaching one to tap into their inner strength and rely on oneself to conquer their threats. Emulating the cobra helps one be more confident in the person they are within.” Thee Stallion has said that the single and her upcoming third studio album are both self-funded, and released by her independent production company, Hot Girl Productions. The song reached #1 in Trending on YouTube and Top Ten in iTunes. "Cobra" generated 12 million streams, 6,000 downloads and registered 660,000 radio airplay audience impressions in United States in its first week. The song peaked at number 32 of the Billboard Hot 100 and became Megan Thee Stallion's eighth top 10 hit on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, peaking at 10. It also became the rapper's 10th top 10 R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs, debuting at number seven, and topped the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart.
Composition[]
The song marks a distinct departure from her usual hip-hop style, exploring rap rock with a distinctive fuzzy electric guitar riff throughout the song. Lyrically, the single discusses personal topics about Megan and her mental wellbeing, such as her battling depression, grief with the loss of relatives, more so her mother, the stress and truth of the music industry and infidelity from her former partner. Lyrics like "Yes, I'm very depressed/How can somebody so blessed wanna slit they wrist?", "This pussy deprеssed, hmm, I'm about to stress him, yeah", "Man, I miss my parents, way too anxious, always cancel my plans", and "How long you been worried 'bout me, tellin' people that's not me?/Honestly, it kinda feel like you plottin', watchin'/Why is you speakin' on me at my lowest when you acted like you ain't noticed?" contribute to the central idea of the song. One lyric was spotted by many listeners; "Pulled up, caught him cheatin', gettin' his dick sucked in the same spot I'm sleepin'". This seemingly confirmed that her ex-partner, Pardison Fontaine, cheated on Megan while they were still together. Listeners caught note of this and showed support to Thee Stallion.
Critical reception[]
Upon its release, "Cobra" received widespread critical acclaim from music critics, many of whom praised her vulnerability on the track. Amber Corrine of Vibe praised the rapper for "owning her truth" in the single: "Meg tells a story about her past from over the years — which includes: losing her parents and grandmother, experiencing a breakup with ex-boyfriend Pardison Fontaine, concluding a three-year case over being shot in the foot, and also settling a lawsuit with her former 1501 label." Malcom Trapp of Rap-Up remarked that Megan Thee Stallion "channeled vulnerability and defiance by revealing the struggles beneath her success" in "Cobras".
The song's bass-heavy influences were also met with acclaim. Larisha Paul of Rolling Stone wrote that Megan was "dripping with venom", while Jade Gomez of Complex remarked that the rapper "came out swinging".
Music video[]
On the same day of the release of "Cobra", Megan announced the video for the single would be premiering later that night. The video depicts multiple screens of Megan during stunts, such as Megan climbing out a large cobra, leading to a desert, Megan laying down in a glass box in a room filled with what appears to be people autographing the screen, most likely mocking the paparazzi. At the end of the video, the film reveals four eggs, with a snake protecting the eggs. Fans speculate these eggs represent all of the "acts" in which Megan teased in her Instagram caption. This would end up with the first egg is "Cobra". The video was directed by Douglas Bernardt and was funded by Hot Girl Productions.
Reaction[]
Fans were quick to notice the artist had depicted in "Cobra" that Megan's ex-partner, Pardison Fontaine, had cheated on her with another woman with the lyric "Pulled up, caught him cheatin', gettin' his dick sucked in the same spot I’m sleepin'", rumored to be Jada Kingdom.[1] Fans were quick to defend Megan and therefore Pardison had received major backlash from Megan's fans due to the allegations.[2] Pardison quickly responded to the backlash with posting a meme of Future, with Future saying "It's an evil world we live in".[2][3] This may have been posted due to Future having a past collaboration with Megan, "Pressurelicious", and also being well known also for his issues with infidelity.[4] 2 weeks later, Pardison responded with a track titled "Thee Person".[5] This song lyrically talks about Megan faking her gym posts, referring to rumors of her getting liposuction, Megan lying about Pardison's infidelity and instead Megan had cheated, and Megan's state of mind, and recommending Megan to get professional help due to her not being truthful.[6] On December 12, Pardison addressed more of the allegations on The Breakfast Club.[7] The next day, Megan went on Instagram Live to discuss multipe topics, including Pardison's response:[8]
"If this man is saying, “I didn’t cheat on her, I didn’t do that.” Well, why the fuck is you responding to me? Do you know how many n***** y’all claim I done fucked with? Why are you answering? Why you trying to make that shoe fit? Wasn’t you getting your dick sucked in the same spot I was sleeping? If you say it wasn’t true, why the hell is you dissing me? I don’t have anything bad to say to my ex, I genuinely don’t. If I’m not talking about you, why you talking about me? You say, “I didn’t cheat.” So why you thought that bar was for you? Why are you making the shoe fit, Cinderella?"
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
(B-B-Bankroll Got it)
Ayy
[Verse 1]
Breakin' down and I had the whole world watchin'
But the worst part is really who watched me
Every night I cried, I almost died
And nobody close tried to stop me
Long as everybody gettin' paid, right?
Everything'll be okay, right?
I'm winnin', so nobody trippin'
Bet if I ever fall off, everybody go missin'
At night, I'm sittin' in a dark room thinkin'
Probably why I always end up drinkin'
Yes, I'm very depressed
How can somebody so blessed wanna slit they wrist?
Shit, I'd probably bleed out some Pinot
When they find me, I'm in Valentino, ayy
He pourin' me shots, thinkin' it's lit
Hah, little did he know
[Chorus]
This pussy depressed, hmm, I'm about to stress him, yeah
Pink nails 'round his neck, huh, but this ain't domestic, ayy
Think it's goin' down, hah, now he stand corrected, ayy
This pussy depressed, hmm, I'm about to stress him, ah
[Verse 2]
Ayy, damn, I got problems
Never thought a bitch like me would ever hit rock bottom
Man, I miss my parents, way too anxious, always cancel my plans
Pulled up, caught him cheatin', gettin' his dick sucked in the same spot I'm sleepin'
Lord, give me a break, I don't know how much more of this shit I can take (Ayy)
How long you been worried 'bout me, tellin' people that's not me?
Honestly, it kinda feel like you plottin', watchin'
Why is you speakin' on me at my lowest when you acted like you ain't noticed?
I was trippin', goin' crazy
And they lowkey hatin', so they ain't gon' say shit
Damn, I finally see it
I'm killin' myself when bitches would die to be me
[Chorus]
This pussy depressed, hmm, I'm about to stress him, yeah
Pink nails 'round his neck, huh, but this ain't domestic, ayy
Think it's goin' down, hah, now he stand corrected, ayy
This pussy depressed, hmm, I'm about to stress him, ah
[Bridge]
I ain't goin', yeah, no emotion, ayy
Back outside, yeah, back in motion, ayy
He keep callin', hmm, I ignore it (Ayy)
He say I'm crazy, hmm, don't I know it, ah
References[]
- ↑ TMZ - Megan Thee Stallion Hints On New 'Cobra' Track Pardison Fontaine Cheated
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 XXL Mag - Pardison Fontaine Seems to React to Megan Cheating Accusations
- ↑ X - XXL Mag on X - "Pardison Fontaine posts a meme of Future on his Instagram Story after Megan Thee Stallion appears to reveal that he cheated."
- ↑ Us Magazine - Ciara, Future Split: How She Discovered His Ongoing Affair With His Stylist
- ↑ Instagram - @pardi: THEE PERSON -OUT NOW 🐍EX TAPE 12/12/23
- ↑ Vibe - Pardison Fontaine Claims Megan Thee Stallion Cheated, Had Lipo, And More On “Thee Person”
- ↑ Instagram - @breakfastclubam: @Pardi’s record #TheePerson was created to provide some context to #MeganTheeStallion’s song #Cobra 🐍. #PardisonFontaine explains his stance and #TheBreakfastClub wonders whether or not if it was even needed! 🧐
- ↑ YouTube - Megan Thee Stallion Instagram Live 13.12.23