Ye (born Kanye Omari West on June 8, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia), profession… Read Full Bio ↴Ye (born Kanye Omari West on June 8, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia), professionally known as Kanye West, is a Grammy award-winning American rapper, producer, singer, author, director, performance artist and fashion designer.

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.

Problem
Kanye West Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You know what yeezy back with Timbo
Something gold and simple
Heart's all within through
Exactly what you sayin' for
If you got the info then go
In and start the intro
If you got the synth though
Then go and spark the indoor

Oh it's different, oh
That's a different kind of money
Pop them, make it somethin', act done, eh
Pop them, take it, all of the dineré
Popped on in the 747, bitch
Make your jet look like a fucking private
Ghosts under on it like it's fucking Yeezus
I make your jet look like a fucking Prius
Focus on the funnel, 'pon the fucking Yeezus
What the fuck they thought
That "Y'all can't fuck with Yeezus"
I'll make your private jet look like a Prius
Suck on some
I'll find out where the fucking weed is
How'd I get so many checks from Adidas?

They say I got a problem
I got a problem, yeah, I got a problem
They say I got a problem
I got a problem, yeah, I got a problem
They say I got a problem
I got a problem, yeah, I got a problem
They say I got a problem
I got a problem, yeah, I got a problem

Get it by all on, seen me
How would you want some
Makin' some on 'em, make it
Some and make it done, done
Hit, would it, would it, would it? (Woo)
Take ya son, I wanna make him, would it?
(Woo) fuck a son, yeah man
I got your son with your boo
Fakin' somethin' then and they
Never had a clue
Take your summer too, take your summers too
Never felt thay bitch, I go, son, uh, woo
0 and 380, bitch, I'll take two
Take your son who done it and
Then sent it like the, ooh
Bought a sub inside that bitch
She lookin' like the zoo
One with one a summer, they
Be lookin' like a, ooh
Hold up with they son, hold up
Bitch I got 'em
Done a one in now, 'nother song we at 'em
If they talking bond then you know we at 'em
Forward on the dial everytime we got 'em

They say I got a problem
I got a problem, yeah, I got a problem
They say I got a problem
I got a problem, yeah, I got a problem
They say I got a problem
I got a problem, yeah, I got a problem
They say I got a problem
I got a problem, yeah, I got a problem
They say I got a problem
I got a problem, yeah, I got a problem

They say I got a problem
I got a problem, yeah, I got a problem

Overall Meaning

In Kanye West's song "Problem," the lyrics reflect his excessive lifestyle and the criticisms that come with it. The opening lines convey his collaboration with Timbaland, emphasizing their expertise and creativity. The mention of gold and simplicity suggests that they are producing something valuable and straightforward. The line "Hearts all within through, Exactly what you sayin' for" could imply that Kanye is deeply connected to his artistry and understands the message he wants to convey through his music. He acknowledges that if others have information to share about his work, they should go ahead and start introducing it. The mention of "synth" suggests that Kanye is referring to the use of synthesizers in his music, showing his intention to create innovative and unique sounds.

The following lines highlight the wealth and success Kanye has achieved. He compares his wealth to a different kind of money, indicating that his financial status is on another level. The lines "Pop them, make it somethin', act done" and "Pop them, take it, all of the dineré" suggest that Kanye can create something out of nothing, turning ordinary things into extraordinary ones. The references to a private jet and a dineré reinforce the idea of extravagance and elevate his lifestyle.

Kanye continues to boast about his success and talent, expressing confidence in his abilities. He alludes to his previous album Yeezus and how it has left an impact on the music industry, proclaiming that others can't compare to his level of greatness. The line "I'll make your private jet look like a Prius" implies that Kanye's influence and status are unrivaled, even making luxurious possessions appear insignificant in comparison.

The chorus repeats throughout the song, emphasizing the notion that Kanye is aware of the criticism and challenges he faces. He acknowledges the accusations of having a problem, but rather than seeing it as a negative, he embraces it and takes pride in his unconventional approach to life and music.

In the second verse, Kanye plays with words and incorporates wordplay. The lines "Get it by all on, seen me" and "How would you want some, Makin' some on 'em, make it" suggest that he is being recognized and seen by everyone. He then goes on to express his desire for continuous success, mentioning taking someone's son and making something out of it. The lines "Fakin' somethin' then and they, Never had a clue" imply that Kanye has the ability to create illusions and deceive others, leaving them clueless about his true intentions.

Kanye further emphasizes his dominance and impact on the music scene with the line "Hold up with they son, hold up Bitch I got 'em." This shows his control and influence over the industry. He confidently states that he has accomplished so much and continues to create music to captivate his audience.

Overall, the lyrics of "Problem" illustrate Kanye West's self-assuredness and determination to assert his artistry and success, despite the criticism and challenges he faces. He takes pride in his ability to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary and showcases his extravagant lifestyle while remaining unapologetic about it.

Line by Line Meaning

You know what yeezy back with Timbo
Kanye West is announcing his return with producer Timbaland, suggesting that they are about to create something extraordinary.

Something gold and simple
The upcoming project will be both valuable and easy to understand or appreciate.

Heart's all within through
Kanye is putting his whole heart and emotions into this song.

Exactly what you sayin' for
He wants to deliver exactly what the audience is looking for in this song.

If you got the info then go
If you possess the knowledge or insight, take action and proceed.

In and start the intro
Begin the song with a captivating introduction.

If you got the synth though
If you have access to the synthesizer, use it.

Then go and spark the indoor
Proceed to ignite the energy and excitement within the venue or space.

Oh it's different, oh
This project will be unique and unlike anything heard before.

That's a different kind of money
The success and wealth achieved from this endeavor will be extraordinary and unparalleled.

Pop them, make it somethin', act done, eh
Kanye wants to impress and surprise the audience by creating something remarkable and impactful.

Pop them, take it, all of the dineré
He aims to take control of the riches and luxuries, claiming them as his own.

Popped on in the 747, bitch
Kanye is emphasizing his extravagant and luxurious lifestyle by referring to flying in a private jet.

Make your jet look like a fucking private
His opulence is so extreme that even a regular private jet would pale in comparison.

Ghosts under on it like it's fucking Yeezus
Yeezus, Kanye's album, was a groundbreaking and iconic creation. He wants to recreate that level of brilliance.

I make your jet look like a fucking Prius
Kanye boasts that his wealth and extravagance are so remarkable that they render even a luxurious private jet as mundane as a common, everyday car.

Focus on the funnel, 'pon the fucking Yeezus
He urges everyone to concentrate their attention and energy on his album, Yeezus, in order to fully appreciate it.

What the fuck they thought
Kanye questions and challenges anyone who doubted his abilities and success.

That 'Y'all can't fuck with Yeezus'
He confidently asserts that nobody can compete with the greatness and impact of Yeezus.

I'll make your private jet look like a Prius
Kanye reiterates his ability to make even the most extravagant possessions seem insignificant compared to his own.

Suck on some
Kanye is expressing his nonchalant attitude and disregard for the opinions or criticisms of others.

I'll find out where the fucking weed is
He plans to locate and indulge in marijuana, disregarding any potential obstacles or difficulties.

How'd I get so many checks from Adidas?
Kanye is curious and amazed at the number of lucrative endorsement deals he has secured with Adidas.

They say I got a problem
There is a common perception that Kanye has some sort of issue or complication.

I got a problem, yeah, I got a problem
He admits to having a problem, recognizing and acknowledging its existence.

Get it by all on, seen me
Kanye is emphasizing that everyone has witnessed his success and achievements.

How would you want some
He questions why anyone wouldn't desire or envy his success and lifestyle.

Makin' some on 'em, make it
Kanye is boasting about his ability to outshine others and create a lasting impact on them.

Some and make it done, done
He aims to accomplish something significant and complete it successfully, leaving a lasting impression.

Hit, would it, would it, would it? (Woo)
Kanye is urging others to appreciate and enjoy the incredible work he produces.

Take ya son, I wanna make him, would it?
He desires to influence and impress others, including their children, with his unmatched creativity and talent.

(Woo) fuck a son, yeah man
Kanye expresses his disregard for others' opinions or personal connections when it comes to pursuing his artistic vision.

I got your son with your boo
He boldly claims that he has captivated someone's partner, showcasing his power and charisma.

Fakin' somethin' then and they
He accuses others of pretending or being disingenuous when confronted with his greatness.

Never had a clue
Those who doubted him were completely unaware of his true capabilities.

Take your summer too, take your summers too
Kanye metaphorically claims ownership over the enjoyable and exciting moments in other people's lives.

Never felt thay bitch, I go, son, uh, woo
He asserts that he has never experienced the same level of satisfaction or fulfillment as he does when pursuing his artistic endeavors.

0 and 380, bitch, I'll take two
Kanye confidently states that he will not settle for anything less than the highest level of success and achievement.

Take your son who done it and
He claims credit for the accomplishments of others, asserting his influence and power over the industry.

Then sent it like the, ooh
He boasts that he not only originated the trend or style but also spread it widely, leaving a lasting impact.

Bought a sub inside that bitch
Kanye acquired a submarine-like vehicle, emphasizing his extreme wealth and ability to afford extravagant purchases.

She lookin' like the zoo
The sub is so impressive and unique that it resembles a zoo, attracting attention and admiration.

One with one a summer, they
Kanye's projects continue to be the center of attention and excitement during each summer season.

Be lookin' like a, ooh
His creations and projects are met with intense anticipation and curiosity, resulting in overwhelmingly positive responses.

Hold up with they son, hold up
Others try to compete with him or imitate his success, but they ultimately fall short.

Bitch I got 'em
Kanye confidently proclaims that he has outperformed or surpassed his competitors.

Done a one in now, 'nother song we at 'em
Having achieved success with one song, he confidently announces that he is ready to release another, continuously challenging his rivals.

If they talking bond then you know we at 'em
When it comes to competition or rivalry, Kanye is always ready and willing to engage and come out on top.

Forward on the dial everytime we got 'em
Kanye consistently moves forward and progresses, always surpassing his previous successes and accomplishments.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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