Breaking Down “Sexy Soulaan” And The Black Sayings Hidden In Plain Sight

All the non-Blacks to the back.. IMMEDIATELY!

I’m confident in saying that Monaleo made one of the Blackest songs to ever hit a speaker. And I mean Black in the most celebratory way. “Sexy Soulaan” is layered with sayings, superstitions and traditions that only makes sense if you grew up in it.

The word Soulaan? It means an African American whose ancestors were brought to America during slavery.

I’ll be honest, I had only heard the word a few months before Leo dropped this anthem. But the first time it rolled off my tongue, I felt something. Pride. Ownership. Like I wanted a flag, a hoodie, a bumper sticker.

“Sexy Soulaan” is our theme song. Not just because it’s catchy, but because it names and celebrates us.

In this post, I’m breaking down some of the slick bars you might have missed. The ones that hit a little harder once you catch the reference. But don’t go running to explain everything to everybody! Some things just land better when you lived it.

Happy Black History Month, cousins. Let’s get into it!

"Black American Princess"

We’re all — or we all should be — privy to the 1997 classic BAPS starring the lovely Halle Berry and the unforgettable Natalie Desselle (rest her soul). Centered around two Southern girls hustling and saving to make their dreams come true, the film gave us big hair, rhinestones, and dance moves.

But underneath the comedy and glamour, it taught women to stay true to themselves no matter the room. You can want luxury and still keep your accent. You can desire wealth and still move with heart. So when Monaleo calls herself a “Black American Princess,” it’s intentional.

"Posted in the crib lighting incense"

Lighting incense is prominent across African and diasporic traditions. Yes, it makes your home smell amazing. But it also connects to spirituality, clarity, and meditation. It’s about setting intention before you set the mood.

"Blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice"

At some point in many little brown or dark-skinned girls’ lives, our complexion felt like something to overcome. We grew up watching shows where representation was minimal, and when we did see ourselves, it was often one character carrying the whole load. Fast forward and darker-skinned women are now centered, desired, celebrated across entertainment. And while beauty standards shift with trends, pride in your skin should never be seasonal.

"Bigger the bush, the deeper the roots"

Flaunt that natural hair, sista. There is no such thing as “good” or “bad” hair. That afro reaching toward the sun is a family tree. Our ancestors braided maps into their scalps for escape routes. They hid rice in their plaits for survival.

Your hair is not a just style. It’s a story.

"It’s a b*tch like me that’s being produced"

Here, Monaleo is clearly referencing the fakers and pretenders being assembled behind the scenes in attempts to replace originals. But here’s the thing about blueprints: copies always trace back to the source.

She’s saying she’s the prototype. And while many may try to imitate, the energy, cadence, aesthetic, and authenticity can’t be mass-produced.

"They throwing salt on the playa"

“Throwing salt on my name” means somebody is talking down on you, usually fueled by envy. They want points from the crowd, not realizing the game was never theirs to begin with. Don’t hate the player, hate the game, bookie!

"I’m sweeping these b*tches, they want to spit on the broom"

Old-school superstition says if someone sweeps your feet, it’s bad luck unless you spit on the broom to reverse it.

So when Leo says she’s sweeping the competition, she’s painting a picture. She’s cleaning house. And the ones getting swept? They scrambling to undo what’s already in motion.

"I need my reparations, bring me my sh*t"

Deep Negro sigh. It’s been generations since we were promised forty acres and a mule. Promises made. Promises broken. Monaleo dropping this line is not random. It’s a reminder. Our people built wealth for a nation that never paid its debt.

"I been dreaming 'bout fish"

I will never forget when my mama cornered my sister and me after she had a dream about underwater animals. According to our lineage, dreaming about fish means somebody pregnant. Black households have the most specific dream interpretations, and they get passed down like recipes.

"Never supposed to put your purse on the ground"

“Aht aht! Pick your pocketbook up off the floor, guh! You want to be broke?” Wise words from my late grandma and many before her. The purse stays elevated — on your lap, on a table, but never the floor. Apparently, this allows everyone to know your finances.

"Slamming this coin purse on the concrete"

A coin purse is a term for a woman’s private parts. Here, the Texas rapper is saying she’s cutting up. Twerking. Busting it down to the ground. As she should!

"Honey on my tongue"

She’s a smooth talker! And obviously a smooth writer. In hoodoo practices, honey is used to sweeten situations and increase persuasion. It draws people in. Makes your words stick.

"A bunch of rigmarole"

I used to think this word was just auntie gibberish. Turns out, it’s real. It basically means people are talking about a bunch of nothing! Continuously. Without ceasing.

"Red brick on my doorstep"

One red brick outside of a door is meant to offer protection against bad luck and unwanted energy or negativity

"Not invited to the cookout"

Can we enforce this in 2026 and beyond? Being nice does not mean giving away the blueprint. Nothing is wrong with building relationships outside our race. But our slang, fashion, cadence, and identity don’t need universal access.

The cookout invite has always been symbolic. It’s about belonging, and sometimes, it’s okay to protect what’s ours. When was the last time you got invited on a boat? Oh, okay.