Ruby Rosary
by A$AP Rocky (featuring J. Cole)

Album: released as a single (2024)
Charted: 85
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Rocky kicks off this track with a pair of smooth verses, casually flexing his jewel-encrusted religious necklace and, naturally, his all-around phenomenal swag. The song's title, "Ruby Rosary," is an inspired bit of metaphor, merging the luxurious with the spiritual.

    Rubies, as we know, are precious gemstones - classic symbols of wealth and excess. But when you sprinkle them onto a rosary, you've got a lavish display of riches wrapped around something meant for prayer, making for a cheeky juxtaposition between material bling and spiritual symbolism. Because if you're going to have faith, why not do it in style?
  • In the second verse, Rocky seems to throw a little shade at Drake, who had taken a jab at him earlier in 2024 on "Family Matters."

    I heard Dawg talkin' funny like it's Family Guy

    "Dawg" here could very well be a sly nod to Drizzy's 2023 album For All the Dogs.
  • J. Cole steps up for the third verse, playing the role of the more introspective and self-aware elder statesman. He's not exactly bragging about necklaces, but rather fretting about the inevitability of age and wondering what happens when "rappin' no longer matters." Cole's pondering his second act, hoping there's still a way to turn all his accumulated wisdom into cold, hard cash. Ah, the existential crises of hip-hop royalty.
  • "Ruby Rosary" marks the first time Rocky and J. Cole have teamed up on a track, which naturally sent the internet into a frenzy. Fans quickly started speculating about Cole's relationship with Drake, especially considering Cole had also appeared on Future and Metro Boomin's We Don't Trust You album, which ignited the 2024 Drake v Kendrick Lamar rap war. Is Cole switching sides? Some fans thought so, while others argued that just because Drake has a beef with half the music industry, including Rocky, it doesn't mean Cole should be bound by it. It's a fair point, though one suspects Drake might not see it that way.
  • On the production front, we've got The Alchemist handling the keys, laying down a slow, ominous piano beat - exactly what you'd expect from the East Coast beatmaker. He's made a name for himself with hazy, mood-setting soundscapes, the kind that fueled Kendrick Lamar's tracks like "FEAR.," "We Cry Together" and " Meet The Grahams."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Chris Tomlin

Chris TomlinSongwriter Interviews

The king of Christian worship music explains talks about writing songs for troubled times.

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Phone Booth Songs

Phone Booth SongsSong Writing

Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.

Ramones

RamonesFact or Fiction

A band so baffling, even their names were contrived. Check your score in the Ramones version of Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

Bryan Adams

Bryan AdamsSongwriter Interviews

What's the deal with "Summer of '69"? Bryan explains what the song is really about, and shares more of his songwriting insights.