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.

Go Left
Kanye West Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Fame is the cocaine
But the clout is the crystal meth
Hate is the propane, fuel the fire
I'mma be the best if it's insulting
Then why the vaccine go left?
This is insulting,  maybe I just go left

Rush in the church,  pastor told me

"Yeezy walk on water, what you doing here
Homie?" same thing, same thing, same control
Same thing, same shit, different cologne
Same plug, same song, same clothes
Same Jordans, it's thirty years fuckin' old
I took the 'Gram off for six months
What did I miss? "Comе on, Yeezy
You know you ain't miss shit"

Fame is the cocaine
But thе clout is the crystal meth
Hate is the propane, fuel the fire
I'mma be the best if it's insulting
Then why the vaccine go left?
This is insulting, maybe I just go left

Get you up out that OshKosh B'gosh
Made my first billion 'cause A-di das
Understood fifty percent of who I was
Don't provoke him, the godfather has spoken
Now who I'm is, got four kids
That was that, this is this
It's a wrap with the miss "Come on, Yeezy
You know you built this shit"

Fame is the cocaine

But the clout is the crystal meth
Hate is the propane, fuel the fire
I'mma be the best if it's insulting
Then why the vaccine go left?
This is insulting, maybe I just go left

Overall Meaning

In these lyrics from Kanye West's song "Go Left," he explores the themes of fame, clout, hate, and his own self-perception. He begins by drawing a parallel between fame and cocaine, emphasizing the addictive and destructive nature of the spotlight. Similarly, he likens clout (influence and popularity) to crystal meth, suggesting that it can be even more potent and damaging. Hate is compared to propane, acting as fuel to the fire of his ambition.

Kanye expresses his determination to be the best despite any insults or criticisms he may face. He questions why the vaccine, which is meant to protect and heal, seems to go against his aspirations. Feeling insulted by this, he contemplates going in a different direction, perhaps suggesting a desire to distance himself from societal expectations and norms.

The second paragraph delves into Kanye's religious beliefs and his perceived role as a figure of influence. He mentions rushing into a church, where the pastor questions his presence since Kanye is seen as someone who can perform miracles ("walk on water"). Kanye acknowledges that he maintains control over his image and artistry, comparing it to the same routine, same control, and same results. He references his social media absence and sarcastically asks what he missed, highlighting his detachment from the constant updates and trivialities of the online world.

The third paragraph reflects on Kanye's success and how it has shaped his identity. He mentions making a billion dollars thanks to his partnership with Adidas ("A-di das"), but he also acknowledges that this financial achievement only represents fifty percent of who he is. He warns against provoking him, acknowledging his status as a godfather figure. Kanye reveals that he now has four children and asserts that his current state is different from the past, emphasizing growth and change. In response to doubts or criticisms, he asserts that he built his own success.

The final repetition of the chorus reinforces the earlier messages of the song, underlining the negative aspects of fame and clout while acknowledging the power of hate as fueling his determination to be the best. Again, Kanye questions the contradictory nature of the vaccine going against his aspirations, suggesting that it feels insulting. Ultimately, he ponders the possibility of deviating from the expected path and going in a different direction ("going left").

Overall, these lyrics reflect Kanye West's introspection and contemplation of the challenges and contradictions that come with fame and success. He expresses a desire to redefine himself and challenges societal norms while asserting his own power and ambition.

Line by Line Meaning

Fame is the cocaine
The pursuit of fame can be an addictive and dangerous journey, much like using cocaine.

But the clout is the crystal meth
However, the desire for clout and social influence is even more powerful and destructive, comparable to the highly addictive drug crystal meth.

Hate is the propane, fuel the fire
Hate acts as fuel to ignite and intensify conflicts and controversies, similar to how propane fuels a fire.

I'mma be the best if it's insulting
Despite facing insults and criticisms, I will continue to strive to be the best in my field.

Then why the vaccine go left?
If the solution or remedy to these challenges is presented, why does it seem to deviate from its intended purpose or fail to address the issues effectively?

This is insulting, maybe I just go left
Feeling offended by the situation, perhaps I should take a different approach or direction to distance myself from these frustrations.

Rush in the church, pastor told me
In a hurry, I enter the church and the pastor confronts me, questioning why I, Yeezy, am present.

"Yeezy walk on water, what you doing here Homie?"
The pastor reminds me of my previous claim to greatness, questioning my purpose or motives for being in the church.

Same thing, same thing, same control
Experiencing repetition and monotony, everything feels familiar and under the same influence or control.

Same thing, same shit, different cologne
Similarly, everything seems repetitive and mundane, although presented with slight variations or disguises.

Same plug, same song, same clothes
Continuing the theme of sameness, the people I associate with, the music I create, and the clothes I wear all lack originality or uniqueness.

Same Jordans, it's thirty years fuckin' old
Even the iconic Jordan sneakers that I wear have been around for decades, emphasizing the stagnation and lack of innovation.

I took the 'Gram off for six months
To seek a break from the pressures of social media, I decided to deactivate my Instagram account for half a year.

What did I miss? "Come on, Yeezy You know you ain't miss shit"
Curious about what happened during my absence, people mockingly assure me that I didn't miss anything significant, implying that my presence is always the center of attention.

Get you up out that OshKosh B'gosh
I will elevate and rescue you from a state of simplicity or insignificance, represented here by the children's clothing brand, OshKosh B'gosh.

Made my first billion 'cause A-di das
I achieved great financial success and became a billionaire due to my collaboration with the popular brand Adidas.

Understood fifty percent of who I was
I started to comprehend and accept only half of my identity or true self, while there's still much more to explore and understand.

Don't provoke him, the godfather has spoken
It is advised not to provoke or challenge me, as I possess great power and influence, symbolized by the reference to the godfather, a figure of authority.

Now who I'm is, got four kids
Currently, I have evolved into a different person and role in life, being a parent to four children.

That was that, this is this
Acknowledging that the past is over and done with, focusing on the present and the new circumstances.

It's a wrap with the miss "Come on, Yeezy You know you built this shit"
Referring to the conclusion of a romantic relationship, people sarcastically remind me that I am the one who built my past successes and achievements.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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