“LA Monster” was featured on the tentative tracklist for Kanye West’s 2019 album JESUS IS KING and was played at the Detroit and New York JESUS IS KING Live Experience. The track sonically sounds like an early track from Kanye’s fourth studio album 808s & Heartbreak, due to a combination of Kanye’s melodic singing and his distorted vocals.
The track later surfaced online on March 15, 2020, with added production from Dr. Dre.
LA Monster
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Millions of people tryin' to get on the scene
And everyone sellin' their souls, everyone sellin' their
Everyone sayin' they woke
But they sleepwalkin', dead, eyes closed
L.A. monster
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
They lettin' Satan run they streets
Lord, save us from
L.A. monster
L.A. monster, L.A (right)
L.A. monster, L.A
L.A. monster, L.A (that's right)
L.A. monster, L.A (coo-coo)
It's the ugliest nightmare born from the prettiest dreams
Millions of people tryin' to get on the scene (yeah)
And everyone sellin' their souls, everyone sellin' their
Everyone sayin' they woke
But they sleepwalkin', dead, eyes closed
L.A. monster
L.A. monster, L.A (yeah)
L.A. monster, L.A
L.A. monster, L.A (yeah)
L.A. monster, L.A (that's right)
L.A. monster, L.A
Jesus, save all my people
L.A. monster, L.A
From this monster, 'fore it takes their souls
L.A. monster, L.A (that's right)
It gives false hope and eats them whole
L.A. monster, L.A
Sinned billionaires who are still broke (still)
Yeah, yeah
This gon' be the realest I ever wrote, uh (durr)
Mike Jack Thriller with the dance moves
You put your soul on eBay, you damn fool
Macarena with the Devil is a gamble
He want your spirit like I want them YEEZY samples (woo)
They moved to L.A. for a reason
Spiritual warfare, the demons want a treason
Plus I ain't wanna lose my seasoning
We get fooled by what seems intriguing
Govestry market for the heartless
Empty rich people at a opera
Bunch of fallen stars on the carpet
Consumed by who they were and wasn't
Watch it unsung like "Damn" (damn)
I don't wanna see the monster
Watch where they are now like "Damn" (damn)
I hope that they see Our Father
(I hope that they see Our Father)
The song "LA Monster" by Kanye West and Harley Banks is a commentary on the dark side of fame and success in LA. The lyrics describe how the city is the "ugliest nightmare" that is born from the "prettiest dreams," and millions of people are trying to make it big in the entertainment industry. However, amidst the glitter and glamour, people are selling their souls and becoming sleepwalkers, letting Satan run the streets.
The chorus, "LA monster, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, Lord save these people they asleep, they letting Satan run they streets," expresses the artist's fear that LA is becoming a "monster" that is consuming people's souls. The second verse calls on Jesus to save people from this "monster" before it takes their souls. The line "Sinned billionaires who are still broke" is a commentary on how money cannot buy happiness, and even those who have achieved success may still feel unfulfilled in their lives.
Overall, the song is a powerful critique of the entertainment industry's culture of fame and fortune, which can lead to the loss of one's values and identity in the pursuit of success.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the ugliest nightmare born
From the prettiest dreams
The dark side of fame and ambition is a reality that is often overlooked in the pursuit of a beautiful and glamorous life.
Millions of people tryin' to get on the scene
And everyone sellin' their souls
Everyone sellin' their
Everyone sayin' they woke
But they sleepwalkin', dead, eyes closed
A cautionary tale about the all-consuming and corrupting nature of the entertainment industry, where the desire for fame and fortune leads people to make moral compromises and lose themselves in the process.
LA monster i pray the Lord my soul to keep
Lord, save these people, they asleep
They lettin' Satan run they streets
Lord, save us from lA monster
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
Lord, save these people, they asleep
They lettin' Satan run they streets
Lord, save us from lA monster (LA monster)
A plea for divine intervention in the face of the evil forces that lurk within the city of angels, where people are blinded by their pursuit of worldly success and fall prey to the devil's machinations.
LA monster, LA lA monster, LA
LA monster, LA lA monster, LA
A repeated chorus that reinforces the message that the city of Los Angeles is a place where the darkness of human nature can manifest in grotesque and terrifying ways.
LA monster, LA jesus, save all my people
LA monster, LA
From this monster, 'fore it takes their souls
LA monster, LA
It gives false hope and eats them whole
LA monster, LA
Sinned billionaires who are still broke
LA monster, LA jesus, save all my people
LA monster, LA
From this monster, 'fore it takes their souls
LA monster, LA
It gives false hope and eats them whole
LA monster, LA
Sinned billionaires who are still broke
A final call to action for the divine to save the people of LA from the clutches of the monster that is consuming their souls, and a warning against the false promises of wealth and success that ultimately lead to emptiness and despair.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Kanye West
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@m.t.2134
[Intro]
It's the ugliest nightmare born from the prettiest dreams
Millions of people tryin' to get on the scene
And everyone sellin' their souls, everyone sellin' their...
Everyone sayin' they woke
But they sleepwalkin', dead, eyes closed
[Chorus]
L.A. monster
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
Lord, save these people, they asleep
They lettin' Satan run they streets
Lord, save us from
L.A. monster
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
Lord, save these people, they asleep
They lettin' Satan run they streets
Lord, save us from
L.A. monster (L.A. Monster)
[Break]
L.A. monster, L.A
L.A. monster, L.A
L.A. monster, L.A
L.A. monster, L.A
[Refrain]
It's the ugliest nightmare born from the prettiest dreams (Oh)
Millions of people tryin' to get on the scene (Oh, yeah)
And everyone sellin' their souls, everyone sellin' their...
Everyone sayin' they woke (Oh, yeah)
But they sleepwalkin', dead, eyes closed (Yeah-yeah)
L.A. monster
It's the ugliest nightmare born from the prettiest dreams
Millions of people tryin' to get on the scene
And everyone sellin' their souls, everyone sellin' their...
Everyone sayin' they woke
But they sleepwalkin', dead, eyes closed
L.A. monster (L.A. monster)
[Break]
L.A. monster, L.A
L.A. monster, L.A
L.A. monster, L.A
L.A. monster, L.A
[Outro]
L.A. monster, L.A
Jesus, save all my people
L.A. monster, L.A
From this monster, 'fore it takes their souls
L.A. monster, L.A
It gives false hope and eats them whole
L.A. monster, L.A
Sinned billionaires who are still broke
L.A. monster, L.A
Jesus, save all my people
L.A. monster, L.A
From this monster, 'fore it takes their souls
L.A. monster, L.A
It gives false hope and eats them whole
L.A. monster, L.A
Sinned billionaires who are still broke
@m.t.2134
[Intro]
It's the ugliest nightmare born from the prettiest dreams
Millions of people tryin' to get on the scene
And everyone sellin' their souls, everyone sellin' their...
Everyone sayin' they woke
But they sleepwalkin', dead, eyes closed
[Chorus]
L.A. monster
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
Lord, save these people, they asleep
They lettin' Satan run they streets
Lord, save us from
L.A. monster
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
Lord, save these people, they asleep
They lettin' Satan run they streets
Lord, save us from
L.A. monster (L.A. Monster)
[Break]
L.A. monster, L.A
L.A. monster, L.A
L.A. monster, L.A
L.A. monster, L.A
[Refrain]
It's the ugliest nightmare born from the prettiest dreams (Oh)
Millions of people tryin' to get on the scene (Oh, yeah)
And everyone sellin' their souls, everyone sellin' their...
Everyone sayin' they woke (Oh, yeah)
But they sleepwalkin', dead, eyes closed (Yeah-yeah)
L.A. monster
It's the ugliest nightmare born from the prettiest dreams
Millions of people tryin' to get on the scene
And everyone sellin' their souls, everyone sellin' their...
Everyone sayin' they woke
But they sleepwalkin', dead, eyes closed
L.A. monster (L.A. monster)
[Break]
L.A. monster, L.A
L.A. monster, L.A
L.A. monster, L.A
L.A. monster, L.A
[Outro]
L.A. monster, L.A
Jesus, save all my people
L.A. monster, L.A
From this monster, 'fore it takes their souls
L.A. monster, L.A
It gives false hope and eats them whole
L.A. monster, L.A
Sinned billionaires who are still broke
L.A. monster, L.A
Jesus, save all my people
L.A. monster, L.A
From this monster, 'fore it takes their souls
L.A. monster, L.A
It gives false hope and eats them whole
L.A. monster, L.A
Sinned billionaires who are still broke
@georgegreer6198
😊
@FilmColossus
God I love this song
@catmannamtac3871
not as much as Kanye loves Kanye though
@henryix6659
Sup Chris and Travis
@TomboyCEO
Hello Chris
@playboys.a.n9586
Hello chris and trav
@landonhernandez8529
Shout out to Kim for wanting to raise the royalty in nasty ass LA.
@cameronackerman9052
It’s weird because honestly Kanye cannot traditionally sing but he has one of my favorite singing voices oat
@BREATHER_
I’ve always felt he has a really good voice for portraying emotions in a relatable way, while not being a very good traditional vocalist, talent wise