Imagine 2008
Kanye West Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Imagine it never happened
Imagine no rappin'
Imagine niggas trapped
Imagine it havin action
Imagine how these niggas could be actin
If you never got this shit crackin
Imagine life so hard
You can't imagine it's like livin' in city of god
You feel me
Imagine life on the yard
I'm tryin' to get that dollar on some shitty ass job
Imagine Biggie with his son
Imagine Pac gettin' call pop 'bout one
Imagine a mother struggling
Dealing with a system that don give a fuck about who shot her son
Imagine life where you can't win
When you get out of the ghetto and go right to the pen
When you get out to the pen you go right to the jenz
So if you get back to the streets you go right back in
Imagine Russell still struggling
No Def Jam just antoher nigga hustlin'
And no rocks on them fellaz
Just rocks on them fellaz
Just try and keep it bubblin'
Imagine niggas dressed up
From the east to the west coast, everybody fucked up
I can't imagine no less
But it don't take imagination




To know niggas been blessed with
HIP-HOP

Overall Meaning

Kanye West's song Imagine 2008 is a call to his listeners to imagine a world without hip-hop, and what the lives of the people who live and thrive in this culture would be like. He implores the listener to imagine a life without rap, and how different the people living in the streets of America would be without it. He postulates that without hip-hop, the world would be a much darker and more hostile place, with more people living in poverty and despair.


He speaks of how he imagines these lives, with people trapped and struggling to find jobs, mothers grieving for lost sons who the system has failed to protect, and people unable to leave the ghetto due to the prison system. He discusses the struggles that hip-hop moguls like Biggie and Russell Simmons faced before they found success, as well as the struggles of common folk. Kanye makes it clear that he sees hip-hop as a blessing to the world, a rare refuge for the downtrodden, and a place where hard work and talent can make a difference.


The lyrics of Imagine 2008 are a powerful reminder of what hip-hop means to people and how it can transform lives for the better. It is a rallying cry to the community not to take this culture and its benefits for granted. Through his lyrics, Kanye West asks us to value hip-hop not just as a form of entertainment, but as a cultural lifeline that has made a significant impact on people's lives.


Line by Line Meaning

Imagine it never happened
Picture a world where hip-hop never originated or evolved.


Imagine no rappin'
Imagine a world where no one spits rhymes and there is no hip-hop music.


Imagine niggas trapped
Picture a scenario where people of color are limited by their circumstances and are unable to progress in life.


Imagine it havin action
Imagine the power of hip-hop and how it can motivate and inspire change in individuals and society.


Imagine how these niggas could be actin
Visualize how different people's lives could be if they never had hip-hop to guide them.


If you never got this shit crackin
If hip-hop didn't exist or wasn't as popular, how would life be different?


Imagine life so hard
Imagine a world where life is so difficult that it's comparable to the intense conditions depicted in the movie "City of God."


You can't imagine it's like livin' in city of god
Life is so challenging that it's comparable to the living conditions depicted in the movie "City of God."


Imagine life on the yard
Picture yourself living in a prison yard with limited opportunities and harsh living conditions.


I'm tryin' to get that dollar on some shitty ass job
In a scenario where there are limited opportunities, people are willing to take on any job available no matter how challenging or low-paying it may be.


Imagine Biggie with his son
Picture the late Notorious B.I.G. with his young son who never got the chance to know his father.


Imagine Pac gettin' call pop 'bout one
Visualize a world where rapper Tupac Shakur is still alive and receives a phone call about his child.


Imagine a mother struggling
Picture a mother trying to cope with the pain and heartache of losing her child, while simultaneously dealing with a system that remains indifferent to her struggles.


Dealing with a system that don give a fuck about who shot her son
A commentary on the broken criminal justice system that fails to provide justice for victims and their families.


Imagine life where you can't win
Imagine a world where there are no opportunities to succeed or get ahead despite one's best efforts.


When you get out of the ghetto and go right to the pen
Even when one leaves the dangerous and oppressive living conditions of the ghetto, they often end up in jail, with limited opportunities awaiting them upon their release.


When you get out to the pen you go right to the jenz
When one goes to jail, they are destined to struggle upon release and often end up back in jail due to limited opportunities and society's stigma against ex-convicts.


So if you get back to the streets you go right back in
Returning to life on the streets without opportunities is a surefire way to end up back in jail or prison.


Imagine Russell still struggling
Russell Simmons, one of the pioneers of hip-hop, is used as an example of someone who struggles even with the success of hip-hop.


No Def Jam just antoher nigga hustlin'
Trying to make it in the music industry without the success of Def Jam Records requires an intense level of hard work and perseverance.


And no rocks on them fellaz
In a world without hip-hop success, there would be no jewelry or flashy accessories worn by those in the industry.


Just rocks on them fellaz
Jewelry or "rocks" would still be worn by those in the industry, but its meaning and value would be different if there was no hip-hop success.


Just try and keep it bubblin'
Despite the struggles and challenges, hip-hop remains a force to be reckoned with and must be kept alive and growing.


Imagine niggas dressed up
Picture a scenario where all individuals, regardless of their race or background, are well-dressed and prosperous.


From the east to the west coast, everybody fucked up
People are struggling in every part of the country, not just specific communities or regions.


I can't imagine no less
Despite the challenges and obstacles, hip-hop remains a powerful and transformative force that gives hope and provides a way forward for many people.


But it don't take imagination
The power of hip-hop and its ability to inspire and transform has been proven and no imagination is needed to see its impact.


To know niggas been blessed with HIP-HOP
Hip-hop has been a blessing to many people, providing a way out of difficult circumstances and giving voice to their struggles and triumphs.




Contributed by Hunter B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@Borzah

Been listening to this song for 12 years straight

@Wille_3k

slaps during wrestling practice

@slasher8690

Childhood song

@gotHotFire

My favorite African entertainer ❤

@Saint3188

It's always been one of my favorite songs by him

@caakeeater

17 now and been bumping this since i was 9😭

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@lemonplefge2547

People hate on kanye but dude literally did change the game. Came in with a new sound no one heard of and revolutionized the game. A lot of rappers have to thank kanye for their style and flow

@emilio2647

Lemon Plefge actually I still listen to all of Kanye's older music from 2006-2011

@andrewpineda4655

Yes so fucken right man. He’s a legend 🔥🐐

@jacksquat7850

People dont hate his music, they hate his personality

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