The single broke a record for the most digital downloads in a week, selling over 80,000 digital downloads, and was also the fastest selling digital download of all time; both records have since been broken. It was 2005's second-longest running number one on the Billboard Hot 100 at ten weeks, behind Mariah Carey's “We Belong Together“. “Gold Digger“ was nominated for Record of the Year at the 2006 Grammy Awards (losing to Green Day's “Boulevard of Broken Dreams“) and won the award for Best Rap Solo Performance. The song lists at number 49 on Billboard magazine's All-Time Top 100. The song was voted number 20 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip-Hop.
Upon its release, many surmised that West conceived “Gold Digger“ after watching Jamie Foxx's Oscar-winning portrayal of Ray Charles in the biographical film Ray. However, he had actually recorded the song long before the movie was even developed. West originally produced and recorded the song in Ludacris's home in Atlanta, Georgia for Shawnna's 2004 debut album Worth Tha Weight and had written the chorus from a female first-person viewpoint. However, for reasons unknown, Shawnna passed on the beat. Not wanting to let it go to waste, West decided to write the two verses for the song himself, this time from a male's point-of-view. About a year later, right before "Gold Digger" was set to be released, West decided to add a third verse and in a week the new song was recorded and mastered at Sony Music Studios in New York. The idea of employing Jamie Foxx specifically to sing an interpolation of Ray Charles' "I Got a Woman" in place of its initial sample did in fact arise from West seeing Ray with his friend John Mayer. Foxx's vocals were recorded over many takes; one version, he sang from start to finish, but the track was retracted as his performance didn't coincide well with the song's instrumentation. After recording another version, Jamie decided to re-record it once more as he felt it contained too many explicit lyrics. Once the track was in place, it was layered with additional instruments provided by Brion and individually selected by West. By the end of their very first studio session together, the pair had completed the basic tracks for final version of "Gold Digger".
"Gold Digger" contains an interpolation of "I Got a Woman" by Ray Charles and a bouncy beat formed from handclaps as well as scratches DJ A-Trak. The song also contains a frequent vocal sample from the song "Bumpin' Bus Stop" by Thunder and Lightning. Towards the end, the song employs vintage 1970s synthesizers which emit a honking sound in cadence to Kanye's voice. West delivers a tongue-in-cheek lyrical narrative within "Gold Digger" in which he critically depicts the disastrous life of a man married to a woman who manipulates him for financial gain. However, another story arises within the third verse, which illustrates a once destitute black male who earns a fortune and decides to leave a loyal, unselfish girlfriend for a white girl.
The song's music video was directed by Hype Williams, who also directed West's previous video, "Diamonds from Sierra Leone". Shot in a widescreen letterbox format, using stylized art direction with few props, the video features performances shots of West interspersed with footage of Williams' trademark female video models depicted as "pin-up" cover models from fictional vintage magazines. The titles of the magazines the women appear on the cover of reflect the correlating verses in the song. Foxx is also present, lip-synching both his own parts and the Ray Charles vocal sample. John Legend makes a brief cameo. At the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards, "Gold Digger" received nominations for both Best Male Video and Best Hip Hop Video, but did not win either of these awards.
Gold Digger
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Interesting Facts ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, she's a triflin' friend indeed
Oh, she's a gold digger
Way over town, that digs on me
(She give me money) Now, I ain't sayin' she a gold digger
(When I'm in need) But she ain't messin' with no broke niggas
(She give me money) Now, I ain't sayin' she a gold digger
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head, get down
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head, get down
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head, get down
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head
Cutie the bomb, met her at a beauty salon
With a baby Louis Vuitton under her underarm
She said, "I can tell you rock, I can tell by your charm
Far as girls, you got a flock
I can tell by your charm and your arm"
But I'm lookin' for the one, have you seen her?
My psychic told me she'll have a ass like Serena
Trina, Jennifer Lopez, four kids
And I gotta take all they bad ass to ShowBiz?
Okay, get your kids, but then they got their friends
I pulled up in the Benz, they all got up in
We all went to Den and then I had to pay
If you fuckin' with this girl, then you better be paid
You know why? It take too much to touch her
From what I heard she got a baby by Busta
My best friend said she used to fuck with Usher
I don't care what none of y'all say, I still love her
(She give me money) Now, I ain't sayin' she a gold digger
(When I'm in need) But she ain't messin' with no broke niggas
(She give me money) Now, I ain't sayin' she a gold digger
(When I'm in need) But she ain't messin' with no broke niggas
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head, get down
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head, get down
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head, get down
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head
Eighteen years, eighteen years
She got one of your kids, got you for eighteen years
I know somebody payin' child support for one of his kids
His baby mama car and crib is bigger than his
You will see him on TV any given Sunday
Win the Super Bowl and drive off in a Hyundai
She was supposed to buy your shorty Tyco with your money
She went to the doctor, got lipo with your money
She walkin' around lookin' like Michael with your money
Shoulda got that insured, Geico for your money
If you ain't no punk
Holla, "We want prenup! We want prenup!" (Yeah!)
It's somethin' that you need to have
'Cause when she leave yo' ass, she gon' leave with half
Eighteen years, eighteen years
And on the 18th birthday he found out it wasn't his?
(She give me money) Now, I ain't sayin' she a gold digger
(When I'm in need) But she ain't messin' with no broke niggas
(She give me money) Now, I ain't sayin' she a gold digger
(When I'm in need) But she ain't messin' with no broke niggas
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head, get down
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head, get down
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head, get down
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head
Now, I ain't sayin' you a gold digger, you got needs
You don't want a dude to smoke but he can't buy weed
You go out to eat, he can't pay, y'all can't leave
There's dishes in the back, he gotta roll up his sleeves
But while y'all washin', watch him
He gon' make it to a Benz out of that Datsun
He got that ambition, baby, look at his eyes
This week he moppin' floors, next week it's the fries
So stick by his side
I know there's dudes ballin', and yeah, that's nice
And they gonna keep callin' and tryin', but you stay right, girl
And when you get on, he'll leave yo' ass for a white girl
Get down girl, go 'head, get down
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head, get down
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head, get down
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head
Let me hear that back
The lyrics to Gold Digger by Kanye West tell a story of a man who is involved with a woman who he believes is only with him for his money, hence the title "Gold Digger." The lyrics describe the woman as "trifling" and "digs" on the man, taking his money when he is in need. While he does not want to directly call her a gold digger, he acknowledges that she is not interested in being with broke men. The man in the song also recognizes that he is not the only one being pursued by the woman, as she mentions that he has a flock of girls around him.
The song then goes on to describe the woman's lavish lifestyle, as she carries a baby Louis Vuitton under her arm and is interested in taking all of her kids and their friends to ShowBiz. The man in the song, however, continues to stay with her despite her shady motives, insisting that he still loves her.
Eventually, the song reveals that the woman has a child with the man and is receiving child support from him. However, her lifestyle still exceeds his, with her car and house being bigger than his own. Kanye recommends that the man protects himself with a prenup, as he knows that once the woman leaves him, she will take half of his assets.
Overall, the lyrics of Gold Digger portray a cautionary tale about the dangers of getting involved with someone for their money or letting others take advantage of one’s wealth.
Some interesting facts about the song include:
Interesting Facts
Note: This section uses generative AI, which can be inaccurate.
Line by Line Meaning
She take my money when I'm in need
She takes advantage of my financial vulnerability
Yeah, she's a triflin' friend indeed
Yes, she is a disloyal and untrustworthy friend
Oh, she's a gold digger
She only values money and material possessions, not genuine relationships
Way over town, that digs on me
She lives far away but still shows interest in me because of my wealth
(She give me money) Now, I ain't sayin' she a gold digger
She does give me money, but that doesn't necessarily make her a gold digger
(When I'm in need) But she ain't messin' with no broke niggas
But she refuses to associate with men who don't have money
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head, get down
I need to leave her and move on with my life
Cutie the bomb, met her at a beauty salon
I met her at a place where appearances are prioritized over substance
With a baby Louis Vuitton under her underarm
She displays her wealth conspicuously, even using a designer baby bag
She said, "I can tell you rock, I can tell by your charm
She flatters me by recognizing my wealth and charisma
Far as girls, you got a flock
I have many women interested in me
I can tell by your charm and your arm"
She can tell by my confidence and my Rolex watch
But I'm lookin' for the one, have you seen her?
I'm searching for true love, not just superficial attraction
My psychic told me she'll have a ass like Serena
I've been told that my soulmate will have features similar to Serena Williams
Trina, Jennifer Lopez, four kids
I've dated famous women like Trina and Jennifer Lopez who have multiple children
And I gotta take all they bad ass to ShowBiz?
Do I have to take care of all their kids and expenses?
Okay, get your kids, but then they got their friends
Fine, take your kids, but then their friends want to come too
I pulled up in the Benz, they all got up in
I arrived in my luxury car, and they all wanted a ride
We all went to Den and then I had to pay
I had to foot the bill for everybody's entertainment
If you fuckin' with this girl, then you better be paid
If you're dating a woman like this, you need to have a lot of money
You know why? It take too much to touch her
She's high-maintenance and requires a lot of money to please
From what I heard she got a baby by Busta
Rumor has it that she has a child with Busta Rhymes
My best friend said she used to fuck with Usher
My friend claims that she has a history with Usher
I don't care what none of y'all say, I still love her
Despite her flaws and gold digging tendencies, I still have feelings for her
Eighteen years, eighteen years
I'm stuck with the financial burden of supporting a child for 18 years
She got one of your kids, got you for eighteen years
She has a child with me and now I'm obligated to support them for 18 years
I know somebody payin' child support for one of his kids
I know someone who is paying child support for one of their children
His baby mama car and crib is bigger than his
His ex-partner has nicer material possessions than he does
You will see him on TV any given Sunday
Despite his financial struggles, he tries to appear successful and wealthy on TV
Win the Super Bowl and drive off in a Hyundai
He may win a championship, but can only afford a humble Hyundai car
She was supposed to buy your shorty Tyco with your money
She was supposed to buy things for your child with your money
She went to the doctor, got lipo with your money
Instead, she spent the money on elective liposuction surgery
She walkin' around lookin' like Michael with your money
Now she looks like Michael Jackson because of the plastic surgery
Shoulda got that insured, Geico for your money
He should have insured his money and possessions against theft and fraud
If you ain't no punk
If you're not weak or cowardly
Holla, "We want prenup! We want prenup!" (Yeah!)
Demand a prenuptial agreement to protect your finances in case of a divorce
It's somethin' that you need to have
Having a prenup is a necessary precaution in a relationship with a gold digger
'Cause when she leave yo' ass, she gon' leave with half
If you don't have a prenup, you may lose half of your wealth in a divorce
And on the 18th birthday he found out it wasn't his?
After financially supporting a child for 18 years, he discovered that the child was not biologically his
Now, I ain't sayin' you a gold digger, you got needs
I'm not necessarily calling you a gold digger, but I recognize that you have financial needs
You don't want a dude to smoke but he can't buy weed
You don't want a man who smokes, but you also don't want a man who can't afford to buy weed
You go out to eat, he can't pay, y'all can't leave
If you go out to eat and he can't pay, you're stuck there until somebody else covers the bill
There's dishes in the back, he gotta roll up his sleeves
He may have to work in the restaurant's kitchen to cover the bill
But while y'all washin', watch him
While you're doing dishes, keep an eye on him
He gon' make it to a Benz out of that Datsun
He has drive and ambition, and will eventually upgrade from his old car to a Benz
He got that ambition, baby, look at his eyes
He has a strong desire for success and it shows in his determined gaze
This week he moppin' floors, next week it's the fries
He may have a lowly job now, but he's determined to work his way up
So stick by his side
If you truly love him, support him in his quest for success
I know there's dudes ballin', and yeah, that's nice
I'm aware that there are wealthy men out there, and that may seem appealing
And they gonna keep callin' and tryin', but you stay right, girl
Other men will try to win you over with their wealth, but stay loyal to me
And when you get on, he'll leave yo' ass for a white girl
If you become successful and wealthy, he may leave you for a woman of a different race or social status
Get down girl, go 'head, get down
Dance and celebrate, despite the gold digger's influence on your life
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head, get down
I need to leave this situation and move on
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head, get down
I need to move on and find someone who values me for more than my money
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head, get down
I need to stop enabling her gold digging ways and cut her out of my life
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head
I need to move on and find someone who values me for who I am, not what I have
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kanye West, Renald J. Richard, Ray Charles
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
anna
can you hear it
mirzamay
I've always liked kanye's music, but Jamie's voice really made this song next level. He came up with the lyrics and tune that he sang in it. I'd listen to a lot more of him.
GsOrestes
Actually Jamie only sings the intro, the rest is a sample by ray charles
Moody Fuck
@GsOrestes didn't know that. I thought all the Ray Charles samples were completely removed due to copyright
Yahallo Benjamin
@GsOrestes nah sounds like this is his impression of the sample
rhajuv patel
i_am_the_dustin jamie interpolated ray charles, he basically made his own sample based on ray charles tone
andre mattos silva
top music
Kevin Collins
Almost 15 years and this song still hits harder than my dad.
J G
3 more years to go -you’re dad is free 😂
Roadmanpussio
It came out in 2005🤨