Pusha T didn’t write ‘Circles’ to be a social justice anthem. He didn’t write it to show off his lyrical chops. It is abundantly clear that Pusha T had one goal in mind when he wrote this song: to make America rage again. Pusha T takes us back to the days before Trump, before Hillary, before conscious rap was mainstream. This song doesn’t make you want to take to the streets, or fight the power: it makes you want to buy a keg (or racks, if that’s your style) of cheap beer, a few handles of cheaper liquor, and a stack of solo cups. And that’s totally okay.
Without naming names, a lot of modern rappers are trying desperately to do or be things that just aren’t them. Every song doesn’t need to revolutionize the industry or change the world. Sometimes we just want to party. With ‘Circles,’ Pusha T takes me back to college. I can’t help but remember the good old days: drinking too much, losing at beer pong, getting turned down by sorority girls.
But ‘Circles’ is more than a nostalgia machine. The lyrical structure may be simple, but Pusha T throws some fun wordplay in just to keep things exciting for anyone paying attention. Lines like “if we on the same accord, / I’ll take you out that Honda Civic” and “make it rain ’til it’s purple” are fun little easter eggs for anyone paying too much attention.
If you really want to pick apart the lyrics, you might notice a theme of cosmetic surgery throughout the song. Maybe Pusha T is just giving “compliments to your surgeon” as a creative way of describing how attractive someone is, but maybe this is a commentary on the lengths people go to to be desirable. Before I get too philosophical, why don’t you all just check the track out for yourselves and tell me what you think in the comments:
