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.

Intro )
Kanye West Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Kanye, can I talk to you for a minute?
Me and the other faculty members was wondering could you do a lil' som
Something beautiful
Something that the kids is goin love when they hear it
Thats goin' make them start jumping up and down and sharing candy an' stuff
Think you could probably do something for the kids for graduation to sing?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Kanye West's song "Intro" are a conversation between a faculty member and Kanye himself. The faculty member is asking Kanye to create something "beautiful" for the kids to sing at graduation. This exchange speaks volumes about the expectations and pressures placed on artists, particularly in the education system. Artists are often expected to create works that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also socially significant and impactful.

The faculty member's request for Kanye to create something for graduation also highlights the role of art in communal gatherings and celebrations. Graduations are important occasions for most people, and the music played during such events is significant in setting the mood and atmosphere for the occasion. As such, community artists like Kanye are expected to harness their talents to contribute to the communal experience.

Line by Line Meaning

Kanye, can I talk to you for a minute?
The singer is requesting a quick conversation with Kanye West.

Me and the other faculty members was wondering could you do a lil' som
The singer, along with other faculty members, is curious if Kanye West can do a small task.

Something beautiful
The faculty members want whatever Kanye West does to be aesthetically pleasing.

Something that the kids is goin love when they hear it
The request is for Kanye West to create something enjoyable for the younger generation.

Thats goin' make them start jumping up and down and sharing candy an' stuff
The faculty members are hoping that whatever Kanye West creates will excite the children and evoke playful behavior.

Think you could probably do something for the kids for graduation to sing?
The singer is specifically requesting a piece that the graduating class can perform, and is asking Kanye West if he can deliver something suitable.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KANYE WEST

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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