Made in America
Jay-Z; Kanye West Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

And he'll bring out the, out the darkness

Sweet King Martin, sweet Queen Coretta
Sweet Brother Malcolm, sweet Queen Betty
Sweet Mother Mary, sweet Father Joseph, sweet Jesus

We made it in America, sweet baby Jesus, ooh
Oh sweet baby Jesus, we made it in America

Sweet baby Jesus, ooh, oh sweet baby Jesus,
We made it in America

I told my mama I was on the come up
She said "you going to school I'll give you a summer"
Then she met NO ID and gave me his number
Ten years later she driving a Hummer
Niggas hustle every day for a beat from Ye
What I do? Turn around gave them beats to Jay
And I'm rapping on the beat they was supposed to buy
I guess I'm getting high off my own supply
Downtown mixing fabrics trying to find the magic
Started a little blog just to get some traffic
Old folks'll tell you not to play in traffic uh
A million hits and the web crashes, damn!
South Park had 'em all laughing
Now all my niggas designing and we all swaggin'
Ignore the critics just to say we did it
This ain't no fashion show, motherfucker, we live it

Sweet King Martin, sweet Queen Coretta
Sweet Brother Malcolm, sweet Queen Betty
Sweet Mother Mary, sweet Father Joseph, sweet Jesus

We made it in America, sweet baby Jesus, ooh
Oh sweet baby Jesus, we made it in America

Sweet baby Jesus, ooh, oh sweet baby Jesus,
We made it in America

I pledge allegiance, uh, to my Grandma
For that banana pudding, our piece of Americana
Our apple pie was supplied through Arm and Hammer
Straight out the kitchen, shh don't wake Nana!
Built a republic, that still stands
I'm trying to lead a nation, to leave to my little man's
Or my daughter, so I'm boiling this water
The scales was lopsided, I'm just restoring order
Hold up, here comes grandma, what's up YaYa?
What's that smell? Oh I'm just boiling some aqua
No papa, bad Santa
The streets raised me, pardon my bad manners
I got my liberty, chopping grams up
Street justice, I pray God understand us
I pledge allegiance to all the scramblers
This is the Star Spangled Banner

Sweet King Martin, sweet Queen Coretta
Sweet Brother Malcolm, sweet Queen Betty
Sweet Mother Mary, sweet Father Joseph, sweet Jesus

We made it in America, sweet baby Jesus, ooh
Oh sweet baby Jesus, we made it in America

Sweet baby Jesus, ooh, oh sweet baby Jesus,
We made it in America yes we did

Sweet baby Jesus, ooh, oh sweet baby Jesus,
We made it in America





Sweet baby Jesus, ooh, oh sweet baby Jesus,
We made it in America yes we did

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jay-Z and Kanye West's song "Made in America" celebrate the achievements of several significant figures in American history, including civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, as well as religious figures Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. The chorus proclaims the accomplishment of the artists themselves, with the repeated phrase "We made it in America, sweet baby Jesus." The verses emphasize the artists' own success stories, with Kanye West describing his early struggles and eventual collaboration with Jay-Z, and Jay-Z reflecting on his past experiences selling drugs and his aspiration to lead a better life for his children.


Overall, the song presents a message of perseverance and triumph in the face of adversity, drawing inspiration from the legacies of those who came before.


Line by Line Meaning

And he'll bring out the, out the darkness
Jay-Z is referring to himself as the individual who will bring out the greatness from within, turning darkness into light.


Sweet King Martin, sweet Queen Coretta
Jay-Z is paying tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife Coretta Scott King, acknowledging their contributions towards Civil Rights.


Sweet Brother Malcolm, sweet Queen Betty
Jay-Z is honoring Malcolm X and his wife Betty Shabazz, who fought for black empowerment and rights.


Sweet Mother Mary, sweet Father Joseph, sweet Jesus
Jay-Z is referencing Christianity and acknowledging Jesus's parents Mary and Joseph, as well as Jesus himself.


We made it in America, sweet baby Jesus, ooh
Jay-Z and Kanye are expressing their pride for their accomplishments and success in America, thanking 'sweet baby Jesus' for it all.


I told my mama I was on the come up
Jay-Z is referring to how he informed his mother about his rise to fame and success.


She said 'you going to school I'll give you a summer'
Jay-Z's mother told him to continue his studies and to only work towards his dream during the summer.


Then she met NO ID and gave me his number
Jay-Z's mother introduced him to record producer NO ID, who helped him start his career in music.


Ten years later she driving a Hummer
Jay-Z's success has enabled his mother to purchase and drive a Hummer car.


Niggas hustle every day for a beat from Ye
Kanye West is referring to the constant demand for his beats by other artists in the music industry.


What I do? Turn around gave them beats to Jay
Kanye West chose to provide his beats to his collaborator Jay-Z instead of selling them to other artists.


And I'm rapping on the beat they was supposed to buy
Kanye West is implying that he was so confident in his own abilities that he didn't need to sell his beats to make money – he could simply use them for his own music.


I guess I'm getting high off my own supply
Kanye West is saying that he's getting satisfaction and fulfillment from using his own creations, rather than selling them for profit.


Downtown mixing fabrics trying to find the magic
Jay-Z is referring to his clothing line, Rocawear, and the effort he puts into designing and creating it.


Started a little blog just to get some traffic
Jay-Z is referencing his music streaming service, Tidal, which he started to gain more control of the industry and provide users with high-quality content.


Old folks'll tell you not to play in traffic uh
Jay-Z is referencing the saying 'don't play in traffic' as advice to avoid danger, but he chose to ignore it and take risks in his business ventures.


A million hits and the web crashes, damn!
Jay-Z is celebrating the success of Tidal, which gained millions of users and even caused the website to crash due to too much traffic.


South Park had 'em all laughing
Jay-Z is referencing South Park's parody of him and Kanye in an episode and how it was a humorous and light-hearted moment.


Now all my niggas designing and we all swaggin'
Jay-Z is acknowledging his team's efforts and creativity towards Rocawear, which has allowed them to showcase their own fashion sense.


Ignore the critics just to say we did it
Jay-Z and Kanye are saying that they are not affected by critics, who may not agree with their music or business ventures, but they will continue to pursue their dreams and goals anyway.


This ain't no fashion show, motherfucker, we live it
Jay-Z and Kanye are stating that Rocawear is not just for show or for the sake of looking fashionable, but it is a part of their daily lives and who they are.


I pledge allegiance, uh, to my Grandma
Jay-Z is pledging his loyalty and love to his grandmother, who has always been supportive in his life.


For that banana pudding, our piece of Americana
Jay-Z is referencing his grandmother's banana pudding, which represents the American spirit of home-cooked meals and family traditions.


Our apple pie was supplied through Arm and Hammer
Jay-Z is referencing his connection to drug trafficking, with 'Arm and Hammer' being a popular brand used for cutting or transporting drugs.


Straight out the kitchen, shh don't wake Nana!
Jay-Z is referencing the secret and illegal nature of drug trafficking, and making sure it doesn't disturb his grandmother's peace in her home.


Built a republic, that still stands
Jay-Z is referencing America as a republic, which has endured and still remains strong to this day.


I'm trying to lead a nation, to leave to my little man's
Jay-Z wants to set a positive example for his son, and to leave behind a legacy for his family and future generations.


Or my daughter, so I'm boiling this water
Jay-Z wants to provide for not only his son, but his daughter as well, and is willing to work hard and 'boil water' (an expression for cooking crack cocaine) to achieve this goal.


The scales was lopsided, I'm just restoring order
Jay-Z is referencing the unfairness and inequality in America's justice system, and how he is working to correct it.


Hold up, here comes grandma, what's up YaYa?
Jay-Z is referencing his grandmother again, affectionately calling her 'YaYa.'


What's that smell? Oh I'm just boiling some aqua
Jay-Z is making a euphemism for boiling crack cocaine, so as not to raise suspicion or alarm from others in the house.


No papa, bad Santa
Jay-Z is making a reference to Santa Claus and how he is like a 'bad Santa' for dealing drugs instead of bringing gifts.


The streets raised me, pardon my bad manners
Jay-Z is acknowledging his rough upbringing and how it has influenced his behavior and language.


I got my liberty, chopping grams up
Jay-Z is referencing his freedom as an American citizen, while also making an allusion to cutting and preparing crack cocaine for sale.


Street justice, I pray God understand us
Jay-Z is acknowledging the harsh realities of the streets and how he hopes that God can forgive him for the wrongs he has committed.


I pledge allegiance to all the scramblers
Jay-Z is pledging his loyalty to other drug dealers, and acknowledging their role in his life and success.


This is the Star Spangled Banner
Jay-Z is referring to the United States' national anthem, expressing his pride and love for his country despite his illegal activities.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER BREAUX, SHAWN C. CARTER, MIKE DEAN, SHAMA E. JOSEPH, KANYE OMARI WEST

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@TyWerks

As a black man who is in to history this song is so poetic. For those of us who are succesful damn we made it fr

@FloydFloyd-ot5eo

🎶🎶 If we can make it here we can make it anywhere 🎶🎶

@kabiirkhan530

can you do a analysis of this song for me i need it for tomorrow

@solomonshabeenzu5184

I'm on the "come up"!💯

@MrBrian714

This is the last song I heard before my brother passed away. 10 years ago today 😢 brings back memories

@zslime6766

sorry for ur loss man i send you love.

@charlestarrant8733

🙏🏼🙏🏼 Sorry for your Loss

@MrWest676

Bro I swear nowadays this album doesn’t get that much appreciation

@Tyrone5556

Bro why do the most underrated songs gotta be so great 😭

@vincevileborne

THIS SONG HAS BEEN IN MY HEAD FOR THE PAST 2 WEEKS
POWER TO THE PEOPLE

🖤✊🏾💯

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