When people think of poets, there are a few names that come to mind immediately. Maya Angelou, William Shakespeare, and Homer are often cited as some of the influential and brilliant. Today, I’d like to make a compelling argument for Big Shaq.

Big Shaq may be a fresh face to the rap scene, but his first song is already one of the industry’s hottest tracks. As he said in an interview with NME, “it’s not really a story – it’s a lifestyle.” In ‘Man’s Not Hot (stylized ‘Mans Not Hot’),’ Big Shaq effortlessly mixes his fantastic rapping capabilities with sharp social commentary. The result is the greatest poem of this century.

By beginning with the verses “Two plus two is four/Minus one that’s three, quick maths,” Big Shaq establishes his intellectualism with advanced algebra that would even challenge Einstein. Then by saying “when the ting went quack-quack-quack, you men were ducking,” he manages to have not one, but two duck references in one line. It’s as innovative as it is brilliant.

The song continues with some of the most ingenious lines I have ever seen. Perhaps the finest moment is the second verse, where he explains his possession of “the sauce.” By choosing to not rhyme a vast amount of these verses, Big Shaq shows a knowledge of synonymous parallelism that is only rivaled by the Bible.

Overall, the song is an allegory for triumphing over society. These days, it seems the world is on fire. By specifically saying “man’s not hot,” Big Shaq says that he is not only unfazed by the world, but is unfazed by life in general.

So what does this mean for society? How will these lyrics affect a society rotting with corruption, violence, and infighting? The honest answer is not much. Rather, this song will act as a beacon to the weary soul. When one is lost in a sea of flames, searching for beauty and meaning, they need just remind themselves “man’s not hot,” and continue on their merry little way.