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.
U Know
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh you know
I just want you to know
Kanye: “I just got off the plane Chicago.”
“Its your boy Kanye West on the beat.”
“Eh, White Boy!”
I just want you to know
I just want you to know
(You know)
I just want you to know
This boy here can flow
(You know)
South side up in here
West side up in here
East side up in here
Throw your hands in the air
(You know)
I just want you to know
I just want you to know
(You know)
I just want you to know
This boy here can flow
(You know)
South side up in here
West side up in here
East side up in here
Throw your hands in the air
Kanye: Kanye the best in the game now we got that fact made clear
Kanye West is the name South side up in here
Ya'll niggers stole the show
Ya'll niggers all some clones
Ya'll need to change ya'll tone
Nigger I control the gold
Muthafucker close the door
Light the weed and let the odor blow
Why you keep balling old girl
You ain't been around hoes before?
Why my chain rosy gold?
Why my wrist below zero?
How the hell I know B-Lo?
Why them girls figure no means no?
No means no just as sure as green means go
Green means paper dream team capper
We see ya haters like shorty on the sixes
Ya'll finna see some dead people
Come through your block and egg people
My people ain't scared people
Only fear God, yeah people
Chorus: You know
I just want you to know
I just want you to know
(You know)
I just want you to know
This boy here can flow
(You know)
South side up in here
West side up in here
East side up in here
Throw your hands in the air
White Boy: White Boy back in the mix and I'm in the atmosphere
Caught for presackin the fifth and we got them gats in here
This is not a game (no)
Chris is not a lame (no)
Chi-Town drop the flame (yes!)
White Boy got them thangs
White Boy a hot damn shame
White Boy hot like Mars
Ya'll flow hot like marsh
Ya'll can't stop these bars
White Boy top these charts
White Boy got the ball
Lyrics gon' shock you boy
Chris don't cop them cars
Get a couple foxy broads
Out there shoes, socks, and bra
This is not so hard
Chris gotta Rocky heart
Pimp with the mobster walk
Chris got hostile thoughts
Ya'll better watch it ya'll
Midwest rock you ya'll!
Chorus: You know
I just want you to know
I just want you to know
(You know)
I just want you to know
This boy here can flow
(You know)
South side up in here
West side up in here
East side up in here
Throw your hands in the air
(You know)
I just want you to know
I just want you to know
(You know)
I just want you to know
This boy here can flow
(You know)
South side up in here
West side up in here
East side up in here
Throw your hands in the air
White Boy: Yeah…
Brat prophet
Black gothic
Slash comic
Rats jockin
Fat pockets
Mad hoppin
Crack poppin
Stacks droppin
Can't stop it
Weights knocking
Hate in your face
Watching base
On relate
Gossip facin
I make options
Yeah
Incase I catch a case
gots to pay
Confrontate
Need to break
From this place
Cuz it ain't common (no)
If this ain't the way Kanye
Then its straight colleges
In your veins
Cuz you spent
What you gain
From straight knowledge
I was raised in the street
Praisin my heat
Holdin on my Nextel
Hopin for the next El
Focused on the best sell
Smokin on the fresh El
Posted like Fed Ex mail
Chorus: You know
I just want you to know
I just want you to know
(You know)
I just want you to know
This boy here can flow
(You know)
South side up in here
West side up in here
East side up in here
Throw your hands in the air
(You know)
I just want you to know
I just want you to know
(You know)
I just want you to know
This boy here can flow
(You know)
(Ohhh, Ohhh)
South side up in here
West side up in here
East side up in here
Throw your hands in the air
The lyrics to Kanye West's song "U Know" are primarily focused on self-expression, asserting dominance, and representing one's hometown. The song opens with Kanye West introducing himself and his presence, specifically referencing his hometown of Chicago. The chorus, sung by an unidentified artist, emphasizes the desire to be recognized and acknowledged for one's talent and skills in the rap game. The chorus also mentions different sides of Chicago, implying that their influence and presence are felt across the city.
In Kanye West's verse, he boasts about being the best in the game, establishing his name and influence on the South side of Chicago. He criticizes other artists as clones, suggesting that they lack authenticity and individuality. He points out his own success and control over wealth, juxtaposed with the need to close the door to ensure privacy. Additionally, he questions why women are surprised or impressed by his material possessions, suggesting that he has encountered similar situations before. Kanye also references various symbols of wealth and success, such as his gold chain and below-zero wrist, hinting at his extravagant lifestyle. Lastly, he emphasizes the importance of fearing God as the only fear his people have.
In the verse by an artist referred to as White Boy, he claims his place in the music industry, announcing his return and presence in the rap scene. He suggests that he is not to be underestimated and carries a sense of authority, with the mention of guns and flames. White Boy also articulates his own talent and success, comparing himself to the planet Mars, which signifies his hotness and uniqueness in the game. He challenges others to surpass his skills and reach the top of music charts. The verse also carries a strong sense of pride in representing the Midwest and encourages others to pay attention to the talent coming from that region.
The second verse by White Boy continues the theme of self-expression and establishing one's identity. He uses a mix of aggressive and boastful language, highlighting his ability to shock and captivate listeners with his lyrics. He presents himself as a non-conformist, rejecting typical societal norms and stereotypes. With witty wordplay, he addresses the idea of gaining wealth and knowledge, suggesting that Kanye West's way may not align with traditional education but finds value in his experiences growing up in the streets. The verse concludes with references to the urban environment, Nextel phones, and the pursuit of success and elevated status.
Overall, the lyrics of "U Know" focus on asserting dominance, representing urban culture, and expressing individuality within the rap game. The artists highlight their talents, success, and pride in their hometown, aiming to leave a lasting impact on listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
You know
I want to ensure that you are aware
Oh you know
Indeed, you are already aware
I just want you to know
My sole intention is to make sure you are informed
Kanye: “I just got off the plane Chicago.”
As Kanye West, I have recently arrived in Chicago
“Its your boy Kanye West on the beat.”
I, Kanye West, am responsible for the production of this song
“Eh, White Boy!”
Referring to a white individual with familiarity or camaraderie
South side up in here
Representing the south side of Chicago in this context
West side up in here
Representing the west side of Chicago in this context
East side up in here
Representing the east side of Chicago in this context
Throw your hands in the air
Encouraging the audience to raise their hands
Kanye the best in the game now we got that fact made clear
Asserting Kanye West's dominance and superiority in the music industry
Ya'll niggers stole the show
Indicating that other artists have imitated and copied Kanye's style and success
Ya'll niggers all some clones
Referring to the lack of originality and distinctiveness in other artists
Ya'll need to change ya'll tone
Suggesting that other artists should adopt a different approach or style
Nigger I control the gold
Claiming that Kanye has the power and influence in the music industry
Muthafucker close the door
Asking someone to shut the door, possibly to create a private or intimate setting
Light the weed and let the odor blow
Referring to the act of smoking marijuana and enjoying its fragrance
Why you keep balling old girl
Questioning someone's excessive spending or frivolous lifestyle
You ain't been around hoes before?
Suggesting that someone lacks experience or is naïve about certain aspects of life
Why my chain rosy gold?
Questioning the choice of having a rose gold chain
Why my wrist below zero?
Wondering about the extremely low temperature or coolness of his wrist
How the hell I know B-Lo?
Expressing confusion or disbelief about knowing someone named B-Lo
Why them girls figure no means no?
Questioning why certain women do not understand or respect the concept of consent
No means no just as sure as green means go
Stating that the word 'no' has a clear and unequivocal meaning, similar to how 'green' represents permission to proceed
Green means paper dream team capper
Drawing a parallel between the color green representing money and the aspirations of a successful team
We see ya haters like shorty on the sixes
Haters are being spotted or noticed, similar to how someone is observed riding in a vehicle
Ya'll finna see some dead people
Implying that the haters will face severe consequences or be unsuccessful
Come through your block and egg people
Referring to the act of throwing eggs at individuals or causing mischief in a neighborhood
My people ain't scared people
Expressing confidence that his associates or supporters are not easily intimidated
Only fear God, yeah people
Revealing that the only fear or reverence is reserved for God
White Boy back in the mix and I'm in the atmosphere
Referring to the presence of a white individual in the music scene, emphasizing their influence or involvement
Caught for presackin the fifth and we got them gats in here
Being apprehended for possessing a firearm and asserting the presence of weapons in the vicinity
This is not a game (no)
Emphasizing the seriousness or intensity of the situation or circumstances
Chris is not a lame (no)
Asserting that the person named Chris is not inexperienced or lacking skill
Chi-Town drop the flame (yes!)
Acknowledging Chicago's ability to produce incredible talent or music
White Boy got them thangs
Asserting that the white individual possesses weapons or illicit substances
White Boy a hot damn shame
Expressing the notion that the white individual is highly impressive or influential
White Boy hot like Mars
Comparing the white individual's attractiveness or desirability to the planet Mars
Ya'll flow hot like marsh
Referring to the lack of creativity or skill in other artists' lyrical delivery
Ya'll can't stop these bars
Asserting that other artists are incapable of matching or surpassing his lyrical prowess
White Boy top these charts
Implying that the white individual's music dominates or achieves high rankings on music charts
White Boy got the ball
Holding control or power in the music industry
Lyrics gon' shock you boy
Suggesting that his lyrics will astonish or surprise the listeners
Chris don't cop them cars
Stating that Chris avoids purchasing expensive cars
Get a couple foxy broads
Referring to the acquisition of attractive or desirable women
Out there shoes, socks, and bra
Possibly emphasizing a woman's revealing or provocative attire
This is not so hard
Suggesting that his success or achievements are not as difficult as they may appear
Chris gotta Rocky heart
Indicating that Chris has a resilient or tough mindset similar to Rocky Balboa
Pimp with the mobster walk
Describing a confident or swaggering walking style associated with a pimp or mobster
Chris got hostile thoughts
Implying that Chris harbors aggressive or confrontational ideas
Ya'll better watch it ya'll
Warning or cautioning others to be careful or vigilant
Midwest rock you ya'll!
Asserting that the music from the Midwest region will captivate or impress the listeners
Brat prophet
Referring to oneself as a prophetic figure or someone with deep insights
Black gothic
Possibly alluding to a dark or mysterious aesthetic associated with the Gothic subculture
Slash comic
Combining elements of comedy and storytelling, possibly in a satirical manner
Rats jockin
Indicating that rodents or individuals of lower status are imitating or copying
Fat pockets
Referring to having a significant amount of money or wealth
Mad hoppin
Engaging in energetic or lively activities
Crack poppin
Possibly referring to the sound of opening a bottle or the use of narcotics
Stacks droppin
Suggesting that large sums of money are being spent or wasted
Can't stop it
Indicating the unstoppable or relentless nature of something
Weights knocking
Possibly referring to lifting heavy weights or a loud banging sound
Hate in your face
Referring to the presence of animosity or hostility directed towards someone
Watching base
Monitoring or observing the foundation or essence of something
On relate
Being relatable or able to connect with others
Gossip facin
Acknowledging the existence or impact of rumors and gossip
I make options
Creating opportunities or choices through one's actions or decisions
Incase I catch a case
Preparing in the event of being involved in a legal or criminal situation
Gots to pay
Must fulfill financial obligations or settle debts
Confrontate
Possibly a colloquial or creative variation of the word 'confront'
Need to break
Requiring a change or escape from the current circumstances
From this place
Expressing a desire to leave or move away from a specific location or situation
If this ain't the way Kanye
If this way of life or approach does not align with Kanye's beliefs or ideology
Then its straight colleges
Suggesting that pursuing higher education or attending college is the alternative route
In your veins
Symbolizing a deep connection or influence flowing through someone
Cuz you spent
Because you have used or gone through
What you gain
Referring to the benefits or advantages acquired
From straight knowledge
Denoting the wisdom or understanding gained from direct learning and education
I was raised in the street
Indicating a childhood or upbringing in a challenging or urban environment
Praisin my heat
Showing appreciation for one's firearm or personal safety
Holdin on my Nextel
Possibly referring to keeping a Nextel cell phone close at hand or using it frequently
Hopin for the next El
Anticipating the arrival of the next elevated train (El) as a mode of transportation
Focused on the best sell
Prioritizing the task or objective of achieving the highest level of sales or success
Smokin on the fresh El
Engaging in the act of smoking marijuana while riding on the clean or new elevated train (El)
Posted like Fed Ex mail
Positioned or situated in a manner comparable to a securely delivered parcel handled by FedEx
(Ohhh, Ohhh)
Vocalization indicating an emotional or intense expression
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Coatedmelanin
I literally had to search for this song. Man I remember him! 🔥🔥 Kanye you are a genius
HardHittasTV
he's now the prankster White Dolemite.
Octabrian Pitchford
I remember years ago riding down Madison seeing white boy running from fans I stopped told him to hop in and he did, didn't know me from a can of paint but I got him safely back to his management team... Memories
JL312
Yooo! This is a hidden gem from 04 or 05. OG shit right here
IGA TALENT MGMT
Yep we agree! That is why we had to post it! Thank you for the love!
Natalie
Was looking ALL OVER for this! All I could remember was some guy named “Chris.” Used to listen to this all the time back in the day!
Nourish & Thrive (Wellness Hub)
Classic. White boy do comedy pranks now🔥🎥😂
Lakisha Childs
Yes he does and I found him he was a dope artist
Tamira Kirksy
I saw him perform this in Chicago. Dope song!!!
Anton Brooks
Indeed lolol he be saying give me them chip boy lolol