The track's producer Swizz Beatz, who also provided additional vocals on the song, described working with West and Jay-Z on the album songs "Welcome to the Jungle", "Who Gon Stop Me" and "Murder to Excellence" as "like being in the studio with Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson at the same time".
"Welcome to the Jungle" spent a total of three weeks on the US Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart and peaked at number 4.
Welcome to the Jungle
Jay-Z & Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Welcome to the jungle, welcome to the jungle well, yeah, yeah
I asked her where she wanna be when she twenty-five
She turned around and looked at me and said, "Alive"
Welcome to the jungle, welcome to the jungle well, uh
Black Axl Rose, move halves and wholes
Come down to the jungle, just ask for Hov
Work pots and pans, just to cop me some Airs
My uncle died, my daddy did too
Paralyzed by the pain, I can barely move
My nephew gone, my heart is torn
Sometimes I look to the sky, ask why I was born
My faith in God, every day is hard
Every night is worse, that's why I pray so hard
Why I pray so hard, this is crazy God
Just when I thought I had everything, I lost it all
So que sera, get a case of Syrah
Let it chase the pain, before it goes too far
My dreams is big, reality set in
Let off a clip from a automatic weapon
Through shots in the door, it died in Vegas
Though it fought so hard, I knew it wouldn't make it
I'm a tortured soul, I live in disguise
Rest in peace to the leader of the Jackson 5
I died in my sleep, I'm still Big Pimpin'
I ball at the mall, beginning of the ending
Where the fuck is the sun? It's been a while
Momma, look at ya son, what happened to my smile?
My tears is tatted, my rag in my pocket
I'm just looking for love, I know somebody got it
Champagne for the pain, weed for the low
Goddamn I'm so high, where the fuck did I go?
I'm losing myself, I'm stuck in the moment
I look in the mirror, my only opponent
Where the fuck is the press? Where the fuck is the Pres?
Either they don't know or don't care, I'm fucking depressed
No crying in public, just lying to judges
Risking my life, I'm already dying, so fuck it well
Welcome to the jungle, welcome to the jungle well, goddammit
The lyrics to Welcome to the Jungle by Jay-Z and Kanye West touch on various themes, ranging from life struggles, dreams, pain, and faith. The song's title and chorus reference the infamous Guns N' Roses hit, "Welcome to the Jungle," which signifies a wild and unpredictable environment. The opening lines, "Welcome to the Jungle, welcome to the jungle well, yeah, yeah," set the tone for the song, which appears to be a journey through the challenging, unpredictable, and difficult terrain of life.
In the first verse, Jay-Z raps about his experiences in the drug trade and how he’s had to "move halves and wholes" and "work pots and pans" to afford expensive sneakers such as Air Jordans. He also mentions the pain he has experienced due to the loss of family members, which seems to suggest he’s seeking solace in something more significant - his faith in God. The chorus serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of life and that surviving it all should be a priority.
Kanye West's verse in the second half of the song delves deeper into the mental struggles he’s facing. He opens up about his pain, emotional loss, and depression, admitting that he’s "fucking depressed." He references the death of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, and the impact that he had on his life, ending the verse on a solemn note.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome to the jungle, welcome to the jungle well, yeah, yeah
Life is unpredictable and chaotic, but still worth living
I asked her where she wanna be when she twenty-five
I asked her about her future goals and aspirations
She turned around and looked at me and said, "Alive"
She expressed a desire to simply be alive and well in the future
Black Axl Rose, move halves and wholes
I'm a powerful, influential figure who moves things around like a chessboard
Come down to the jungle, just ask for Hov
Come to my world where I rule and I'll guide you
Move blocks and squares, move apples and pears
I hustle and work hard to get what I want, even if it means doing menial tasks
Work pots and pans, just to cop me some Airs
I'll do anything for money, even if it means working in the kitchen, just to afford expensive sneakers
My uncle died, my daddy did too
I've experienced significant loss in my life
Paralyzed by the pain, I can barely move
I'm emotionally numb and struggling to cope with the pain
My nephew gone, my heart is torn
I've lost loved ones and it's broken my heart
Sometimes I look to the sky, ask why I was born
Sometimes I question the purpose of my existence
My faith in God, every day is hard
My religious beliefs are the only thing keeping me going
Every night is worse, that's why I pray so hard
My struggles and pain are getting worse with time and I feel like I have no other option but to pray
Why I pray so hard, this is crazy God
I'm starting to doubt if prayer even works, but it's all I have left
Just when I thought I had everything, I lost it all
I thought I had everything under control, but then everything fell apart
So que sera, get a case of Syrah
Whatever will be, will be. Time to drown my sorrows in wine
Let it chase the pain, before it goes too far
I'm trying to numb my emotional pain before it becomes unbearable
My dreams is big, reality set in
I have big dreams, but the reality of life is hitting me hard
Let off a clip from a automatic weapon
I'm willing to use violence to protect myself and my interests
Through shots in the door, it died in Vegas
I lost someone I cared about to violence in Las Vegas
Though it fought so hard, I knew it wouldn't make it
Despite my loved one's best efforts, they couldn't survive their injuries
I'm a tortured soul, I live in disguise
I'm a deeply troubled person who hides my true self from the world
Rest in peace to the leader of the Jackson 5
Michael Jackson, the lead singer of the Jackson 5, has passed away
I died in my sleep, I'm still Big Pimpin'
Even in death, my legacy of being a successful player is remembered
I ball at the mall, beginning of the ending
I'm living a lavish lifestyle, but I know it won't last
Where the fuck is the sun? It's been a while
Things have been difficult, and I'm hoping for a break from the darkness
Momma, look at ya son, what happened to my smile?
I'm not the happy person I used to be, and my mother can see it
My tears is tatted, my rag in my pocket
I wear my emotions on my sleeve and have a visible symbol of my affiliation with a group
I'm just looking for love, I know somebody got it
I'm searching for love and connection, hoping that someone out there can give it to me
Champagne for the pain, weed for the low
I'm self-medicating to deal with my emotional pain
Goddamn I'm so high, where the fuck did I go?
I've gone too far with my substance use and don't know where I am anymore
I'm losing myself, I'm stuck in the moment
I'm losing touch with reality and trapped in a difficult situation
I look in the mirror, my only opponent
I'm struggling against myself, and the biggest obstacle to my success is me
Where the fuck is the press? Where the fuck is the Pres?
The media and the people in power aren't paying attention to the issues I'm dealing with
Either they don't know or don't care, I'm fucking depressed
I feel like nobody understands or cares about my problems, and it's taking a toll on my mental health
No crying in public, just lying to judges
I have to put on a tough front in public, even if it means lying to authority figures
Risking my life, I'm already dying, so fuck it well
I'm willing to take serious risks because I don't feel like I have much to lose
Welcome to the jungle, welcome to the jungle well, goddammit
Life is a harsh and challenging environment, but I'm going to keep fighting
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Iricom US Ltd, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kanye West, Kaseem Dean, Mike Dean, Shawn Carter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stevewells5111
"I asked her where she wanted to be when she 25, she turned around and looked at me and she said ALIVE." What a great start!
@VladimirPutin-wt5yh
I still think Kanye was referencing to Outkast on this one
@bigwilly1964
@@VladimirPutin-wt5yh such a great tribute
@travelandeats8518
Yes a great start. Beat is good on the start up.
Good production all around
@CEEBrown
Jay was super vulnerable on this joint. I never would've thought to bring that approach to this beat. He went in.
@jamiekoga1903
I felt that verse deep in my soul.
@CEEBrown
@@jamiekoga1903 Same!
@oluakinkoye850
“I look in the mirror, my only opponent.” 🔥🔥🔥
@ajayayyar2074
This is one of my favourite JayZ songs.
@meyou5789
Swizz Beatz