New Slaves
God/Kanye West Lyrics

My momma was raised in the era when
My mother grew up in a time when

Clean water was only served to the fairer skin
Access to clean water was limited to white people

Doing clothes you would have thought I had help
While doing laundry, others might think I had help

But they wasn't satisfied unless I picked the cotton myself
But people didn't believe I did the laundry unless I picked the cotton myself

You see it's broke nigga racism
This refers to racism against poor black people

That's that 'Don't touch anything in the store'
This is where store owners suspect that black people will steal items

And this rich nigga racism
This is the racism perpetrated against wealthy black people

That's that 'Come in, please buy more
Here, wealthy black people are treated like royalty, and asked to spend more money in the store

What you want, a Bentley? Fur coat? A diamond chain?
Here, the artist is mocking the assumption that all black people want luxury items

All you blacks want all the same things'
Here, the artist is highlighting stereotypes of black people and their desire for money and luxury items

Used to only be niggas now everybody playing
Here, the singer is drawing attention to the prevalence of black people in entertainment and sports industries

Spending everything on Alexander Wang
Here, the artist is critiquing the trend of wealthy black people spending a lot of money on expensive designer clothes

You see there's leaders and there's followers
This refers to the distinction between people who lead and others who follow

But I'd rather be a dick than a swallower
The singer would rather be assertive and confident than passive and submissive

I throw these Maybach keys
This implies a rejection of material possessions and status symbols

I wear my heart on the sleeve
The artist is emotionally open and expressive

I know that we the new slaves
The artist realizes that black people are still subjected to systemic oppression and inequality

I see the blood on the leaves
This line suggests that the singer sees the pain and suffering experienced by black people throughout history

They throwing hate at me
The singer is being attacked for speaking out against racism

Want me to stay at ease
Some people want the artist to stop talking about racism and oppression

Fuck you and your corporation
The artist is rejecting the oppressive systems put in place by corporations

Y'all niggas can't control me
The artist is declaring that they will not be controlled by others

I'm 'bout to wild the fuck out
The singer is going to be loud and express themselves in an unconventional way

I'm going Bobby Boucher
The artist is referencing a movie character who overcame obstacles to succeed in football

I know that pussy ain't free
Here the singer is mocking the expectation that artists should perform for free exposure or recognition

You niggas pussy, ain't me
The singer is distinguishing themselves from others who don't stand up against oppression

Y'all throwing contracts at me
The singer is rejecting the terms of a contract that may be oppressive and exploitative

You know that niggas can't read
This line suggests that black people may not be equipped to understand the legal language of a contract

Throw 'em some Maybach keys
This line implies that the artist is rejecting wealth and the idea that material possessions determine status

Fuck it, c'est la vie
Here the singer is saying that this is life, they will take it as it comes

Y'all niggas can't fuck with me
The singer is refusing to let anyone else control them or tell them what to do

I'll move my family out the country
The artist is planning to relocate outside of the US to escape the systemic oppression they face there

So you can't see where I stay
This is to give the family privacy and security away from any prying eyes

So go and grab the reporters
Here the artist is addressing media agencies that sensationalize stories and suppress the truth

So I can smash their recorders
This implies a rejection of being under media scrutiny and control

See they'll confuse us with some bullshit
The artist believes media agencies to confuse the people with lies and misinformation

Like the New World Order
This phrase is a metaphorical reference to the idea of a ‘New World Order’ where one global government controls all aspects of life

Meanwhile the DEA
The singer is putting the spotlight on the Department of Justice, and the Control of Crime Act

Teamed up with the CCA
This refers to the alliance between the DEA and the Corrections Corporation of America

They tryna lock niggas up
This implies systemic racism in the US legal system

They tryna make new slaves
The artist is addressing the trend of imprisoning black people in the US, saying that this is the new form of enslavement

See that's that privately owned prisons
Here, the singer is critiquing private prisons that work for profit and are not concerned with justice and rehabilitation of prisoners

Get your piece today
This line implies that these institutions are profitable and encourage greed and self-interest

They prolly all in the Hamptons
The artist is calling out the people who own and profit from these private prisons

Braggin' 'bout what they made
The artist is calling out the wealth and pride of these people who profit from oppression

Fuck you and your Hampton house
The artist is rejecting the privileged lifestyles of these oppressive people

I'll fuck your Hampton spouse
The singer threatens to take action against those responsible for systemic oppression

Came on her Hampton blouse
This line is vulgar and pornographic, but may refer to the artist's disregard for new social norms

And in her Hampton mouth
Here the singer references the same woman, but implies that the woman is complicit in perpetuating the systems of oppression the singer opposes

Y'all 'bout to turn shit up
The singer is suggesting an increased focus and assertiveness in opposing oppression

I'm 'bout to tear shit down
Here, the singer is advocating for tearing down the oppressive systems in society

I'm 'bout to air shit out
The artist is suggesting that they will bring oppressive issues to the attention of the public

Now what the fuck they gon' say now?
The artist is asking what people who oppose their message will say in response to their activism

I won't end this high, not this time again
The singer is letting go of past mistakes and vices and rejecting their past selves

So long, so long, so long
The singer is saying goodbye to their past selves and those that held them back

You cannot survive
The artist is warning those who oppose their message that oppression and racism cannot continue and survive

And I'm not dying
The artist is affirming that they will continue to fight against oppression and racism

And I can't lose
The artist is determined to change the system and is committed to fighting for justice

I can't lose
The singer repeats this message for emphasis

Cause I can't leave it to you
The artist acknowledges that it is the responsibility of the oppressed to fight for their own rights and cannot leave it to others

So let's get too high, get too high again
This final line may imply a reference to the drug culture, where the singer suggests getting high – perhaps as a way of finding inspiration or coping with the issues they face