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.
The Joy
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A great big expression of happiness
Boy, you couldn't miss with a dozen roses
Such would astound you
The joy of children laughing around you
These are the makings of you
I do it for the fore-fathers and the street authors
Rappers that never got signed but they keep offers
Girls that's way too fine for us to keep off us
Gave her a handshake only for my man's sake
She in her birthday suit cause of the damn cake
Now there's crumbs all over the damn place
And she want me to cum all over her damn face
I never understood planned parenthood
'Cause I never met nobody planned to be a parent in the hood
Taking refills of that plan B pill
Another shorty that won't make it to the family will
If I don't make it, can't take it, hope the family will
They ain't crazy they don't know how insanity feel
Don C just had a shorty so it's not that bad
But I still hear the ghosts of the kids I never had
Add a little sugar, honeysuckle and
A great big expression of happiness
Boy, you couldn't miss with a dozen roses
Such would astound you
The joy of children laughing around you
These are the makings of you
No Electro, no metro, a little retro, ahh perfecto
You know the demo, ya boy act wild
You ain't get the memo? Yeezy's back in style
Now one room got Gidget, the other got Bridget
What's more tripped out dawg is they sisters
Nah, you ain't listen, they black, they sisters
They momma, named them after white bitches
So next time you see me on your fallopian
Though the jewelry's Egyptian, know the hunger's Ethiopian
Stupid questions like, "Is he gon' be dope again?
Have you seen him? Has anybody spoke to him?"
This beat deserves Hennessy, a bad bitch and a bag of weed, the Holy Trinity
In the mirror where I see my only enemy
Your life's cursed, well mine's an obscenity
Add a little sugar, honeysuckle and
A great big expression of happiness
Boy, you couldn't miss with a dozen roses
Such would astound you
The joy of children laughing around you
These are the makings of you
This is my momma shit
I used to hear this through the walls in the hood
When I was back in my pajama shit
Afro's and marijuana sticks, seeds and the ganja had
It popping like the sample that I'm rhyming with
Pete Rock, let the needle drop
I seen so much as a kid they surprised I don't needle pop
Taking sips of pop's six-pack of Miller nips
Pink Champale, Ballantine Ale
Ballys on my feet help me balance out well
That and the shit I used to balance on the scale
I got it honest from the parties from my momma's
Virgin Mary's try to judge her, I'm like, "Where the Madonna's now?"
Give all glory to Gloria, they said, "You raised that boy too fast"
But you was raising a warrior
We victorious, they'll never take the joy from us, uh
Keep you hands up, get 'em high now
Don't let them take your fire
Keep you hands up, get 'em high now
Don't let them take your fire
Keep you hands up, get 'em high now
Don't let them take your fire
Keep you hands up, get 'em high now
It's Pete Rock, Kanye, one, two, okay
It's Pete Rock, Kanye, one, two, okay
It's Pete Rock, Kanye, one, two, okay
It's Pete Rock, Kanye, one, two, okay
The lyrics to Kanye West/Jay-Z/Curtis Mayfield's song The Joy are an interesting blend of seemingly unrelated themes. The opening verse talks about happiness and joy being found in simple things like children laughing and a dozen roses. In contrast, the second verse talks about street life and unplanned pregnancies. The third verse is a nostalgic look back at the artist's childhood experiences growing up in the hood, with references to drug use and partying. Despite the different themes, there is a common thread of joy running through all the verses.
The song also features an interesting use of samples - the beat is based on Curtis Mayfield's "The Makings of You" and there are samples from hip hop producer Pete Rock's track "When I Need It" as well. The song was produced by Kanye West and Pete Rock, and originally leaked online in 2010 as "The Joy" before being officially released on Kanye West and Jay-Z's collaborative album Watch the Throne in 2011.
Overall, the lyrics to The Joy offer a unique perspective on finding joy in everyday experiences and dealing with the challenges of life in the inner city. The song is a testament to the resilience of those who grow up in difficult circumstances, and the power of music to bring people together.
Line by Line Meaning
Add a little sugar, honey suckle lamb
A great expression of happiness
Boy, you could not miss with a dozen roses
Such would astound you
The joy of children laughing around you
These are the makings of you
I do it for the fore-fathers and the street authors
Paying respect to rap artists who never made it
That are not A&R's in the cheap office
Who didn't get signed by a record label
Rappers that never got signed but they keep offers
Independent artists who continue to receive offers
Girls that's way too fine for us to keep off us
Girls that are too attractive to resist
Gave her a handshake only for my man's sake
Showing respect to a friend by refusing a woman's advances
She in her birthday suit cause of the damn cake
She's naked because of a celebratory cake
Now there's crumbs all over the damn place
Messy aftermath of their celebration
And she want me to cum all over her damn face
Graphic sexual reference
I never understood planned parenthood
Lack of understanding regarding family planning
Cause I never met nobody plan to be a parent in the hood
No one in his community plans to have children
Taking refills of that plan B pill
Repeating the emergency contraceptive
Another shorty that won't make it to the family will
Another unplanned pregnancy that will not become part of a family legacy
If I don't make it, can't take it, hope the family will
If he doesn't succeed, hopes his family will be able to cope
They ain't crazy they don't know how insanity feel
His family doesn't understand his struggles
Don C just had a shorty so it's not that bad
Don C recently had a child, making parenthood seem less daunting
But I still hear the ghosts of the kids I never had
Regret for not having children
No Electro, no metro, a little retro, I perfecto
No electronic beats, just a touch of nostalgia
You know the demo, ya boy act wild
Kanye's style and persona is familiar
You ain't get the memo, Yeezy's back in style
Kanye is back in the music scene with a new project
Now when Rome go Gidget the other got Bridget
Two different experiences
What's more tripped out though is they sisters
The fact that they're siblings is more surprising
Nah, you ain't listen, they black, they sisters
Their race is black
They momma, named them after white bitches
Reference to naming trends, in contrast with their own race
No next time you see me on your fallopian
He won't be fathering anyone's child
Though the Jewerly's Egyptian, know the hunger's Ethiopian
Despite being wealthy, he still has struggles and strives for betterment
Stupid questions like "Is he gon' be dope again?"
Doubting his ability to create good music
Have you seen him? Has anybody spoke to him?
People questioning his whereabouts and state of mind
This beat deserves Hennessy, a bad bitch and a bag of weed, the Holy Trinity
The perfect combination for the perfect song
In the mirror where I see my only enemy
His biggest critic is himself
Your life's cursed, well mine's an obscenity
Contrasting differences between their lives
This is my momma shit
Song is a tribute to music his mom used to listen to
I used to hear this through the walls in the hood
Recalling memories of hearing music throughout the neighborhood
When I was back in my pajama shit
During his youth
Afro's and marijuana sticks, seeds and the ganja hat
The culture and vibe of his upbringing
Will be popping like the sample that I'm rhyming with
Nostalgic reference to music samples used in the song
Pete Rock, let the needle drop
Acknowledging Pete Rock's contribution as a producer
I seen so much as a kid they surprised I don't needle pop
Despite his childhood experiences, he's managed to avoid drug addiction
Taking sips of pop, six packs of millanips
Relaxing by drinking soda and wine coolers
Pink champel, Valentine L
More indulgence, finer drinks
Bally's on my feet help me balance out well
Higher quality fashion, symbolizes success
That and the shit I used to balance on the scale
Referring to drug dealing as a means of financial balance
I got it honest from the parties from my momma's
Inherited his love of music and partying from his mother
Virgin Mary's try to judge her, I'm like "where the Madonna's now?"
Judgemental people are silent now
Give all glory to Gloria, they said "you raised that boy too fast,
Appreciation for his mother and her parenting decisions
But you was raising a warrior"
Raising him to be strong and resilient
We victorious, they'll never take the joy from us
Despite all their struggles, they remain happy and successful
Keep you hands up, get mine up
Keeping spirits high and hands joined in unity
Don't let them take your fire
Don't let negativity extinguish optimism
It's Pete Rock, Kanye, one, two, okay
Final acknowledgement of the artists and producers involved
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Talib Kweli, Kanye West, Curtis Mayfield, Jeffrey Bhasker, Peter O. Phillips, Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, Shawn Carter, Jeff Bhasker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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