Recorded during his self-imposed exile in Hawaii, West formed the track with elements from The Turtles’ 1968 single, “You Showed Me.” The lush and electric guitar riff present throughout the song stems from Enoch Light and the Glittering Guitars’ 1969 cover of the same Turtles' song.
West reclusively worked with artists he was familiar with during his time in Hawaii, leading to Kid Cudi singing the chorus. In an interview with MTV, Cudi revealed that he had to lie in order to get on the song:
"‘Gorgeous’ was one of those records that, as soon as I heard the beat, I was like, ‘Man, this is the one.‘ […] I came up to him, and I was like, ‘Man, are you working on this record? Are you working on this beat?’ He goes, ‘Yeah, do you got an idea for it?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, I might.’ I didn’t. I was lying like a motherfucker…"
Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon initially had no interest to feature on the track. He was later convinced by RZA, who assisted on “Dark Fantasy" and “So Appalled,” to work with Kanye. Regarding the collaboration, Raekwon said:
"The first thing I can tell you about Kanye West is that he’s a hard worker. When you look at him, you can tell that he still has that whole hip-hop thing in his bones."
Gorgeous
Kanye West feat. Raekwon & Kid Cudi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can feel it slowly drifting away from me
I'm on the edge, so why you playin'? I'm sayin'
I will never ever let you live this down, down, down
Not for nothin' I've foreseen it, I dream it
I can feel it slowly driftin' away from me
No more chances, if you blow this, you bogus
Penitentiary chances, the devil dances
And eventually answers to the call of Autumn
All of them fallin' for the love of ballin'
Got caught with 30 rocks, the cop look like Alec Baldwin
Inter-century anthems based off inner-city tantrums
Based off the way we was branded
Face it, Jerome get more time than Brandon
And at the airport they check all through my bag
And tell me that it's random
But we stay winnin', this week has been a bad massage
I need a happy endin' and a new beginnin'
And a new fitted, and some job opportunities that's lucrative
This the real world, homie, school finished
They done stole your dreams, you dunno who did it
I treat the cash the way the government treats AIDS
I won't be satisfied 'til all my niggas get it, get it?
Ain't no question, if I want it, I need it
I can feel it slowly driftin' away from me
I'm on the edge, so why you playin'? I'm sayin'
I will never ever let you live this down, down, down
Is hip hop just a euphemism for a new religion?
The soul music of the slaves that the youth is missin'
But this is more than just my road to redemption
Malcolm West had the whole nation standin' at attention
As long as I'm in Polo smilin', they think they got me
But they would try to crack me if they ever see a black me
I thought I chose a field where they couldn't sack me
If a nigga ain't shootin' a jump shot, runnin' a track meet
But this pimp is, at the top of Mount Olympus
Ready for the World's Game, this is my Olympics
We make 'em say hoe 'cause the game is so pimpish
Choke a South Park writer with a fishstick
I insisted to get up off this dick
And these drugs, niggas can't resist it
Remind me of when they tried to have Ali enlisted
If I ever wasn't the greatest nigga, I must have missed it
Ain't no question, if I want it, I need it
I can feel it slowly driftin' away from me
I'm on the edge, so why you playin'? I'm sayin'
I will never ever let you live this down, down, down
I need more drinks and less lights
And that American Apparel girl in just tights
She told the director she tryna get in a school
He said, "Take them glasses off and get in the pool"
It's been a while since I watched the tube
'Cause like a Crip set, I got way too many blues for any more bad news
I was lookin' at my resume, feelin' real fresh today
They rewrite history, I don't believe in yesterday
And what's a black Beatle anyway, a fuckin' roach?
I guess that's why they got me sittin' in fuckin' coach
My guy said I need a different approach
'Cause people is lookin' at me like I'm sniffin' coke
It's not funny anymore, try different jokes
Tell 'em hug and kiss my ass, x and o
And kiss the ring while they at it, do my thing while I got it
Play strings for the dramatic endin' of that wack shit
Act like I ain't had a belt in two classes
I ain't got it I'm comin' after whoever who has it
I'm comin' after whoever, who has it?
You blowin' up, that's good, fantastic
That y'all, it's like that y'all
I don't really give a fuck about it at all
'Cause the same people that tried to black ball me
Forgot about two things, my black balls
Ain't no question, if I want it, I need it
I can feel it slowly driftin' away from me
I'm on the edge, so why you playin'? I'm sayin'
I will never ever let you live this down, down, down
Ayo, I done copped Timb's, lived in lenses, kid
Armani suits, fresh fruits, Bally boots and Benzes
Countin' up, smokin', one cuff
Live as a red Jag, a Louis bag, grabbin' a blunt, fuck it
Steam about a hundred and one L's
Kites off to jails, buyin' sweats, runnin' up in Stetson
Nigga hat game was special
It matched every black pair of Nikes, throwing dice for decimals
The older head, bolder head, would train a soldier head
Make sure he right in the field, not a soldier dead
That meant code red, bent off the black skunk
The black dutch, back of the old shed
If you can't live, you dyin', you give or buy in
Keep it real or keep it movin', keep grindin'
Keep shinin', to every young man, this is a plan
Learn from others like your brothers Rae and Kanye
Not for nothin' I've forseen it, I dream it
I can feel it slowly driftin' away from me
No more chances, if you blow this, you bogus
I will never ever let you live this down, down, down
The lyrics of "Gorgeous" by Kanye West featuring Raekwon and Kid Cudi touch on various themes such as resilience in the face of setbacks, the struggle against institutional biases, and the person's unwavering determination to succeed. In the verses, the authors describe their journeys to success, highlighting the obstacles they faced and the strategies they employed to overcome them. For instance, Raekwon raps about the experiences of black Americans, in particular, how they have been subdued into a life of crime, incarceration, and poverty due to the institutional biases deeply ingrained in society. Kanye West, on the other hand, praises himself for his tenacity and commitment to his craft.
Elsewhere in the song, Kid Cudi sings the refrain, which speaks to the urgency that the authors feel to succeed and not let anything stand in their way. The lyrics are powerful, and the delivery of the lines by the artists is compelling, evoking a sense of resilience and defiance that is hard to ignore. The track is notable for fusing hip hop with rock and other genres, and its subject matter resonates with audiences across various backgrounds and experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't no question, if I want it, I need it
I'm determined to get what I want
I can feel it slowly drifting away from me
But it feels like it's slipping away
I'm on the edge, so why you playin'? I'm sayin'
I'm at my limit, stop messing around
I will never ever let you live this down, down, down
You won't live down what you did
No more chances, if you blow this, you bogus
You won't get another chance if you mess up
Penitentiary chances, the devil dances
Make the wrong choice and suffer the consequences
And eventually answers to the call of Autumn
Death is inevitable
All of them fallin' for the love of ballin'
People are too obsessed with money and fame
Got caught with 30 rocks, the cop look like Alec Baldwin
The police are prejudiced and use excessive force
Inter-century anthems based off inner-city tantrums
Hip-hop is a way for people to express their frustrations
Based off the way we was branded
The way we are perceived by society
Face it, Jerome get more time than Brandon
Racism is still prevalent in the criminal justice system
And at the airport they check all through my bag
Airport security is racially biased
And tell me that it's random
But tries to pass it off as random
But we stay winnin', this week has been a bad massage
Despite the struggles, we keep pushing forward
I need a happy endin' and a new beginnin'
I want a fresh start and a positive outcome
And a new fitted, and some job opportunities that's lucrative
I want new opportunities to make money
This the real world, homie, school finished
The world is tough and unfair, no more sheltered education
They done stole your dreams, you dunno who did it
Society has a way of crushing people's dreams
I treat the cash the way the government treats AIDS
I believe money is mishandled and not distributed properly
I won't be satisfied 'til all my niggas get it, get it?
I will not be content until everyone I care about is successful and happy
Is hip hop just a euphemism for a new religion?
Is hip hop becoming a new way of life?
The soul music of the slaves that the youth is missin'
Hip hop is a new way to express the struggles of the past and present
But this is more than just my road to redemption
My journey is about more than just personal redemption
Malcolm West had the whole nation standin' at attention
I have the power to make a powerful impact
As long as I'm in Polo smilin', they think they got me
People judge me based on my appearance and wealth
But they would try to crack me if they ever see a black me
If I wasn't successful, people would judge me based on my race
I thought I chose a field where they couldn't sack me
I thought I was safe from discrimination in the music industry
If a nigga ain't shootin' a jump shot, runnin' a track meet
If you're not an athlete, success is much harder to attain
But this pimp is, at the top of Mount Olympus
I have achieved a high level of success
Ready for the World's Game, this is my Olympics
I'm ready to take on the world and succeed
We make 'em say hoe 'cause the game is so pimpish
Hip hop culture is focused on money and status
Choke a South Park writer with a fishstick
I'm willing to do whatever it takes to win
I insisted to get up off this dick
I want people to stop relying on me
And these drugs, niggas can't resist it
Drugs are a destructive force in communities
Remind me of when they tried to have Ali enlisted
I see parallels in the way we are treated and the way Muhammad Ali was treated
If I ever wasn't the greatest nigga, I must have missed it
I'm confident in my abilities and talent
I need more drinks and less lights
I want to relax and let loose
And that American Apparel girl in just tights
I'm attracted to a specific type of woman
She told the director she tryna get in a school
She wants to further her education
He said, "Take them glasses off and get in the pool"
But she is objectified and not taken seriously
It's been a while since I watched the tube
I don't watch much TV anymore
'Cause like a Crip set, I got way too many blues for any more bad news
I've dealt with so much negativity that I can't handle anymore
I was lookin' at my resume, feelin' real fresh today
I'm proud of what I've accomplished
They rewrite history, I don't believe in yesterday
I don't trust how history is portrayed
And what's a black Beatle anyway, a fuckin' roach?
Why are black people treated like pests?
I guess that's why they got me sittin' in fuckin' coach
I'm not valued or respected like I should be
My guy said I need a different approach
I need to change my way of thinking and operating
'Cause people is lookin' at me like I'm sniffin' coke
People judge me unfairly and make baseless assumptions about me
It's not funny anymore, try different jokes
I'm tired of being the butt of everyone's jokes
Tell 'em hug and kiss my ass, x and o
I don't care what they think or say about me
And kiss the ring while they at it, do my thing while I got it
I will continue to be successful and do what I do best
Play strings for the dramatic endin' of that wack shit
Let the music speak for itself and end the negativity
Act like I ain't had a belt in two classes
People underestimate me and my abilities
I ain't got it I'm comin' after whoever who has it
I will work hard to achieve success
I'm comin' after whoever, who has it?
Whoever has what I want, I'm coming for it
You blowin' up, that's good, fantastic
I'm happy for your success
That y'all, it's like that y'all
Keep doing what you're doing
I don't really give a fuck about it at all
But I don't care about it myself
'Cause the same people that tried to black ball me
The people who tried to hold me back
Forgot about two things, my black balls
Forgot that I have determination and resilience
Ayo, I done copped Timb's, lived in lenses, kid
I've come a long way since my humble beginnings
Armani suits, fresh fruits, Bally boots and Benzes
I've achieved success and wealth
Countin' up, smokin', one cuff
Living life to the fullest
Live as a red Jag, a Louis bag, grabbin' a blunt, fuck it
Enjoying the luxuries of life
Steam about a hundred and one L's
My life is full of highs and lows
Kites off to jails, buyin' sweats, runnin' up in Stetson
Supporting friends and loved ones who are incarcerated
Nigga hat game was special
I had my own unique style
It matched every black pair of Nikes, throwing dice for decimals
My style was tailored to my lifestyle
The older head, bolder head, would train a soldier head
I learned from those who came before me
Make sure he right in the field, not a soldier dead
Teach him the right way to survive and succeed
That meant code red, bent off the black skunk
The stakes were high and danger was always present
The black dutch, back of the old shed
Smoking weed secretly
If you can't live, you dyin', you give or buy in
In life, you either fight or succumb to pressure
Keep it real or keep it movin', keep grindin'
Stay true to yourself and keep working hard
Keep shinin', to every young man, this is a plan
Be a role model and inspire others
Learn from others like your brothers Rae and Kanye
Take lessons from those who have succeeded before you
Not for nothin' I've forseen it, I dream it
I had a vision and believed in it
Writer(s): Scott Mescudi, Kanye West, Mike Dean
Contributed by Thomas I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.