Ye (born Kanye Omari West on June 8, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia), profession… Read Full Bio ↴Ye (born Kanye Omari West on June 8, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia), professionally known as Kanye West, is a Grammy award-winning American rapper, producer, singer, author, director, performance artist and fashion designer.

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.

Chain Heavy
kanye west Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Uh, we got the black elite in the house tonight
Rosewood
I feel like I'm at the NAACP or something right now
Essence Festival
Q-Tip on the beat, too

My chain heavy, yeah, yeah, my chain heavy
My chain heavy, my chain too heavy

My chain heavy, yeah, yeah, my chain heavy
My chain heavy, my chain too heavy

They try to tell me my chain broke the levee
Maybe cause it's flooded
Why you walk around with a baby cross's cousin?
My teeth already white, y'all gon' make me floss with nothing
My teeth real diamonds, what's the cause of the fronting?
Why y'all got all caps on?
Don Cheadle time, get extra black on 'em
Burn, Hollywood, burn!
Take too long for niggas to get they turn
Probably be cremated before I get my earn
They try to tell me that aliens built the Pyramids
I swear life's a bitch, on a period
For every inch they cut the nose off the Sphinx
I make my jeweler add a few more links
You can look at me tell I don't give a fuck what nobody think
And my face always looking like somebody stinks

My chain heavy, yeah, yeah, my chain heavy
My chain heavy, my chain too heavy
My chain heavy, yeah, yeah, my chain heavy
My chain heavy, my chain too heavy

Here we go, like we should
Feel the sweat, on your face
Here we go, like we should
Feel the sweat, on your face
Alright, okay
Here we go, like we should
Like we should, like we should
Like we should

Question: what color was the skin of the man who beared the cross?
No matter how many lashes, they couldn't beat it off
How many Cassius will we see in one lifetime?
That's why it's Miles Davis, Kobe, it's Mike time
I keep that GOAT book on the ottoman
And wrote hooks about slaves that was slaughtered in the 1800s
Y'all forget that I got called "nigga"
On Twitter so many times, yo, I lived that
Now I'm just tryna find where to raise my kids at
Cause they don't want niggas next to where they crib at
Hey realtor, I'm lookin' for a nice park
Twelve noon, she said my family gon' make it too dark
This is the flow that solar eclipses
So hopefully one day that real soul will eclipse
The bullshit they got us listening to in this existence
Don't give up now just a little more persistence
I am the day Ice Cube met Michael Jackson
Keep him away, huh? Something might happen
This is the making of a masterpiece
So we broke out the chains and told the master "Peace!"

My chain heavy, yeah, yeah, my chain heavy
My chain heavy, my chain too heavy
My chain heavy, yeah, yeah, my chain heavy
My chain heavy, my chain too heavy

Here we go, like we should
Feel the sweat, on your face
Here we go, like we should
Feel the sweat, on your face
Alright, okay
Here we go, like we should
Like we should, like we should
Like we should

Some wear a suit and tie, they don't wanna remain average
Some wear a suit and tie like a chain and a straitjacket
My chain heavy, stop in that traffic, coppers harass us
Then DA attack us, want us in chains like B.A. Baracus
So no major factor in my decision to be a rapper
Was rebellion; being anti-establishment was attractive
To a black kid from Brooklyn, flames got the things cooking
Land of the juks where them lames get them chains tooken
It ain't lookin' good for you if you're a tourist here
Sometimes I rhymes the sort of frequency that only purists hear
A couple rappers tried to beef with me nobody scared
Niggas was so fucking corny that nobody cared
Why I gotta battle rappers? I debate scholars
Question: do it gotta make sense if it make dollars?
Sick visions is living inside of brains
It's like we sadomasochistic, addicted to whips and chains
Figuratively, quite literally, clinically insane
Spit flames and then visit the higher plane
Try in vain to ignore it, don't buy the chain if you can't afford it
'Ye them load of whores by the boards
Trust

That old ball-and-chain had me chained up for weeks
So of course I'm off the chain as soon as I hit the streets
And now when we link she saying the game's over
I drove her crazy and she became a chain smoker
Now the new dude she's saying that can stay over
Should be a chain who goes by the name of Choker
That's what he did when she told him he should play the sofa
So the chains on the door, I'm on the way over
Now when I came over his only response was:
"You must be the owner of a chain of restaurants
'Cause I'mma eat your food for that chain that I wore
'Cause you be running around like the chain make the man"
So it's obvious the he don't know the chain of command
'Cause my chain commands that kind of respect
And it's so chunky that it's a pain in the neck
But it came with a check, I remember on chaining day
It spoke for itself and this is what the chain would say:
"Them chain snatchers are hoping that you ain't ready
So don't get distracted keep your aim steady
Or there'll be a chain reaction since my chain's heavy"

My chain heavy, yeah, yeah, my chain heavy
My chain heavy, my chain too heavy
My chain heavy, yeah, yeah, my chain heavy
My chain heavy, my chain too heavy

Here we go, like we should
Feel the sweat, on your face
Here we go, like we should
Feel the sweat, on your face
Alright, okay
Here we go, like we should

Like we should, like we should
Like we should

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Kanye West, Talib Kweli, and Consequence's song Chain Heavy explore various themes, including racial discrimination, the value of material possessions, and societal pressures to conform to certain ideals. The repeated phrase "my chain heavy" can be interpreted in several ways, such as a symbol of wealth, the burden of the past, or the weight of expectations. The lyrics also touch on the history of slavery and the civil rights movement by referencing the NAACP, the Essence Festival, and famous black figures like Cassius Clay, Miles Davis, and Michael Jackson.

The first verse opens with a mention of the "black elite," setting the tone for a reflection on race and inequality. Kanye raps about his jewelry being too heavy, which could represent his struggle with stereotypes and the pressure to fit a certain image. He also questions why society values material possessions so much, as seen in the line "why y'all got all caps on?" Talib Kweli contributes a verse in which he references the history of slavery and the struggles of black people throughout history. He also mentions being called "nigga" on Twitter, highlighting the continued presence of racism in contemporary society. The final verse by Consequence is more lighthearted and playful, telling a story about a woman he met who became obsessed with his chain.

Overall, Chain Heavy is a thought-provoking song that explores important social and cultural issues. The lyrics are layered and complex, inviting multiple interpretations.

Line by Line Meaning

Uh, we got the black elite in the house tonight
We have a gathering of influential and successful black individuals tonight

Rosewood
Referring to the historic African American community in Florida

I feel like I'm at the NAACP or something right now
I feel like I'm at a gathering that celebrates and supports black achievement

Essence Festival
Referring to the annual music festival celebrating African American culture and music

Q-Tip on the beat, too
Notable rapper Q-Tip is also involved in the production of this song

My chain heavy, yeah, yeah, my chain heavy
My chain is substantial, it holds great weight and significance

My chain heavy, my chain too heavy
My chain is so heavy that it symbolizes both material and metaphorical weight

They try to tell me my chain broke the levee
They criticize me for my flashy and extravagant chain as if its weight caused a flood

Maybe cause it's flooded
Perhaps because it is adorned with numerous diamonds, it appears as if it is flooded with jewels

Why you walk around with a baby cross's cousin?
Why do you adorn yourself with a necklace resembling a cross, a symbol associated with Jesus, while also wearing other extravagant chains?

My teeth already white, y'all gon' make me floss with nothing
I already have naturally white teeth, and your criticism is suggesting that I display them unnecessarily

My teeth real diamonds, what's the cause of the fronting?
My teeth are adorned with genuine diamonds, so why are you questioning the authenticity of my display?

Why y'all got all caps on?
Why are you typing your comments on social media in all capital letters, which is considered shouting and aggressive?

Don Cheadle time, get extra black on 'em
Like actor Don Cheadle, I will intensify my blackness and assert my identity

Burn, Hollywood, burn!
Metaphorically speaking, I want to overthrow the oppressive and discriminatory practices of Hollywood

Take too long for niggas to get they turn
It takes an excessive amount of time for African Americans to receive recognition and opportunities

Probably be cremated before I get my earn
There is a possibility that I will pass away before achieving the level of success and financial stability I desire

They try to tell me that aliens built the Pyramids
Some people attempt to deny the achievements of ancient Egyptians by falsely claiming that extraterrestrials built the Pyramids

I swear life's a bitch, on a period
Life can be challenging and difficult to navigate, similar to the experience of a woman going through menstruation

For every inch they cut the nose off the Sphinx
For every attempt to erase and alter history, particularly the African roots, I will add more symbols of my identity and heritage

I make my jeweler add a few more links
I continuously add more chains to my collection, emphasizing and celebrating my success

You can look at me tell I don't give a fuck what nobody think
By observing my appearance and actions, it is evident that I am unaffected by the opinions of others

And my face always looking like somebody stinks
My expression often conveys a displeased or disgusted look, as if I am smelling something foul

Question: what color was the skin of the man who beared the cross?
Reflecting upon the skin color of Jesus, who is portrayed as bearing the cross

No matter how many lashes, they couldn't beat it off
Even though Jesus endured numerous whippings, they could not erase his identity or his purpose

How many Cassius will we see in one lifetime?
How many courageous and influential individuals like Muhammad Ali, formerly known as Cassius Clay, will we encounter in our lives?

That's why it's Miles Davis, Kobe, it's Mike time
Just like the iconic figures Miles Davis, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan, this is the moment for greatness and excellence

I keep that GOAT book on the ottoman
I always have the book of the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) close at hand, symbolizing my aspirations for greatness

And wrote hooks about slaves that was slaughtered in the 1800s
I composed verses that shed light on the tragic history of enslaved individuals who were brutally killed during the 19th century

Y'all forget that I got called 'nigga'
People tend to overlook the fact that I have been subjected to racial slurs and derogatory comments

On Twitter so many times, yo, I lived that
I have personally experienced and endured numerous instances of racism on Twitter

Now I'm just tryna find where to raise my kids at
Currently, I am focused on finding a suitable environment to provide a nurturing and safe upbringing for my children

Cause they don't want niggas next to where they crib at
Society, particularly those with privilege, often opposes the presence of African Americans in close proximity to their homes

Hey realtor, I'm lookin' for a nice park
I am addressing a real estate agent, expressing my desire to find a residence in an affluent and desirable neighborhood

Twelve noon, she said my family gon' make it too dark
The realtor discriminates by suggesting that my family will negatively impact the neighborhood due to our racial background

This is the flow that solar eclipses
My rap style is so powerful and captivating that it metaphorically eclipses the brilliance of the sun

So hopefully one day that real soul will eclipse
I hope that one day, genuine and heartfelt music will overshadow the artificial and insincere music dominating the industry

The bullshit they got us listening to in this existence
Referring to the shallow and meaningless music that is being promoted and consumed in the current music industry

Don't give up now just a little more persistence
I encourage others to maintain their determination and keep pushing forward, even when faced with adversity

I am the day Ice Cube met Michael Jackson
I represent the meeting of two iconic figures, symbolizing the merging of different genres and styles in my music

Keep him away, huh? Something might happen
Others may want to distance themselves from me, as my presence may provoke unexpected and groundbreaking outcomes

This is the making of a masterpiece
The creation of this song is a process that will result in a work of exceptional artistry and excellence

So we broke out the chains and told the master 'Peace!'
We liberated ourselves from the oppressive chains and dominance imposed by the master, declaring our freedom

Some wear a suit and tie, they don't wanna remain average
Some individuals choose to conform to societal expectations, striving to exceed mediocrity

Some wear a suit and tie like a chain and a straitjacket
However, the suit and tie they wear can also metaphorically bind and restrict them, akin to a straitjacket

My chain heavy, stop in that traffic, coppers harass us
My extravagant chain attracts attention and can lead to unfair treatment and harassment from law enforcement

Then DA attack us, want us in chains like B.A. Baracus
District Attorneys often target and prosecute us, desiring to imprison us just like the character B.A. Baracus from 'The A-Team'

So no major factor in my decision to be a rapper
The desire to rebel against the establishment and be anti-establishment played a significant role in my choice to pursue a career in rap

Was rebellion; being anti-establishment was attractive
Rebelling against societal norms and challenging the establishment had an appeal and allure to me

To a black kid from Brooklyn, flames got the things cooking
As a young African American growing up in Brooklyn, I was motivated to express myself and ignite change through my art

Land of the juks where them lames get them chains tooken
In a place where robberies and crimes are frequent, individuals who are perceived as weak or lacking street credibility often have their chains stolen

It ain't lookin' good for you if you're a tourist here
If you are seen as an outsider or unfamiliar with the dangerous environment, it poses a significant risk and may lead to unfavorable circumstances

Sometimes I rhymes the sort of frequency that only purists hear
At times, my rhymes possess a level of authenticity and depth that can only be fully appreciated by true hip-hop enthusiasts

A couple rappers tried to beef with me nobody scared
Some fellow rappers attempted to start conflicts with me, but nobody was intimidated by their actions

Niggas was so fucking corny that nobody cared
Their behavior and attempts to initiate drama were considered tasteless and unimportant, garnering no attention or concern

Why I gotta battle rappers? I debate scholars
Rather than engaging in rap battles with other artists, I prefer to engage in intellectual debates and discussions with scholars

Do it gotta make sense if it make dollars?
Does something need to make logical sense if it is financially lucrative?

Sick visions is living inside of brains
Disturbing and unsettling thoughts and ideas are dwelling within our minds

It's like we sadomasochistic, addicted to whips and chains
Metaphorically, we seem to have a fascination and desire for experiences involving both pain and pleasure, similar to the dynamics of sadomasochism

Figuratively, quite literally, clinically insane
Both figuratively and literally, we can be seen as mentally unstable and irrational

Spit flames and then visit the higher plane
I deliver powerful and impactful lyrics before transcending to a higher level of artistic and spiritual consciousness

Try in vain to ignore it, don't buy the chain if you can't afford it
Attempting to reject the significance and allure of material possessions, one should avoid purchasing a chain if they cannot financially sustain it

'Ye them load of whores by the boards
Referring to the multitude of women who are attracted to and seek attention from Kanye West

Trust
An expression of confidence and faith in one's abilities or intentions

That old ball-and-chain had me chained up for weeks
A metaphorical reference to a previous romantic partner who confined and restricted me emotionally

So of course I'm off the chain as soon as I hit the streets
After ending that restrictive relationship, I am free to express myself and indulge in my desires without any restraints

And now when we link she saying the game's over
When we reunite and form a connection again, she realizes that our relationship has reached its end

I drove her crazy and she became a chain smoker
My actions and behavior caused her to become overwhelmed and develop an addiction to smoking

Now the new dude she's saying that can stay over
She has moved on to another man and is now suggesting that he can spend nights with her

Should be a chain who goes by the name of Choker
The new guy she is involved with should be someone who is possessive or controlling, symbolized by the term 'Choker'

That's what he did when she told him he should play the sofa
He acted possessive and dominant when she suggested that he should sleep on the couch

So the chains on the door, I'm on the way over
As a response to his behavior, I am arriving at her place with the intention of protecting her and asserting dominance

Now when I came over his only response was:
Upon my arrival, he had nothing significant or impactful to say in response to my presence

"You must be the owner of a chain of restaurants
He assumes that I am someone of significant wealth and influence because of the chain I am wearing

'Cause I'mma eat your food for that chain that I wore
He implies that he will consume my resources or take advantage of my success in exchange for my chain

'Cause you be running around like the chain make the man
He mocks me for believing that my chain defines my worth or masculinity

So it's obvious the he don't know the chain of command
It is evident that he lacks the knowledge and understanding of hierarchy and authority

'Cause my chain commands that kind of respect
My chain symbolizes power and demands a certain level of admiration and respect

And it's so chunky that it's a pain in the neck
My chain is excessively large and heavy to the point that it causes discomfort and strain around the neck

But it came with a check, I remember on chaining day
I recall the day when I received my chain as a symbol of success, and it coincided with a significant financial gain

It spoke for itself and this is what the chain would say:
The chain's extravagant appearance and value conveyed its message without the need for words

"Them chain snatchers are hoping that you ain't ready
Individuals who steal chains from others hope that their victims are unprepared or incapable of defending themselves

So don't get distracted keep your aim steady
To avoid falling victim to chain snatchers, one must remain focused and maintain a steady aim

Or there'll be a chain reaction since my chain's heavy"
Otherwise, there may be a series of events or consequences as a result of attempting to steal my substantial and weighty chain

Here we go, like we should
Let's proceed with confidence and according to our expectations

Feel the sweat, on your face
Experience the intensity and effort exerted through physical and emotional labor

Like we should
In the manner expected or desired

Alright, okay
Expressing acceptance and agreement with the current situation

Like we should
In the manner expected or desired

Question: what color was the skin of the man who beared the cross?
Reflecting upon the physical appearance of Jesus, specifically the color of his skin, as depicted in historical and religious narratives

No matter how many lashes, they couldn't beat it off
Regardless of the number of lashings Jesus received, they could not erase his identity or purpose

How many Cassius will we see in one lifetime?
How many remarkable and influential individuals like Muhammad Ali, formerly known as Cassius Clay, will we encounter in our lifetimes?

That's why it's Miles Davis, Kobe, it's Mike time
Similar to the legendary figures Miles Davis, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan, this is the moment for greatness and excellence

I keep that GOAT book on the ottoman
I always have the book of the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) within reach, symbolizing my aspirations for greatness

And wrote hooks about slaves that was slaughtered in the 1800s
I wrote captivating and meaningful verses about the tragic history of enslaved individuals who were brutally killed during the 19th century

Y'all forget that I got called "nigga"
People tend to overlook the fact that I have been subjected to racial slurs and derogatory comments

On Twitter so many times, yo, I lived that
I have personally experienced and endured numerous instances of racism on Twitter

Now I'm just tryna find where to raise my kids at
Currently, I am focused on finding a suitable environment to provide a nurturing and safe upbringing for my children

Cause they don't want niggas next to where they crib at
Society, particularly those with privilege, often opposes the presence of African Americans in close proximity to their homes

Hey realtor, I'm lookin' for a nice park
I am addressing a real estate agent, expressing my desire to find a residence in a affluent and desirable neighborhood