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.

Kanya West- Get Em High ft. Talib Kweli & Common
Kanye West Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm tryin' to catch the beat, uh
I'm tryin' to catch the beat
I'm tryin' to catch the beat, uh uh, uh
I'm tryin' to catch the beat

[Chorus]
N-now, th-th-through ya motherfuckin' hands
Get em' high

All the girls pass the weed to ya motherfuckin man
Get em' high
Now I ain't never tell you to put down ya hands
Keep em' high
And if ya losin yo high than smoke again
Keep em' high

N-n-n-now, my flow
Is in the pocket like wallets, I got the bounce like hydrolics
I can't call it, I got the swerve like alchoooool-ics
My freshman year I was goin through hell, a problem
Still I, built up the nerve to drop my ass up outta collllllll-ege
My teacher said I'se a loser, I told her why don't you kill me
I give a fuck if you fail me, I'm gonna folllllllllll-ow
My heart, and if you follow the charts, to the plaques or the stacks
You ain't gotta guess who's back, you see
I'm so shy that you thought it was bashfull but this
Bastard's flow will bash a skull
And I will, cut your girl like Pastor Troy
And I don't, usually smoke but pass the 'dro
And I won't, give you that money that you askin fo'
Why you think, me and Dame cool, we assholes
That's why we here your music in fast fo'
'cause we don't want to here that weak shit no mo'

[Chorus]

[Verse 2: Kanye West]
N-n-n-n-n-now who the hell is this
E-mailin' me at 11:26, tellin' me that she 36-26, plus double-d
You know how girls on black planet be when they get bubblee
At N-YU but she headed from Kansas, right now she just lampin, chillin on
Campus
Sent me a picture with a feelin on Candice
Who said her favorite rapper was the late great Francis
W-H-I-T, it's gettin late mami, your screen saver say tweet
So you got to call me, and bring a friend for my friend
His name Kweli
(You mean Talib, lyric sticks to your rib)
I mean
(That's my favorite CD that I play at my crib)
I mean
(You don't really know him, why is you lyin)
Yo Kwe, she don't believe me, please pickup the line
She gon' think that I'm lyin, just spit a couple of lines
Then maybe I'll be able to give her dick all the time, and get her high

[Verse 3: Talib Kweli]
Yeah
I can't believe this nigga use my name for pickin' up dolls but
Get em' high, I need some tracks you tryin' to pull tracks out
And my rhymes as fittin' to blow you tryin' to blow back south
Well ok, you twisted my arm, I'll assist with the charm, hey yo
I though you meet that chick it that got friends with yo moms
And she's the bomb, boy she got the boujI behavior
Always got somethin' to say like a bookee playa hater
Anyway, I don't usually fuck a interneter
Draws stuck to they arm like Nicorette
You really fuckin' that much, you tryin to get off cigarettes
And she think it's fly, she ain't met a real nigga yet
I apologize if I come off a little inconsiderate
I got the bubble cushion a sister could get ahead of it

Get em' high like noon, or the moon or room filled with smoke
A high filled with dope
Y'all assumed I was doomed, out of tune, but I still feel the notes
The real nigga quotes
Real rappers is hard to find, like a remonte, control rap is not a
Used soup it still got life, that's why I abuse you who are not thugs
Rock clubs, it's like Tiger, Woods in the hood, to have my own reality show
Called Soul Survivor, I stole all liver, niggaz in you
You'se a bitch I got ones that are thicker than you
How could I ever let your words affect me, they say Hip-Hop is dead
I'm here to resurrect me, mosh is to sexy to even make songs like these
That's why the raw don't know your name, like Alicia Keys
To many featured emcees, and pro-ducers is popular
Twelve thousand spins, nobody got to coppin her
Album, how come, you the hot garbager
The years clear your image and snooped up
Label got you souped up, tellin' you you sick
Man you a dick with a loose nut
Video hard to watch like Medusa
Even your club record need a booster
Chimped up, with a pimp cup, illeaterate nigga
Read the infa, red across your head I'm bread king like Simba
Bolder then Denver, I ain't a Madd Rapper just a emcee with a temper
You dancin' for money like honey, I did this my way
So when the industry crash, I survive like Kanye
Spittin' through wires and fires, emcees retirin'
Got yo hands up, get them motherfuckers higher then

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

The song "Get Em High" espouses bravado and machismo, with Kanye West, Talib Kwali, and Common each taking turns to show off their skills as rappers. The opening lines by Kanye set the tone, with him trying to catch the beat and the flow of the song. The chorus follows, with an order to get high, pass the weed, and keep the hands high. The first verse is all about Kanye's rise to fame and his dismissal of detractors who called him a loser. He promises to follow his heart and make music that tops charts.

The second verse shifts to a conversation between Kanye and an online friend who is looking for a hook-up. He name-drops Talib Kwali, who he plans to introduce to her. Talib then picks up where he left and delivers several lines that elevate his own status and put down those who chase fame without substance. Overall, the song is a statement of intent and a showcase of skill, with each rapper trying to outdo the other.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm tryin' to catch the beat, uh
I am attempting to match the rhythm.

All the girls pass the weed to ya motherfuckin man
Ladies, please hand the marijuana to your partner.

Keep em' high
Maintain the level of intensity.

My teacher said I'se a loser
Instructor claimed I would fail.

And if you follow the charts, to the plaques or the stacks
If you track the numbers and sales.

I'm so shy that you thought it was bashfull but this Bastard's flow will bash a skull
Despite my introvertedness, my rap talent is impressive.

And I don't, usually smoke but pass the 'dro
I don't usually partake but I'll accept the joint.

Why you think, me and Dame cool, we assholes
The reason for our friendship is that we are vulgar.

I got the bubble cushion a sister could get ahead of it
I obtained the marijuana that is potent enough to impress the ladies.

Y'all assumed I was doomed, out of tune, but I still feel the notes
You thought I was a failure in music, but I can still hear the melody.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind