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.

Introduction
Kanye West Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Wilson, Wilson
Wilson, Wilson
Wilson

Once upon a time there was a mountain
That rose out of a vast green forest
And in the forest there were birds
And lakes and rocks and trees and rivers

The forest was also inhabited
By a small group of people called the lizards
The lizards were a simple people
And they had lived in the forest undisturbed
For thousands of years in utter peace and tranquility

Once a year when spring came
And the first blossoms began to show
The lizards would gather at the base of the mountain
To give thanks for all that they had

They thanked the birds
And they thanked the lakes and they thanked the rocks
And the trees and the rivers
But most importantly, they thanked Icculus

Icculus lived at the top of the mountain
Or at least everyone thought so
For no one had actually ever seen him

But they knew he existed
Because they had the Helping Friendly Book
Icculus had given the Helping Friendly Book
To the Lizards thousands of years earlier as a gift

It contained all of the knowledge
Inherent in the universe
And had enabled the Lizards
To exist in harmony with nature for years

And so they lived
Until one day a traveler arrived in Gamehendge
His name was Wilson
And he quickly became intrigued
By the Lizards way of life

He asked if he could stay on
And live in the forest
And the Lizards, who had never seen an outsider
Were happy to oblige

Wilson lived with the Lizards for a few years
Studying the ways of the Helping Friendly Book
And all was well

Until one morning when they awoke and the book was gone
Wilson explained that he had hidden the book
Knowing that the Lizards had become
Dependent on it for survival

He declared himself king
And enslaved the innocent people of Gamehendge
He cut down the trees and built a city
Which he called Prussia

And in the center of the city
He built a castle
And locked in the highest tower of the castle

Overall Meaning

were the Lizards
Who had once lived in harmony with nature
But were now forced to serve Wilson and his kingdom

The lyrics of Kanye West's song Introduction depict a story of a group of people called the Lizards who had been living in harmony with nature for thousands of years in a forest at the base of a mountain. The Lizards had been following the teachings of Icculus, who had given them the Helping Friendly Book to contain all of the knowledge in the universe. The Lizards would gather at the mountain every spring to thank Icculus for their life's harmony.

However, their peace was disturbed when a traveler named Wilson arrived in Gamehendge and asked to live with them. Wilson eventually stole the Helping Friendly Book and declared himself king of Gamehendge by enslaving the Lizards and building a city called Prussia. The lyrics tell the story of how Wilson cut down trees, built a castle, and locked the Lizards in the highest tower of the castle. The song's story serves as a cautionary tale about outsiders who come in and disturb a peaceful society.

Line by Line Meaning

Wilson, Wilson
Repetition of Wilson's name, introducing the story of the song.

Once upon a time there was a mountain
A tale is told about a mountain that rose from a forest.

That rose out of a vast green forest
A description of the environment the mountain rose from.

And in the forest there were birds
Mentioning of the different things in the forest; birds being one of them.

And lakes and rocks and trees and rivers
Further mentioning of things in the forest.

The forest was also inhabited
The forest has people living in it.

By a small group of people called the lizards
Describing who the inhabitants of the forest are.

The lizards were a simple people
Describing the nature of the lizards living in the forest.

And they had lived in the forest undisturbed
Telling how the lizards lived in isolation for a long time.

For thousands of years in utter peace and tranquility
Emphasizing how long they lived peacefully.

Once a year when spring came
Explaining the timing of the yearly event.

And the first blossoms began to show
A sign of the season change.

The lizards would gather at the base of the mountain
Explaining where the lizards gathered for their yearly ritual.

To give thanks for all that they had
What the lizards were doing at their yearly gathering.

They thanked the birds
The lizards were thankful for the birds.

And they thanked the lakes and they thanked the rocks
Further items the lizards were thankful for.

And the trees and the rivers
Additional things the lizards were grateful for.

But most importantly, they thanked Icculus
The lizards were most thankful for Icculus.

Icculus lived at the top of the mountain
Describing where Icculus lived.

Or at least everyone thought so
Adding uncertainty about Icculus' existence.

For no one had actually ever seen him
Nobody had ever seen Icculus despite his presumed presence.

But they knew he existed
Despite not seeing Icculus, the lizards believe he is real.

Because they had the Helping Friendly Book
The lizards had a book that Icculus gave them which validates his existence.

Icculus had given the Helping Friendly Book
Describing how the lizards came to possess the book.

To the Lizards thousands of years earlier as a gift
When the book was gifted to the lizards.

It contained all of the knowledge
Describing what was inside the book.

Inherent in the universe
What the knowledge in the book described.

And had enabled the Lizards
The effect the book had on the lizards.

To exist in harmony with nature for years
What the book allowed the lizards to do.

And so they lived
Continuing the story of how the lizards lived in harmony with nature.

Until one day a traveler arrived in Gamehendge
Introducing a new character - the traveler.

His name was Wilson
Identifying who the traveler is.

And he quickly became intrigued
Wilson was curious upon arrival.

By the Lizards way of life
Wilson found something of interest in the lizards' life.

He asked if he could stay on
Wilson wants to stay with the lizards.

And live in the forest
Describing where Wilson wants to stay.

And the Lizards, who had never seen an outsider
The lizards had never encountered anyone from outside their forest.

Were happy to oblige
The lizards were willing to let Wilson stay.

Wilson lived with the Lizards for a few years
Wilson stayed with the lizards and their forest life for a few years.

Studying the ways of the Helping Friendly Book
What Wilson was doing in the lizard's forest.

And all was well
Things were going well in the lizard's forest.

Until one morning when they awoke and the book was gone
The book went missing and was no longer in the lizard's possession.

Wilson explained that he had hidden the book
Wilson had taken the book and hid it from the lizards.

Knowing that the Lizards had become
Wilson understood the lizard's dependency on the book.

Dependent on it for survival
How dire the lizard's situation was without the book.

He declared himself king
Wilson declared himself ruler over the lizard's forest.

And enslaved the innocent people of Gamehendge
Wilson made slaves out of the lizards, taking away their freedom.

He cut down the trees and built a city
Describing how Wilson went about building his city.

Which he called Prussia
The name of Wilson's city.

And in the center of the city
Describing a key area of Wilson's city.

He built a castle
What Wilson built in his city.

And locked in the highest tower of the castle
Where Wilson put the book.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Willie Dixon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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