Ye, born Kanye Omari West on June 8, 1977, is an American rapper, singer, s… Read Full Bio ↴Ye, born Kanye Omari West on June 8, 1977, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. He is one of the most prominent figures in hip hop, known for his diverse musical style and polarizing cultural and political commentary. After dropping out of college to pursue a career in music, West began producing for regional artists in the Chicago area. As an in-house producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, he co-produced albums including Jay-Z's The Blueprint (2001) before signing with the label as a recording artist. West's debut studio album, The College Dropout (2004), received critical acclaim and produced the Billboard Hot 100 number-one single "Slow Jamz." He topped the chart four other times with the singles "Gold Digger" (2005), "Stronger" (2007), "E.T." (2011, as a featured artist), and "Carnival" (2024).

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.

Eyez Closed
Kanye West Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

And I can see it with my eyes closed, now
Feeling like my life froze
I'm about to hit the ground

Sippin' yak while I elevate my mind state
Hand by the burner in case a near try to violate
Never go down, stay rising like Andre
'Cause my corner back every thing the Don say

Long Beach, yeah I yell it out in every song
Err'y day, err'y night till I'm carried home
Forever known, big ballin', try it in the city
Then yelling out swish way before it in the net

And I ain't knockin' niggas hustle, it's all a game
And when they mention the best, will they call your name?
There's only winners and losers, ain't no in betweens
We either hit the hall of fame or you fall to shame
And you ain't got to wonder where my place at
Pepsi blue rags sorta poppin', bitch taste that
One hit of the bong will blow ya face back
LMFAO to the bank, boy, ASAP

And I can see it with my eyes closed, now
Feeling like my life froze
I'm about to hit the ground

I do it 'cause I feel it
Live it like I'm talkin'
Flow so straight but won't a nigga try and walk it
I'm so high, yeah the weed, I'm still sparking it
My bitch bad and my diamonds still sparkling
Got the competition shaking like Parkinsons
Breads in the bag, call it good marketin'
Life's a bitch but I don't caught again

That's what a word to the third letter

Shot, shot, shots to me and my cheddar
Run these emcee's I'm tougher than leather
Vietnamese eyes tighter than ever
Fuck with the Dogg I'm biting whomever
'Cause I didn't came from a long path
Only God knows how long left the Dogg has
'Cause like time we all pass
So if you ever taste success, just pray it's from a tall glass

And I can see it with my eyes closed, now
Feeling like my life froze
I'm about to hit the ground

I sold my soul to the devil that's a crappy deal
Least it came with a few toys like a happy meal
This game you could never win
'Cause they love you then they hate you then they love you again
Get away from me misery
Get away from me loneliness
Get away from me fake bitches, I can't take the phoniness
Get away from me whack tracks

I can only make only hits
I'm an only child lost in the world
Where did the lonely kids go when the bell rings
Its feeling like hell rings
It's bringing me back down
He's checking my background
It's ironic whats happening
Imagine if I didn't have the ends
I wouldn't have so many imaginary friends

I'm spaced out dog, I be on that moon talk
Wonder if God ask Mike how to moon walk
I swear to momma wish me and my father talk more
I stopped visiting around the time I was a sophomore
I guess everything I hate about me I see in him
And we ain't finna change, so we won't agree again
Till then I'll be pouring out my soul
Just a few things I see with my eyes closed

And I can see it with my eyes closed, now
Feeling like my life froze
I'm about to hit the ground

[Repeat: x4]
See you with my eyes closed

Overall Meaning

In Kanye West's song "Eyez Closed," the lyrics explore themes of self-reflection, resilience, and the pursuit of success. The opening lines, "And I can see it with my eyes closed, now / Feeling like my life froze / I'm about to hit the ground," suggest that the singer is in a moment of pause, possibly facing a challenging situation. Despite this, they maintain a sense of clarity and determination, indicated by their ability to see with their eyes closed.

The following verses discuss various aspects of the singer's life and mindset. They mention sipping alcohol to elevate their state of mind while staying vigilant for any potential threats. The lyrics also touch upon the desire for recognition and the dichotomy between being a winner or loser. The line "One hit of the bong will blow ya face back / LMFAO to the bank, boy, ASAP" implies a strong belief in their own success and ability to have a laugh at their critics.

The second verse delves into the singer's mindset and confidence. They assert that they do what they do because they feel it, embodying their words and staying true to themselves. The reference to weed and diamonds suggests indulgence and luxury. They mention their competition being shaken by their success, and how they've learned from their own mistakes. The reference to success being served from a tall glass serves as a reminder to appreciate and value success when it comes.

In the third verse, the lyrics take a more introspective turn. The singer reflects on making a deal with the devil, hinting at the compromises and sacrifices they may have made for their success. They mention the fluctuating nature of fame and the fickleness of those around them. The lyrics also touch upon feelings of loneliness, hypocrisy, and the pressure to consistently produce hits.

The final verse dives into personal family matters, expressing a desire for a deeper connection with the singer's father. They acknowledge the similarities between themselves and their father, even though they may clash. The lyrics end with a heartfelt sentiment of pouring out their soul and gaining insights into life with their eyes closed.

Overall, "Eyez Closed" showcases Kanye West's introspective and self-aware side, exploring the highs and lows of fame and fortune while reflecting on personal growth and familial relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

And I can see it with my eyes closed, now
I have a clear understanding of my life even when my eyes are shut

Feeling like my life froze
Feeling stagnant and stuck in my current situation

I'm about to hit the ground
I feel like I'm about to reach a low point or face failure

Sippin' yak while I elevate my mind state
Drinking alcohol while I try to improve my mental state

Hand by the burner in case a near try to violate
Keeping a gun nearby in case someone tries to harm me

Never go down, stay rising like Andre
I never give up and always aim to succeed like Andre

'Cause my corner back every thing the Don say
Because I support and defend everything the Don (a figure of authority) says

Long Beach, yeah I yell it out in every song
I proudly represent Long Beach and mention it in all my songs

Err'y day, err'y night till I'm carried home
I hustle and work hard every day and night until I die

Forever known, big ballin', try it in the city
I will always be remembered and successful in the city

Then yelling out swish way before it in the net
Celebrating success and victory even before it is achieved

And I ain't knockin' niggas hustle, it's all a game
I don't criticize others' way of making money, as it's all part of the game

And when they mention the best, will they call your name?
Will they recognize me as one of the best when my name comes up?

There's only winners and losers, ain't no in betweens
In life, you either succeed or fail, there's no middle ground

We either hit the hall of fame or you fall to shame
Either we achieve great success and recognition or we face humiliation and failure

And you ain't got to wonder where my place at
You don't need to ask where I belong or what I'm good at

Pepsi blue rags sorta poppin', bitch taste that
I proudly wave blue bandanas, representing Pepsi, and dare others to try it

One hit of the bong will blow ya face back
Smoking from a bong will have a strong and intense effect on you

LMFAO to the bank, boy, ASAP
I am laughing all the way to the bank, boy, as soon as possible

I do it 'cause I feel it
I engage in this activity because I have a strong passion for it

Live it like I'm talkin'
I live my life in a way consistent with what I advocate

Flow so straight but won't a nigga try and walk it
My rap style is straightforward, but no one can imitate or match it

I'm so high, yeah the weed, I'm still sparking it
I am intoxicated from smoking marijuana and still enjoying it

My bitch bad and my diamonds still sparkling
My woman is attractive and my diamonds are still shimmering

Got the competition shaking like Parkinsons
I have my competitors scared and nervous

Breads in the bag, call it good marketin'
Making money and having it in their possession, successful marketing

Life's a bitch but I don't caught again
Life can be difficult, but I won't get tangled up in it

That's what a word to the third letter
That's a strong statement to emphasize my point

Shot, shot, shots to me and my cheddar
Celebrating with alcohol to myself and my wealth

Run these emcee's I'm tougher than leather
I dominate and outperform other MCs, I'm resilient

Vietnamese eyes tighter than ever
My eyes are focused and intense

Fuck with the Dogg, I'm biting whomever
Don't mess with me, because I will retaliate against anyone

'Cause I didn't came from a long path
I have come a long way from a challenging background

Only God knows how long left the Dogg has
Only God knows how much longer I will live

'Cause like time we all pass
Because like time, we all eventually die

So if you ever taste success, just pray it's from a tall glass
If you achieve success, hope that it's something significant and substantial

I sold my soul to the devil that's a crappy deal
I made a Faustian bargain, giving up my integrity for little in return

Least it came with a few toys like a happy meal
Although I made a bad deal, I received some material possessions as compensation

This game you could never win
You can never truly succeed in this deceptive industry

'Cause they love you then they hate you then they love you again
People's opinions of you are fickle and can change rapidly

Get away from me misery
I want to distance myself from feelings of sadness and despair

Get away from me loneliness
I want to escape from feelings of isolation and being alone

Get away from me fake bitches, I can't take the phoniness
I don't want to be around insincere women, I despise their fake behavior

Get away from me whack tracks
I want to distance myself from low-quality or unappealing music

I can only make only hits
I am only capable of creating successful and popular songs

I'm an only child lost in the world
I am an individual without siblings, feeling disconnected and lost in society

Where did the lonely kids go when the bell rings
Where do the isolated and misunderstood individuals find solace?

Its feeling like hell rings
This situation feels like a hellish experience

It's bringing me back down
This situation is causing me to feel down and dejected

He's checking my background
Someone is investigating and assessing my past

It's ironic whats happening
The current situation is unexpectedly paradoxical

Imagine if I didn't have the ends
Imagine if I didn't have the financial resources and wealth

I wouldn't have so many imaginary friends
I wouldn't have so many people pretending to be close to me for personal gain

I'm spaced out dog, I be on that moon talk
I'm in a disoriented state, engaging in eccentric and abstract conversations

Wonder if God ask Mike how to moon walk
I wonder if God consults Michael Jackson on how to perform the moonwalk

I swear to momma wish me and my father talk more
I sincerely wish I had better and more frequent communication with my father

I stopped visiting around the time I was a sophomore
I stopped visiting my father when I was in my second year of high school

I guess everything I hate about me I see in him
I realize that many negative traits I dislike about myself are similar to those of my father

And we ain't finna change, so we won't agree again
Neither of us is willing to change, so we won't reach a point of agreement again

Till then I'll be pouring out my soul
Until then, I will continue to express my deep emotions and feelings

Just a few things I see with my eyes closed
These are some of the insights and observations I have even without seeing them visually

[Repeat: x4]
Repeat this line four times

See you with my eyes closed
I can envision you even without actually seeing you

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Songtrust Ave, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID REEVES, CALVIN BROADUS, MIKE DEAN, JASON MARTIN, RUSSELL SIMMONS, LAWRENCE SMITH, JAMES SPICER, JOHN STEVENS, KANYE WEST

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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