

In early April, the opening lines from the track’s first verse-“Got a white boy on my roster/He be feeding me pasta and lobster”-began inspiring some particularly memorable uploads. The key to the rise of “Area Codes” wasn't the Ludacris connection, instead it was the song's still-going-strong virality on TikTok. When I hear people saying, ‘Oh this is a Ludacris homage’ I'm like, ‘Okay, but I really didn't know anything about it.’ It was just like I literally felt like I got hoes in different area codes." So when people asked me that, I truly didn't know what they were talking about. "Like, I never heard the Ludacris song before.

“I didn't even know there was any connection," said Kali, who was born in the year 2000 and was a baby during the height of the Ludacris song. On Kali's hook, she raps, "I got hoes/In different area codes." On the 2001 song, Nate Dogg memorably sings, "I've got hoes, I've got hoes/In different area codes (Area), area codes (Codes)." But it turns out that wasn't Kali's intention at all. One of the most common reactions to the song is pointing out that it shares the title and lyrics with the 2001 hit by Ludacris and Nate Dogg. Indeed, the song's music video is high school themed and opens with someone banging on a table. Then I was like, 'Well, how should the beat go cause I've just been rapping the lyrics while I'm beating on the table?' were like, it just literally needs to be what you’re doing like that sound of boom clap, that's it. "It took me back to the school days when you would be banging on the table, rapping random stuff with your friends. “I was writing and were just beating on the table,” she said. She went on to explain how the song's beat inspired the music video. I didn't have to think too hard, when you have to think hard about records, those are never the ones that go up." thinking about things that maybe haven't happened to me, but happened to my friends or I've heard. "I was having a conversation with my homegirl saying, ‘We need that summer anthem, that vibe just makes you feel good and wanna be outside with your friends that everybody relate to.” It only took me about 20 minutes. “When I was making it, I was really having fun," said Kali, over the phone, about creating her hit. We hopped on the phone to chat with the Roswell, Georgia-born artist and she told us about making the song in 20 minutes, how she never even heard the Ludacris and Nate Dogg song her hit shares a title with, and why she loves pasta and lobster. At the time of this writing, the 22-year-old rising star’s track is sitting pretty at No. When you try to heal the wounds but all it do is bleed And you realize it cut you too deep No, I’m not ok No, I’m not ok No, I’m not ok No, I’m not ok No, I’m not ok, stop askin’ No, I’m not ok ’cause I’m crashin’ When you try to heal the wounds but all it do is bleed And you realize it cut you too deep And I think that I forgave you, we were so, so young Tell me what the hell I could’ve done, I had you on the run She said, “Baby, I’m with my friends and we out havin’ fun” I’ma go get drunk, when I get home I’ma give your ass this tongue (oh, is that right?) But they say you ain’t come (damn) Do I look dumb? (No) I must look dumb to you (I do) This why I can’t fuck with you Know you told one side of the story, but every story got two No, I’m not ok, stop askin’ No, I’m not ok ’cause I’m crashin’ When you try to heal the wounds but all it do is bleed And you realize it cut you too deep No, I’m not ok No, I’m not ok No, I’m not ok No, I’m not ok Oh, no, I’m not ok Whole situation hit my heart just like a tidal wave And when it get dark, I pray to God that I see brighter days Had to cut you off ’cause I’ve been lost, like I’ve been in a maze Swear you would be amazed, the shit that people do to you But you gotta stay true to your love, it’s beautiful Don’t let it ruin you, gotta keep doin’ you ’Cause you that nigga for sure So I suggest you keep on walkin’ when you passin’ me And don’t keep askin’ me, I’m not ok No, I’m not ok, stop askin’ No, I’m not ok ’cause I’m crashin’ When you try to heal the wounds but all it do is bleed And you realize it cut you too deep No, I’m not ok No, I’m not ok No, I’m not ok No, I’m not ok Source: RCLYRICSBAND.Kali’s infectious song “Area Codes” is climbing the charts off the strength of its undeniable charm and viral lyrics like, "Got a white boy on my roster/He be feeding me pasta and lobster." First released back in March, "Area Codes" made its Billboard Hot 100 debut earlier this month, coming in at No.
