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.
Can't Say No
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't say no i can't say no
Wake up, new day, same shit
Get dressed, gotta pay my rent
Little off for the money I spent
Next week 'til I get my check
And I don't even wanna work at this job
Let's say I quit today
Come back, go postal tomorr'
This time I'ma take shit too far
I don't give a fuck who you are
When you broke they do you so wrong
When you blow they knew you was raw
Two strikes so you can't sell coke
Two kids so we can't stay broke
But the street life all we know
So you know one thing? I can't say no
I can't say no i can't say no
I can't say no i can't say no
If it wasn't for the fact that
I so happened to be rappin'
I'd prolly be jackin', prolly be trappin'
Somewhere traffickin' packages
Takin' this shit back to the bases
But that's the past and I'm
Tryin' to erase this
But how the hell am I s'posed to live
When the government want half on every mil'?
The cost of gas still climbin' rapidly
And I pay the city, the county, state
And mothafuckas still out there tryna tax me
I gotta sell more ringtones
I gotta cut back and stop
Usin' my juke phones
Cause at the rate I'm goin'
I'm bound to lose my home
Off the interest rate alone
I can't say no
(I can't say no, I can't say no)
I can't say no (I can't say no, no)
I can't say no (I can't say no)
I can't say no
How can I say no?
How can I say no after all this time?
If it wasn't for the ghetto
Where would I be?
If it wasn't for those food stamps and
Welfare checks mama used to give me
Where would I be? If it wasn't for the hood
If it wasn't for the addicts
If it wasn't for the fact
That they was on drugs
That they didn't know enough not
To get on drugs shit wasn't for the struggle
Wasn't for bad luck wouldn't be nothin'
The lyrics to "I Can't Say No" by Kanye West and Trick Daddy express a sense of frustration and desperation in the face of financial struggles and societal pressures. The song begins with the singer feeling trapped in a cycle of working hard to pay rent and meet their basic needs. They express a desire to quit their job and rebel against the system, but acknowledge the consequences that come with such actions.
The lyrics also touch upon the singer's past involvement in illegal activities, suggesting that if it weren't for their career in music, they might have ended up engaging in criminal behavior. However, they acknowledge that they are trying to distance themselves from that past, but are still haunted by the financial burdens and constant demands of the government.
The chorus repeats the phrase "I can't say no," emphasizing the feeling of being trapped and unable to escape the struggles of poverty and the expectations placed upon them.
Overall, the song portrays the harsh reality faced by individuals in low-income communities, who are constantly surrounded by temptations and setbacks that hinder their progress. It sheds light on the challenges they face and the difficult choices they are forced to make.
Line by Line Meaning
Just to be where you are i can't say no
I can't resist the opportunity to be with you, even if it means sacrificing other things.
Wake up, new day, same shit
Every day starts with the same monotonous routine.
Get dressed, gotta pay my rent
I have to work hard just to make enough money to cover my rent.
Little off for the money I spent
I don't have much left after paying my expenses.
Next week 'til I get my check
I have to wait until next week to receive my paycheck.
And I don't even wanna work at this job
I have no desire to continue working at this job.
Matter fact I've been workin' too hard
In fact, I've been putting in excessive effort and it's taking a toll on me.
Let's say I quit today
Let's imagine I quit my job right now.
Come back, go postal tomorr'
I might return to work tomorrow with a deeply negative attitude.
This time I'ma take shit too far
This time, I will go beyond what is considered acceptable.
I don't give a fuck who you are
I have no regard for anyone's authority or position.
When you broke they do you so wrong
When you are financially struggling, people mistreat you.
When you blow they knew you was raw
When you achieve success, they acknowledge your talent.
Two strikes so you can't sell coke
Having two prior offenses prevents me from engaging in drug dealing.
Two kids so we can't stay broke
I have two children, so I can't afford to remain financially unstable.
But the street life all we know
Living on the streets is the only lifestyle we are familiar with.
So you know one thing? I can't say no
Therefore, one thing is certain: I cannot refuse opportunities or challenges.
If it wasn't for the fact that
If it weren't for the truth that
I so happened to be rappin'
I coincidentally became a rapper
I'd prolly be jackin', prolly be trappin'
I would most likely be involved in theft and drug dealing
Somewhere traffickin' packages
Engaging in the illegal transportation of goods
Takin' this shit back to the bases
Returning the illicit substances to their origins
But that's the past and I'm
However, that's in the past and now I am
Tryin' to erase this
Attempting to eliminate that part of my life
But how the hell am I s'posed to live
But how on earth am I supposed to survive
When the government want half on every mil'?
When the government wants to take 50% of every million I earn?
The cost of gas still climbin' rapidly
The price of gasoline is still increasing quickly
And I pay the city, the county, state
I have to pay taxes to the city, county, and state governments
And mothafuckas still out there tryna tax me
And people are still attempting to impose additional taxes on me
I gotta sell more ringtones
I have to sell a greater number of ringtones
I gotta cut back and stop
Usin' my juke phones
I have to reduce my expenses and stop using disposable phones
Cause at the rate I'm goin'
Because at the rate I am currently going
I'm bound to lose my home
I am likely to end up losing my residence
Off the interest rate alone
Due to the high interest rates alone
How can I say no?
How can I refuse?
How can I say no after all this time?
How can I reject something after all the time that has passed?
If it wasn't for the ghetto
If it weren't for the impoverished neighborhood
Where would I be?
Where would I have ended up?
If it wasn't for those food stamps and
Welfare checks mama used to give me
If I didn't have the assistance of food stamps and welfare checks that my mother provided
Where would I be?
Where would I have ended up?
If it wasn't for the hood
If it weren't for the disadvantaged neighborhood
If it wasn't for the addicts
If it weren't for those struggling with addiction
If it wasn't for the fact
That they was on drugs
If it weren't for the reality that they were using drugs
That they didn't know enough not
To get on drugs shit wasn't for the struggle
That they didn't possess enough knowledge to avoid drug addiction
Wasn't for bad luck wouldn't be nothin'
If it weren't for unfortunate circumstances, my life would be devoid of substance
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@solenzo2006
Welcome to this world YE
Who all things are under control
All the media all the theatre all the banks
Zionist is everywhere since a long time
Keep it real bro
You are à legend who speak with your heart
FREEDOM
@pesto5175
Just applied for my first job. If I get the job, I'll definitely be playing this song on my first pay day. Even if I am just a grocery store worker lmao
EDIT: I didn't even get a response LMAOOOOO
EDIT 2: i got the job a year later and have had it for over 6 months by now. is alllllllllllll good
EDIT 3: I've still been working this job part-time about two and a half years down the line by now. You know looking at this comment now, i remember how much it meant at the time getting this job and getting my first few paychecks. My life really has changed a lot the last three years (not bc of my job or anything), yet working at this grocery store is one of the few things thats stayed constant on sum real #deep shit. Wish me luck cuz yo boy studying engineering rn tryna get an even bigger bag
also i really hope no one ik irl finds this
@WJAYY
This is the song you play when you move out of your parents house.
@mopedi3252
😂😂😂Saying you can't tell me nothing to your parents right?
@Bima971220
You a bad kid
@Bima971220
You a bad kid
@mattizzle81
Truth.
@crossnations5026
LoL. This is the song you play when you are headed for divorce!
@dayansafi6038
Music is the closest thing we have to a time machine
@pablosangels
hb ur actual recordings
@00579G47
I miss this Kanye.
@KevsUploads
Anything that can record an event in time is.