Joey Bada$$ – Pardon Me. Lyrics Meaning: The Unapologetic Art of the Comeback
Ever felt like you had to re-introduce yourself? Not to new people, but to the ones who kinda forgot what you were capable of? That feeling when you’ve been quiet for a bit, working behind the scenes, and then you step back into the light, ready to remind everyone exactly who you are. It’s a powerful moment, a mix of confidence and defiance, like you’ve got a fire in your chest that you’re finally letting loose.
Well, if you could bottle up that exact feeling and turn it into a track, you’d get “Pardon Me” by Joey Bada$$. This isn’t just a song; it’s a full-blown declaration, a mission statement delivered with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. He’s not asking for permission to return; he’s telling you to get out of the way. So, let’s pull back the curtain on this lyrical masterpiece and see what’s really going on behind the bravado.
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Unpacking the “Twenty-v-One Man Army” in Joey Bada$$’s “Pardon Me”
Right from the jump, Joey wastes no time setting the tone. He’s not easing us in; he’s kicking the door down. The opening lines are a perfect summary of the entire track’s energy. He feels like it’s him against the world, facing down countless opponents who’ve tried to undermine him.
He says it all right here:
It’s a twenty-v-one man army
These niggas tried to mark us out like Garvey
Told y’all that I was back now, gotta pardon me
I set the bar high like a fuckin’ Harley, ayo
That “pardon me” isn’t an apology. It’s sarcastic. It’s the kind of “pardon me” you say when you shove past someone to reclaim your spot at the front of the line. He’s been gone, people started talking, and now he’s back to shut down all the noise. The line “I set the bar high like a fuckin’ Harley” is such a clever visual—he’s not just raising the standard; he’s putting it at a level that’s almost impossible for others to reach, just like the high handlebars of a chopper.
More Than Just Bars: The Artistic Threats and Historical Nods
What makes Joey Bada$$ so special is that his threats and boasts are layered with intelligence. He isn’t just saying he’s the best; he’s proving it with references that show you he’s on a completely different intellectual level than his competition. This is where the track goes from a great hip-hop song to a piece of art.
The Garvey Connection
The reference to Marcus Garvey is so deep. Garvey was a powerful Black nationalist leader who was targeted by the government and eventually deported, effectively silencing his movement in the U.S. By saying “niggas tried to mark us out like Garvey,” Joey is framing the opposition against him as something serious, a coordinated effort to erase his influence. It’s a powerful way to say, “They’re not just hating; they’re actively trying to bring me down.”
Painting with Pain
Later, Joey transforms his aggression into an artistic statement. He doesn’t just threaten violence; he describes it with the vocabulary of a master painter. It’s chilling and brilliant.
Now, how I set the scene up as ominous
Painted pictures with your blood like Marina Abramović
I’m like Michelangelo with a brush of Van Gogh
Wow. Let that sink in. Marina Abramović is a performance artist famous for using her own body and blood in her work. By referencing her, Joey is saying his comeback is a form of performance art—it’s raw, visceral, and will leave a permanent mark. Then he compares himself to Michelangelo and Van Gogh, basically telling us that his destructive rhymes are as skillful and iconic as the works of legendary masters. He’s not just a rapper; he’s a lyrical artist painting a grim, yet beautiful, picture of his dominance.
The Unfiltered Confidence of a Lyrical Heavyweight
Throughout the song, Joey’s confidence is just electric. He knows he took some time off, and he addresses the idea that his skills might have faded. He scoffs at it, yelling at the sky, “I’m ready God.” It’s a moment of pure, unadulterated self-belief. He’s not just talking to his rivals; he’s talking to the universe, letting it know he’s prepared for whatever comes next.
He continues this with some of the best flexes on the track:
The flow is more flammable than aerosol
Put a light in to it, and the can blow
This imagery is so vivid. His flow isn’t just hot; it’s literally explosive. Then there’s the chess-not-checkers metaphor, a classic in hip-hop, but he delivers it with such swagger. He’s not just making moves; he’s thinking ten steps ahead, playing a completely different game than everyone else. It’s this multi-layered confidence that makes every line hit so hard.
When you boil it down, “Pardon Me” is a masterclass in resilience. It’s a reminder that taking a step back doesn’t mean you’ve fallen off. Sometimes, that silence is just the deep breath you take before you roar back to life. The song teaches you to believe in your own power, even when others are counting you out. It’s about turning doubt into fuel and coming back not just as good as you were, but stronger, smarter, and more dangerous than ever.
Ultimately, Joey Bada$$ crafts an anthem for anyone who’s ever had to prove themselves all over again. It’s aggressive, smart, and unapologetically bold. But what do you think? Did I miss a key detail or another layer to the lyrics? I’d love to hear your take on “Pardon Me” and what it means to you. Let’s talk about it!
