Selfish
Slum Village Kanye West and John Legend Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm callin (Yeah maybe I'm selfish)
Out to (I want you to myself I can't help it)
All my (Yeah maybe I'm selfish)
Y'all my, ladies and I can't (maybe I'm selfish)
(I can't) Let you (let you)
(I want you to myself I can't help it)
Be with (yeah) no one (yeah) but me (yeah) baby
To my thick chicks down in Texas
All the way to New Orleans where the girls cook catfish
And in LA every chick's an actress
Hollywood status with the shaded glasses
To Detroit, yeah the place that I rest
Where the ladies got ass to sell alot sex
And Hot Atlanta y'all is one of the best
Where they speak southern and slang and smoke la cess
And New York women are way too fresh
Too much on your mind let me ease that stress
I wish you all were mine it's so selfish
Maybe I'm feelin myself too much I guess
But, to my ladies all across the globe
In small towns that I don't even know
To all local international codes
Whether you see me in streets or catch me at shows, I'm callin...

I'm callin (yeah maybe I'm selfish)
Out to (I want you to myself I can't help it)
All my (yeah maybe I'm selfish)
Y'all my ladies and I can't (maybe I'm selfish)
(I can't) Let you (let you)
(I want you to myself I can't help it)
Be with (yeah) no one (yeah) but me (yeah) baby

Uh! And I'll be tryin to come around my girl actin like Mr. Friendly
And steal the spotlight like Mr. Bentley
I spotted her like Spud McKenzie
And for them fake boobies I payed them Benjies
Get your own, I got Paris he got Nicky he tried to get ?em a clone
He said yeah you know you got extra hoes
And everything you do is extra cold
From the Polo fleece to the Jesus piece
I got family in high places like Jesus' niece
Can I please, say my peace
If y'all fresh to death, then I'm deceased
And this one here, is a heat rocks
Spit like a beat box, the way the beat rocks
New version of Pete Rock!
But for that Benz I get CL love
So I switch my girls around like 3L-dub [3LW]
I'm callin..

I'm callin (Yeah maybe I'm selfish)
Out to (I want you to myself I can't help it)
All my (Yeah maybe I'm selfish)
Y'all my ladies and I can't (maybe I'm selfish)
(I can't) Let you (let you)
(I want you to myself I can't help it)
Be with (Yeah) no one (Yeah) but me (Yeah) baby

What up Pam how your little man doin in New Jersey
Last I heard he caught the flu and you was worried
Hope he feels better, and thanks Jonetta from Cleveland
For that good head in your Jetta better believe it
Shanice you're my piece from Compton
Before I mark the plane make sure you cop them trees to spark up
Danielle ATL got them pictures in the mail
You sealed with a kiss and you send it with Chanel
You lookin good in that one showin off your body
Had a Beverly Hills mami that would buy me Cardi's
Take me to after parties her name was Carrie
And it sucks that we didn't keep in touch I'm sorry
But, hey Kim how's Minneapolis?
You so pretty hate to show off your titties for silly classes
Cause I love you girls though you ain't mine
I wish my arms was long enough to hug you all of the same time

I'm callin (Yeah maybe I'm selfish)
Out to (I want you to myself I can't help it)
All my (Yeah maybe I'm selfish)
Y'all my ladies and I can't (maybe I'm selfish)
(I can't) Let you (let you)
(I want you to myself I can't help it)
Be with (Yeah) no one (Yeah) but me (Yeah) baby

I'm callin (Callin) out to (Out to) all my (All My)




Y'all my, ladies and I can't (I Can't) let you (Let you)
Be with, no one, but me, baby

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Kanye West and John Legend's song "Selfish" express the singer's desire to have all of these women for himself, hence the title of the song. Kanye West raps about women he's met across the United States, such as in Texas, where he refers to "thick chicks," and in LA, where every woman is an actress. He also mentions Detroit, where the women have "ass to sell" and Atlanta, where they "speak southern and slang and smoke la cess." He wishes these women were all his, admitting that it's a selfish desire, but he can't help it.


John Legend sings the chorus, which repeats the phrase "maybe I'm selfish," and expresses the same sentiment that Kanye raps about. He wants these women just for himself and can't help feeling that way. The song ends with a list of women who have left an impression on Kanye, and he expresses his love for them, even though they aren't his.


Overall, the song is a tongue-in-cheek exploration of male desire and the possessiveness that sometimes comes with it. It highlights the fact that everyone can be selfish at times, and that we all have our own desires and needs.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm callin
I am reaching out


Out to
Reaching out to


All my
All the women I desire


Y'all my ladies and I can't
You are all my women, and I cannot help myself


(I can't)
I am unable to


Let you (let you)
Allow you (allow you)


Be with (yeah)
Be with (yes)


no one (yeah) but me (yeah) baby
No one else but me, baby


To my thick chicks down in Texas
I am attracted to curvy women down in Texas


All the way to New Orleans where the girls cook catfish
I also appreciate women in New Orleans who can cook catfish


And in LA every chick's an actress
Actresses are abundant in Los Angeles, and I find them alluring


Hollywood status with the shaded glasses
These actresses have Hollywood status and wear sunglasses


To Detroit, yeah the place that I rest
I live in and enjoy women of Detroit


Where the ladies got ass to sell alot sex
Detroit women are known for having a curvaceous physique, and I find them very sexually attractive


And Hot Atlanta y'all is one of the best
I also find women from Atlanta alluring


Where they speak southern and slang and smoke la cess
I find it appealing that women from Atlanta speak with a southern accent, slang and smoke marijuana


And New York women are way too fresh
Women in New York are very fashionable


Too much on your mind let me ease that stress
I can relieve you of your troubles and worries


I wish you all were mine it's so selfish
Wanting all of you for myself is a rather self-centered desire


Maybe I'm feelin myself too much I guess
Perhaps I am a bit too self-assured


But, to my ladies all across the globe
I appreciate women from all around the world


In small towns that I don't even know
I am attracted to ladies from small towns that I may not have even heard of


To all local international codes
I do not discriminate and find all cultures alluring


Whether you see me in streets or catch me at shows, I'm callin...
No matter where we encounter each other, I am reaching out


Uh! And I'll be tryin to come around my girl actin like Mr. Friendly
I try to act nice and caring around my current girlfriend


And steal the spotlight like Mr. Bentley
I also aim to draw attention to myself like a famous character named Mr. Bentley


I spotted her like Spud McKenzie
I noticed her quickly, similarly to how Spud McKenzie is an iconic figure that stands out


And for them fake boobies I payed them Benjies
I spent a lot of money on a woman's fake breasts


Get your own, I got Paris he got Nicky he tried to get ?em a clone
I am suggesting that he obtain his own women, as I have my own and Kanye West attempted to get a clone of Nicky for himself


He said yeah you know you got extra hoes
Kanye mentioned that I already have many women


And everything you do is extra cold
He acknowledges that I carry a certain coldness to my attitude and demeanor


From the Polo fleece to the Jesus piece
From my Polo sweater to my Christian jewelry


I got family in high places like Jesus' niece
My family is very wealthy and prominent, similarly as if I were related to Jesus Christ's family


Can I please say my peace
May I speak my thoughts and ideas


If y'all fresh to death, then I'm deceased
If you all are stylish to the point of being life-threatening, then I must be dead


And this one here, is a heat rocks
This song is on fire and hot


Spit like a beat box, the way the beat rocks
My verses are rhythmic and entertaining


New version of Pete Rock!
I am a new and updated version of the popular musician Pete Rock


But for that Benz I get CL love
Due to my status and wealth, women admire and love me


So I switch my girls around like 3L-dub [3LW]
I change the women I am involved with frequently, similar to the girl band 3LW's acronym (3 Little Women)


What up Pam how your little man doin in New Jersey
I am checking up on my friend Pam's son in New Jersey


Last I heard he caught the flu and you was worried
I heard that he was ill with the flu and you were concerned


Hope he feels better, and thanks Jonetta from Cleveland
I wish for him to recover soon, and I appreciate the sexual favor that Jonetta from Cleveland gave me


For that good head in your Jetta better believe it
I remember the enjoyable oral sex experience in her car


Shanice you're my piece from Compton
I am fond of Shanice from Compton and consider her my partner in a romantic or sexual way


Before I mark the plane make sure you cop them trees to spark up
Before I leave, I want her to buy marijuana to smoke together


Danielle ATL got them pictures in the mail
Danielle from Atlanta sent me nude pictures in the mail


You sealed with a kiss and you send it with Chanel
She included kiss marks and used Chanel perfume in the package


You lookin good in that one showin off your body
She looked attractive in a revealing outfit she wore in a photo


Had a Beverly Hills mami that would buy me Cardi's
I had an older woman from Beverly Hills who would buy me Cartier jewelry


Take me to after parties her name was Carrie
She would take me to late-night social gatherings, and her name was Carrie


And it sucks that we didn't keep in touch I'm sorry
It is regrettable that we lost contact, and I apologize


But, hey Kim how's Minneapolis?
I am checking in on Kim and asking how she is doing in Minneapolis


You so pretty hate to show off your titties for silly classes
She is attractive, and I hope she does not feel obligated to expose herself for insignificant things or people


Cause I love you girls though you ain't mine
I appreciate all of you women even though none of you are mine


I wish my arms was long enough to hug you all of the same time
I would love to be able to hug and embrace you all at once if it were physically possible


I'm callin (Callin) out to (Out to) all my (All My)
I am reaching out, calling out to all of the women


Y'all my, ladies and I can't (I Can't) let you (Let you)
You women are all mine, and I cannot share you or let you go


Be with, no one, but me, baby
I only want you to be with me, baby




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: R.L. III ALTMAN, JASON POWERS, KANYE WEST

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@MIkeDaBBoy

I remember blasting this in my backyard when I was a kid because I wanted the cute girl next door to hear it. I was too shy to talk to her so I thought maybe she'd listen and figure out I was playing it for her lol we ended up getting a noise complaint from the neighbors. 😂To be young again 😌

@gravitymusicproductiongrou260

Awww

@elizabethd2614

Lmaoooo

@MyShortsAreWet_

how cute haha

@LastRealPlayaAlive

Ay bro that’s beautiful man 😂 hell yeah the good ol days

@moneytrell100gold2

😂😂😂 real life bro

25 More Replies...

@drew1994

dude this song is criminally underrated

@ChocolateLover4365

Yes, agree!!

@simbalesliechoto8663

I'm 36, this song was everywhere when it came out. Kanye was hot around this time so anything that Kanye on it had heavy rotation.

@hash_slinging_slasher_899

Pretty much

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