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.
Number Ones
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I promise not to do it
You can't say I don't love you
Just because I cheat on you
'Cause you can't see all I do
To keep you from knowing the things I do
Like erase my phone
I keep it strapped up when I sleep around
Well I should have known one say you'd find out
But you can't go and leave me now
You know that I love you
There's no one above you
I said it the last time
But this is the last time
Don't make me over
'Cause I can be faithful
Baby you're my number one
You're my number one
Now who is she?
What's her name?
You don't need to know about everything
We fight about this
We fight about that
You hang up the phone and call me right back
Well I'll never be something I'm not
Please don't throw away what we've got
'Cause we've been together for way too long
I was playing around but I'm coming home
You know that I love you (know that I love you)
There's no one above you (no one above you)
I said it the last time (hey, hey)
But this is the last time
Don't make me over (don't leave me baby)
'Cause I can be faithful (you know I try)
Baby you're my number one (baby)
You're my number one
I keep you laced up so you ain't gotta borrow nothing
From them broke ass friends who be bargain hunting
They say they shop on eBay - baby why is they frontin'?
They be on the internet but they never cop nothin'
I keep you in Girl what is those on your toes?
And your neck staying froze off that rose colored gold
I suppose you was told by them hoes I was cheatin'
Thinkin' my heart don't got nothing to do with my penis
He got a mind of his own and he just be seeing shit
And I don't want to cheat but I don't be saying shit
I try to jack off he ask me who is you playin' wit?
But I know he love you he told me you was his favorite
You know that I love you (know that I love you)
There's no one above you (above you)
I said it the last time (said it the last time)
But this is the last time (hey hey hey yeah)
Don't make me over (don't leave me baby)
'Cause I can be faithful (you know I try)
Baby you're my number one (oh baby)
You're my number one
You're making it hard for me
You're messing up everything
You tell me I gotta leave
Say we over
You saw that she came over
Came in the Range Rover
Left with a hangover
Say we over
I promise I won't cheat
I promise I won't lie
I promise I'll act right
Say we over
You can't tell me
I can't have you
I can't have that
We ain't over
Hey, it ain't over baby
We ain't over
Oh you don't need to go it's not over
We ain't over
Oh?
We ain't over
Oh it's gonna be alright now don't go now
In Kanye West's "Number Ones," the singer is pleading with his significant other to not give up on their relationship despite his infidelity. The song opens with the singer promising to never cheat again and goes on to explain the various measures he's taken to hide his indiscretions, such as erasing his phone and keeping it out of town. He acknowledges that his partner may question his love for them because of his cheating, but assures them that there is no one above them, and that this is the last time he will cheat. He asks his partner not to "make [him] over" because he can be faithful, and that they are his "number one."
Throughout the song, the singer attempts to rationalize his actions and plead with his partner to stay with him. He tries to deflect their questions about the other person, saying that they don't need to know everything, and ends the song with a plea to not give up on their relationship. It's a complicated exploration of guilt, regret, and the lengths that people will go to in order to hold on to a relationship that they know is not healthy.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh I promise not to do it again
I apologize for cheating and promise to not repeat the mistake
I promise not to do it
Reiterating the promise of not cheating in the future
You can't say I don't love you
Loving someone doesn't equate to being faithful
Just because I cheat on you
Acknowledging the infidelity
'Cause you can't see all I do
Not all actions are visible, like the efforts to keep the cheating hidden
To keep you from knowing the things I do
Admitting to the actions that are being kept hidden from the partner
Like erase my phone
Deleting evidence from the phone to avoid detection
And keep it out of town
Hiding the phone away from home to avoid suspicion
I keep it strapped up when I sleep around
Being more cautious and careful while cheating
Well I should have known one say you'd find out
Expecting the partner to eventually discover the infidelity
But you can't go and leave me now
Begging the partner to not leave despite the betrayal
You know that I love you
Reaffirming the love for the partner
There's no one above you
Expressing that the partner is a top priority
I said it the last time
Reminding that the same promise was made before
But this is the last time
Reiterating that there won't be any more infidelity
Don't make me over
Asking the partner to not judge or change them
'Cause I can be faithful
Assuring the partner of the capability to be loyal
Baby you're my number one
Expressing that the partner is the top priority
Now who is she?
Being defensive and diverting attention away from the affair
What's her name?
Trying to make it seem like it's not a significant other
You don't need to know about everything
Being secretive and not providing full disclosure
We fight about this
Acknowledging that arguments about infidelity occur
We fight about that
Not being clear about the reasons for arguments
You hang up the phone and call me right back
Possibly trying to cover up something by calling back immediately
Well I'll never be something I'm not
Admitting to the mistake and not pretending to be innocent
Please don't throw away what we've got
Asking to not end the relationship because of the mistake
'Cause we've been together for way too long
Highlighting the length of the relationship
I was playing around but I'm coming home
Confirming the intention to return to the partner
I keep you laced up so you ain't gotta borrow nothing
Boasting about providing for the partner's needs
From them broke ass friends who be bargain hunting
Disparaging the partner's friends' financial status
They say they shop on eBay - baby why is they frontin'?
Questioning the authenticity of the friends' claims to shop at a cheaper platform
They be on the internet but they never cop nothin'
Suggesting that the friends are not genuine in their shopping behavior
I keep you in Girl what is those on your toes?
Providing for the partner's luxury needs in the form of jewelry
And your neck staying froze off that rose colored gold
Boasting about providing expensive jewelry for the partner
I suppose you was told by them hoes I was cheatin'
Blaming others for revealing the affair
Thinkin' my heart don't got nothing to do with my penis
Claiming that infidelity doesn't correlate with lack of love for the partner
He got a mind of his own and he just be seeing shit
Making an excuse for the mistake and blaming the genitals for making bad decisions
And I don't want to cheat but I don't be saying shit
Expressing the difficulty in being faithful but still keeping quiet about the mistakes made
I try to jack off he ask me who is you playin' wit?
Joking about the penis acting like it has a personality of its own
But I know he love you he told me you was his favorite
Claiming that the genitals still have love for the partner and prefer them over anyone else
You're making it hard for me
Expressing the difficulty and stress caused by the arguments
You're messing up everything
Implying that the partner's reaction is causing issues
You tell me I gotta leave
Being threatened and told to leave the relationship
Say we over
Implying that the relationship is in danger of ending
You saw that she came over
Being called out for having another woman over
Came in the Range Rover
Possibly adding details to the situation
Left with a hangover
Showing that the situation didn't end well
I promise I won't cheat
Making the same promise again
I promise I won't lie
Adding the promise to not lie in the future
I promise I'll act right
Making a general promise to behave correctly
You can't tell me
Being defensive and possibly aggressive
I can't have you
Possibly insinuating that they have the power in the relationship
I can't have that
Possibly referring to freedom or choice
We ain't over
Expressing hope that the relationship can be saved
Hey, it ain't over baby
Repeating the hope for the relationship to not end
We ain't over
Reiterating the hope to salvage the relationship
Oh you don't need to go it's not over
Trying to prevent the partner from leaving
Oh?
Expressing surprise or confusion
We ain't over
Remaining hopeful and refusing to give up on the relationship
Oh it's gonna be alright now don't go now
Adding a sense of urgency to the situation and trying to prevent the partner from leaving
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CURTIS L MAYFIELD, JOHN ROGER STEPHENS, KANYE OMARI WEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@branm7581
[Intro: Kanye and Pharrell]
World's, world's, world's famous (Uh)
World, world, world's famous, you're now listening to (Girl)
Skateboard P, and the Louis Vuitton Don (I'm back)
It's so unfair, so unreasonable, let's go (Heh, hey)
[Verse 1: Pharrell]
I must of hurt your feelings
Your temper hit the ceiling
You know I wanna talk to you, uh
Oh, girl, come on
But to maintain this livin'
'Cause God knows it's not given
You know I got lots to do, uh
Oh, girl, come on
[Pre-Chorus: Pharrell]
I know this part ain't pretty
But you know I be busy
That's why I can't talk long on the phone, uh
Oh, girl, come on
So honey, if you with me
Know I'll look for your pretty
Face to smile when I get home (And when we make love, you know it's gon' be amazin')
'Cause you're my
[Chorus: Pharrell and Kanye]
Number one, uh, smash hit, uh (Uh)
Off the charts, uh, classic, uh
Soon as I'm done, uh, dashin' (Hey, girl)
Home to hold your heart, uh, and smash it (At night)
(Baby girl, you and me, that's a hit to me)
(Look how she get to me, she might be nothin' to you, but she the shit to me)
(Tell me how you love that? Number one, can't put nothin' above that)
(You deserve a verse from me, we gon' party like it's our anniversary, go)
[Verse 2: Pharrell]
Hey, didn't I just tell ya
That you're my Cinderella?
My dream ball ain't fixed one sight, uh
Oh, girl, come on, baby, uh
You know I'd rather be where you are
You are my shining star
But last night, uh, that just wasn't right, uh
Oh, girl, come on
[Pre-Chorus: Pharrell]
I know this part ain't pretty
But you know I be busy
That's why I can't talk long on the phone, uh
It's hard for you, baby girl, come on
So honey, if you with me
Know I'll look for your pretty
Face to smile when I get home
And when we make love, you know it's gon' be amazin'
[Chorus: Pharrell and Kanye]
Number one, uh, smash hit, uh
Off the charts, uh, classic, uh
Soon as I'm done, uh, dashin'
Home to hold your heart, uh, and smash it
Number one, uh, smash hit, uh
Off the charts, uh, classic, uh
Soon as I'm done, uh, dashin' (Oh, yeah, yeah)
Home to hold your heart, uh, and smash it (Yeah, uh, yeah)
(Baby girl, you and me, that's a hit to me)
(Look how she get to me, she might be nothin' to you, but she the shit to me)
(Tell me how you love that? Number one, can't put nothin' above that)
(You deserve a verse from me, we gon' party like it's our anniversary, go)
(Baby girl, you and me, that's a hit to me)
(Look how she get to me, she might be nothin' to you, but she the shit to me, oh)
(Tell me how you love that? Number one, can't put nothin' above that)
(You deserve a verse from me, we gon' party like it's our anniversary, go)
[Verse 3: Kanye West]
Yesterday, I was half the man you see (Go)
Baby, that's because you the other half of me
You my number one hit on the line of the charts
I'ma FedEx my love and have you signed for my heart (Yeah)
For my number one eye, keep ya dumb fly (Fly)
It fresh to death, you like after death
I resurrected my gold Jesus of Nazareth
Now we fresh as a prince while they Jazzy Jeff (Uh-huh)
And you don't be sayin' shit when they askin' quest-a-a-
And you be givin' me my space a-a-and
You don't be runnin' on MySpace a-a-and
You know some other shit I hate, w-w-what?
W-w-when they violate, b-but
Tonight, man, I ain't in the mood for it
Don't matter who wore it, you wore it
Look how ya co-or-dinated, man, that's my favorite, I love the way that it (Oh, yeah)
[Chorus: Pharrell and Kanye]
Number one, uh, smash hit, uh
Off the charts, uh, classic, uh
Soon as I'm done, uh, dashin'
Home to hold your heart, uh, and smash it
(FIts on you, baby girl, that's the shit on you)
(Look how she get to me, she might be nothin' to you, but she the shit to me)
(T-, tell me how you love that, number one, can't put nothin' above that)
(You deserve a verse from me, we gon' party like it's our anniversary, uh)
[Breakdown: Pharrell and Kanye]
Number one, uh, smash hit, uh (You're my number one girl)
Off the charts, uh, classic, uh (You're my number one girl)
Soon as I'm done, uh, dashin' (You're my number one girl)
Home to hold your heart, uh, and smash it (You're my number one girl, uh, uh)
(Come on, come on, come on)
(Get 'em, P, come on)
(Come on, come on, come on)
(Take 'em up)
[Outro: Kanye and Pharrell]
World's, world's, world's famous (You're my number one girl, uh)
World, world, world's famous (Uh, hey, you're my number one girl)
World's, world's, world's famous (You're my number one girl, uh, uh)
World, world, world's famous (You're my number one girl)
@lewiscoffey3703
The chorus is the dopest part of the song to me
@biancamarcellous5007
Yea still one of my favorite songs
@ProfessorSnape22
Damn the mid 2000s held a special memory to me with songs like this
@arenwalker3624
This is late 00s 2006
@nathanmedina2809
Aren Walker 2006 is not late 2000s dummy
@HappiSushi12
Actually 2006 is late 2000s, people forget that the 2000s are only 10 years. 2000-2009 is the 2000s.
@M360-w6o
HappiSushi12 2005 and 2006 are mid 2000s. 2007 onwards is late 2000s, 2000-2004 is early 2000s
@Storm27ification
Facts
@hanselbaker5947
ALL OF PHARRELL'S SONGS ARE VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY GREAT, GREAT, GREAT, GREAT!
@faatimaali6634
Somaliland kuluc songs