14 Songs Where the Bag Dominates | Playlist

14 Songs Where the Bag Dominates features music courtesy of bbno$, Cardi B, MAX, Polo G, and  Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Cutting straight to the chase, this musical compendium is all about the bag.  In 14 Songs Where the Bag Dominates, the bag refers to various things.  Those things include drip such as expensive, designer bags, emotional baggage, and, in some cases, drugs.  It’s worth noting, 14 Songs Where the Bag Dominates is among those playlists that have been long in the works yet never completed until now.  That backlog – it’s a real thing!

14 Songs Where the Bag Dominates features music courtesy of bbno$, Cardi B, MAX, Polo G, and Red Hot Chili Peppers among others. Among that slate of artists, there’s rap, rock, and pop represented.  Also, appearing on this list is alternative, funk/soul, and R&B.  So, without further ado, we unleash this entertaining, bag-driven music list!

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1. Polo G, “Bag Talk”

“Bag Talk” • Columbia • 2022

“Pressin’ my buttons and triggers get tapped / You know this gangster shit all in my blood.” You can’t fault Polo G for his honesty – he keeps it trill. On “Bag Talk”, there is no shortage of guns and violence.  The rapper continues to be on his melodic sugar honey iced tea, but there’s nothing soft about what he spits in the least.  After all, per the chorus, “Pussy niggas play up in these streets, get left on sidewalks.” Woo!

As to be expected from a rap banger, the rapper doing the rapping is confident AF.  Polo G is a real one, and admits, “Had to step up for my block, they don’t know ‘bout all them battles fought.” Against a minor-key backdrop produced by Southside, TM88, and Neal & Alex, Polo puts in work. In the first verse, one of the lyrics that stand out beyond those already excerpted is, “I still do it for Durb and Lamp.” The significance is that the rapper remembers two uncles he lost tragically.  He represents them. In the second verse, it’s shots, clips, and some illegal substances (“For a couple of pounds, we hit him, took him down, we strip him”). All in all, Polo G drops an enjoyable, hard-nosed rap banger with “Bag Talk”. His toughness, paired with an intense, trap backdrop is a big-time selling point.

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2. MAX, “Gucci Bag”

 “Gucci Bag” •  Jawline, Inc. / Warner •  2022

“I’m in my Gucci bag (Yeah) / Lookin’ so damn fly / Come and kiss me babe (Why) / Take me satellite high.” Woo!  MAX (Max Schneider) keeps things short on single  “Gucci Bag”. How short, you ask? Oh, two minutes and change.  Despite its brevity, “Gucci Bag” has a full team of writers: Schneider,  Sean Douglas,  Drew Love,   Jacob Ray, and  Michael Cody Dear. Ray is also responsible for the work behind the boards.  Is “Gucci Bag” worth listening?  Of course – it’s MAX!

As excerpted above, “Gucci Bag” commences with the chorus, the centerpiece of the record. MAX continues singing, “Supernova with me / We can burn, baby, burn / Tonight, tonight.” The record is groovy, characterized by a soulful, 80s R&B beat.  MAX sings breezily with ease, impressing with a ripe falsetto consistently.  He’s potent despite being laidback, particularly in the pre-chorus where he sings of “Palm trees in Beverly Hills” and being “Cold as the Buffalo Bills (Goddamn, I’m freezin’).” Woo – get it Schneider! Interestingly, the first verse is the shorter verse while the second is longer.  Regardless, the vibe is on-point from start to finish.  Perhaps “Gucci Bag” won’t change your life, but it will provide a lift to the listening rotation.

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3. Cardi B, “Money Bag”

Invasion of Privacy • Atlantic • 2018

“I do the Maybach on Monday, Ferrari Friday / This is sweet pussy Saturday, that’ just what Plies say,” Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B asserts on “Money Bag,” a highlight from her debut album, Invasion of Privacy.  Cardi continues, rapping, “I said ‘Bae, it’s a snack,’ he said it’s a entrée / With them pretty ass twins, you look like Beyoncé / Lookin’ like money bag, moneybag, money bag, uh.”  Woo! Woo! And again, I say, WOO!

In the context of Invasion of Privacy, three consecutive bangers follow the song, “Ring”.  The first is “Money Bag,” which could be nicknamed “Bodak Yellow 2.0.” They aren’t the same song to be fair, but the approach and cadences are similar.  Nonetheless, Cardi B is at her best when she’s hard-nosed and rapping about either money or sex. In this case, it’s that bread, baby!

“I been broke my whole life, I have no clue what to do with these racks

Wig be laid, waist snatched, ass fat, straight facts.”

Appears in :

• 11 Songs Fueled by Money
• 11 Rap Songs Fueled by Money

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4. bbno$, “bag or die”

bag or die • bbno$ • 2022

bbno$ (Alexander Leon Gumuchian) goes hard… or goes stupid… take your pick! Anyways, the Canadian rapper dropped some new $hi† in the year of our Lord, 2022, entitled bag or die.  Fittingly, he commences bag or die with – you guessed it – “bag or die”! One of the first things that stand out is the marvelous classical piano intro, performed by Gumuchian’s talented compadre, dwilly, who also produces alongside Diamond Pistols (gotta love those impressive, right-hand, treble lines).

After the ear-catching intro, the ear-catching neighbor of this sub-two-minute joint doesn’t stop. “Tonight we party, my friends” transitions to an incredibly groovy chorus (Latin, Afro-Cuban style vibes). During the chorus, the piano still plays a prominent role, serving as the accompaniment instrument.

“Sip on mezcal, I like tequila, damn this shit tasty

Kid you not, I made ‘bout a milli’, off a pink beanie

I feel like my life is a movie, damn this too easy

Can’t catch me, I’m jumping the borders

Hit the embassy, it’s bag or die.”

Woo! From there, “bag or die” settles into ‘hip-hop,’ anchored by a hard beat, rhythm guitar, and full-fledged production.  As far as the rhymes, they’re cocky, confident, trash-talking, and go pretty, um, dumb.  We’d have it no other way from bbno$, right? Right!

“Boobies goin’ up and down (Pow)

She’s fit, hold up, wait, rewind that shit

…And my BO smell good, it smell like lilac

My team eating, yeah we did a lap…”

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5. Clairo, “Bags”

Immunity • Clairo / FADER Label • 2019 

“I’m not the type to run / I know that we’re having fun / But what’s the rush? Kissing, then my cheeks are so flushed.” Uh-oh – matters of the heart are firmly in play! Alternative singer/songwriter  Clairo (Claire Cottrill) delivers a compelling record with  “Bags”, which served as the promo single for her 2019 debut album,  Immunity. Clairo gives us nearly four-and-a-half minutes’ worth of song.  That’s ample bags!

Helping Clairo make “Bags” thrive is the production by  Rostam Batmanglij and  Nick Breton.  The sound is quite alluring, featuring an awesome drum groove, driving bass and guitars, as well as some accentuating keyboard work.  It fuels Cottrill’s fire as she sings marvelously over the rhythmic backdrop while maintaining chill and poise.  Beyond sound, songwriting is a notable proponent. Cottrill dabbles in matters of the heart, and all is not well in regard to the relationship. In the bridge, she sings, “Pardon my emotions / I should probably keep it all to myself / Know you’d make fun of me.” In other words, she’s holding back and willing to accept the status quo.  The chorus is what makes “Bags” truly the ‘cat’s meow’:

“Can you see me? I’m waiting for the right time

I can’t read you, but if you want, the pleasure’s all mine

Can you see me using everything to hold back?

I guess this could be worse

Walking out the door with your bags…”

Appears in :

• 11 Awesome Songs: May 2019

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6. Gucci Mane, “I Get the Bag” (Ft. Migos)

Mr. Davis • Atlantic • 2017 

“I’m fascinated, two bitches so fine that I masturbated.” Holy $hi†! “I Get the Bag” served as the promo single for  Mr. Davis, the 2017 studio album by beloved, mushed-mouth rapper, Gucci Mane.  In this bag-getting joint, he’s assisted by Grammy-nominated rap collective,  Migos. While Offset doesn’t appear on this joint, Quavo and  Takeoff (RIP), do drop verses.  You could argue the two Migos draw the most attention though that masturbatory lyric by Gucci Mane is unforgettable!

“I Get the Bag” isn’t game-changing but, it checks off most boxes for a Gucci Mane record.  The production work is slick, firmly planted in the southern rap idiom.  The tempo is slow, while the drums have the trap written all over them.  In regards to his rapping, Gucci remains relaxed, even rapping alongside the ferocious Migos. Quavo, who’s been the most ubiquitous of the bunch, handles the chorus.

“Yeah

You get the bang and fumble it, I get the bag and flip it and tumble it

Straight out the lot, 300 cash, and the car came with a blunt in it

Lil mama a thot, and she got ass, and she gon’ fuck up a bag

Pull up to the spot, living too fast, droppin’ the dope in the stash…”

WOO!

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7. Mary J. Blige, “Baggage”

The Breakthrough • Geffen • 2005

“I know I do some things that make you so confused / One minute I’m so in love and the next I can’t stand you.” Hmm, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde much Mary J. Blige?  The Academy Award-nominated / Grammy-winner provides a reasonable explanation for her actions on “Baggage,” a highlight from her 2005, triple platinum masterpiece, The Breakthrough: “But if you may ask it’s just some things that you do / That reminds me of all of the mess that I’ve been through.”  Clearly, MJB has been through some things, hence, why she leaves her lover confused at times.

Still, even with her issues and problems she needs to resolve, she knows that he’s not to blame.  In the chorus, the centerpiece, Mary makes it clear, “Don’t wanna make you pay for what / Somebody else has done to me.” This honest, thoughtful record speaks about the impact of trauma and trying to overcome it.  Also, it’s about not alienating or messing up something positive, in this case, a new, healthy relationship.  In the second verse, Mary sings, “But nobody has ever treated me this way / Please be patient with me ‘cause I want you to stay / But I got baggage.” “Baggage” is a terrific, well-written and well-produced mid-aughts R&B joint.

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8. Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Bag of Grins”

Return of the Dream Canteen • Warner • 2022

“In my day I could hear them say / Mr. K was awfully close,” Anthony Kiedis, the front man of Red Hot Chili Peppers sings in the opening verse of “Bag of Grins.” “Bag of Grins” appears as the 13^th track on the band’s second (!) album of 2022, Return of the Dream Canteen.  It runs on the long side – north of five minutes in duration – but it’s a worthwhile five minutes.  Kiedis continues singing in the first verse, about his near-death experiences, “Now we take that bow you know / ‘Cause it’s time to meet your ghost.”

“Bag of Grins,” which is set in a minor key, commences with an enigmatic intro. As to be expected, there are phenomenal bass lines in addition to intriguing lyrics. I love how active and athletic Flea sounds, with rhythmic lines and ascents into the instrument’s upper register.  Another point of consistency with RHCP is those colorful vocals by Anthony Kiedis.  Besides his tried-and-true lead, there are excellent harmonized vocals.  I love when things open up and grow more dynamic during the chorus:

“Nine o’clock I turn my heels and sigh

For one last time

10:30 I tied my chi

And died up on the vine.”

Well, that’s a bit morbid, isn’t it? It goes with the territory of this particular song. The third verse adds a colorful instrumental synth, which progresses the sound of “Bag of Grins.”  Creepily and fittingly, it also references lips (“And he’s sewing up my lips”), which seems to go along with the title.  By the end, Kiedis, who’s been no angel, seems to reflect upon being in a better place in life.

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9. Father John Misty, “A Bigger Paper Bag”

Pure Comedy •  Sub Pop •  2017

Father John Misty (Josh Tillman) remains up to his old, clever, lyrical tricks on “A Bigger Paper Bag”, one of many highlights from his superb 2017 album, Pure Comedy.  “A Bigger Paper Bag” opens with a bang: “Dance like a butterfly and drink like a fish.” The lyrics are a play on the immortal slogan by the late, great Muhammad Ali. From Tillman’s perspective, he focuses on the powerful alcohol and other demons, which the title clearly suggests.

Key lyrics appear on the chorus: 

“Oh, I was pissing on the flame

Like a child with cash or a king on cocaine

I’ve got the world by the balls

Am I supposed to behave?”

Multiple interpretations can be made regarding the chorus.  Essentially, it seems Father John Misty has everyone drunk off what he’s offering, so therefore, he can do whatever he wants. After elevating himself (or the character he plays) on a pedestal, he goes on to criticize himself.

Appears in :

• 15 Really Awesome Big Songs

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10. Future, “Blow a Bag”

DS2 • Epic • 2015

“I blow a bag today, I don’t do nothin’ fugazi / I blow a bag today, I walk in the mall and go crazy.” In 2015, Future arguably released his best album, DS2.  DS2, which stands for ‘Dirty Sprite 2’ is a project that is druggy AF but thrives because of its excess.  Chocked-full of hits, among the bright spots is “Blow a Bag.”

Safe to say, Future flexes like a boss on “Blow a Bag.” Essentially, Future is proud of the success he’s had in the rap game and has the ability to ‘blow’ – spend and ultimately waste – lots of money. “If my granddad was livin’, I know he’d sure be proud of me,” he asserts on the first verse.  As proud as he is, on the second verse, he doesn’t want to forget from whence he came:

“I ran it up with the same niggas

Get that money and stay with the same niggas

I know that money can change niggas

They don’t look at you like you the same nigga

I just hope I can remain humble…”

Appears in :

• 11 Songs That Totally Blow (In the Most Awesome Way Possible)

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11. Playaz Circle, “Duffle Bag Boy” (Ft. Lil Wayne)

Supply & Demand • DTP • 2007

Know this: “If I don’t do nothin’, I’ma ball / I’m countin’ all day like the clock on the wall / Now go and get your money, little duffle bag boy / Said go and get your money, little duffle bag boy.” Woo, Lil Wayne!   “Duffle Bag Boy” is the sole, platinum-certified single by Playaz Circle. The hit appeared on the southern rap duo’s 2007 album, Supply & Demand.  Playaz Circle was comprised of Tity Boi – now 2 Chainz – and Dolla Boy.  Lil Wayne, who often collaborates with 2 Chainz, drops the confident, ball-heavy chorus, in all its glory! He bites, “I ain’t never ran from a nigga / And I damn sure ain’t ‘bout to pick today to start runnin’!”

There’s nothing deep about “Duffle Bag Boy.”  That said, it’s well-produced ( M16) with sounds idiomatic of southern rap, and it’s incredibly entertaining.  Weezy’s hook gains a lot of attention, but Tity Boi and Dolla Boy drop hot flows too. Tity Boi asserts in the first verse, “We leave the dealership, head to the rim shop / You niggas barely dressing, I got thousands piling / That’s that salad dressing, I’m on my Thousand Island.” Yeah, never change 2 Chainz!  As for Dolla Boy: “Meet a ho, break a ho, never nothin’ new to us /Turnin’ hoes to housewives never been cool with us / Soon enough, all these dealers is gonna catch up / ‘Til then, fuck it, I’m winning, so I’ma stack up.” #BARZ!

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12. Erykah Badu, “Bag Lady”

Mama’s Gun • Motown • 2000

Five years before Mary J. Blige sang about her “Baggage” ( The Breakthrough, 2005), Erykah Badu was singing about the “Bag Lady” ( Mama’s Gun, 2000).  So, was Badu singing about those Birkin bags? Of course, she wasn’t (she does mention a Gucci bag in the outro, though)! Erykah was focused on the repercussions of a woman who carries emotional baggage.  Over a soulful backdrop – shout out the neo-soul era of the late 90s/early aughts – she delivers an authentic and honest joint about overcoming past trauma and embracing the present and future.

How does this bag lady, who “Gon’ hurt your back / Draggin’ all them bags like that,” become better? Well, Erykah Badu encourages her to “Pack light,” in the chorus.  She makes it crystal clear, if she doesn’t do so, “when they see you coming, niggas take off running.” That means, she could ruin the possibility for a meaningful relationship in the future because she’s stuck on how she was wronged in the past. So wise, Erykah! While Badu admits, “Girl, I know sometimes it’s hard / And we can’t let go,” she goes on to say, “If you start breathin’, you won’t believe it / You’ll feel so much better, so much better baby.” Great song, with a great message, and easily one of Erykah Badu’s best performances.

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13. Freddie Gibbs, “Zipper Bagz”

$oul $old $eperately • ESGN, LLC / Warner • 2022

Grammy-nominated rapper Freddie Gibbs is all about those “Zipper Bagz.” “Zipper Bagz” is  short but sweet gem from Gibbs’ 2022 album, $oul $old $eperately.  Maybe sweet isn’t the correct adjective considering that “Zipper Bagz” isn’t a soft cut in the least.  Gibbs is rapping about hustling after all – selling cocaine and making money.

Even if the subject matter is questionable, Freddie Gibbs is on autopilot. His flow is electrifying with plenty of bite.  Furthermore, he’s honest AF about getting paid.  “Fuck them Gucci and Louis and Fendi bags,” he spits in the chorus, “All I know is yayo and them zipper bags / Got my money so heavy, can’t lift a bag.” Woo! Going along with the territory is “Thuggin’ and fuckin’ on bitches,” “pull up in that Lambo,” and “Trappin’ out a house with some Eastside blow” among other things.  What more is there to say?

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14. James Brown & The Famous Flames, “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag, Pt. 1”

The 50^th Anniversary Collection • UMG Recordings, Inc • 2003

According to the late, great James Brown,  “He ain’t no drag / Papa’s got a brand new bag.” Good to know! Even better to know is that “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” ranks among the iconic funk/soul musician’s best songs.  Highly successful, “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” is Brown’s fourth biggest hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at no. 8.  The infectious record was released in 1965, appearing on Brown’s 1966 album, fittingly titled, Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag.  It’s worth noting that there are two parts, with “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag, Pt. 1” being the most popular, and often attributed as merely, “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag.”

“Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag, Pt. 1” keeps things short, sweet, and incredibly funky. Running a mere two-minutes and change, that’s ample time for the Godfather of Soul to do his thing.  His vocals are commanding – energetic as albeit – while The Famous Flames sound fabulous too.  The lyrics are infectious to the n^th degree. A prime example:

“He’s doing ‘The Jerk’

He’s doing ‘The Fly’

Don’t play him cheap

‘Cause you know he ain’t shy

He’s doing the monkey, ‘The Mashed Potatoes’

‘Jump Back Jack’, see you later, alligator.”

My, my, my, James Brown!

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14 Songs Where the Bag Dominates [: Adam Wilson on Unsplash, Andrea Piacquadio, Atlantic, bbno$, Brent Faulkner, Clairo, Columbia, Dmitriy Frantsev on Unsplash, DTP, Elias de Carvalho, Epic, ESGN, LLC, FADER Label, fontgenerator.com, Geffen, ge yonk, Godisable Jacob, Jawline, Inc.,  Marlene Leppänen, Motown, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Sub Pop, Tamara Bellis on Unsplash, UMG Recordings, Inc., Warner, Zura Modebadze]

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