New Slaves
Kanye West Lyrics

My momma was raised in the era when
My mother grew up during a time when

Clean water was only served to the fairer skin
Access to clean water was only given to people with lighter skin

Doing clothes you would have thought I had help
The way I do laundry you might think I have assistance

But they wasn't satisfied unless I picked the cotton myself
However, they were only satisfied if I personally picked the cotton

You see it's broke nigga racism
What's happening is impoverished racism

That's that "Don't touch anything in the store"
It manifests as a warning not to touch any merchandise

And this rich nigga racism
Additionally, exists wealthy racism

That's that "Come in, please buy more
Which presents itself as an invitation to buy expensive items

What you want, a Bentley? Fur coat? A diamond chain?
Is enticing people with luxury products like luxury vehicles, coats made of fur, and a chain that has diamonds in it.

All you blacks want all the same things"
This is followed with a statement that implies all black people want the same things.

Used to only be niggas now everybody playing
This discrimination that used to be towards black people is now towards anyone.

Spending everything on Alexander Wang
Expending all one's money purchasing Alexander Wang branded items

You see there's leaders and there's followers
There are people that lead and people that follow

But I'd rather be a dick than a swallower
I'd rather be thought an unapologetic egotist than willing to just go along with everything.

I throw these Maybach keys
I throw these keys to my Maybach

I wear my heart on the sleeve
I openly share my feelings and vulnerabilities

I know that we the new slaves
I know that our current status is one of oppression

I see the blood on the leaves
I see the signs of death and destruction around me

They throwing hate at me
People are throwing their negative feelings at me

Want me to stay at ease
They want me to remain calm and complacent

Fuck you and your corporation
I have a strong disdain for corporations and those that support them

Y'all niggas can't control me
No one has power over me except for myself

I'm 'bout to wild the fuck out
I am about to be reckless and violent

I'm going Bobby Boucher
I'm going full Bobby Boucher (referencing the Adam Sandler film Waterboy)

I know that pussy ain't free
I know that sex comes with a price

You niggas pussy, ain't me
You all are weak, but I am not

Y'all throwing contracts at me
People are trying to offer me contracts

You know that niggas can't read
You know that some people can't read (i.e. don't understand what they are signing up for)

Throw 'em some Maybach keys
Give them the keys to your Maybach so they think they are in control

Fuck it, c'est la vie
Forget it, that's life. Sometimes you just have to let things go.

Y'all niggas can't fuck with me
No one can compete with or challenge me.

I'll move my family out the country
I'll leave the country with my family, so you can't find me.

So you can't see where I stay
So you don't know where we are.

So go and grab the reporters
Go, get the reporters.

So I can smash their recorders
So I can break their recording devices.

See they'll confuse us with some bullshit
They will try to confuse us with lies and deceit.

Like the New World Order
Like the idea of an alleged cabal aiming to rule the world.

Meanwhile the DEA
During this time, the Drug Enforcement Agency

Teamed up with the CCA
Joined forces with the Corrections Corporation of America.

They tryna lock niggas up
They're trying to put people (predominantly black men) behind bars.

They tryna make new slaves
They are trying to repeat the cycle of slavery.

See that's that privately owned prisons
This is related to the privately-owned prisons.

Get your piece today
Get in on the opportunity now.

They prolly all in the Hamptons
These people are probably living it up in the Hamptons

Braggin' 'bout what they made
Boasting about their financial gain

Fuck you and your Hampton house
I have extreme disdain for these people and their expensive homes

I'll fuck your Hampton spouse
I will even have sex with their partner (in an attempt to degrade them further)

Came on her Hampton blouse
I even went as far as to ejaculate on their partner's clothes.

And in her Hampton mouth
I even ejaculated in their partner's mouth.

Y'all 'bout to turn shit up
You are about to start some trouble.

I'm 'bout to tear shit down
I am about to destroy everything in my path.

I'm 'bout to air shit out
I am going to bring all of the issues to the surface.

Now what the fuck they gon' say now?
What arguments could they possibly make in response now?

I won't end this high, not this time again
I won't let myself lose the clarity that comes with hard work and dedication, not this time.

So long, so long, so long
Farewell to everything that I have been working on so far.

You cannot survive
You will not be able to last.

And I'm not dying
And I am not going to disappear.

And I can't lose
And I am not going to fail.

I can't lose
I must win.

No, I can't lose
Not a single possibility of losing.

Cause I can't leave it to you
I can't rely on anyone else to take care of it.

So let's get too high, get too high again
Let's all aim to reach higher levels once again.