Wouldn't You Like To Ride
Kanye West Feat. Malik Yusef & Common Lyrics

You like to ride (uh)
Hey, I see that you like adventure and excitement

(So "why don't) you and your friends (get with) me and my friends"
Why don't we join forces and have a good time together, with our respective groups of friends?

(My friends) my friends, my friends, my friends"
I'm talking about my buddies, the people I enjoy spending time with

Would you like to ride?
Are you interested in having a thrilling experience with me?

(I don't know what happened, it's just like, heh)
Not sure what triggered this urge in me to invite you to ride with me, it just came up spontaneously

My friends, my friends, my friends, my friends"
Here I go again, emphasizing the importance of my social circle

I had that little ass Nissan at your crib showin' up
I remember driving over to your place in my small Nissan, which I had at the time

Liquor store out of Arbor Mist, we Irish Rosed it up
I recall us buying alcohol from a store that was out of Arbor Mist, so we settled for Irish Rose instead

Then we rolled to the movies, you rocked your fake Chloes
After that, we went to see a movie together, and you were wearing your imitation Chloes

You had Gap and Gucci, that's still two G's
You were wearing clothing from both Gap and Gucci, which still amounts to at least two thousand dollars spent

But that's that last year purse like it's still too cheap
You were carrying a purse from last year, but you still acted like it was too cheap for you

Ooh you so boozy boo you could of fooled me
You acted like you were a fancy and sophisticated person, but it was just an act

'cause five years ago you was so Fugees
I remember how different you used to be five years ago, more down-to-earth and genuine

Now you don't want nothin' unless it cost a few G's
These days, you only seem to be interested in things that cost a lot of money

You like the light-skinned Ania, the dark-skinned Aaliyah
You seem to have a thing for women with different skin tones, like the singer Aaliyah or the model Ania

The black Jennifer Lopez, a ghetto senorita
You're attracted to women who have features or personalities similar to the entertainer Jennifer Lopez, or who come from a rough background

You remind me of my Jeep but not no Kia
You have certain qualities or characteristics that are similar to my Jeep vehicle, but you're not like a Kia

We can talk on your cell, but not Nokia
We can communicate using your mobile phone, but not if it's a Nokia model, which has poor reception

It be goin' in and out, that's why I barely hear ya
The sound quality on the phone line is unstable, so I find it hard to make out what you're saying

It be goin' in and out like a robbery ah
The phone connection is shaky, as if someone were robbing the signal from me

I'm tryin' to take this money like Robin Geeda
I'm seeking to acquire wealth, just like the comic book character Robin Hood, who stole from the rich to give to the poor

Then I'ma take you to the house+ like +Trick and Trina+
After acquiring riches, I plan on taking you to a luxurious mansion, just like the rappers Trick Daddy and Trina would do

Would you like to ride shotgun in the Escalade
Would you like to sit beside me in the passenger seat of a Cadillac Escalade, a high-end SUV?

Like a cloud in our sky, grab your things let's fly away
I want us to feel free and weightless, like a cloud floating high in the sky. Let's pack your belongings and go on an adventure together.

Malik Yusef, bet your baby momma know the name
I'm introducing my friend Malik Yusef, who I assume your ex-wife or baby's mother knows about

The most critically acclaimed wordsmith in the game
Malik Yusef is widely recognized as a highly skilled and successful writer and performer of spoken words

I give you words spit with flames
Malik Yusef is known for delivering fiery speeches and performances that are full of passion and creativity

Stay to myself and let nerves mix with lames
I tend to keep to myself and avoid associating with people who are boring or uninteresting

Connoisseur of Kama Sutra, do somethin' absurd with your dame
Malik Yusef is an expert on the Kama Sutra, a philosophical and erotic text from India. He suggests doing something unusual or daring with your girlfriend (dame).

I used to love this girl who loved shoppin' and smokin' herb
I remember having strong feelings for a girl who enjoyed shopping and smoking marijuana

But my job was to hustle 'dro
However, at the time, my main source of income was selling drugs

Now an artist of the spoken word, I just hustle flow
Nowadays, I have transitioned into a career as a spoken word artist, but I still put in a lot of effort to promote and sell my work

Never a pretty boy, always a beautiful mind like Russell Crowe
I never considered myself to be a handsome or attractive person, but I have always prided myself on my intelligence and creativity, much like the actor Russell Crowe

Now you in places no cabs'll take you, only the bus'll go
You have reached a level of success or wealth where only the most prestigious modes of transportation can accommodate you, like exclusive vehicles instead of regular taxis

I would love for you and your friends to get with me and my friends
I find your company and the company of your friends to be enjoyable, and I would like to continue to hang out together

But the problemo is your attitude be on the stank side
Unfortunately, I have noticed that your demeanor and behavior can sometimes be unpleasant or negative

And I no longer like you
I realize that I have grown apart from you and do not feel the same way about you anymore

Fuck it, now you can't ride but ooh, wouldn't you like to
Despite my changing feelings towards you, I can't help but wonder if you still crave adventure and excitement, like the kind of ride I can offer

Deep as the ocean is the motion of life
Life can be profound and meaningful, like the vast and mysterious ocean

Thought you would have been the sister I chose for my wife
At one point, I believed that you were the ideal woman for me to spend my life with and marry

Not knowin' you was trife
However, I did not realize that you had certain negative traits or behaviors (trife) that would make our relationship difficult

Stiflin' a nigga's growth
Your presence and influence in my life may have prevented me from growing and reaching my full potential

All you wanna do is shop at River Oaks
You seem to be materialistic and obsessed with shopping at high-end shopping centers like River Oaks, instead of aspiring towards more meaningful goals

Watch soaps on the couch, take shit and smoke
You also seem to enjoy watching television shows and doing nothing productive while smoking marijuana

I'm workin' hard like a fiend tryin' to get some dope
Meanwhile, I am working tirelessly to achieve my own goals, much like a drug addict (fiend) pursues their next fix

Thought my real nigga quotes would make you truer
I hoped that my wise and insightful words would inspire you to change and become a better person (truer)

You ain't gon' let me school ya, at least let me tutor
However, you seem unwilling or resistant to learning from me directly, so I offer to provide guidance and assistance as a tutor instead

The sex is good, but you ain't a shooter
While we may have a satisfying physical connection, I realize that you lack the ambition or drive (shooter) to pursue meaningful goals and make positive changes in your life

There's a war goin' on inside, you ain't a trooper
I sense that you are struggling with inner conflicts and challenges, but you lack the courage and resilience of a true warrior (trooper)

I look through the mirror and see my reflection
When I look at myself in the mirror, I see my own reflection staring back at me

It ain't in your direction so I passed her like a reverend
I realize that you are not the right person for me to be with, so I move on from you (pass her like a reverend)

Return to my bitch and wine ways goin' wild like West and Kanye
I will go back to my former ways of being highly creative and productive, much like the artists Kanye West and the late Kanye West's mother, Donda always were

Wherever I lay my kufi is my home, goddammit I'm grown
I am now independent and mature enough to make my own choices and be comfortable wherever I am, even if it's just wearing a traditional African head covering.

Broke broad I'm a leave your ass alone
At the end of the day, I realize that I do not want to be with a woman who is financially unstable or unable to provide for herself. Therefore, I walk away from our relationship.

You still wanna ride though
Despite all of our differences and conflicts, I know that deep down, you still crave excitement and adventure, and would be willing to ride with me.