West's second and third studio albums, Late Registration (2005) and Graduation (2007), both debuted at the top of the Billboard 200, with the latter becoming his most commercially successful to date. Three of his subsequent albums—808s & Heartbreak (2008), My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), and The Life of Pablo (2016)—were certified triple platinum, while Yeezus (2013) was certified double platinum. Although not as well-received critically as his previous works, Ye (2018), Jesus Is King (2019), and Donda (2021) continued West's streak of consecutive number-one debuts on the Billboard 200. West has also released collaborative albums including Watch the Throne (2011) with Jay-Z, Kids See Ghosts (2018) with Kid Cudi, and Vultures 1 and Vultures 2 (2024) with Ty Dolla Sign. In fashion design, he has collaborated with Nike, Inc., Louis Vuitton, and Gap Inc. on clothing and footwear, and led the Yeezy collaboration with Adidas.
One of the world's best-selling music artists with 160 million records sold, West has won 24 Grammy Awards, the joint 11th-most of all time and the most awarded for any hip hop artist along with Jay-Z. His other accolades include a Billboard Artist Achievement Award, a joint-record three Brit Awards for Best International Male Solo Artist, and the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. West holds the joint record with Bob Dylan for most albums (four) topping the annual Pazz & Jop critic poll. Time named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2005 and 2015. West's first six solo albums were included on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list in 2020, with the same publication naming him one of the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time.
West's outspoken views have received significant media coverage. He has been a frequent source of controversy due to his conduct on social media, at award shows, and in public settings, as well as his comments on the music and fashion industries, U.S. politics, race, and slavery. His Christian faith, high-profile marriage to Kim Kardashian, and mental health have also been topics of media attention. In 2020, West launched an unsuccessful independent presidential campaign that advocated for a consistent life ethic. In October 2022, he was widely condemned and lost many sponsors and partnerships, including his collaborations with Adidas, Gap, and Balenciaga, after making a series of antisemitic statements, including denying the Holocaust.
9
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That I'm crazy, that I'm crazy
I think it's a couple more things they owe us
I think it's a couple more things they owe us
Billions and cars and weed
And mothafuckin' minks is all
That they show us but we are the owners
So don't don't don't don't don't don't don't
Don't let them make you believe
That I'm crazy, nigga I'm not crazy
I'm tellin' you don't don't don't
Don't don't don't
Don't let them make you believe
That I'm crazy, nigga I'm not crazy
See that's the magic of racism
It works on it'self
We hate each other, screw each other
Kill each other
When we can't kill nobody else
See that's the magic of lackin' resources
It works on it'self 500 niggas gettin'
Pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-popped
And North Carolina didn't help
See that's the magic of racism
It works on it'self
Niggas hate niggas, hate niggas, hate niggas
Hate niggas
Hate niggas, hate niggas, ayy, niggas, ayy
Nigga and I was born in the A, nigga
And my name Ye, nigga, ayy nigga
Don't don't don't don't don't don't don't
Don't make, make you believe that I'm crazy
I'm not crazy don't don't don't don't
Don't don't don't
Don't let the media make you believe that I'm
That I'm
See that's the shit I don't like
In Kanye West's song "9," the lyrics tackle several themes, including feelings of being misunderstood and the impact of racism. The repetition of the line "Don't let them make you believe that I'm crazy" suggests that Kanye is addressing the public's perception of him and how it is shaped by the media. He asserts that he is not crazy, urging listeners not to believe the negative portrayal of his sanity.
The lines "I think it's a couple more things they owe us/Billions and cars and weed/And mothafuckin' minks is all/That they show us but we are the owners" highlight Kanye's frustration with societal inequalities. He believes that there are privileges and resources that have been denied to certain communities, while only superficial aspects are presented to them. Kanye suggests that there is a larger debt owed to these communities, representing the need for socioeconomic and racial justice.
The lyrics also touch on the magic of racism, emphasizing how it perpetuates itself. Kanye describes the cycle of hate that exists within communities, where individuals turn against each other instead of uniting against larger systemic issues. He mentions specific incidents of violence, like the shooting of 500 individuals in North Carolina, to emphasize the destructive effects of racism.
Overall, the lyrics of "9" serve as a commentary on Kanye West's perception of himself and society. He aims to challenge the narrative imposed on him and shed light on the systemic issues that plague communities affected by racism and socioeconomic disadvantages.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't let them make you believe
Do not allow others to manipulate your perception
That I'm crazy, that I'm crazy
To portray me as insane
I think it's a couple more things they owe us
There are additional obligations they have towards us
Billions and cars and weed
Large sums of money, luxurious vehicles, and marijuana
And mothafuckin' minks is all
But all they display are expensive fur coats
That they show us but we are the owners
That is what they showcase, but in reality, we are the ones in control
So don't don't don't don't don't don't don't
Therefore, do not allow
Don't let them make you believe
Others to manipulate your perception
That I'm crazy, nigga I'm not crazy
That I am insane, but I am not actually insane
I'm tellin' you don't don't don't
I am advising you to refuse
Don't don't don't
Do not
Don't let them make you believe
Others to manipulate your perception
That I'm crazy, nigga I'm not crazy
That I am insane, but I am not actually insane
See that's the magic of racism
This is the power of racism
It works on it'self
It perpetuates itself
We hate each other, screw each other
We despise and harm one another
Kill each other
Even resort to killing each other
When we can't kill nobody else
When we are unable to harm anyone else
See that's the magic of lackin' resources
This is the power of being deprived of resources
It works on it'self 500 niggas gettin'
It perpetuates itself, leading to 500 individuals being
Pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-popped
Shot multiple times
And North Carolina didn't help
And North Carolina did not provide assistance
Niggas hate niggas, hate niggas, hate niggas
Black people despise black people, hating each other
Hate niggas
Displaying intense hatred towards one another
Hate niggas, hate niggas, ayy, niggas, ayy
Expressing continuous animosity towards each other
Nigga and I was born in the A, nigga
I was born in Atlanta, Georgia, my friend
And my name Ye, nigga, ayy nigga
And my name is Ye, my friend
Don't don't don't don't don't don't don't
Therefore, do not let
Don't make, make you believe that I'm crazy
Others manipulate your perception to believe that I am insane
I'm not crazy don't don't don't don't
I am not insane, so refuse
Don't don't don't
Do not
Don't let the media make you believe that I'm
Do not allow the media to manipulate your perception that I am
That I'm
Insane
See that's the shit I don't like
This is the stuff that I dislike
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@eensanom
[Chorus]
Though I'll always pick up when you call
You only want me around just to break your fall, I'm leaving
I just really want your night and day
'Cause you can't even give me your 9:30
When you say you would
Like you say you would
Baby, why you say you could if you can't?
[Bridge]
Oh no
Hey-yeah, uh (Huh)
[Verse 1]
Either you don't trust me
Or you don't trust yourself
Either way, what do I say 'cause you know night and day, we can't trust nobody else
And I won't make you mine
Just 'cause you can't stand to be yours
Just tell me what you need, baby girl, I'll sail your seas, just meet me at the shore
So move to Atlanta, fill up your planner, go and get your life on track
Baby, do what you gotta, I ain't gon' stop ya, I ain't even mad
But I want ya, I can't deny it
You got the driver? Forgеt about the mileage
And wе could try it just for right now
Just let me know when you're back in town
[Chorus]
Though I'll always pick up when you call
You only want me around just to break your fall, I'm leaving
But I just really want your night and day
You can't even give me your 9:30
When you say you would
Like you say you would
Why you say you could if you can't?
[Bridge]
Oh no-no, no-no, yeah
Yeah, oh-oh
[Verse 2]
Baby, why you always passive, I can see it in your last text
Fuck it I ain't even going to reply
I'ma snap just like elastic, maybe put you in a past tense
If you don't speak your mind
Why is it always up to me?
Open up a conversation if you fuck with me
Baby, how you ever supposed to love on me
If you don't love yourself
And that's basic
I say you're my favorite
You ask what I'm playing at
What the fuck?
I don't really know what to say-ay
So I send a late text
Like that shit was safe sex
You go buck
Now I'm losing my mi-ind
And I'm wasting my ti-ime
Baby girl, just get out the house
And come and see me
Oh-oh
@alaebouzid6125
Lyrics :
Though I'll always pick up when you call
You only want me around just to break your fall, I'm leaving
I just really want your night and day
But you can't even give me your 9:30
When you say you would
Like you say you would
Baby, why do you say you could if you can't?
Oh no
No-no-no, babe
Either you don't trust me
Or you don't trust yourself
Either way, what do I say 'cause you know night and day, we can't trust nobody else
And I won't make you mine
Just 'cause you can't stand to be yours
Just tell me what you need, baby girl, I'll sail your seas, just meet me at the shore
So move to Atlanta, fill up your planner, go and get your life on track
Baby, do what you gotta , I ain't gon' stop you, I ain't even mad
But I want you I can't deny it
Do you got the drive, forget about the mileage
Maybe we could try it just for right now
Just let me know when you're back in town
Though I'll always pick up when you call (When you call me, baby)
You unly want me around just to break your fall I'm leaving
I just really want your night and day (Night and day, baby, night and day)
But you can't even give me your 9:30 (9:30)
When you say you would (When you say you would)
Like you say you would (When you say you would)
Why do you say you could if you can't?
Baby, why you always passive, I can see it in your last text
Fuck it I ain't even going to reply
I'ma snap just like elastic, maybe put you in a past tense
If you don’t speak your mind
Why is it always up to me?
Open up a conversation if you fuck with me
Baby, how you ever supposed to love on me
If you don't love yourself
And that's basic
I say you're my favorite
You ask what I'm playing at
What the fuck?
I don't really know what to say next
So I send a late text
Like that shit was safe sex
You go buck
Now I'm losing my mi-ind
And I'm wasting my ti-ime
Baby girl, just get out the house
And come see me
We'll work this out
Girl, you gotta believe me
Though I'll always pick up when you call (When you call)
Only want me around just to break your fall, I'm leaving
I just really want your night and day (Night and day, night and day)
But you can't even give me your 9:30 (9:30)
When you say you would
When you say you would (Like you say you would)
Why do you say you could if you can't? (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
Hmm-mm
@rjg1847
How the vocals from the singer blend into the beat when Kanye comes in is beautiful if that makes sense
@RR33D
of course it makes sense 💯 Arrangement, songwriting and mixing power for sure ✅
@jacolbiewilliams9372
The singer is SWSH btw I hear she’s good if you like ari Lennox lol
@ENDOFFEB
this is why ppls fav artists that kno nun bout production wouldn't be SHIT w/o these engineers n sound designers ... da real mvps fr
@RR33D
@@ENDOFFEB #fax
@lurenzo774
That mesh is a blessing
@omid6243
i come back to hear this once a day for my own sanity
@jasonrandle1645
Same bro
@luisvillasenor6310
Me too 😢
@Chorweiler
Yes