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.
Out Of The Game
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's only one girl on my agenda
(You talking bout Brenda?)
Naw I'm talking bout Linda, from last September
Now Linda love lace like Linda love lace
LaFace says she like +Mase+ but she love +Face+
And I know that Linda was a hip-hop-head
And I know that Linda gave Hip-Hop head
Cuz I ain't here to hurt her mayn
And she was messin wit me when I was still at Burger King
She ain't hop in my bed cuz of the whips and cream
Cuz when I had her in bed I had whip cream
Shakespearian midsummer night dream
I unzip things and pull out big things
They was flashin gr-green, she was like "ch-ching"
Got em, but she know a rreeal nigga when she, spot him
So now she's pickin dresses from Veroraiyn
Scratchin out her maiden and here's my name
Now I'm sittin at the bar wit all my guys
They sayin "Cheers to you for your future years of pain"
Like "Dog you ready to give all this shit up?
The summer's on its way and these hoes doin sit-ups
And when they see the way the G-5 lights lit up
Your gonna wanna have two like John Ritter"
But naww, I bought her a brand new BM
He said "Dog, slow down like Brand Nubian now"
[Consequence]
I just feel the need to purge my soul from the work load
Couldn't watch another nigga get burnt slow
She said her man was busy, always bored her with work load
Never takes her out and falls asleep in his work clothes
She needs some excitement, which leads to this indictment
Believe what you like kid, according to her
When we recorded with her, Linda changed her name to Nicky
Sang along to Darlin Nicky, co-star of my quickies
That foot is so pretty, but I'm sure you recognize
That bra holds titties, those are her titties
Solar's so pretty, but not to rub it in
But that white Russian did make her lonely like the wind
So the over right that's in, on the over night depends
If you take heed the game, and please keep ya name, word
[Kanye West]
Cuz she's just a playa playa
That's playin games wit me
[John Legend]
I can't see myself getting out the game, no time soon
Ooooh, as I continue as I, Ooooh, as I continue as I
Oooh, Oooh
Can't see myself getting out the game, no time soon
Ooooh, as I continue as I, Ooooh, as I continue as I
Oooh, Oooh
The lyrics to Kanye West's song "Out Of The Game" are centered around a narrative of Kanye's interactions with a girl named Linda. Kanye mentions that Linda is different from his previous love interest, Brenda, and he seems infatuated with her. Kanye portrays Linda as a hip-hop enthusiast and someone who engages in sexual activities with him. He believes he can potentially change Linda and is not here to harm her. Kanye also mentions their past encounters, implying that Linda showed interest in him even when he had a lower social standing (referencing his time working at Burger King). He also highlights their intimate moments, mentioning using whip cream and making a reference to Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
The second verse, performed by Consequence, shifts the perspective to Linda/Nicky. Consequence describes Linda as someone who is dissatisfied with her current relationship. Her partner fails to provide her with excitement, neglecting her and constantly working. Linda seeks thrills, which results in her changing her name to Nicky (implying a persona shift). She finds temporary happiness and joins in singing along to "Darlin Nicky." The verse then discusses physical attributes like feet and breasts, mentioning her lingerie. The White Russian drink is mentioned as a symbol of her loneliness. The verse ends with a cryptic line about "the over right that's in," which suggests that the outcome of their relationship depends on how they handle the game.
Overall, the song explores the dynamics of Kanye's relationship with Linda, showcasing his infatuation and desire for change while also acknowledging Linda's dissatisfaction with her current partner and her search for excitement.
Line by Line Meaning
There's only one girl on my agenda
I am focused on one particular girl
Naw I'm talking bout Linda, from last September
I'm referring to a girl named Linda whom I met in September
Now Linda love lace like Linda love lace
Linda enjoys wearing lace clothing
LaFace says she like +Mase+ but she love +Face+
LaFace music label prefers Mase, but Linda prefers Face (possibly referring to another artist)
And I know that Linda was a hip-hop-head
I know that Linda is a big fan of hip-hop music
And I know that Linda gave Hip-Hop head
And I know that Linda performed oral sex on me (using wordplay related to hip-hop)
But I feel I could convert her
But I believe I can change her preferences or beliefs
Cuz I ain't here to hurt her mayn
Because I have no intention of causing her pain, man
And she was messin wit me when I was still at Burger King
She was interested in me even when I had a low-status job at Burger King
She ain't hop in my bed cuz of the whips and cream
She didn't sleep with me just because I had luxurious cars and material possessions
Cuz when I had her in bed I had whip cream
Because when we were intimate, I introduced whipped cream into our sexual activities
Shakespearian midsummer night dream
Our romantic encounters were reminiscent of a dream from Shakespeare's play 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
I unzip things and pull out big things
I reveal my impressive genitalia when undressing
They was flashin gr-green, she was like 'ch-ching'
My expensive jewelry was attracting attention, and she was impressed by the display of wealth
Got em, but she know a rreeal nigga when she, spot him
She recognizes and is attracted to a genuinely authentic person when she sees one
So now she's pickin dresses from Veroraiyn
Now she's choosing expensive dresses from the designer brand Versace
Scratchin out her maiden and here's my name
She's removing her old identity and replacing it with my name
Now I'm sittin at the bar wit all my guys
Now I'm sitting at the bar with my friends
They sayin 'Cheers to you for your future years of pain'
They are toasting to my future experiences of suffering and heartache
Like 'Dog you ready to give all this shit up?
They are questioning if I am willing to abandon my current lifestyle or relationships
The summer's on its way and these hoes doin sit-ups
As the summer approaches, women are getting in shape and becoming more attractive
And when they see the way the G-5 lights lit up
And when they see the impressive lighting on my private jet (G-5)
Your gonna wanna have two like John Ritter'
You will desire to have multiple women in your life, similar to the late actor John Ritter
But naww, I bought her a brand new BM
But no, I bought her a new BMW car
He said 'Dog, slow down like Brand Nubian now'
He advised me to take things slower, similar to the musical group Brand Nubian
I just feel the need to purge my soul from the work load
I have a strong desire to cleanse my soul from the burdens of my job
Couldn't watch another nigga get burnt slow
I couldn't bear to witness another person being taken advantage of or mistreated
She said her man was busy, always bored her with work load
She stated that her partner was always busy and neglected her needs due to work responsibilities
Never takes her out and falls asleep in his work clothes
He never takes her on dates and often falls asleep without changing out of his work attire
She needs some excitement, which leads to this indictment
She desires excitement in her life, which brings about this accusation or criticism
Believe what you like kid, according to her
You can choose to believe whatever you want, as per her statement
When we recorded with her, Linda changed her name to Nicky
When we were together in the recording studio, Linda decided to use the name Nicky
Sang along to Darlin Nicky, co-star of my quickies
She sang along to the song 'Darlin Nicky' and became a frequent participant in my casual sexual encounters
That foot is so pretty, but I'm sure you recognize
Her foot is visually appealing, but I'm certain you are aware of that fact
That bra holds titties, those are her titties
The bra provides support for her breasts, which are indeed her breasts
Solar's so pretty, but not to rub it in
She has a beautiful complexion, but I don't want to boast about it
But that white Russian did make her lonely like the wind
However, drinking a white Russian cocktail made her feel lonely, just like the wind
So the over right that's in, on the over night depends
The climax or resolution of our relationship depends on various factors throughout the night
If you take heed the game, and please keep ya name, word
If you pay attention to the lessons of this situation and maintain your reputation, listen to my advice
Cuz she's just a playa playa
Because she is the type of woman who likes to play games and manipulate others
That's playin games wit me
She is specifically playing games with me
I can't see myself getting out the game, no time soon
I cannot imagine leaving this lifestyle or situation in the near future
Ooooh, as I continue as I, Ooooh, as I continue as I
As I progress and move forward
Oooh, Oooh
Expressing satisfaction or pleasure
Can't see myself getting out the game, no time soon
I cannot envision leaving this lifestyle or situation in the near future
Ooooh, as I continue as I, Ooooh, as I continue as I
As I progress and move forward
Oooh, Oooh
Expressing satisfaction or pleasure
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Raw House LLC
There's only one girl on my agenda
(You talking bout Brenda?)
Naw I'm talking bout Linda, from last September
Now Linda love lace like Linda Lovelace
LaFace says she like +Mase+ but she love +Face+
And I know that Linda was a hip-hop-head
And I know that Linda gave Hip-Hop head
But I feel I could convert her
Cuz I ain't here to hurt her mayn
And she was messin wit me when I was still at Burger King
She ain't hop in my bed cuz of the whips and cream
Cuz when I had her in bed I had whip cream
Shakespearian midsummer night dream
I unzip things and pull out big things
They was flashin gr-green, she was like "ch-ching"
Got em, but she know a rreeal nigga when she, spot him
So now she's pickin dresses from Vera Wang
Scratchin out her maiden and here's my name
Now I'm sittin at the bar wit all my guys
They sayin "Cheers to you for your future years of pain"
Like "Dog you ready to give all this shit up?
The summer's on its way and these hoes doin sit-ups
And when they see the way the G5 lights lit up
You're gonna wanna have two like John Ritter"
But naww, I bought her a brand new BM
He said "Dog, slow down like Brand Nubian now"
Adrian X
2004, Walking to school every morning my sophomore year I had this on repeat. Calling this track soulful would be an understatement.
Theo jull
2004, I didn't even know how to crawl yet
J RICE
al green main reason shit soulful jamar
Kazamere
I wasn’t even born yet
sonicsentry
As for 808's, i thought it was genius. It seemed like kanYe was going through alot of shit when he recorded that album and he just put himself on the album, the person he was at that time. I love everything that he's done because he's done it consistently with an attitude like, "You will like it regardless of what it is because I did it." That is kanYe at his greatest. This song has got to be one of my favorite unreleased tracks by him. The way he uses the Al Green sample is so crazy.
Thomas Stasiak
Going through alot??? His mom just died
richardson.
@Thomas Stasiak I'm sure that I was thinking of that 10 years ago when I made this comment on top of the other things he was going through at the time...
George Faux
@richardson. Haha the comment is so old you replied with a new account 😂
No Name
One my fav kanye tracks, watching him rapping that verse in his doc on netflix was special.
AndyAndyAndy
You got the time stamp for that part? Was it in part 1?