West began making beats and rapping in the early 90s in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois, when he formed the rap group Go Getters with Chicago natives GLC and Really Doe. He later gained nationwide popularity through his work in New York, where he began producing tracks for artists such as Jay-Z, Twista, Mase, Talib Kweli and Alicia Keys.
West's style of production often utilizes pitched-up vocal samples, usually from soul songs, with his drums and instruments. The first major label song he produced was The Truth by Beanie Sigel, and his first major release featuring his trademark vocal sampling style was This Can’t Be Life, a track from Jay-Z’s The Dynasty: Roc La Familia. West said he sped up the drum beat of Dr. Dre’s Xxplosive to use as a replacement for his drums on This Can’t Be Life.
West has said that Wu-Tang Clan producer RZA influenced him in his style, and has said on numerous occasions that Wu-Tang rappers Ghostface Killah and Ol’ Dirty Bastard were some of his all-time favorites. Said Kanye West: “Wu-Tang? Me and my friends talk about this all the time… We think Wu-Tang had one of the biggest impacts as far as a movement. From slang to style of dress, skits, the samples. Similar to the [production] style I use, RZA has been doing that.”
In 2004 (after being pushed aside by many record companies who felt he wasn't a marketable hip-hop artist), he managed to release his debut solo album, The College Dropout on Roc-A-Fella Records. The album received critical acclaim, including 10 Grammy nominations and the awards for Album of the Year and Best Rap Album, as well as defining the style for which West would become known: "wordplay" and heavy sampling of the 70s soul and RnB tracks.
Not content to rest on his laurels, West invested two million dollars and hired a string orchestra to help with his latest effort, Late Registration (2005). West collaborated with Jon Brion to help develop the sound of the album, despite his lack of experience in hip hop production. The album received widespread acclaim like its predecessor and again claimed the Best Rap Album award at the Grammys.
West was no stranger to controversy, such as storming out at the 2004 American Music Awards after not receiving Best New Artist, but just days after the release of his second studio album, West began embroiled in a major controversy after going off-script during Hurricane Katrina broadcast, proclaiming "George Bush doesn't care about black people", which Bush claimed was "one the most disgusting moments of my presidency". In January 2006, West posed on the cover of Rolling Stone wearing a crown of thorns, once again attracting controversy.
For his third release, West was keen to produce songs that could be used more effectively when performing in arenas. For Graduation, the third and ultimately final entry into his 'Dropout Bear' series, West drew musical inspiration from The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. In the lead up to the album he became involved in a friendly rivalry with 50 Cent over which of the two artists' upcoming albums would sell more, as they were both released on the same day. West ultimately sold 957,000 copies in the first week of release, outselling Curtis by a large margin. The albums lead single "Stronger" sampled Daft Punk, and was West's third number one on Billboard 200. Many proclaim West's 'victory' over 50 Cent to be the 'death' of gangster rap as the dominant hip hop subgenre.
Following the death of his mother, Donda West, and the end of his engagement to long term partner Alexis Phifer, West abandoned his initial plan to release a fourth album entitled Good Ass Job, and shocked his fans by releasing 808s and Heartbreak, which was full of autotune singing, extensive use of the TR-808 drum machine, themes of love, loss and loneliness and very little rapping. It received slightly more mixed reviews than his previous efforts, but many critics cite 808s and Heartbreak as the catalyst for a new wave of rappers, most prominently Drake, due to its themes which were uncommon in mainstream hip-hop.
West's grief seemed to lead to a spiral out of control which culminated in him storming on stage at the 2009 VMAs to interrupt Taylor Swift's award acceptance speech to proclaim that Beyoncé deserved the award instead, in a move that is infamous in pop culture and was vilified by the entire world in the aftermath. West disappeared from the public eye following this, and his upcoming tour with Lady Gaga was cancelled. The disgraced West, who was described as a 'jackass' by President Obama, seemed to have much work to do to return to the his former glory, but he was about to embark on what some critics consider to be the best run of his career.
West holed up in Hawaii for a few months and worked tirelessly to produce what many consider to be his magnum opus. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, West's fifth studio album, was released in November 2010 to rave reviews from critics, which solidified his comeback. In stark contrast to his previous effort, which featured a minimalist sound, Dark Fantasy adopts a maximalist philosophy and deals with themes of celebrity and excess. The record included the international hit All of the Lights, and Billboard hits Power, Monster, and Runaway, the latter of which accompanied a 35-minute film of the same name. During this time, West initiated the free music program G.O.O.D. Fridays through his website, offering a free download of previously unreleased songs each Friday of the week, a portion of which were included on the album. Dark Fantasy went on to go platinum in the United States, but its omission as a contender for Album of the Year at the 54th Grammy Awards was viewed as a "snub" by several media outlets.
Following a headlining set at Coachella 2011 that was described by The Hollywood Reporter as "one of greatest hip-hop sets of all time," West released the collaborative album Watch the Throne with Jay-Z. By employing a sales strategy that released the album digitally weeks before its physical counterpart, Watch the Throne became one of the few major label albums in the Internet age to avoid a leak. Niggas in Paris became the record's highest charting single, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2012, West released the compilation album Cruel Summer, a collection of tracks by artists from West's record label GOOD Music. Cruel Summer produced four singles, two of which charted within the top twenty of the Hot 100: Mercy and Clique. West also directed a film of the same name that premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival in custom pyramid-shaped screening pavilion featuring seven screens.
Sessions for West's sixth solo effort begin to take shape in early 2013 in his own personal loft's living room at a Paris hotel. Determined to "undermine the commercial," he once again brought together close collaborators and attempted to incorporate Chicago drill, dancehall, acid house, and industrial music. Primarily inspired by architecture, West's perfectionist tendencies led him to contact producer Rick Rubin fifteen days shy of its due date to strip down the record's sound in favor of a more minimalist approach. Initial promotion of his sixth album included worldwide video projections of the album's music and live television performances.
Yeezus, West's sixth album, was released June 18, 2013 to rave reviews from critics. It became the rapper's sixth consecutive number one debut. Def Jam issued "Black Skinhead" to radio in July 2013 as the album's lead single. On September 6, 2013, Kanye West announced he would be headlining his first solo tour in five years, to support Yeezus, with fellow American rapper Kendrick Lamar, accompanying him along the way.
In November 2013, West stated that he was working on and recording his next studio album. The album was to be produced by Rick Rubin and Q-Tip.. Kanye released a single entitled "Only One", on December 31, 2014 featuring Paul McCartney, as well as collaborating with McCartney on the Rihanna track " FourFiveSeconds", released in January 2015. West appeared on the SNL 40th Anniversary Special on February 15th 2015 to debut a new song Wolves, featuring Sia Furler and Vic Mensa. Another single, entitled "All Day" was released on March 2, 2015, again featuring McCartney as well as Theophilus London, Allan Kingdom. In June of the same year, Kanye headlined the Glastonbury Festival in the UK, which garnered much outrage including a petition with 135,000 signatures against his appearance, leading to West declaring he was "the greatest living rock star on the planet" towards the end of his set, and the performance receiving a mixed reaction among fans and critics, due to its controversy. In September 2015, West performed {album artist kanye west]808s and Heartbreak in its entirety at the Hollywood Bowl over two nights, which received rave reviews a featured a 60 person orchestra, guests such as Kid Cudi and Mr Hudson, and over 70 dancers. West released "Facts" at the turn of the new year.
West had originally stated that his upcoming album would be called 'So Help Me God' before changing the title to 'SWISH' and announcing that it would be released on February 11th. In January 2016 he released "Real Friends" and "No More Parties in LA", featuring Kendrick Lamar. As well as renaming the album once again to "Waves", West became involved in several twitter controversies in the lead up to the album, including with rapper Wiz Khalifa after he suggested that West had stolen the idea of the wave from other artists and seemingly dissed Kim Kardashian, which later turned out to be a misunderstanding over the use of "KK". West again changed the name of the album just days before it's release, this time to "{album artist=kanye west]The Life of Pablo", and debuted it at Madison Square Garden on February 11, but delayed it's release for a few days. On February 14, West released the album are a performance on SNL. West initially claimed the album was to be a Tidal exclusive, but it was later released on other streaming platforms, although it is yet to receive a physical release. West continued to tinker with the mixing and production of the album even after it was released, and it was updated several times, including the final song "Saint Pablo" in June 2016. West had also made public his plans to release an album in the summer of 2016, entitled "Turbo Grafx 16", based on the 1990s games console, which never surfaced, although he did release a single thought to be from the upcoming G.O.O.D. Music album "Cruel Winter", called Champions. In the same month, a video for "Famous" was released, including nude wax figures of celebrities such as West, Kim Kardashian, Taylor Swift, Donald Trump, Chris Brown, Rihanna, Bill Cosby and George W. Bush.
In August 2016, West embarked on the ambitious Saint Pablo Tour, which included a mobile stage suspended from the ceiling. After the violent robbery of Kim's jewellery in Paris in October, West had to end a show early and postpone shows following it. In the following performances, West cancelled shows early and went on long winded rants against fellow artists such as Jay Z and Beyoncé among others, as well as making controversial political statements including implying his support for Donald Trump. On November 21st 2016, West cancelled the rest of the tour and was hospitalised due to sleep deprivation and extreme dehydration. Following this, West disappeared from social media, and only resurfaced 11 months later with a series of tweets which included many philosophical thoughts and the announcements two albums in June 2018, a solo album which would include 7 tracks on June 1, and a collaboration with Kid Cudi to be released on June 8.
On August 29th, 2021, Kanye released his 10th highly anticipated studio release Donda via GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings after a series of three listening parties.
Personal life:
West was born in Atlanta, Georgia. When he was three years old (as mentioned in Hey Mama) his parents divorced, and he moved with his mother to Chicago, Illinois. His father, Ray West, was a former Black Panther; one of the first black photojournalists at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution; and is now a Christian counselor. Kanye’s late mother, Dr. Donda West, worked as a Professor of English at Clark Atlanta University, and the Chair of the English Department at Chicago State University before retiring to serve as Kanye’s manager. He was later raised in an upper middle class background, attending Polaris High School in suburban Oak Lawn, Illinois after living in Chicago.
After attending The American Academy of Art, a Chicago art school, West attended Chicago State University but eventually dropped out due to poor grades and to continue working on his music career. While attending school, West produced for local artists, including on rapper Grav’s debut album Down to Earth. He later gained fame by producing hit singles for major hip hop/R&B artists, including Jay-Z, Talib Kweli, Cam’ron, Paul Wall, Common, Mobb Deep, Jermaine Dupri, Scarface, The Game, Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson and John Legend among others. He also “ghost-produced” for his once mentor Deric Angelettie according to his song Last Call and the credits of Nas’ Poppa Was a Playa.
West was married to Kim Kardashian. Together they had four children: daughters named North (*2013) and Chicago (*2018); and sons named Saint (*2015) and Psalm (*2019). In 2021, Kardashian filed for divorce.
In 2020, West launched an unsuccessful independent presidential campaign that primarily advocated for a consistent life ethic. In 2022, he faced backlash and lost a number of sponsors and partnerships—including his collaborations with Adidas, Gap, and Balenciaga—after making antisemitic statements.
Never Let Me Down Featuring Jay-Z & J. Ivy
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One thing I found, one thing I found
Oh no you never let me down
Get up, I get down
Get up, I get down
Get up, I get down
Get up, I get down
Get up, I get down
Yo, first I snatched the streets then I snatched the charts
First I had they ear, now I have their heart
Rappers came and went, I've been here from the start
I seen them put it together, watched them take it apart
Seen the rovers roll up wit ribbons
I seen them repo'd, resold then redriven
So when I reload, he holds number one position
When you hot I'm hot
And when your feet cold, mines is sizzlin'
It's plain to see, niggas can't fuck with me
'Cause I'm a be that nigga for life
This is not an image, this is God given
This is hard livin', mixed with Cristal sippin'
It's the most consistent, Hov
Give you the most hits you can fit inside a whole disc and
Nigga I'm home on these charts, y'all niggas visitin'
It's Hov tradition, Jeff Gordon of rap
I'm back to claim pole position, holla at ya boy
Get up, I get down
Get up, I get down
Get up, I get down
Get up, I get down
I get down for my grandfather who took my momma
Made her sit in that seat where white folks ain't want us to eat
At the tender age of 6 she was arrested for the sit in
And with that in my blood I was born to be different
Now niggaz can't make it to ballads to choose leadership
But we can make it to Jacob's and to the dealership
Swear I hear new music and I just don't be feelin' it
Racisms still alive, they just be concealin' it
But I know they don't want me in the damn club
They even make me show I.D to get inside of Sam's club
I done did dirt and went to church and get my hands scrubbed
Swear I've been baptized each 3 or 4 times
But in the land where niggas praise Yukons and getting paid
Its goin' take a lot more than coupons to get us saved
Like it take a lot more than durags to get you waves
Nothing sad as that day my girl's father past away
So I promised to Mr. Rany I'm gonna marry your daughter
And you know I gotta thank you for the way that she was brought up
And I know that you were smiling when you see the car I bought her
You sent tears from heaven when you seen my car get balled up
But I can't complain what the accident did to my left eye
'Cause look what an accident did to Left Eye
First Aaliyah, now Romeo must die
I know I got angels watchin' me from the other side
When it comes to being true, at least true to me
One thing I found, one thing I found
Oh no you never let me down
Get up, I get down
Get up, I get down
Get up, I get down
Get up, I get down
Get up, I get down
Get up, I get down
We are all here for a reason on a particular path
You don't need a curriculum to know that you're apart of the math
Cats think I'm delirious but I'm so damn serious
That's why I expose my soul to the globe; the world
I'm tryin' to make it better for these little boys and girls
I'm not just another individual
My spirit is a part of this that's why it's spiritual
But I get my hymns from him
So it's not me it's he that's lyrical
I'm not a miracle, I'm a heaven sent instrument
My rhythmatic regiment navigates melodic notes
For your soul and your mental
That's why I'm instrumental, vibrations is what I'm into
Yeah I need my loot by rent day
But that ain't what gives me the heart of Kunta Kinte
I'm tryin' to give us us free like Sinke
I can't stop, that's why I'm hot
Determination, dedication, motivation
I'm talking to you of my many inspirations
When I say I can't let you or self down
If I were on the highest cliff, on the highest riff
And if you slipped off the side and clinched on to your life
In my grip I would never ever let you down
And when these words are found
Let it be known that God's penmanship has been signed
With a language called love
That's why my breath is felt by the death
And while my words are heard and confined to the ears of the blind
I too dream in color and in rhyme
So I guess I'm one of a kind in a full house
Cause whenever I open my heart, my soul or my mouth
A touch of god reigns out
When it comes to being true, at least true to me
One thing I found, one thing I found
Oh no you never let me down
Get up, I get
Get up, I get
Get up, I get
Get up, I get
Get up, I get
Get up, I get down
Who else you know been hot this long
Started from nothing but he got this strong
Built the ROC from a pebble, peddled rock before I met you
Peddled bikes, got my nephews peddle bikes because they special
Let you tell it man I'm fallin' well
Somebody must have caught him 'cause
Every fourth quarter, I like to Mike Jordan 'em
Number one albums what I got, like four of 'em
More of them on the way, the 8th wonder on the way
Clear the way, I'm here to stay
Y'all can save the chitter chat, this and that
This is Jay, dissin' Jay will get you Mase'd
When I start spittin' them lyrics niggas get very religious
Six hail Mary's please Father forgive us
Young, the archbishop, the Pope John Paul of y'all niggas
They way y'all all follow Jigga
Hov's a livin' legend and I'll tell you why
Everybody want to be Hov and Hov's still alive
The song "Never Let Me Down" by Kanye West is an emotional tribute to the people and events that have shaped his life. The song's chorus, "Oh no you never let me down," expresses the gratitude he feels towards the people who have always supported him, even during his most trying times. Kanye West praises his grandparents, especially his grandfather who instilled in him a strong sense of purpose and determination. He also talks about his mother's sacrifices and the trials and tribulations she faced during the Civil Rights Movement. Kanye West's lyrics convey a sense of perseverance in the face of adversity and the importance of staying true to oneself.
Jay-Z's contribution to the song is also significant. His verses reflect a sense of pride and endurance in his career as a rapper. He talks about his longevity in the music industry and how he has remained relevant despite the many changes and trends that have come and gone over the years. He also acknowledges his inspiration and motivation from his family, specifically his wife Beyonce, and pays tribute to his friend and fellow rapper Biggie Smalls who died tragically in 1997. Jay-Z's lyrics show a sense of pride in his accomplishments and his dedication to his craft.
Overall, "Never Let Me Down" is a powerful and moving song that speaks to the themes of gratitude, perseverance, and staying true to oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
When it comes to being true, at least true to me
I prioritize being authentic, at least in my own perspective
One thing I found, one thing I found
I have discovered one undeniable truth
Oh no you never let me down
You have never disappointed me
Get up, I get down
I experience both success and setbacks
Yo, first I snatched the streets then I snatched the charts
I gained popularity in the streets and then achieved success on the charts
First I had they ear, now I have their heart
Initially, people paid attention to me, but now they truly admire me
Rappers came and went, I've been here from the start
While other rappers have come and gone, I have been present since the beginning
I seen them put it together, watched them take it apart
I witnessed others building their careers, as well as their downfall
Seen the rovers roll up wit ribbons
Observed luxury cars arriving with decorations
I seen them repo'd, resold then redriven
I witnessed the repossession, resale, and subsequent use of cars
So when I reload, he holds number one position
When I release new music, it immediately reaches the top position
When you hot I'm hot
When you're popular, I'm also popular
And when your feet cold, mines is sizzlin'
Even when you face difficulties, I remain successful
It's plain to see, niggas can't fuck with me
It is evident that no one can compete with me
'Cause I'm a be that nigga for life
I will always maintain my status and influence
This is not an image, this is God given
My success and talent are not superficial, but divinely bestowed
This is hard livin', mixed with Cristal sippin'
My life is a combination of struggle and indulgence
It's the most consistent, Hov
I am the most consistently successful artist, known as Hov (Jay-Z)
Give you the most hits you can fit inside a whole disc and
I have produced the most number of hit songs that can fill up an entire album
Nigga I'm home on these charts, y'all niggas visitin'
I dominate the charts while other artists only make temporary appearances
It's Hov tradition, Jeff Gordon of rap
My dominance in rap is a tradition, like Jeff Gordon's success in racing
I'm back to claim pole position, holla at ya boy
I have returned to reclaim the top position and demand recognition
I get down for my grandfather who took my momma
I proudly represent my grandfather, who stood up for my mother
Made her sit in that seat where white folks ain't want us to eat
He made her sit in a place where racially discriminatory white people didn't want us to dine
At the tender age of 6 she was arrested for the sit in
My mother was arrested at the young age of six for participating in a sit-in protest
And with that in my blood I was born to be different
As a result, I have inherited a rebellious spirit and was destined to be unique
Now niggaz can't make it to ballads to choose leadership
Many individuals cannot achieve success or positions of power through peaceful means
But we can make it to Jacob's and to the dealership
However, we can still attain material wealth and luxury, such as shopping at Jacob & Co and buying cars
Swear I hear new music and I just don't be feelin' it
I sincerely feel unimpressed by new music that I listen to
Racisms still alive, they just be concealin' it
Racism still exists, but it is often hidden or denied
But I know they don't want me in the damn club
I am aware that they do not want me to be a part of their exclusive social circles
They even make me show I.D to get inside of Sam's club
I face discrimination to the extent that I have to present identification to enter a simple retail store
I done did dirt and went to church and get my hands scrubbed
I have both engaged in questionable activities and sought redemption through religious practices
Swear I've been baptized each 3 or 4 times
I emphasize that I have undergone multiple baptisms as a form of spiritual cleansing
But in the land where niggas praise Yukons and getting paid
In a society where people idolize material wealth and financial success
Its goin' take a lot more than coupons to get us saved
It will require a significant effort or intervention to improve our collective situation
Like it take a lot more than durags to get you waves
Achieving success or recognition necessitates more than just wearing certain accessories
Nothing sad as that day my girl's father past away
One of the saddest days in my life was when my girlfriend's father died
So I promised to Mr. Rany I'm gonna marry your daughter
I made a solemn promise to Mr. Rany that I will marry his daughter
And you know I gotta thank you for the way that she was brought up
I express gratitude to Mr. Rany for raising his daughter in a certain manner
And I know that you were smiling when you see the car I bought her
I am aware that Mr. Rany would be pleased to see the car I purchased for his daughter
You sent tears from heaven when you seen my car get balled up
I believe that Mr. Rany, from heaven, shed tears when he witnessed my car being wrecked
But I can't complain what the accident did to my left eye
Although my left eye was affected by the accident, I choose not to complain
'Cause look what an accident did to Left Eye
I am referring to the tragic fate of Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes, whose life was changed by a fatal accident
First Aaliyah, now Romeo must die
I mention the untimely deaths of Aaliyah and Romeo, both tragedies in the music industry
I know I got angels watchin' me from the other side
I believe that I have guardian angels looking out for me from beyond
We are all here for a reason on a particular path
We each have a purpose and a specific journey in life
You don't need a curriculum to know that you're apart of the math
You don't require formal education to realize that you are a vital component of the universe
Cats think I'm delirious but I'm so damn serious
Some individuals may consider me crazy, but I am incredibly focused and sincere
That's why I expose my soul to the globe; the world
I courageously reveal my innermost thoughts and emotions to the entire world
I'm tryin' to make it better for these little boys and girls
I am striving to improve the world for the sake of the younger generation
I'm not just another individual
I am not a typical person
My spirit is a part of this that's why it's spiritual
My essence is connected to the larger universe, thus making it spiritual
But I get my hymns from him
However, my inspiration and lyrics come from a higher power
So it's not me it's he that's lyrical
Therefore, it is not solely my own ability, but rather a divine influence that makes my lyrics impactful
I'm not a miracle, I'm a heaven sent instrument
I am not a miracle myself, but rather a tool sent from heaven to fulfill a purpose
My rhythmatic regiment navigates melodic notes
My structured and precise approach guides the flow of harmonious musical arrangements
For your soul and your mental
To uplift and nourish your soul and mind
That's why I'm instrumental, vibrations is what I'm into
Hence, I am pivotal in creating and transmitting vibes through my music
Yeah I need my loot by rent day
Certainly, I require financial income by the due date for my expenses
But that ain't what gives me the heart of Kunta Kinte
However, money is not what fuels my sense of determination and resilience like Kunta Kinte
I'm tryin' to give us us free like Sinke
I am striving to liberate and empower the Black community, similar to the efforts of Sinke
I can't stop, that's why I'm hot
I am relentless and unstoppable in my pursuit, which is why I remain successful
Determination, dedication, motivation
I possess unwavering determination, dedication, and motivation
I'm talking to you of my many inspirations
I am sharing with you the numerous sources that inspire me
When I say I can't let you or self down
My statement of not disappointing you or myself is genuine
If I were on the highest cliff, on the highest riff
Even if I were in the most challenging situation
And if you slipped off the side and clinched on to your life
And if you were to fall and desperately hold onto survival
In my grip I would never ever let you down
I would firmly hold onto you and ensure your safety, never allowing you to be disappointed or harmed
And when these words are found
When these words are discovered or heard
Let it be known that God's penmanship has been signed
It should be acknowledged that God's divine influence is evident in my lyrics
With a language called love
Through a form of expression known as love
That's why my breath is felt by the death
Hence, my impact is felt even by those who have passed away
And while my words are heard and confined to the ears of the blind
Although my words are listened to by those who are unaware or closed-minded
I too dream in color and in rhyme
I, too, have vivid dreams filled with color and poetic elements
So I guess I'm one of a kind in a full house
Therefore, I am unique in a world full of people
Cause whenever I open my heart, my soul or my mouth
Because whenever I express my emotions, thoughts, or opinions openly
A touch of god reigns out
A divine presence or influence is manifested
Who else you know been hot this long
Do you know anyone else who has maintained such prolonged success?
Started from nothing but he got this strong
I began with nothing, yet I have become incredibly resilient and powerful
Built the ROC from a pebble, peddled rock before I met you
I built my empire (Roc-A-Fella Records) from humble beginnings, selling drugs before our paths crossed
Peddled bikes, got my nephews peddle bikes because they special
I sold bicycles and now I provide such bikes to my nephews because they are precious to me
Let you tell it man I'm fallin' well
If you let others tell it, they might claim that my success is declining
Somebody must have caught him 'cause
However, someone must have saved him because
Every fourth quarter, I like to Mike Jordan 'em
I consistently deliver exceptional performances, reminiscent of Michael Jordan's basketball skills in the fourth quarter
Number one albums what I got, like four of 'em
I have achieved four number one albums
More of them on the way, the 8th wonder on the way
Moreover, there are more such albums to come, including the highly anticipated 8th wonder
Clear the way, I'm here to stay
Make way for me, as I am here to remain and make an impact
Y'all can save the chitter chat, this and that
You can disregard the irrelevant gossip and empty talk
This is Jay, dissin' Jay will get you Mase'd
This is Jay-Z speaking, and criticizing me will result in a situation similar to what happened to Mase (a rapper)
When I start spittin' them lyrics niggas get very religious
Once I begin rapping with my powerful and thought-provoking lyrics, people become extremely fervent or attentive
Six hail Mary's please Father forgive us
People pray fervently, seeking forgiveness from God in response to my lyrics
Young, the archbishop, the Pope John Paul of y'all niggas
I am regarded as a young and influential figure, similar to the esteemed religious leaders Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Pope John Paul II
They way y'all all follow Jigga
The way all of you follow me (Jigga, Jay-Z)
Hov's a livin' legend and I'll tell you why
I, Hov (Jay-Z), am a living legend, and I can explain why
Everybody want to be Hov and Hov's still alive
Many aspire to be like me, Jay-Z, and I am still thriving and alive
Lyrics © A SIDE MUSIC LLC D/B/A MODERN WORKS MUSIC PUBLISHING, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES RICHARDSON, MICHAEL BOLTON, SHAWN C CARTER, BRUCE KULICK, KANYE WEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chris Metz
Never Let Me Down"
(feat. Jay-Z & J-Ivy)
When it comes to being true, at least true to me
One thing I've found, one thing I found
Oh no, you'll never let me down
Get up, I get down, get up, I get down
Get up, I get down, get up, I get down
Get up, I get down, get up, I get down
[Jay-Z:]
Yo, first I snatched the streets, then I snatched the charts
First I had their ear, now I have their heart
Rappers came and went, I've been here from the start
I seen them put it together, watched them take it apart
Seen the Rovers roll up with ribbons
I seen them re-po'd, re-sold, then re-driven
So when I reload, he holds number one position
When you hot, I'm hot
And when your feet cold, mines is sizzling
It's plain to see, niggas can't fuck with me
'Cause I'ma be that nigga for life
This is not an image, this is God-given
This is hard-livin', mixed with Cristal sippin'
It's the most consistent, Hov
Give you the most hits you can fit inside a whole disc and
Nigga I'm home on these charts, y'all niggas visitin'
It's Hov tradition, Jeff Gordon of rap
I'm back to claim pole position, holla at ya boy
When it comes to being true, at least true to me
One thing I've found, one thing I found
Oh no, you'll never let me down
Get up, I get down, get up, I get down
Get up, I get down, get up, I get down
Get up, I get down, get up
[Kanye West:]
I get down for my grandfather who took my mama
Made her sit in that seat where white folks ain't want us to eat
At the tender age of 6, she was arrested for the sit-ins
And with that in my blood I was born to be different
Now niggas can't make it to ballots to choose leadership
But we can make it to Jacob's and to the dealership
That's why I hear new music and I just don't be feelin' it
Racism's still alive, they just be concealin' it
But I know they don't want me in the damn club
They even made me show ID to get inside of Sam's Club
I done did dirt and went to church to get my hands scrubbed
Swear I've been baptized 'least three or four times
But in the land where niggas praise Yukons and getting paid
It's gonna take a lot more than coupons to get us saved
Like it take a lot more than doo rags to get you waves
Nothing sad as that day my girl's father passed away
So I promised to Mr. Rainey I'm gonna marry your daughter
And you know I gotta thank you for the way that she was brought up
And I know that you were smiling when you see the car I bought her
You sent tears from heaven when you seen my car get balled up
But I can't complain what the accident did to my left eye
'Cause look what an accident did to Left Eye
First Aaliyah now Romeo must die
I know I got angels watching me from the other side
When it comes to being true, at least true to me
One thing I've found, one thing I found
Oh no, you'll never let me down
Get up, I get down, get up, I get down
Get up, I get down, get up, I get down
Get up, I get down, get up, I get down
[J. Ivy:]
We are all here for a reason on a particular path
You don't need a curriculum to know that you're a part of the math
Cats think I'm delirious but I'm so damn serious
That's why I expose my soul to the globe; the world
I'm trying to make it better for these little boys and girls
I'm not just another individual
My spirit is a part of this that's why I get spiritual
But I get my hymns from Him
So it's not me, it's He that's lyrical
I'm not a miracle, I'm a heaven-sent instrument
My rhythmatic regiment navigates melodic notes
For your soul and your mental
That's why I'm instrumental, vibrations is what I'm into
Yeah I need my loot by rent day
But that ain't what gives me the heart of Kunta Kinte
I'm trying to get us "us free" like Cinque
I can't stop, that's why I'm hot
Determination, dedication, motivation
I'm talking to you of my many inspirations
When I say I can't let you or self-down
If I were on the highest cliff, on the highest riff
And if you slipped off the side and clinched on to your life
In my grip, I would never ever let you down
And when these words are found
Let it be known that God's penmanship has been signed
With a language called love
That's why my breath is felt by the deaf
And while my words are heard and confined to the ears ofto the ears of the blind
I too dream in color and in rhyme
So I guess I'm one of a kind in a full house
'Cause whenever I open my heart, my soul or my mouth
A touch of God reigns out
Take 'em to church
When it comes to being true, at least true to me
One thing I found, one thing I found
Oh no, you'll never let me down
Get up, I get, get up, I get
Get up, I get, get up, I get
Get up, I get, get up, I get down
Jay-Z and Kanye West:]
Who else you know been hot this long?
(Oh yeah, we ain't finished)
Started from nothing but he got this strong
(The Roc is in the building)
Built the Roc from a pebble, peddled rock before I met you
Pedaled bikes, got my nephews pedal bikes because they're special (Wooooo)
Let you tell it, man, I'm falling
Well, somebody must have caught him
'Cause every fourth quarter, I like to Mike Jordan them
Number one albums, what I got? Like four of them
More of them on the way, the eighth wonder on the way
Clear the way, I'm here to stay
Y'all can save the chitter chat, this and that
This is Jay, dissing Jay will get you maced
When I start spitting them lyrics niggas get very religious
Six Hail Marys, 'Please Father forgive us'
Young the archbishop, the Pope John Paul of y'all niggas
The way y'all all follow Jigga
Hov's a living legend and I'll tell you why
Everybody wanna be Hov and Hov's still alive
Hannah O'sullivan
brings me to tears 😪💔 R.I.P Mum 29.5.22😪💔
when I say I can't let you or self down
If I were on the highest cliff, on the highest riff
And if you slipped off the side and clinched on to your life
In my grip, I would never ever let you down
And when these words are found
Let it be known that God's penmanship has been signed with a language called love
That's why my breath is felt by the deaf
And while my words are heard and confined to the ears of the blind
I too dream in color and in rhyme
So I guess I'm one of a kind in a full house
'Cause whenever I open my heart, my soul or my mouth
A touch of God reigns out
Marcus M
J ivy verse still gives me chills.. This song is a underrated masterpiece.💯🔥
FNAF AR Shorts
🥺🥺🥺❤️❤️❤️❤️
81gwarren
MASTERPIECE brother. Absolutely.
PaaKwesi Minta
I keep replying his verse🔥
letsbereal
Absolutely. As middle class asian in developing country, that verse is a fuel for me
Nastassia smith
So true. It's sad cause words have meaning and if you listen to gold digger be spoke his life into what it is now. Almost manifesting it
Anton Kucera
This is one of the most motivating songs I've ever heard, what a gem
Sand Dunes
True brother
Tajriq El
This song saved my life in my military days...changed my life afterwards.
The spoken word part...brings tears to my eyes 17 years later.
Migue
God bless u man!