The College Dropout 和訳
アルバム概要
カニエが今のようなスターになる前、彼は地元シカゴの小さな音楽グループに属し、アーティストのためにゴーストプロデュースをしていた。そして90年代半ばはアンダーグラウンドラッパーのためにビートをプロデュースすることに時間を費やした。彼は、古いソウルのレコードをスピードアップするという制作スタイルを発展させたのである。
D.Dotを含むアーティスのゴーストプロデュースを手がけた後、Jay-Zのトラック「This Can't Be Life」をプロデュースし、大ブレイクを果たし神童プロデューサーと言われるようになる。その後、Jay-Zのアルバム「The Blueprint」の4曲をプロデュースし、絶賛を浴びる。
これをきっかけに、Alicia Keys, Ludacris, Talib Kweliなどのヒット曲をプロデュースし、有名になる。
ここでプロデューサーとして大きな成功を収めたものの、ピンクのポロシャツを着てリュックを背負った彼はギャングスターのイメージに欠けることから、ラッパーとして真剣に受け止めることはなかった。
結局、Jay-Z率いるRoc-A-Fellaレコードが危険を冒して彼と契約する事となった。そうして作られた、このレーベルからの最初のリリースである「The College Dropout」は大ヒットを記録。2004年6月30日、発売から約4ヶ月でダブルプラチナムを獲得し、2004年のグラミー賞では最優秀ラップアルバム賞を獲得した。
1. Intro
”The college dropout’の始まりとなるこの曲では、コメディアンであるDeRay Davisが校長役を演じる俳優のBernie Macさんを真似る所から始まる。
このキャラクターは、2ndアルバムLate Registrationの "Wake Up Mr. West"にも登場する”
[Intro: DeRay Davis]
Kanye, can I talk to you for a minute?
カニエ、ちょっと話があるんだがいいか？
Me and the other faculty members was wonderin'
Could you do a lil' som—
大学の教員達とで思い描いてたんだが
Somethin' beautiful, somethin' that the kids is gon' love when they hear it
なにか美しくて、、なにか子供達が聞いたら好むようなもの。。
That's gon' make them start jumpin' up and down, and sharin' candy and stuff
彼らが飛んで跳ね回って、お菓子かそんなようなもんを交換しだすような。。
Think you could probably do somethin', for the kids, for graduation to sing?
君なら彼らが卒業式で歌えるような,そんな何かを作れると思うんだけどどうかね？
2. We don't care
校長からのリクエストに答えてカニエが作ったという設定のこの曲。We Don't Care。
１つ目のテーマは、困窮した状況下でドラッグを売り捌きやっとの思いで生計を立てる黒人達への応援。
2つ目のテーマはそんな彼らと対比して、ただ目的もなく親の金で大学に通えば将来は安泰だと安心している若者達への批判です。
元々は、”Drug Dealing”というタイトルだったそう。重くて深刻な内容の話を明るいテンポと共に皮肉ったっぷりに歌うあたり、カニエらしくて最高です。
”Don’t let society tell you, ‘This is what you have to do.”
”社会に、お前がすべき事を決めさせるな。”
今自分が置かれている環境で、何ができるのか。改めて考えさせられる曲です。
[Intro: Kanye West]
Oh, yeah
I got the perfect song for the kids to sing
And all my people that's—
あーね、子供らが歌うには最高の曲があるぜ
俺の仲間達はみんな、
[Chorus: Kanye West]
Drug dealin' just to get by
何とか生き抜くために、ドラックを売り捌いてるんだ
Stack your money 'til it get sky high
金を積み上げていくんだ、空高くに届くまでな
We wasn't s'posed to make it past twenty-five
俺らは25歳になれるなんて思われてなかったんだ。
（貧困層の黒人男性は25歳までしか生きられない事が多かった。）
Joke's on you, we still alive
そんなんジョークだろ、まだ俺らは生きてるぜ
Throw your hands up in the sky and say
手を空に挙げて言おう
"We don't care what people say"
”俺らは何と言われても気にしねえよ”
[Verse 1: Kanye West]
If this is your first time hearing this
もし俺のヴァースをこの曲で初めて聞くなら
You are about to experience something so cold, man
お前は相当イカしたものを耳にすることになるんだろうな。
（お前は現実の冷たさを経験することになるんだろうな。coldが二重の意味を持つ。）
We never had nothin' handed, took nothin' for granted
俺らの手には何も残ってなかったんだ。なにか当然のように与えられるものすらもなかったんだ。
Took nothin' from no man, man, I'm my own man
何か恵んでくれる人もいなかったんだ。自分自身で手に入れるんだよ。
But as a shorty, I looked up to the dope man
とか言ってるけどただ若い男としてディーラーに憧れてたんだ
Only adult man I knew that wasn't broke, man
大人で破産してない奴なんて、そいつしかいなかったからな
Flicking Starter coats, man—man, you don't know, man
ピシッとしたStarterのコートがイケて見えたんだよ、
お前にはわからないと思うけどさ
We don't care what people say
誰が何と言おうが俺らは気にしねえよ。
This is for my niggas outside all winter
この曲は真冬に街頭に立つお前らに送るぜ。
（家がない人、外でドラッグを売る人）
'Cause this summer, they ain't finna say, "Next summer, I'm finna..."
だって夏には、”これで来夏までもう大丈夫だ”とは言えないだろ？
（夏の儲けだけじゃ一年中暮らしていけない）
Sitting in the hood like community colleges
短期大学の奴らみたいに、フッドに座り込んで。
（大学の学びと、フッドでドラッグを売り生計を立てる学びの比較
また、コミュニティカレッジは治安が悪い地域に多いとか）
This dope money here is Lil' Trey's scholarship
このヤクで稼いだ金は、俺の奨学金ってわけさ。
'Cause ain't no tuition for having no ambition
授業料が払えなきゃ希望も持てないだろ。
And ain't no loans for sitting your ass at home
それにお前らが居座ってるような家のローンは俺には払えないし
So we forced to sell crack, rap, and get a job
だらか俺らはクラックを売るか、ラップして職を得るしかないんだよ。
You gotta do something, man, your ass is grown
もう大人になったんだったらお前もなんかしないとな！
[Chorus: Kanye West with Choir]
Drug dealin' just to get by
Stack your money 'til it get sky high
(Kids, sing! Kids, sing!)
We wasn't s'posed to make it past twenty-five
Joke's on you, we still alive
Throw your hands up in the sky and say
"We don't care what people say"
[Verse 2: Kanye West]
This second verse is for my dogs working nine to five that still hustle
2つ目のヴァースは9時17時の仕事を精力込めてやってる仲間達に送るよ。
'Cause a nigga can't shine off $6.55
だって、それで七八百円しか稼げないもんな。
And everybody selling makeup, Jacob's
だからみんなメイクを売ってるのさ、Jacobみたいにさ
（自分用のメイクやジュエリーをコスメブランドのように売るしかない）
And bootlegged tapes just to get they cake up
で、海賊版のテープを作ったりしてさ、ただ金を儲けるためによ
We put shit on layaway, then come back
だから予約割賦購入制で店に払い続けて、ようやく欲しいものが受け取れるんだよ。（代金を分割して払い、払い終えたら商品を得られる制度）
We claim other people kids on our income tax
俺らの所得税で子供達が生活できるようにするべきだろ。
(貧困層ほど所得税が負担になり、それが還元されない経済問題をここで提起)
We take that money, cop work, then push packs to get paid
俺たちがその金を払うために、盗みを働きドラッグを詰めて売ってんだよ。
And we don't care what people say
Mama say she wanna move South
ママはサウスに引っ越したいって言ってる。
Scratching lottery tickets, eyes on a new house
新居を目に浮かべ、宝くじを擦るのさ。
'Round the same time, Doe ran up in dude house
そんな時仲間達(Reallly Doeという初期に一緒に活動していたラッパー)は家で借金がかさんでいるのさ。
Couldn't get a job
So since he couldn't get work, he figured he'd take work
まあ職が得られなないから、もし働けたらって計算してんだよ。
The drug game bulimic, it's hard to get weight
ドラッグの世界は過食症さ、太るなんて事はない。
（過食症の人は食べ過ぎた分もどしたりする為、体重の増加がない
毎日決まった量の食事が取れないドラッグディーラーを比喩で表している）
So niggas' money is homo, it's hard to get straight
黒人達のお金は「ホモ」なのさ、「ストレート」に稼ぐことはできない。
（真っ当な仕事では稼ぐことはできないことを比喩している）
But we gon' keep bakin' 'til the day we get cake
でもケーキを手にするまで、俺らは焼き続けるぜ。
（Cakeはお金を意味するスラング）
And we don't care what people say, my niggas—
だって誰が何と言おうと気にしないからな。
[Chorus: Choir & Kanye West]
Drug dealin' just to get by (Yeah)
Stack your money 'til it get sky high
Kids, sing! Kids, sing!
We wasn't s'posed to make it past twenty-five
Joke's on you, we still alive (Alive, uh-huh)
Throw your hands up in the sky and say
"We don't care what people say" (Yeah, yeah, ugh)
[Verse 3: Kanye West]
You know the kids gon' act a fool
子供達が馬鹿みたいに振る舞ってるのは知ってるだろ？
When you stop the programs for after school
放課後の学習プログラムをやめてしまった際には
And they DCFS, some of 'em dyslexic
彼らはDCFS行きだぜ、その何人かは文字も読めないよ。
(Department of Children and Family Servicesの事で、ネグレクトや家庭内暴力を扱う。初等教育の重要性を逆に説いている。)
They favorite 50 Cent song "12 Questions"
彼らの好きな曲は50セントの”12 Questions”だぜ
（本当は21 Questions。12と21が読めないことへの比喩）
We scream: "rocks, blow, weed, park," see, now we smart
それで叫ぶのさ”クスリをキメて”ほら俺らはもうスマートだろ？っれ
（rocks, blowはコカインのスラング ギャングスタLarry Hovesの言葉）
We ain't retards the way teachers thought
教師達が思ってるほど俺らは知恵遅れじゃない。
Hold up, hold fast, we make more cash
持ち堪えて手早く掴み取りもっと金を稼ぐのさ。
Now, tell my mama I belong in that slow class
ママに言ったよ。僕はスロークラス（勉強ができないクラス）にいるってね。
It's bad enough we on welfare
生活保護を受けてるってだけで十分に悪い状況なのに
You tryna put me on the school bus with the space for the wheelchair
あいつら俺をスクールバスに押し込もうとするんだ。しかも車椅子のスペースにさ。（学校が少しでも変な行動をする子を障害者としてのレッテルを貼るんだと）
I'm tryna get the car with the chrome-y wheels here
ただクロームの車輪がついた車を手に入れたかったんだ。
（クロームは車の材質。生活保護でも車が欲しかったと言うこと。）
You tryna cut our lights out like we don't live here
電気は止められるし、彼らは僕らがここに住んでないとでも思ってるのかよ。
Look what was handed us, fathers abandoned us
俺らに与えられたものを見ろよ、父親は俺らを放棄していったし。
（カニエの父親は彼が３歳の時に離婚してしまった。黒人女性が独り身で子供を育てることは多い）
When we get them hammers, go on, call the ambulance
もし俺たちが銃を手に入れた時は容赦しない。救急車を呼んでおけよ。
Sometimes, I feel no one in this world understands us
時折感じるんだ。この世界の誰も僕たちを理解してくれていないって。
But we don't care what people say, my niggas—
でも誰が何と言おうとも俺たちは気にしない。だろ？
[Chorus: Choir & Kanye West]
Drug dealin' just to get by
Stack your money 'til it get sky high
Kids, sing! Kids, sing!
We wasn't s'posed to make it past twenty-five
Joke's on you, we still alive
Throw your hands up in the sky and say
"We don't care what people say"
3. Graduation Day
校長から子供向けの曲を頼まれたのに、学校では到底歌えないような曲We Don't Careを作ったカニエ。そんな彼は叱責を受けて、学校を辞めさせられてしまいます。
[Spoken: DeRay]
What in the fuck was that, Kanye?!
今のは何だ！？カニエ？！
I told you to do some shit for the kids!
子ども向けのなんかって言っただろ！
You can give me your muthafuckin' graduation ticket right now!
卒業証明をいますぐ渡したまえ！
You give me this muthafuckin' robe before you catch some senioritis!
そしてそのローブを渡せ、上の学年になる前にな！
You will not walk across that stage! You won’t slide across that stage!
このステージを横切ることも滑って横切ることもないだろう！
Motherfucker can’t pull you across that muthafuckin' stage, Kanye! Who told you? お前のようなクソ野郎をステージにあげることはできないんだよ！カニエ！See, I told you to do something uplifting!
何か盛り上がるようなことをしろといっただろ！
I’m tryna get you out here with these white people and this how you're gonna do me!
白人と一緒に連れてきてやったのにこれがお前のすることか！
You know what, you's a nigga. And I don’t mean that in no nice way.
お前はNだ。 いい意味で言ってるんじゃないからな。
Had little kids sing about the shit—the joke's on you.
ガキ共にはクソみたいなものを歌わせておいて、、冗談はほどほどにしろ。
You throw your motherfucking hands in the air and wave goodbye to every-motherfucking-body!
手を空にかがげてみんなにさよならを言うんだ。
'Cause you getting the fuck out of this campus! What the fuck you gon' do now?
なぜならお前はこのキャンパスから出ていくからな！さあ今から何ができるんだよ？（挑戦的な校長だが、これはこれからカニエが大物になることに対する伏線）
[Verse: John Legend]
I'm no longer confused, but don't tell anybody
もう迷わないよ、ただ誰にも言わないでくれ
(カニエはもう自分の進むべき音楽の道を知っているから、迷うことはないが、シャイでまだ自信が持てないため、自分の夢を誰にも知られたくない。)
I'm about to break the rules, but don't tell anybody
ルールを破るよ、ただ誰にも言わないでくれ
I got something better than school, so don't tell anybody
何か学校よりいいものを手に入れるよ。だから誰にも言わないでくれよ。
My momma would kill me, so don't tell anybody
ママは僕を殺すだろう。だから誰にも言わないでくれ。
She wants me to get a good ass job, just like everybody
ママは僕にいい職について欲しかったんだ。みんながそうするように。
She ain't walked in my shoes, I'm just not everybody
ママは僕の靴を履いていない。僕はみんなとは違うんだ。
（ジョン・レジェンドの歌声は、カニエの自己実現を表している。カニエは今、自分は現状になじまず、高等教育という「伝統的」な道は自分には向いていないと理解している。彼の母親は、彼の個性が破滅することを恐れ、彼が「いい仕事」につくには大学に行くしかないと思っている。
To walk a mile in someone else’s shoesというのは、人を判断する前に、その人の経験や課題、思考回路を理解することを意味する。母親がカニエの靴で歩いていないということは、彼の気持ちを理解していないということを表している。彼の母親は、彼が他の人と同じようになることを望んでおり、彼がどれほど特別な存在であるかを理解できていないのです。）（実際は理解しており、大学を辞めさせてくれた）
4. All Falls Down
物質主義の愚かさと、それに抗いたくも抗えないカニエの心情を描いている。
モノに依存したある女性をテーマに書かれた曲ですが、身の回りに、もしくは自分にも心当たりがあると思います。金銭を消費し物を買い、それで自分の格が上がった様に感じる物質的快楽。果たして、心の拠り所はそんなところにあっても良いのでしょうか？その場合、金銭を失った人はどうなってしまうのでしょうか？
考えさせられる曲です。
この曲はBillboard Hot 100で7位を記録し、第47回グラミー賞のBest Rap/Sung Collaborationにノミネートされた。
また、この曲はLauryn Hill のMystery of Iniquityをサンプリングしている。
[Chorus: Syleena Johnson & Kanye West]
Oh, when it all, it all falls down
ええ何もかもが崩れ去っても。
Yeah, this the real one, baby
この曲はリアルだぜ。ベイビー。
I'm tellin' you all, it all falls down
君には全てを伝えるよ。全てがうまくいかなくてもな。
Uh, Chi-Town, stand up!
さあシカゴタウンよ立ち上がれ！（カニエの故郷）
Oh, when it all, it all falls down
ええ何もかもが崩れ去っても。
Southside, Southside
We gon' set this party off right
サウスサイドよ、今すぐパーティーを開いてやろうぜ。
I'm tellin' you all, it all falls down
君には全てを伝えるよ。全てがうまくいかなくてもな。
Westside, Westside We gon' set this party off right
ウエストサイドよ、今すぐパーティを開こうじゃないか。
Oh, when it all
[Verse 1: Kanye West]
Man, I promise, she's so self-conscious
約束するよ、彼女はマジで自意識過剰なんだ
She has no idea what she doin' in college
それに大学で自分が何をしてるのかマジでわかってない。
That major that she majored in don't make no money
彼女は専攻している学問は金を生み出さないんだ。
But she won't drop out, her parents'll look at her funny
でも彼女は留年しないからね、両親も笑って見ててくれるでしょう
Now, tell me that ain't insecurr
ほら、これで安心よ。て言ってみな。
The concept of school seems so securr
大学のコンセプトは本当に安心できるように見えるけど
Sophomore, three yurrs, ain't picked a carurr
2年、３年になってもキャリアはは決まらねえ。
She like, "Fuck it, I'll just stay down hurr and do hair"
彼女は「クソ、ただ私って大学に留まって髪をいじってるだけじゃない。」って
'Cause that's enough money to buy her a few pairs
だって君には十分な金があるだろう。いくつかのペアの
Of new Airs, 'cause her baby daddy don't really care
新しいスニーカーを買うぐらいにはさ。彼女の父さんもそれぐらいの金気にしないだろ。
She's so precious with the peer pressure
彼女は周りからどう見えるかのプレッシャーとともに自分を飾り立てている
Couldn't afford a car, so she named her daughter Alexis
車を買う余裕がないから、娘をアレクシスって名付けたんだ
（高級車のレクサスと語感が似ているから）
She had hair so long that it looked like weave
彼女の髪はつけ毛のように長いよ
（カニエの周りには髪を伸ばして手入れするほど豊かな余裕のある人はいなかったことが窺える。）
Then she cut it all off, now she look like Eve
と思ったら急に全部切ってしまったよ。まるでEveのようだな
（Eveという赤髪短髪の女性シンガーがいる）
And she be dealin' with some issues that you can't believe
彼女はお前らには想像できないような問題を抱えているんだ。
Single black female addicted to retail, and well
独り身の黒人女性が"モノ"に依存しちゃってるっていうわけだね。
[Chorus: Syleena Johnson & Kanye West]
Oh, when it all, it all falls down
And when it falls down, who you gon' call now?
I'm tellin' you all, it all falls down
C'mon, c'mon, and when it falls down
Oh, when it all
[Verse 2: Kanye West]
Man, I promise, I'm so self-conscious
約束するよ。俺は自意識過剰だってな。
That's why you always see me with at least one of my watches
俺が常に少なくとも一つの時計をつけてるのを目にするのはそういうことだ。
Rollies and Pashas done drove me crazy
ローリーとパシャが俺を狂わせたんだ
（ロレックス、カルティエのパシャ、どちらも時計の名称）
I can't even pronounce nothing, pass that Ver-say-see!
昔は発音すらもできなかったのによ、ヴェルセイシーっていってたんだから
（ヴェルサーチの事をファッションに疎かったカニエは読み方を間違えていた。）
Then I spent four hundred bucks on this
だからこれに400ドルも使ってるんだよ
Just to be like, "Nigga, you ain't up on this"
こんな感じに言ってやる「お前の身の丈にも合わねえよ」ってな
And I can't even go to the grocery store
もう俺はスーパーにはいかないんだ。
Without some Ones that's clean and a shirt with a team
磨かれたスニーカーと、チームのシャツなしではさ。
It seem we livin' the American Dream
俺たちアメリカンドリームを生きているみたいだろ？
But the people highest up got the lowest self-esteem
でもな人々が見上げてる奴らの自己評価は最悪なんだ。
The prettiest people do the ugliest things
最も美しい奴らは、最も醜い事をしているんだよ
For the road to riches and diamond rings
リッチになって、ダイヤモンドの指輪をするまでの道のりでな。
We shine because they hate us, floss 'cause they degrade us
俺らは輝くのさ、なぜなら彼らか憎んでくれるから。
見せびらかすぜ。なぜなら彼らが格下に見てくるからな。
We tryna buy back our 40 acres
俺たちで40エーカーを買い戻すんだ
（南北戦争の解放奴隷に、政府が1人４０エーカーを与えるという話があったが、実際に与えられることはなかった。「破られた約束と呼ばれる」）
And for that paper, look how low we'll stoop
金のためなんだよ、いかに俺らが低姿勢か見とけよ。
Even if you in a Benz, you still a nigga in a coupe
たとえもし、お前がベンツに乗っていても、まだクーペに乗った黒人には変わりはないんだよ。(黒人は金銭的にリッチになっても、尊敬されることはない)
（また、クーペとcoop刑務所をかけている）
[Chorus: Syleena Johnson & Kanye West]
Oh, when it all, it all falls down
Come on, come on
I'm tellin' you all, it all falls down
And when it falls down, who you gon' call now?
Oh, when it all, it all falls down
Come on, come on
I'm tellin' you all, it all falls down
And when it all falls down
[Verse 3: Kanye West]
I say, "Fuck the police," that's how I treat 'em
俺は「警察なんてクソ食らえ。」っていうさ。いつもそんな態度だよ。
We buy our way out of jail, but we can't buy freedom
刑務所から出る方法を金で買っているんだ。でも自由は買えない。
We'll buy a lot of clothes, but we don't really need 'em
俺らは実際には必要もない服をたくさん買うんだ。
Things we buy to cover up what's inside
自分たちがうちに秘めたものを隠すためにな。
'Cause they made us hate ourself and love they wealth
なぜなら、彼らは僕らを自己嫌悪に陥らせ、富を愛するんだ。
That's why shorty's hollerin', "Where the ballers at?"
女の子が泣き喚くのもそれが理由だよ。「金持ちの男はどこにいるの？」って
Drug dealer buy Jordan, crackhead buy crack
ドラッグディーラーがジョーダンを買って、
クラック中毒者はクラックを買うのさ。
And the white man get paid off of all of that
それで白人がその金を全部持っていくんだよ
（上層で全ての富を持っていくのは白人だという批判）
But I ain't even gon' act holier than thou
ただ俺はお前みたいに高尚なふりはしないぜ
'Cause fuck it, I went to Jacob with 25 thou
クソだからな。25000ドルのヤコブのネックレスをつけるんだ
Before I had a house and I'd do it again
まだ家も買ってないのにまたやっちまったよ。
‘Cause I wanna be on 106 & Park, pushin' a Benz
だってベンツに乗って106 & Parkに出たかったからな（ラップショー）
I want to act ballerific like it's all terrific
俺も金持ちのふりをしたいんだ。全て素晴らしい男みたいにな。
I got a couple past-due bills, I won't get specific
でも過去のいくつかの支払いもできていないのに、明確にできないんだ。
I got a problem with spendin' before I get it
金を稼ぐ前に使っちまう問題があるんだよ。
We all self-conscious, I'm just the first to admit it
俺たちみんな自意識過剰なんだよ。ただ俺は最初にそれを認めただけさ。
[Chorus: Syleena Johnson & Kanye West]
Oh, when it all, it all falls down
C'mon, c'mon
And when it falls down, who you gon' call now?
I'm tellin' you all, it all falls down
C'mon c'mon, and when it falls down
Oh, when it all, it all falls down
Southside, Southside
We gon' set this party off right
I'm tellin' you all, it all falls down
Westside, Westside
We gon' set this party off right
Oh when it all, it all falls down
Chi-Town, Chi-Town
We gon' show 'em how we get down
I'm tellin' you all, it all falls down
Now, Syleena, you just like a safe belt, you saved my life
C'mon
Syleena君はまるでシートベルトさ。僕の命を救ってくれたんだ。
Oh when it all, it all falls down
I'm tellin' you all, it all falls down
[Produced by Kanye West]
5. Fly Away
この曲は、1929年にアルバート・E・ブラムリーが作曲したゴスペル讃歌「I'll Fly Away」を収録したものです。ゴスペルソングの中で最も多く録音された曲として知られ、その歌詞は、自分の人生が終わりを迎えたとき、いつか天国に飛んでいって神に会うことを意味しています。
[Verse: The World Famous Tony Williams & DeRay Davis]
One glad morning, when this life is over, I'll fly away
ある心地の良い朝、この人生が終わるなら、私は飛び立とう。
To a land where joy shall never end, oh, I'll fly away
喜びが尽きることのない国へ、ああ飛んでいこう。
[Chorus: The World Famous Tony Williams & DeRay Davis]
I'll fly away, oh, glory
ああ飛んでいこう。神への感謝と共に。
I'll fly away
When I die Hallelujah bye and bye
I'll fly away
6. Spaceship
Kanyeは友人であり、頻繁にコラボレートしているGLCとConsequenceの協力を得て、シカゴのゲットーに住む黒人の窮状について語る。また、ゴーストライターとしての仕事についても触れ、認知度の低さ、デモテープがボツになること、当時はラッパーというよりプロデューサー／ライターとして考えられていたことなどを説明している。この曲はマーヴィン・ゲイの "Distant Lover" をサンプリングしている。
[Produced by Kanye West]
[Chorus: Kanye West & GLC]
I've been working this grave-shift
死にそうなシフトで働いてきたんだ。
(24h営業の店で、午後10時～午前6時、深夜から午前8時までのシフトをgrave-shiftと呼ぶ。）
And I ain't made shit (Yeah, yeah)
そして僕は何も作ってない。
I wish I could (Me too)
Buy me a spaceship and fly (Swear I do)
宇宙船を買って飛んでいけたらいいと思うよ。
Past the sky, oh
空を横切ってな。
GLC feel you, baby—I feel you, man
I've been working this grave-shift
And I ain't made shit
I wish I could
Buy me a spaceship and fly
Past the sky (Man, man, man...)
Oh, oh, oh
[Verse 1: Kanye West]
If my manager insults me again
もしマネージャーがまた僕を馬鹿にしたら
I will be assaulting him
彼を暗殺するだろうな。
After I fuck the manager up
マネージャーを倒した後に
Then, I'm gonna shorten the register up
レジを閉めて上がりにする。
Let's go back, back to the Gap
さあ戻ろう。ギャップに戻ろう
（カニエは高校時代GAPでバイトをしていた。）
Look at my check—wasn't no scratch
請求書を見ろよ、少しの金も入ってない。
So if I stole, wasn't my fault
だからもし盗みを働いても、それは自分の責任じゃない
Yeah, I stole—never got caught
ああ盗んだって決して捕まらないんだ。（少なすぎる給料との差異を埋めるもので、積極的防御と弁護士は呼ぶらしい）
They take me to the back and pat me
彼らは俺を裏に連れて行き引っ叩き
Asking me about some khakis
カーキーをどうしたかについて聞くんだ。
（カーキーを盗んだことで解雇されている）
But let some Black people walk in
それなのに黒人を店に入れるんだ。そして
I bet you they show off their token blackie
黒人を採用していますよっていう印として見せるんだ
Oh, now they love Kanye
ああ今彼らはカニエを愛するだろうよ（グリーターとして）
"Let's put him all in the front of the store"
”彼を店の入り口に立たせておけ”ってな
So I'm on break
ああ俺は黒人だからな。
Next to the "No Smoking" sign with a blunt in the mall
喫煙禁止の看板の横で無愛想に接客したんだ
（Welcome to the Gap We got jeans in the back
And we got some khaki slacks And if you like that
You’ll probably like the shirts Try one on, it won’t hurt
You got red socks on Why don’t you put a red hat on?
We’ve got all that And it’s all at the Gap とフリースタイルして
売っていたらしい。）
Taking my hits, writing my hits
ヒットをとり、ヒットを書く。
Writing my rhymes, playing my mind
ライムを書き、想像を働かせるんだ。
This fucking job can't help him
このクソみたいな職は彼の助けにはならない
So I quit; y'all welcome
だから辞めてやったんだ。ああありがとよ。
Y'all don't know my struggle
お前らに俺の苦しみはわからない。
Y'all can't match my hustle
そして俺の気ばりには合わない
You can't catch my hustle
それに俺のやる気を受け取れやしない。
You can't fathom my love, dude
俺の愛はお前には推量できないよ。
Lock yourself in a room
部屋に閉じこもっていろ。
Doing five beats a day for three summers
3年間（1998-2000）の間、１日に５つもビートを作ったんだ
（five, fo(u)r , threeとロケットのカウントダウンの様に言葉遊びをしている）
That's A Different World like Cree Summer's
全く異なる世界だったよ
(That's A Different WorldはCree Summeという女優の作品）
I deserve to do these numbers
俺はそれらの利益を得るに値する
"The kid that made that deserves that Maybach!"
メイバッハの車に値するような物を作った新参者だぜ。
（MaybachはMay Backとかかっている。そう読むと、後に自分を有名にするような物を作ったぜ。とも読み取れる）
So many records in my basement
俺の倉庫にはたくさんのレコードがあり
I'm just waitin' on my spaceship, blaow!
今はただ俺の宇宙船が発つのを待ってるだけだぜ。blaow!
[Chorus: Kanye West, GLC, & Kanye w/ Choir]
I've been working this grave-shift
And I ain't made shit
I wish I could buy me a spaceship and fly
Past the sky, oh
I've been working this grave-shift
And I ain't made shit
I wish I could buy me a spaceship and fly
Past the sky
Tryna tell you, man, way past the sky
Oh, oh (Let's go, ugh)
[Verse 2: GLC]
And I didn't even try to work a job
職に就こうともしなかったんだ
Represent the mob at the same time (Woo)
単なる大衆の一端を同時に代表していた。
Thirsty on the grind, Chi state of mind
骨の折れるような仕事で喉が渇いたよ。
これがシカゴの精神だぜ。
（Nasの N.Y. State Of Mindをもじってる）
Lost my mama, lost my mind (Aww)
（GLCが）ママを失って、心を失ったんだ。
Life, my love, that's not mine
人生と愛する人それは自分のものじゃない。
"Why you ain't signed?" Wasn't my time
なんでサインしないの？俺の時代じゃないからな。
Leave me alone, work for y'all
ほっといてくれ、お前らのために働いているんだ
Half of it's yours, half of it's mine
半分はお前達家族のもので、半分は俺のものだ。
Only wanna ball, never wanna fall (Ugh)
根性だけが欲しけりゃ、決して失敗することはないんだ
Gotta get mine, gotta take mine (Ugh)
俺のものを手に入れろ。手に入れるんだ。
Got a Tec-9, reach my prime (Ugh)
Tec-9（銃）を手にして、全盛期を手に入れろ。
Gotta make these haters respect mine (Yeah)
それらの憎んでくる奴らに自分を尊敬させるんだ。
In the mall 'til 12 when my schedule had said 9
モールでは12時まで働くんだ、スケジュールでは9時まででいいけどな
Putting them pants on shelves
ズボンを棚に並べるんだ。
Waiting patiently; I ask myself
辛抱強く待ち、自分に問いただす。
Where I wanna go, where I wanna be
どこに行きたい？何になりたい？
Life is much more than running in the streets
人生は街を走ることよりもっと大切なの。
Holler at 'Ye, hit me with the beat
カニエに叫べ、ビートを飛ばしてくれって。
Put me on my feet, sounds so sweet
ビートに足を乗せて、まじで心地がいい。
Yes, I'm the same ol' G
ああ俺も古い世代のGと同じだ
Same goatee, stayin' low-key, nope
同じ髭面で控えめでいるのか？それはねえな。
Holler at God: "Man, why'd you have to take my folks?"
神に叫べ”なぜ俺の家族を連れていくんだよ？”
Hope to see Freddie G., Yusef G, love my G
フレディーG、ヨセフG（カニエのレーベルに所属するMalik Yusef）、愛するGに会えると望む
Rolly G, police watch me
ローリーG、警察が俺を見てるぜ
Smoke my weed and count my Gs
ウィードを吸って俺のGを数えるんだ
Got a lot of people counting on me (That's right)
多くの人々からの信頼を得ている
And I'm just tryin' to find my peace (That's right)
ただ俺は自分の平穏を求めているだけなんだ。
Should've finished school like my niece
姪のように学校を卒業すればよかった。
Then I finally wouldn't use my piece, blaow!
そして私はついに自分の作品を使わなくなった。
[Chorus: Kanye West, GLC, & Kanye w/ Choir]
I've been working this grave-shift
Aww, man, this pressure
And I ain't made shit
I wish I could
Buy me a spaceship and fly
Past the sky, oh
I've been working this grave-shift
And I ain't made shit
I wish I could
Buy me a spaceship and fly
Past the sky
Oh, oh, oh
[Verse 3: Consequence]
I 'member having to take the dollar cab
私は、個人タクシーに乗らないといけないメンバーだ。
Coming home real late at night
夜遅くに家に帰らないといけない。
Standing on my feet all damn day
１日中自分の足で立ち続けて
Tryna make this thing right
物事を正そうとしている。
And havin' one of my coworkers say, "Yo, you look just like
従業員の1人が言った。
This kid I seen in an old Busta Rhymes video the other night"
ねえ、君なんかこないだの夜バスタ・ライムスのビデオで見た子に似てるな
(実際に出演していたConsequenceだった)
Well, easy come, easy go, how that saying goes
まあ、簡単に来て、簡単に行く、そのことわざはどうですか？
No more broad service, cars, and them TV shows
もうブロードサービスも車もテレビ番組もいらない
That all had got snatched from me, A&Rs and they faculties
それらもA&Rも学部も、すべて俺からは奪われてしまった。
All turn their back on me and didn't wanna hear a rap from me
全て俺からは首を背け、俺からはラップを聞きたくないというんだ
So naturally, actually, had to face things factually
だから自然に実際には事実と向き合わなければいけなかった。
Had to be a catastrophe, empty fridge is staring back at me
大惨事に違いない、空の冷蔵庫が私を見つめている
'Cause nothing's there, nothing's fair
なぜならそこには何もなく、何も公平なことなんてない。
I don't wanna ever go back there
もう私はそこには戻りたくはない
So I won't be taking no days off 'til my spaceship takes off, bow!
だから宇宙船が飛び立つまで、一日も休まない。
[Chorus: Kanye West & Kanye w/ Choir]
I've been working this grave-shift
And I ain't made shit
I wish I could
Buy me a spaceship and fly
Past the sky, oh
I've been working this grave-shift
And I ain't made shit
I wish I could
Buy me a spaceship and fly
Past the sky
Oh, oh, oh
[Outro: Tony Williams]
I wanna fly
I wanna fly
I said I want my chariot to pick me up
戦車に乗せてくれって言ったんだ
And take a brother for a ride
それで兄弟を乗せて行ってくれって
(Heaven knows, heaven knows)
7. Jesus Walks
The College Dropoutからの4枚目のシングル「Jesus Walks」は、音楽界ではキリスト教を支持するポップソングとしてヒットとなった。この曲はカニエにとって3曲連続のトップ20入りとなり、ゴールド認定を受け、グラミー賞の最優秀ラップソング賞を受賞した。カニエはこの曲のために3種類のミュージックビデオを制作し、そのうち公開されているのは2作目のみである。カニエは事故で一命を取り留めてから、キリスト教に入信したと言われている。
[Intro]
We at war
今私たちは戦争の最中だ
We at war with terrorism, racism
テロリズム、レイシズムに立ち向かう
But most of all we at war with ourselves
ただ私たちのほとんどは自分自身に立ち向かっている
（この曲は国際的な「テロとの戦争」を掲げたジョージ・W・ブッシュ大統領時代にかかれた為、テロへの言及がある。）
[Chorus]
(Jesus, walk)
神は歩む
God show me the way because the Devil's tryna break me down
神は私に道を示す。なぜなら悪が私を打ちのめそうとするから。
(Jesus, walk with me)
（"Feets, don't fail me now!" は有名な吟遊詩人マンタン・モーランドが書いたとされている。またこれは、イエスが弟子たちの前で水の上を歩いたという聖書の一節（マタイ14章22〜32節）にも通じている。ペテロは一時的に水の上を歩くことができたが、彼は自分の信仰を疑ったため沈んでしまった。カニエは、自分が水の上を歩けるほどの強い信仰を持ちたいと願っている。）
[Verse 1]
You know what the Midwest is? Young and restless
中西部がどんなか知っているかい？若り気があって休むことはないんだ。
Where restless (Niggas) might snatch your necklace
休むことを知らない黒人がお前のネックレスを奪うかもしれない。
And next these (Niggas) might jack your Lexus
そして次にはお前のレクサスを奪うだろう。
Somebody tell these (Niggas) who Kanye West is
誰かそんな黒人にカニエがどんな奴かを言ってやってくれ。
（カニエが裏方で多くの曲を作っていた事から。）
I walk through the valley of the Chi where death is
シカゴの死の谷を歩み通り抜けてきたんだ
（このセリフは、詩篇23編4節から抜粋して再解釈したものです
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.”
”たとえ死の陰の谷を歩もうとも、私は災いを恐れません。あなたが私とともにおられ、あなたの鞭と杖が私を慰めてくださいますから”
"Chi where death "は "shadow of death "とよく似ている。シカゴの殺人や銃乱射の多さを指している。しかし、カニエは、神がデヴィッドと共にいたように、今も彼と共にいると信じている。）
Top floor the view alone will leave you breathless *gasps*
最上階の眺めにお前は息を呑むだろう。
Try to catch it *gasps* it's kinda hard
それを掴もうとするならそれは相当大変なことだろう。
Getting choked by detectives, yeah, yeah, now check the method
検事によって窒息させらる、おいおい、今すぐここを見ろ。
（Check the methodはlook hereと同じ意味としてたびたびHIPHOPの中で使われる慣用句。)
They be askin' us questions, harass and arrest us
彼らは俺らを問い詰めるんだ。それで嫌がらせをして逮捕するんだ。
（カニエは、警察がアフリカ系アメリカ人に対して行っている、やってもいない犯罪を自白させるための攻撃的な尋問方法に注意を促している。その例として、ジョージ・スティニー事件が挙げられる。）
Sayin' "We eat pieces of shit like you for breakfast"
”俺らもお前らみたいにクソみたいなもんを朝食に食べてるんだぜ”
（映画ハッピーギルモアからの引用 警察が黒人を馬鹿にして口調を真似ている）
Huh? Y'all eat pieces of shit? What's the basis?
は？馬鹿にしてるんじゃねえよ？根拠もねえだろ？
We ain't going nowhere but got suits and cases
俺らはどこにも行かないのに、スーツとケースを持ってるんだ
（黒人の人にとってこの意味は、ただのスーツケースではありません。黒人は銃を用いた暴力行為により亡くなることが多く、その場合スーツを着てコールドケース（棺桶, coffin）に入れられます。また、スーツ（弁護士、民事訴訟）、ケース（弁護士の鞄、刑事訴訟）も表し、黒人の人が裁判に不利であった事も意味しています）
A trunk full of coke, rental car from Avis
ここにはトランクがコカインでいっぱいのレンタルカーがあるんだ
（Avisはドラマthe wireでAvis製の車にコカインが積まれていた事由来）
My mama used to say only Jesus can save us
ママはよく言ったんだ”Jesusのみが私たちを救えるって”
Well mama I know I act a fool
ママ、馬鹿みたいな事だってわかってるよ
（カニエの曲Hey Mamaからの引用。この曲はすでにこの時完成していた。）
But I'll be gone 'til November, I got packs to move
でも11月まで帰らないよ、引っ越しの荷物があるんだ
(コカインを売り捌いてから帰るってこと）
I hope
[Chorus]
(Jesus, walk)
God show me the way because the Devil's tryna break me down
神が進むべき道を指し示してくれるんだ、悪魔が俺を打ちのめそうとするから。
(Jesus, walk with me)
The only thing that I pray is that my feet don't fail me now
俺が願うただ一つのことは、我が足が自分を見捨てないでいてくれる事だ。
（有名な吟遊詩人Mantan Morelandの引用。信仰を失うと水の上を歩けなくなる話に通づる）
(Jesus, walk)
And I don't think there's nothin' I can do now to right my wrongs
自分の過ちを正すために今できることは何もないと思う。
(Jesus, walk with me)
I wanna talk to God but I'm afraid 'cause we ain't spoke in so long
神と対話したいが恐れ多い。なぜなら長らく対話して来なかったからな。
(Jesus, walk)
God show me the way because the Devil's tryna break me down
(Jesus, walk with me)
The only thing that I pray is that my feet don't fail me now
(Jesus, walk)
And I don't think there's nothin' I can do now to right my wrongs
(Jesus, walk with me)
I wanna talk to God but I'm afraid 'cause we ain't spoke in so long
So long, so long
(Jesus, walk with me)
[Verse 2]
To the hustlers, killers, murderers, drug dealers, even the scrippers
ハスラーや殺人者、売人やストリッパーに告ぐ
（イエスは人々の意見とは真逆に、全ての人に対し差別せずに赦しを与えた事から。）
(Jesus walks for them)
To the victims of welfare feel we livin' in Hell here, hell yeah
福祉の犠牲者の皆さんに告ぐ、ああ。ここは地獄ですよ。
（人々が福祉という名で無料のお金を得て、その代償として標準以下の生活をしているという逆説を指摘している。教育や職を与えるのでなく、お金のみを与えることは政府への依存だという批判。）
(Jesus walks for them)
Now, hear ye, hear ye, want to see Thee more clearly
さあイェの事を聞いて下さい。私はもっと汝を近くに感じたいのです。
I know He hear me when my feet get weary
私の足が疲れた時、汝は私のことを聞き入れてくれるでしょう。
(マタイの福音書11章28節 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 疲れた者、重荷を負う者、みな、わたしのもとに来なさい。に対する)
'Cause we're the almost nearly extinct
なぜなら俺たちはほとんど絶滅したようなものなんだから
（アメリカの法執行機関、ギャングカルチャー、司法制度により、黒人男性が絶滅してしまうという考えについて。黒人男性の投獄率は他の人種の3倍であり、黒人男性はほとんど絶滅したと言われている。また、アイス・キューブは『Amerikkka Most Wanted』の中で、このことを最初に指摘した一人である。）
We rappers is role models: we rap, we don't think
俺らラッパーはロールモデルだ。ラップはするけどモデルみたいに考えはしねえ。
（ロールモデル＝手本となる人物は本来考えるべきであり、言葉遊びである。）
I ain't here to argue about His facial features
俺はここにイエスの顔について議論しに来たんじゃない。
（イエスは白人で長髪という古典的イメージがついているが、BBCによると中東系の人だったという説もある。）
Or here to convert atheists into believers
無神論者を信仰者に改宗させようとしてるわけでもない。
I'm just tryna say the way school need teachers
ただ、学校には教師が必要だって言ってるんだ。
The way Kathie Lee needed Regis, that's the way I need Jesus
キャシー・リー・ギフォードが成功するためにリージス・フィルビンを必要とするように、イエスを必要としているんだ。
So here go my single, dawg, radio needs this
さあ俺のシングルだぜ友よ。ラジオに必要なのはさ。
They say you can rap about anything except for Jesus
彼らは何についてラップしたっていい。イエス以外ならな。
That means guns, sex, lies, videotape
ってのは、銃やセックスと嘘とビデオテープについてでもいいんだろ？
（セックスと嘘とビデオテープはカルト映画）
But if I talk about God my record won't get played, huh?
じゃあもし神についてラップしたら、俺のレコードはラジオで流されないってのか？どうなんよ？
（これらのセリフが逆心理学的に働き、結果ラジオで流されヒットとなった。）
Well if this take away from my spins
ああもしこの曲が俺のスピンから外されるなら
（宗教的な内容により、ラジオでかけられる事がなく自分のヒット曲から外されるなら。）
Which'll probably take away from my ends
それは俺の金銭的な終わりとなるだろうな。
Then I hope this take away from my sins
ただ俺はこの曲が自分の過去の償いになると信じているよ。
And bring the day that I'm dreamin' about
そして俺が夢見ている日を現実にしてくれるってね。
Next time I'm in the club, everybody screamin' out
次俺がクラブに行った時には、誰しもがこう叫ぶんだ。
[Chorus]
(Jesus, walk)
God show me the way because the Devil's tryna break me down
(Jesus, walk with me)
The only thing that I pray is that my feet don't fail me now
[Produced by Kanye West]
8. Never Let Me Down
1960年代、ジム・クロウ法により黒人差別が合法化されていた時代。黒人達はSit-inと呼ばれる座り込みにより、差別に抵抗していた。のちにこの運動はワシントン大行進に繋がるが、その公民権運動時代を生きたのが、カニエの祖父である。
そんな祖父の血を継ぐ自分として、選挙制度等に対する疑問が投げかけられています。
この曲はMaybe Its the Power of Love のサンプリングを含みます 1:36〜
[Intro: Jay-Z]
Oh baby
Turn the motherfuckin' music up
[Chorus]
When it comes to being true, at least true to me
誠実であることか。まあ少なくとも自分は誠実かな。
One thing I've found, one thing I found
ただ一つ見つけたことがあるんだ。
Oh no, you'll never let me down
ああ、君は決してがっかりすることはないだろう。
Get up, I get down, get up, I get down
立ち上がれ、俺が降り立つんだ。
Get up, I get down, get up, I get down
Get up, I get down, get up, I get down
（Poem Never Let Me Down からの引用）
[Verse 1: Jay-Z]
Yo, first I snatched the streets, then I snatched the charts
俺はまずストリートを制覇して、次にチャートを制覇したんだ。
First I had they ear, now I have they heart
先ずは彼らの耳、今は彼らの心を掴んだんだ。
Rappers came and went, I've been here from the start
ラッパーらは出ては消えてゆく、だが俺は初めっからここに居続けるんだ。
I seen them put it together, watched them take it apart
俺はあいつらが結成しては分裂していくのを目にしてきたんだ。
Seen the Rovers roll up with ribbons
レンジ・ローバー(車）がリボンで飾られてるのも見たんだ
I seen them re-po'd, re-sold, then re-driven
維持できなくなった車は回収されて、売られてまた誰かに乗られるのさ。
(ラッパーが成功と失敗を繰り返していく様子の比喩)
So when I reload, he holds number one position
だから俺がリロードしてる時は、他のラッパーが1位の座を取る事ができる。
When you hot, I'm hot
お前が燃えてるなら、俺も当たり前に燃えてるし
And when your feet cold, mines is sizzling
お前の足元が凍えてようとも、俺は燃え続けてるぜ
It's plain to see, niggas can't fuck with me
一目瞭然だろう、誰も俺と肩は並べられねえ。
'Cause I'ma be that nigga for life
俺は人生を賭けて生きてるからな。
(N.W.A. "Niggaz 4 Life からの引用 It’s plain to see
You can’t change me ‘Cause I'mma be a nigga for life )
This is not an image, this is God-given
俺のリリックの才能は比喩なんかじゃねえ。神から与えられたものだ。
This is hard-livin', mixed with Cristal sippin'
これがハードに生きるってことだ。クリスタル（シャンパン）をすすってな
(real rap=hustling stories=hard living と Cristal=fake rap=living ravishの対比）
It's the most consistent, Hov
最も一貫性なやつはいないぜ。俺みたいなな。
（神Jehovah は“The Most High”, “The Most Wise”, “The Most Merciful”.という意味を持ち、Jayのニックネーム Hov は 神エホバから来ている）
Give you the most hits you can fit inside a whole disc and
ディスクに収まるだけのヒットを君に送るよ。
（当時メジャーだったCDは80minの制限があった。）
Nigga I'm home on these charts, y'all niggas visitin'
さ、俺がチャートに帰ってきたぜ。みんなが聞くだろうよ。
（この時点でJay-ZはすでにいくつもTOP10入りしていた。
Pharrell Williamsとの「Change Clothes」,「Dirt Off Your Shoulder」,
「 Frontin' 」, Mariah Carey との「Heartbreaker」,
Beyonceとの「Crazy In Love」, Kanyeの「Izzo (H.O.V.A.) 」）
It's Hov tradition, Jeff Gordon of rap
これがHovの伝統。ラップ界のジェフゴードンよ。
I'm back to claim pole position, holla at ya boy
ポールを取りに戻ってきたんだ。お前らに挨拶しとくよ。
(Jeff GordonはNascar(車）のレーサー）
[Chorus]
When it comes to being true, at least true to me
One thing I've found, one thing I found
Oh no, you'll never let me down
Get up, I get down, get up, I get down
Get up, I get down, get up, I get down
Get up, I get down, get up
[Verse 2: Kanye West]
（カニエはこの曲のヴァースはJay のBlue Printで使うように書いたやつだからJayのものよりいいと思うと言う。）
I get down for my grandfather who took my momma
俺のママを育てた,じいちゃんのために送るよ
Made her sit in that seat where white folks ain't want us to eat
白人たちが俺らに食事を出さない中、ママを席に座り込ませたんだろう。
（食事が提供されない黒人差別に対して行われたオクラホマのSit-inという座り込みのデモ行為を指す）
At the tender age of 6, she was arrested for the sit-ins
幼い6歳にして、ママは座り込み運動で逮捕されたんだ
And with that in my blood I was born to be different
その血を受け継いで、俺は尖るために生まれたんだ。
Now niggas can't make it to ballots to choose leadership
今じゃ黒人たちはリーダーを選ぶための投票用紙すらもらえないんだ。
But we can make it to Jacob's or to the dealership
ただ俺らはJacobとディーラーだけは手に入れられるんだ。
(有識者投票やゲリマンダリングとう選挙区の分け方などにより、黒人は白人より投票力が弱くなっていることを提起している。一票の格差問題ですね。そして、宝石や車など結局白人に利益が還元されるものを買うように圧がかけられていると言う。)
That's why I hear new music and I just don't be feelin' it
だから俺は新しい曲を聞くんだけどノレない理由だね
（最近の曲が政治や差別問題を扱わず、宝石や車のFlexについてしか話さないから聞きたくないと言うこと）
Racism still alive, they just be concealin' it
人種差別は今だって存在している。ただ潜在化しているだけだ。
But I know they don't want me in the damn club
だが白人が俺をクラブに入れたくないって知ってるぜ。
They even made me show ID to get inside of Sam's Club
サムのクラブに入るのにすらIDを見せろって言ってくるんだ。
(Samのクラブでは身分証を見せると割引が受けれるがそれがカニエには屈辱)
I done did dirt and went to church to get my hands scrubbed
泥に汚れたこの手を洗うために、教会に行ったんだ。
(泥は犯罪を意味する。)
Swear I've been baptized 'least three or four times
誓うよ、俺は3,4回は洗礼を受けたんだ。
But in the land where niggas praise Yukons and getting paid
この地ではYukons(SUV車）と給料があるやつが讃えられるんだ
(人格よりも富に重きが置かれる社会への批判)
It's gon' take a lot more than coupons to get us saved
そこではクーポンだけでは救われることはないんだ。
（クーポンで一時的に金銭が救われても、生活の質が変わることはない）
Like it take a lot more than durags to get you waves
それはウェーブの髪が欲しくて、Duragsをかぶるみたいなもんだな。
（Duragsといいう布をかぶっても、ウェーブの髪にはならない。外見に重きをおいても、内面は変化しないことを提起）
Nothing sad as that day my girl father passed away
彼女の父が亡くなったことほど悲しいことはないよ。
So I promised to Mr. Rainey, I'm gonna marry your daughter
だからRaineyさんに娘さんと結婚することを誓ったんだ。
(カニエが７年付き合ってたSumeke Raineyのこと)
And you know I gotta thank you for the way that she was brought up
彼女がここまで成長させてくれた事に感謝しないとな。
And I know that you were smiling when you seen the car I bought her
俺が彼女に買ってあげた車を見れば、あなたも笑顔になってくれるでしょう。
And you sent tears from heaven when you seen my car get balled up
それで、その車が壊れれば天国から涙を流してくれるでしょう。
（カニエが車で交通事故を起こした事について）
But I can't complain what the accident did to my left eye
ただ俺は自分の左目に起こった事に対しては何も文句を言えないんだ。
（交通事故で自分の左目を怪我した）
'Cause look what an accident did to Left Eye
レフトアイに起こったことを見てればな。
（レフトアイは交通事故で亡くなった女優）
First Aaliyah now Romeo must die
まずは、アリーアで次はRomeo must dieか
（アリーアは飛行機事故、The Steve Harvey Showでロミオを演じたのち頭を打たれて亡くなったMerlin Santanaについて ）
I know I got angels watching me from the other side
天国から、天使が俺のことを見てくれているんだ。
[Chorus]
When it comes to being true, at least true to me
One thing I've found, one thing I found
Oh no, you'll never let me down
Get up, I get down, get up, I get down
Get up, I get down, get up, I get down
Get up, I get down, get up, I get down
[Verse 3: J. Ivy]
We are all here for a reason on a particular path
俺らはみんな目的のためにある道を歩むんだ
You don't need a curriculum to know that you a part of the math
自分が世界(数学）の一部だって知るのにカリキュラムはいらないんだ。
Cats think I'm delirious but I'm so damn serious
女の子達は俺が調子に乗ってるっていうけど、俺は至って真剣なんだ。
That's why I expose my soul to the globe, the world
だから俺は精神を世界に晒しているんだ。
I'm trying to make it better for these little boys and girls
幼い男の子や女の子のために、世界をより良い場所にするんだ。
I'm not just another individual
俺はとりわけ特別ってわけじゃない。
My spirit is a part of this that's why I get spiritual
俺の心は世界の一部なんだ、だから俺はスピリチュアルになる
But I get my hymns from Him
俺は彼から讃美歌を聞いたんだ。
(Spiritualというhymnsがある)
So it's not me, it's He that's lyrical
だから俺じゃない。リリカルなのは彼(神)なんだ。
I'm not a miracle, I'm a heaven-sent instrument
俺は奇跡じゃなくて、天国から遣わされた楽器なんだ。
My rhythmatic regiment navigates melodic notes for your soul and your mental 頭の中のリズムが貴方のために、メロディーを刻むんだ
That's why I'm instrumental, vibrations is what I'm into
だから俺は楽器なんだ。心を震わすものに夢中になっている。
Yeah I need my loot by rent day
家賃支払い日には金が必要だろ
But that ain't what gives me the heart of Kunta Kinte
ただそれは俺にクンタ・キンテの精神を与えないんだ。
(Kunta KinteはTV Show「Roots」に登場する黒人奴隷で現場から逃げようとする。彼のような反骨精神は金によっては得られないと言っている。）
I'm trying to get us "us free" like Cinque
俺は俺たちを自由にさせたいんだ。Cinqueのように。
（Cinqueは奴隷船で反乱を起こした。）
I can't stop, that's why I'm hot
俺は止められない。だから俺は熱いんだよ。
Determination, dedication, motivation
決断と献身と動機。
I'm talking to you of my many inspirations
俺は多くのインスピレーションについて話しているんだ。
When I say I can't let you or self down
あなたや自分をがっかりさせられないという時っていうのは、
If I were on the highest cliff, on the highest riff
もし俺が高い崖の上、最高のリフの上にいるとして、
And if you slipped off the side and clinched on to your life
君がそこから滑り落ちて人生にしがみついたなら、
In my grip, I would never ever let you down
俺の手から、絶対に君を落としたりしないぜ
And when these words are found
そこでこんな言葉を思いついたんだ。
Let it be known that God's penmanship has been signed with a language called love
知らしめよう。髪が愛とよばれる言葉で筆跡を残したと。
That's why my breath is felt by the deaf
だから我が息は耳が聞こえない人にも届き
And while my words are heard and confined to the ears of the blind
我が言葉は、盲目の人の耳に届き残り続けるのだ。
(聖書に何度も登場する「耳のある者は聞きなさい」という預言の公式を参照)
I too dream in color and in rhyme
色と韻に大きな夢を抱いているんだ。
(人種差別撤廃とラップが持つ可能性に期待している)
So I guess I'm one of a kind in a full house
だから思うんだ。俺はフルハウスの中で希少な存在だって。
'Cause whenever I open my heart, my soul or my mouth
なぜならいつも俺が心,魂,そして口を開けば
A touch of God reigns out
神からが降りてくるからな。
Take 'em to church
彼らを教会に連れて行こうぜ。
(カニエがプロデュースした、2001 album ‘The Blueprint’ より
‘Heart Of The City (Ain’t No Love)’ by Jay-Z. からの一節。他には
‘Takeover’, ‘Izzo (H.O.V.A.)’, ‘Never Change’ ‘Girls, Girls, Girls (Part 2)’に関わっている)
[Chorus]
When it comes to being true, at least true to me
One thing I found, one thing I found
Oh no, you'll never let me down
Get up, I get, get up, I get
Get up, I get, get up, I get
Get up, I get, get up, I get down
[Verse 4: Jay-Z & (Kanye West)]
(このパートの歌詞はかなり賛否両論らしい)
Who else you know been hot this long?
この曲がここまで熱いって誰が思ったのさ？
（4ヴァース目でまたJayという熱い展開）
(Oh yeah, we ain't finished)
ああ、まだ俺らは終わってないぜ
Started from nothing but he got this strong
何もないところから始まったが彼はここまで強くなったんだ。
(The Roc is in the building)
Rocがここにいるぜ
(Jay-ZのレーベルRoc-A-Fella Recordsの事)
Built the Roc from a pebble, peddled rock before I met you
小さな小石から、岩を築きあげたんだ。ロックをお前に会う前から売っていたんだ
(Jayはカニエに合う前からコカインを売り捌いていたこと RockはRoc-A-Fella Recordsも意味する)
Pedaled bikes, got my nephews pedal bikes because they special(Wooooo)
自転車のペダル,甥に自転車を買ってあげたよ、彼らは特別だからな
Let you tell it, man, I'm falling
言ってくれよ、俺は今落ちていってる
Well, somebody must have caught him
ああ誰かが彼を捕まえたんだろう
'Cause every fourth quarter, I like to Mike Jordan 'em
だって毎4クォーターごとに、Mike Jordanが好きだからだ
（3.4半期にアルバムを出すJayと４半期に絶好調だったMike Jordanをかけているらしい）
Number one albums, what I got? Like four of them
一位のアルバムばかりさ、俺が得たもの？四枚ほどだよ。
（Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life
Vol. 3… The Life and Times Of S. Carter
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia
The Blueprintの四枚
Like fourと言うことで、HITしすぎて4枚ぐらいだったかなあ。数えられないや。って感じを出してる）
More of them on the way, the eighth wonder on the way
これからより飛ばしてくぜ。"the eighth wonder"に取り掛かってるんだ。
(7枚目のアルバムThe Black Albumの事。元々はEighth wonderというタイトルだった)
Clear the way, I'm here to stay
やり方はわかっている。ここにとどまることさ。
Y'all can save the chitter chat, this and that
お前らはぺちゃくちゃ喋ってろよ。あれこれな。
This is Jay, dissing Jay will get you maced
これがJayさ。俺をディスると催涙ガスを喰らうぜ。
（MaceはJayが潜在的に対抗意識を燃やしていた、90年代後半に成功したラッパーのMa$eを表す。彼がディスを受けラッパーをやめ牧師になったのうけ、ビーフを買った時は髪に祈ることが大事だとJayは説いている）
When I start spitting them lyrics niggas get very religious
俺が歌詞を吐き出したら、みんな信仰的になるんだ。
Six Hail Marys, 'Please Father forgive us'
アヴェマリアはいう。父なる神よ我らを許したまえ。と
(Jayからのディスを受けたものは神に祈るしかない。)
Young, the archbishop, the Pope John Paul of y'all niggas
俺は若き大司教,お前ら全員にとっての法王ジョン・ポールだぜ
The way y'all all follow Jigga
だからみんなJigga(Jay）についてくるってわけさ。
Hov's a living legend and I'll tell you why
Hovは生きる伝説さ。なんでか教えてやるよ。
Everybody wanna be Hov and Hov's still alive
誰しもがHovになりたいのに、Hovがまだ生きているからだよ。
(親友のNotorious B.I.G.や2Pacなど、一度死んでしまったアーティストに人々が抱く熱狂について言及している。それに比べJayは生きているのに、すでに人々を熱狂させているのである)
9. Get Em High (未訳)
[Intro: Kanye West]
Uh-uh, I'm tryna catch the beat
Uh, I'm tryna catch the beat
I'm tryna catch the beat, uh-uh, uh-uh
I'm tryna catch the beat
[Chorus: Kanye West]
N-now, th-th-throw your motherfuckin' hands
Get 'em high
All the girls pass the weed to your motherfuckin' man
Get 'em high
Now I ain't never tell you to put down your hands
Keep 'em high
And if you're losin' your high, then smoke again
Keep 'em high (Now, now, now, now)
[Verse 1: Kanye West]
My flow is in the pocket like wallets, I got the bounce like hydraulics
I can't call it, I got the swerve like alcoholics
My freshman year, I was going through hella problems
'Til I built up the nerve to drop my ass up out of college
My teacher said I's a loser, I told her, "Why don't you kill me?
I give a fuck if you fail me, I'm gonna follow
My heart", and if you follow the charts
Or the plaques or the stacks, you ain't gotta guess who's back, you see?
I'm so Chi that you thought I was bashful
But this bastard's flow will bash your skull
And I will cut your girl like Pastor Tro'
And I don't usually smoke, but pass the 'dro
And I won't give you that money that you askin' for
Why you think me and Dame cool? We assholes
That's why we hear your music and fast forward
'Cause we don't wanna hear that weak shit no mo'
[Chorus: Kanye West]
N-now, th-th-throw your motherfuckin' hands
Get 'em high
All the girls pass the weed to your motherfuckin' man
Get 'em high
Now I ain't never tell you to put down your hands
Keep 'em high
And if you're losin' your high, then smoke again
Keep 'em high (Now, now, now, now, now, You've got mail)
[Verse 2: Kanye West, Sumeke Rainey & Talib Kweli]
Now who the hell is this
Emailing me at 11:26
Telling me that she thirty-six, twenty-six plus double-d?
You know how girls on Black Planet be when they get bubbly
At NYU but she hail from Kansas
Right now, she just lampin', chillin' on campus
Sent me a picture with her feelin' on Candice
Who said her favorite rapper was the late great Francis
W-H-I-T, it's getting late, mami
Your screen saver say Tweet, so you got to call me
And bring a friend for my friend, his name Kweli
You mean Talib? Lyrics stick to your rib (I mean)
That's my favorite CD that I play at my crib (I mean)
You don't really know him, why is you lyin'?
Yo Kwe, she don't believe me, please pick up the line
She gon' think that I'm lyin', just spit a couple of lines
Then maybe I'll be able to give her dick all the time
And get her high (Yeah), ow
[Verse 3: Talib Kweli & Common]
I can't believe this nigga use my name for pickin' up dimes
But never mind, I need some tracks, you tryin' to pull tracks out
And my rhymes is finna blow, you trying to blow backs out
Well, okay, you twisted my arm, I'll assist with the charm
Ayo, ain't you meet that chick at that conference with your moms?
Her sister the bomb, but she got the bougie behavior
Always got something to say like a OkayPlayer-hater
Anyways, I don't usually fuck with the Internet
Or chicks with birth control stuck to they arm like Nicorette
You really fuckin' that much or tryna get off cigarettes? (Keep 'em high)
If she think it's fly, she ain't met a real nigga yet (No)
I apologize if I come off a little inconsiderate
I got the Bubba Kush and her sister could get a hit of it, yeah (Yo, yo)
[Verse 4: Common]
Get 'em high like noon or the moon
Or a room filled with smoke, a hype filled with dope
Y'all assumed I was doomed, out of tune
But I still filled the notes with real nigga quotes
Real rappers is hard to find like a remote
Control, rap is out of
Used to, but still got love
That's why I abuse you who are not thugs
Rock clubs like Tiger Woods in the hood
Should have my own reality show called "Soul Survivor"
I stole on live-er niggas than you
You's a bitch, I got ones that are thicker than you
How could I ever let your words affect me?
They say hip-hop is dead, I'm here to resurrect me
Marsha's too sexy to even make songs like these
That's why the raw don't know your name, like Alicia Keys
Too many featured MCs, and producers is popular
Twelve thousand spins, nobody got to coppin' a
Album, how come you the hot garbage of
The year? It's clear your image is looped up
Label got you souped up, tellin' you you sick
When you a dick with a loose nut
Video hard to watch like Medusa
Even your club record need a booster, chimped up
With a pimp cup, illiterate nigga, read the infra-
Red across your head, I'm bred king like Simba
Bolder than Denver, I ain't a mad rapper
Just a MC with a temper
You dancin' for money like Honey, I did this my way
So when the industry crash, I survive like Kanye
Spittin' through wires and fires, MCs retirin'
Got your hands up, get them motherfuckers higher, then
[Chorus: Kanye West & Common]
N-now, th-th-throw your motherfuckin' hands
Get 'em high (Yeah)
All the girls pass the weed to your motherfuckin' man
Get 'em high (Mm-mm, uh-uh, uh)
Now I ain't never tell you to put down your hands
Keep 'em high (Keep 'em high, keep 'em high, uh-uh)
And if you're losin' your high, then smoke again
Keep 'em high
10. Workout Plan (未訳)
[Girl #1, Girl #2, Girl #3, Girls #2 and 3]
Ayy, wassup, girl?
Hey, girl
Hey, how you doin'?
Ayy, you know I finally got my shit together
Been watchin' that workout plan, girl!
Well, you lookin' all good and stuff, you got you a—
Girl, I know it's that workout
Got you a six pack Shakur and stuff
Don't say it
My nigga, my nigga, I'm tired of puttin' 1-8-7 in my nigga's pager
That shit ain't workin' no more
Girl, you know I'ma video ho-ffesional now (Girl)
Since I copped this new workout plan my shit is right
Rollin' in Lexus, Acuras, everything, girl
Girl, you need to let me know where I can cop that, how much is it?
Girl, you know you ain't gotta pay nothin' around me, I'm the bootleg queen I'll give it to you for Free.99
FREE.99?!
That's my dawg, you always lookin' out for us
My nigga, now I can throw away my bus pass and shit, oh my God
Oh, shit
11. The New Workout Plan (未訳)
[Intro]
You just popped in the Kanye West
Get Right for the Summer workout tape
And ladies if you follow these instructions exactly
You might be able to pull you a rapper, a NBA player
Man, at least a dude with a car!
So, first of all, we gonna work on the stomach
Nobody wants a little tight ass
[Verse 1]
One, and two, and three, and four, and get them sit ups right, and
Tuck your tummy tight and do your crunches like this
Give head, stop, breathe, get up, check your weave
Don't drop the blunt and disrespect the weed
Pick up your son, don't disrespect your seed
It's a party tonight and ooh, she's so excited
Tell me who's invited: you, your friends and my dick
(Ah!) What's scary to me is
Henny makes girls look like Halle Berry to me
So excuse me miss, I forgot your name
Thank you, God bless you, good night I came, I came, I came
[Chorus]
It's been a week without me
And she feel weak without me
She wanna talk it out but
Ain't nothing to talk about
Unless she's talking about freaking out
Then maybe we can work it out
Work it out, work it out
Work it out, work it out now
Maybe we can work it out
[Verse 2]
Ooh, girl, your silhouette make me wanna light a cigarette
My name Kanye from the Jigga set, Twista said "Get It Wet"
Ooh girl your breath is harsh!
Cover your mouth up like you got SARS
Off them tracks yea I bought them cars
Still, kill a nigga on 16 bars
We ain't sweating to the oldies, we juking to a cold beat
Maybe one day girl we can bone
So you can brag to all your homies now
But I still mess with a big girl, if you ain't fit, girl, I'll still hit, girl
One and, you brought two friends, ok, three more
Now hop in the Benz
Four door: do you know the difference between a five, six, seven, eight?
All the Mocha Lattes, you gotta do Pilates
You gotta pop this tape in before you start back dating
Hustlers, gangstas, all us ballas
[Chorus]
It's been a week without me
And she feel weak without me
She wanna talk it out but
Ain't nothing to talk about
Unless she's talking about freaking out
Then maybe we can work it out
Work it out, work it out
Work it out, work it out now
Maybe we can work it out
[Interlude: Jill, Lasandra, Ella-May & Kanye West]
Hi, my name is Jill, I just want to say thanks to Kanye's workout plan. I was able to pull a NBA player. And like now I shop every day on Rodeo Drive. I just want to say, thank you Kanye! Woooo! Woooo!—Woooo!
My name is Lasandra, and I just want to say that since listening to Kanye's workout tape, I was able to get my phone bill paid, I got sounds and 13's put up in my Cavalier and I was able to get a free trip to Cancun. And what's most importantly is that I ain't gotta fuck with Ray-Ray's broke ass no mo'
Work it (Mo')
Juke it (Mo') Pump it (Mo')
Chi-Town (Mo') Let's go (Mo')
My name is Ella-May from Mobile, Alabama, and I just want to say since listening to Kanye's workout tape, I been able to date outside the family, I got a double wide, and I rode a plane—rode a plane—rode a plane
Thanks to Kanye's workout plan
I'm the envy of all my friends
See, I pulled me a baller man
And I ain't gotta work at the mall again
[Interlude: Bosko & (Kanye)]
(Lemme break ya wit' a piece of)
My favorite workout plan (Oh, oh, oh)
I wanna see you work out
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
I wanna see you work out
(It's like that old Michael Jackson shit)
[Bridge]
That's right, put in work, move your ass, go berserk
Eat your salad, no dessert, get that man you deserve
[Interlude: Bosko & (Kanye)]
It's Kanye's workout plan
I said it's Kanye's workout plan (Ladies and gentlemen)
It's Kanye's workout plan (Allow myself to introduce myself)
His workout plan (This time around, I want y'all to clap with me like this)
[Refrain]
That's right, put in work
Move your ass, go berserk
Eat your salad, no dessert
Get that man you deserve (Stop!)
[Interlude: Bosko & Kanye]
It's Kanye's workout plan (Okay, breathe)
I said, it's Kanye's workout plan (I know y'all ain't tired)
It's Kanye's workout plan (But I hope not 'cause on this one, I need ya)
His workout plan (To give me a soul clap, okay?)
(Double time)
[Refrain: GLC & Kanye]
That's right, put in work (Woo!)
Move your ass, go berserk (Ow!)
Eat your salad, no dessert (Ugh!)
Get that man you deserve
That's right, put in work (Put in work)
Move your ass, go berserk (Go wizzerk)
Eat your salad, no dessert (No dessert)
Get that man you deserve (You hear, ugh)
That's right, put in work (That's right put in work)
Move your ass, go berserk (Go wizzerk)
Eat your salad, no dessert (Eat your salad, no dessert)
Get that man you deserve (Woo!)
[Outro: Bosko & Kanye]
(Okay, okay, okay, that's very good good)
(I appreciate your time)
I want to see you work out for me
Whoa, yeah, whoa, yeah
Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do, yo
12. Slow Jamz(未訳)
[Intro: Jamie Foxx]
Kanye, it's, it's Foxx, man
I'm just sayin', you know, I was talkin' to the girls, you know
And we, we don't put enough emphasis on the ladies sometime
You know, I was talkin' to this girl
She was talkin' about the music all fast in the club, you know
She gotta drink water 'cause she thirsty
She done danced like ninety to a hundred songs back to back
When ain't nobody, you know, really try to find out what she feelin'
Like how she feel, you know, you know what she told me?
(Are you gonna be?) Check it out, this is what she said
(Say that you're gonna be) Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, oooh
[Chorus: Jamie Foxx & Luther]
She said she want some Marvin Gaye, some Luther Vandross
A little Anita will definitely set this party off right
(Are you gonna be, are you gonna be, are you gonna be
Are you gonna be, are you gonna be, well, well, well, well)
She said she want some Ready for the World, some New Edition
Some Minnie Riperton will definitely set this party off right
(Are you gonna be, are you gonna be, are you gonna be
Are you gonna be, are you gonna be, well, well, well, well)
[Interlude: Kanye West]
Yes it will
It definitely will!
You know what I told her?
[Verse 1: Kanye West]
I told her to drive over in yo' new whip, bring some friends you cool with
I'ma bring the cool whip, then I want you to strip
See, you is my new chick, so we get our grind on
She be grabbin', callin' me Biggie like Shyne home
Man, I swear, she fine homes, why she always lyin' though?
Tellin' me them diamonds, when she know they rhinestones
She got a light-skinned friend look like Michael Jackson
Got a dark-skinned friend look like Michael Jackson
I played Ready for the World, she was ready for some action
My dog said you ain't no freak so you 'bout to prove my man wrong
I'ma play this Vandross, you gon' take yo' pants off
I'ma play this Gladys Knight, me and you gon' get right
[Chorus: Jamie Foxx & Luther]
She said she want some Marvin Gaye, some Luther Vandross
A little Anita will definitely set this party off right
(Are you gonna be, are you gonna be, are you gonna be
Are you gonna be, are you gonna be, well well well well)
She said she want some Ready for the World, some New Edition
Some Minnie Riperton will definitely set this party off right
(Are you gonna be, are you gonna be, are you gonna be
Are you gonna be, are you gonna be, well well well well)
[Bridge: Jamie Foxx]
Smokey Robinson, Smokey Robinson
Freddie Jackson, everything, everything (Well, well, well, well)
Smokey Robinson, Ashford & Simpson (Are you gonna be)
Set the party, really set the party off right
Yes it will, yes it will (Well well well well)
Al Green, oh! Al Green, oh yeah
Oooh
Whatcha know about the Isley Brothers?
[Interlude: Aisha Tyler & Kanye West]
Now, Kanye, I know I told you to slow it down, baby
It's good, it's all good, it's beautiful
But now I need you to do it faster, baby
Can you please? Do it faster, baby, do it faster!
Damn, baby, I can't do it that fast
But I know somebody who can, Twista!
[Verse 2: Twista]
Got you looking at the glist on my hands and wrist
While I'm layin' back and smoking on my cannabis
When it come to rockin' the rhythm like Marvin and Luther
I can tell you ain't no messin' with Kan Man and Twist
In the Chi and I be sippin' Hennessy, play some R&B
While I smoke a b, you can preferably find that I'm a G
And all is (Well well well well)
Come wit' me and sip on some Evelyn Champagne
You ain't know Twista could work it like the Whispers?
Hit the stop light, move it to some Isleys
Rims still movin' so I bump a lil' Spinners
While I'm smoking on a b, dippin' through the streets
Bumpin' R&B and I got the heat on the 23's
And I do it (Well well well well)
Wit' my Earth in the Wind smoking Fire
Let me get ya sheets wet listenin' to Keith Sweat
Put you in a daze wit' Maze
Fulfilling our every temptation
Slow jammin', havin' deep sex
You ready for the world girl, come on go wit' me
I touch you all over your body baby don't say no to me
And every moment be controlling me
I'm lovin' the way you be holdin' me when I be listenin' to Jodeci
And when I come over and bend ya ass
You be bumpin' Teddy Pendergrass
I done hit it from the back, to the melody and rode it slow
Now I got to go up in it fast, but I'ma finish last
No matter how much of a thug you see
I still spit it like it's R&B, come to the club wit' me
And when some Luther come on I hope you feelin' me
And still will be in love wit' me, Chi ride
[Chorus: Jamie Foxx & Luther]
She said she want some Marvin Gaye, some Luther Vandross
A little Anita will definitely set this party off right
(Are you gonna be, are you gonna be, are you gonna be
Are you gonna be, are you gonna be, well, well, well, well)
She said she want some Ready for the World, some New Edition
Some Minnie Riperton will definitely set this party off right
(Are you gonna be, are you gonna be, are you gonna be
Are you gonna be, are you gonna be, well, well, well, well)
[Bridge 2: Jamie Foxx & Tracie Spencer]
Sly and the Family Stone (Sly and the Family Stone)
Let's get the party on (Let's get the party on)
Sly and the Family Stone (Sly and the Family Stone)
Let's get our party on (Let's get our party on)
Earth, Wind and Fire, baby (Earth, Wind and Fire, baby)
Let's take it higher, sweetie (Let's take it higher, sweetie)
Let's really set, let's really set this party off
[Chorus: Jamie Foxx & Luther]
She said she want some Marvin Gaye, some Luther Vandross
A little Anita will definitely set this party off right
(Are you gonna be, are you gonna be, are you gonna be
Are you gonna be, are you gonna be, well, well, well, well)
She said she want some Ready for the World, some New Edition
Some Minnie Riperton will definitely set this party off right
(Are you gonna be, are you gonna be, are you gonna be
Are you gonna be, are you gonna be, well, well, well, well)
13. Breath in Breath Out (未訳)
[Chorus: Ludacris]
Yeah! Breathe in, breathe out
If you're iced up, pull your sleeves out
Push a big truck, pull your keys out
Girls go wild and pull your D's out
Breathe in, breathe out
Let them hoes fight, pull a weave out
If a nigga act up, pull a Desert E's out
When I pull the piece out, niggas like, "Peace out!"
[Verse 1: Kanye West]
Golly, more of that bullshit ice rap
I gotta 'pologize to Mos and Kweli (Kweli)
But is it cool to rap about gold
If I told the world I copped it from Ghana and Mali? (Mali!)
First nigga with a Benz and a backpack
Ice chain, Carti lens, and a knapsack
Always said if I rapped, I'd say somethin' significant
But now, I'm rapping 'bout money, hoes, and rims again
And it's still about the Benjamins
Big-face hundreds and whatever other synonyms
Strippers named "Cinnamon," more chips than Pentium
"What you gon' buy next?" Whatever new trend it is
I'm tryna spend my stacks, and I'm so broke
I look back, like, "Damn, was I on crack?"
I mean, twelve platinum chains—was I on that?
What the hell was wrong with me, dog?
Sing along with me, y'all[Chorus: Ludacris]
Yeah! Breathe in, breathe out (Ugh)
If you're iced up, pull your sleeves out
Push a big truck, pull your keys out
Girls go wild and pull your D's out
Breathe in, breathe out
Let them hoes fight, pull a weave out
If a nigga act up, pull a Desert E's out
When I pull the piece out, niggas like, "Peace out!"
[Verse 2: Kanye West]
Now, even though I went to college and dropped out of school quick
I always had a Ph.D: a pretty huge dick
Ladies tired of getting ripped off by guys like this
And giving head is like a whale that's using a toothpick
Well, I'm in the club for a limited time
Act now and get some action for a free-ninety-nine
Later on, I might charge for ménage
Heard her man was the boss of the floss
But she still want to toss me the drawers
And it ain't gon' cost me because
She my caddy 'cause she grab my golf balls in the club
And I'm still acting calm than a muh'
She asked, "Can you drive me in the hundreds where my Altima was?"
While we drive she tellin' me 'bout problems with her man
Baby, I fully understand; let me help you with a plan
While he tricking off, don't get no rich nigga
Give me some head—that'll really piss him off
[Chorus: Ludacris]
Yeah! Breathe in, breathe out
If you're iced up, pull your sleeves out
Push a big truck, pull your keys out
Girls go wild and pull your D's out
Breathe in, breathe out
Let them hoes fight, pull a weave out
If a nigga act up, pull a Desert E's out
When I pull the piece out, niggas like, "Peace out!"
[Verse 3: Kanye West]
I blow past low-class niggas with no cash
In a four-dash-six, bitch, you can go ask
So when I go fast, po-po just laugh
Right until I run out of gas or 'til I go crash
Whatever comes first, I'm prepared for the worst
Whatever comes second, I'll be there with my weapon
Pulling up in the Lexuses, one on both hand
So I guess them GS'ses was ambidextrous
Could've sworn her breasteses was sending me messages
"K, I need a free hand-mammogram
I got weed, drink, and a Handicam
All of which is legal in Amsterdam"
So, say my name like Candyman
And I'ma come and fix you up like the handyman
But if you don't need a fix, girl, you gotta leave
You can't take that all at one time—you gotta breathe!
[Chorus: Ludacris]
Yeah! Breathe in, breathe out
If you're iced up, pull your sleeves out
Push a big truck, pull your keys out
Girls go wild and pull your D's out
Breathe in, breathe out
Let them hoes fight, pull a weave out
If a nigga act up, pull a Desert E's out
When I pull the piece out, niggas like "Peace out!"
[Outro: Kanye West]
Yeah-ugh, ugh-ugh, ugh-ugh
And you say, "Chi-city" (Chi-city)
Y-Yeah, and you say, "Chi-city"
Y-Yeah, and you say, "Chi-city" (Chi-city)
Uh-huh (Uh-huh), and you say, "Chi-city" (Chi-city)
Y-Yeah, you say "Chi-city" (Chi-city)
Ugh-ugh (Ugh-ugh), you say, "Chi—"
Y— You say, "Chi—"
Y— You say, "Chi-city" (Chi-city)
Chi-city (Chi-city), Chi-city (Chi-city)
(Chi-city, Chi-city—)
14. School Spirit (Skit1) (未訳)
[Skit 1: DeRay Davis]
Now beat that!
And your mother's saying "Go to college"
So you finish college and it's wonderful
You feel so good
And after all the partying and craziness
And don't forget about that drug habit you picked up at school being around your peers
Hey!
Now you'll get that 25-thousand dollar job a year
And you'll spend all your money on crack cocaine
But, it'll be YOUR money
No more borrowing from mom for my high!
So now you get your degree tattooed on your back
You're so excited about it
If you continue to work at the Gap, after several interviews, oh my God
You'll come in at a entry-level position
And when you do that
If you kiss enough ass
You'll move up to the next level
Which is being the secretary's secretary
And boy is that great
You get to take messages for the secretary
Who NEVER went to college
She's actually the boss's niece!
So now you're part of the family
You know what college does for you?
It makes you really smart, man
All you kids wanted to talk in the back of the class
Not me, I listened
Okay?
I was a hall monitor
This was meant to be
You know how many classes I took?
Extra classes, extra classes
No, I've never had sex
But you know what?
My degree keeps me satisfied
When a lady walks up to me and says
"Hey, you know what's sexy?"
No, I don't know what it is
But I bet I can add up all the change in your purse
Very fast
15. School Spirit (未訳)
[Intro]
School spirit, motherfucker
[Chorus]
Alpha, step, Omega, step
Kappa, step, Sigma, step
Gangstas walk, pimps gon' talk
Ooh, hecky nah, that boy is raw
AKA, step, Delta, step
S.G. Rho, step, Zeta, step
Gangstas walk, pimps gon' talk
Ooh, hecky nah, that boy is raw
[Verse 1]
I'ma get on this TV, mama
I'ma, I'ma put shit down
I'ma make sure these light-skinned niggas
Never, ever, never come back in style
Told 'em I finished school and I started my own business
They say, "Oh you graduated?" No, I decided I was finished
Chasing y'all dreams and what you've got planned
Now I spit it so hot, you got tanned
Back to school and I hate it there, I hate it there
Everything I want, I gotta wait a year, I wait a year
This nigga graduated at the top of our class
I went to Cheesecake, he was a motherfucking waiter there
[Chorus]
Alpha, step, Omega, step
Kappa, step, Sigma, step
Gangstas walk, pimps gon' talk
Ooh, hecky nah, that boy is raw
AKA, step, Delta, step
S.G. Rho, step, Zeta, step
Gangstas walk, pimps gon' talk
Ooh, hecky nah, that boy is raw
[Verse 2]
I got a Jones like Norah for your soror
Bring more of them girls, I've seen in The Aurora
Tammy, Becky, and Laura, or a Shirley
I'm trying to hit it early, like I'm in a hurry
See, that's how dude became the young Pootie Tang: "tippy tow"
Roc-A-Fella chain, yeah, that's my rapper style
Rosary piece, yeah, that's my Catholic style
Red and white Ones, yeah, that's my Kappa style
And I ain't even pledge
Crack my head on the steering wheel and I ain't even dead
If I could go through all that and still be breathing
Bitch, bend over, I'm here for a reason
[Chorus]
Alpha, step, Omega, step
Kappa, step, Sigma, step
Gangstas walk, pimps gon' talk
Ooh, hecky nah, that boy is raw
AKA, step, Delta, step
S.G. Rho, step, Zeta, step
Gangstas walk, pimps gon' talk
Ooh, hecky nah, that boy is raw
[Refrain]
I feel a woo coming on, cuz
I feel a woo coming on, cuz
(WOO!)
There it was
I feel some woos coming on, cuz
A couple woos coming on, cuz
(WOO! WOO!)
There they was
I feel a woo coming on, cuz
I feel a woo coming on, cuz
(WOO!)
There it was
A couple woos coming on, cuz
A couple woos coming on, cuz
(WOO! WOO!)
There they was
16. School Spirit (Skirt2)(未訳)
[Skit: De'Ray Davis]
You keep it going, man, you keep those books rolling
You pick up all those books that you're gonna read and not remember and you roll, man
You get that associate's degree, okay?
Then you get your bachelor's
Then you get your masters
Then you get your masters' masters
Then you get your doctorate
You go, man
And then, when everybody says quit, you show them those degrees, man
When everyone says, "Hey, you're not working, you're not making any money"
You say, "You look at my degrees, and you look at my life
Yeah, I'm fifty-two, so what?
Hate all you want, but I'm smart, I'm so smart
And, and I'm in school
All these guys out here, uh, making money all these ways
And I'm spending mine to be smart
You know why?
'Cause when I die, buddy
You know what's gonna keep me warm?
That's right, those degrees"
[Spoken Word: The World Famous Tony Williams & DeRay]
Hey Jimmy, where you going?
I don't know where I'm going
My Dad died, and, uh, he left me his degrees
My mom would always say, "Dad, why don't you work?"
But he just kept learning, hmm
All the other kids' parents were working and saving up money for school
And I was actually in school all while my dad was in school!
Even, he was so greedy with degrees, he took my degree
And now, I'm just glad he left me these
Because all the regular homeless people have newspaper, and look what I have
These are documented, my father left them to me
And I'm going to leave them to my kids
I'm gonna learn too
I'm gonna get super smart, so I, too, can die without money
But I'll be the smartest dead guy!
Who has that?
[Chorus: Kanye West]
We in the streets, playa, get your mail
It's only two places you end up: either dead or in jail
Still nowhere to go
Still nowhere to go
Now throw your hands up—hustlers, busters, boosters, hoes
Everybody—fuck that!
Still nowhere to go
Still nowhere to go
[Verse 1: Mos Def]
Listen, two words: United States, no love, no breaks
Low brow, high stakes, crack smoke, Black folks
Big Macs, fat folks, ecstasy capsules
Presidential scandals, everybody move
Two words: Mos Def, K. West, hot shit
Calm down, get back, ghetto people got this
Game 'pon lock shit, gun 'pon cock shit
We won't stop shit—everybody move!
Two words: B-K, N-Y, Bed-Stuy
Too harsh, too hungry, too many, that's why
These streets know game, can't ball, don't play
Heavy traffic, one lane—everybody move!
Two words: Mos Def, Black Jack, hot shit
Calm down, get back, ghetto people got this
Game 'pon lock, gun 'pon cock
We won't stop—everybody move!
[Chorus: Kanye West & Harlem Boys Choir]
Now throw your hands up (Throw your hands up high)
Hustlers, busters, boosters, hoes
Everybody—fuck that
Still nowhere to go
Still nowhere to go
And keep your hands up ('Til they reach the sky)
Hustlers, busters, boosters, hoes
Everybody—fuck that
Still nowhere to go
Still nowhere to go
[Verse 2: Kanye West]
Two words: Chi-Town, Southside, worldwide
'Cause I rep that 'til I fuckin' die
One neck, two chains, one waist, two gats
One wall, twenty plaques, dues paid, gimme that
I am limelight, Blueprint, five mics
Go-Getters rhyme like should've been signed twice
Most imitated, Grammy nominated
Hotel accommodated, cheerleader prom-dated
Barbershop player-hated, mom-and-pop bootlegged it
Felt like it rained 'til the roof caved in
Two words: Chi-Town raised me, crazy
So I live by two words: "Fuck you, pay me"
Screaming, "Jesus, save me"
You know how the game be, I can't let 'em change me
'Cause on judgment day, you gon' blame me
Look, God—it's the same me
And I basically know now, we get racially profiled
'Cuffed up and hosed down, pimped up and ho'd down
Plus, I got a whole city to hold down
From the bottom, so the top's the only place to go now
[Chorus: Kanye West & Harlem Boys Choir]
Now throw your hands up (Throw your hands up high)
Hustlers, busters, boosters, hoes
Everybody—fuck that
Still nowhere to go
Still nowhere to go
[Verse 3: Freeway]
Two words: Freeway; two letters: A-R
Turn y'all rap niggas to two words: fast runners
Like Jackie Joyner, you better sleep with your burner
The heat skeet, blow a reef through your car, my God
Two words: no guns, break arms
Break necks, break backs, Steven Seagal
Free, young boss, freshman of the Roc
With the beef in the pot, Jay sent for his dogs to brawl
Forget your squad, better 'fend for yourself
Have you screamin' out four words: "Send for the law," ugh
Two words: Freeway, slightly retarded
Fuck around, throw a clip in your artist, leave with his broad
[Outro: Mos Def & Harlem Boys Choir]
Red, white, blue, black (Throw your hands up)
Calm down, move back (Throw your hands up)
Motherfuckers askin', "Who is that?" (Throw your hands up)
You know it's the almighty Black Jack (Throw your hands up)
Mos Def, K. West (Throw your hands up)
Ghetto people, get this shit off your chest (Throw your hands up)
North to the south, to the east, to the west (Throw your hands up)
Black Jack Johnson, it's no contest (Throw your hands up)
(High) And show it to 'em like
17. Lil' Jimmy(Skirt)(未訳)
[Spoken Word: The World Famous Tony Williams & DeRay]
Hey Jimmy, where you going?
I don't know where I'm going
My Dad died, and, uh, he left me his degrees
My mom would always say, "Dad, why don't you work?"
But he just kept learning, hmm
All the other kids' parents were working and saving up money for school
And I was actually in school all while my dad was in school!
Even, he was so greedy with degrees, he took my degree
And now, I'm just glad he left me these
Because all the regular homeless people have newspaper, and look what I have
These are documented, my father left them to me
And I'm going to leave them to my kids
I'm gonna learn too
I'm gonna get super smart, so I, too, can die without money
But I'll be the smartest dead guy!
Who has that?
18. Two Words (未訳)
[Chorus: Kanye West]
We in the streets, playa, get your mail
It's only two places you end up: either dead or in jail
Still nowhere to go
Still nowhere to go
Now throw your hands up—hustlers, busters, boosters, hoes
Everybody—fuck that!
Still nowhere to go
Still nowhere to go
[Chorus: Kanye West & Harlem Boys Choir]
Now throw your hands up (Throw your hands up high)
Hustlers, busters, boosters, hoes
Everybody—fuck that
Still nowhere to go
Still nowhere to go
And keep your hands up ('Til they reach the sky)
Hustlers, busters, boosters, hoes
Everybody—fuck that
Still nowhere to go
Still nowhere to go
[Verse 1: Mos Def]
Listen, two words: United States, no love, no breaks
Low brow, high stakes, crack smoke, Black folks
Big Macs, fat folks, ecstasy capsules
Presidential scandals, everybody move
Two words: Mos Def, K. West, hot shit
Calm down, get back, ghetto people got this
Game 'pon lock shit, gun 'pon cock shit
We won't stop shit—everybody move!
Two words: B-K, N-Y, Bed-Stuy
Too harsh, too hungry, too many, that's why
These streets know game, can't ball, don't play
Heavy traffic, one lane—everybody move!
Two words: Mos Def, Black Jack, hot shit
Calm down, get back, ghetto people got this
Game 'pon lock, gun 'pon cock
We won't stop—everybody move!
[Chorus: Kanye West & Harlem Boys Choir]
Now throw your hands up (Throw your hands up high)
Hustlers, busters, boosters, hoes
Everybody—fuck that
Still nowhere to go
Still nowhere to go
And keep your hands up ('Til they reach the sky)
Hustlers, busters, boosters, hoes
Everybody—fuck that
Still nowhere to go
Still nowhere to go
[Verse 2: Kanye West]
Two words: Chi-Town, Southside, worldwide
'Cause I rep that 'til I fuckin' die
One neck, two chains, one waist, two gats
One wall, twenty plaques, dues paid, gimme that
I am limelight, Blueprint, five mics
Go-Getters rhyme like should've been signed twice
Most imitated, Grammy nominated
Hotel accommodated, cheerleader prom-dated
Barbershop player-hated, mom-and-pop bootlegged it
Felt like it rained 'til the roof caved in
Two words: Chi-Town raised me, crazy
So I live by two words: "Fuck you, pay me"
Screaming, "Jesus, save me"
You know how the game be, I can't let 'em change me
'Cause on judgment day, you gon' blame me
Look, God—it's the same me
And I basically know now, we get racially profiled
'Cuffed up and hosed down, pimped up and ho'd down
Plus, I got a whole city to hold down
From the bottom, so the top's the only place to go now
[Chorus: Kanye West & Harlem Boys Choir]
Now throw your hands up (Throw your hands up high)
Hustlers, busters, boosters, hoes
Everybody—fuck that
Still nowhere to go
Still nowhere to go
[Verse 3: Freeway]
Two words: Freeway; two letters: A-R
Turn y'all rap niggas to two words: fast runners
Like Jackie Joyner, you better sleep with your burner
The heat skeet, blow a reef through your car, my God
Two words: no guns, break arms
Break necks, break backs, Steven Seagal
Free, young boss, freshman of the Roc
With the beef in the pot, Jay sent for his dogs to brawl
Forget your squad, better 'fend for yourself
Have you screamin' out four words: "Send for the law," ugh
Two words: Freeway, slightly retarded
Fuck around, throw a clip in your artist, leave with his broad
[Outro: Mos Def & Harlem Boys Choir]
Red, white, blue, black (Throw your hands up)
Calm down, move back (Throw your hands up)
Motherfuckers askin', "Who is that?" (Throw your hands up)
You know it's the almighty Black Jack (Throw your hands up)
Mos Def, K. West (Throw your hands up)
Ghetto people, get this shit off your chest (Throw your hands up)
North to the south, to the east, to the west (Throw your hands up)
Black Jack Johnson, it's no contest (Throw your hands up)
(High) And show it to 'em like
[Verse 1: Mos Def]
Listen, two words: United States, no love, no breaks
Low brow, high stakes, crack smoke, Black folks
Big Macs, fat folks, ecstasy capsules
Presidential scandals, everybody move
Two words: Mos Def, K. West, hot shit
Calm down, get back, ghetto people got this
Game 'pon lock shit, gun 'pon cock shit
We won't stop shit—everybody move!
Two words: B-K, N-Y, Bed-Stuy
Too harsh, too hungry, too many, that's why
These streets know game, can't ball, don't play
Heavy traffic, one lane—everybody move!
Two words: Mos Def, Black Jack, hot shit
Calm down, get back, ghetto people got this
Game 'pon lock, gun 'pon cock
We won't stop—everybody move!
19. Through the Wire (未訳)
[Produced by Kanye West]
[Music Video - Intro]
Last October Grammy-nominated producer KANYE WEST was in a nearly fatal car accident. His jaw was fractured in nearly three places. Two weeks later he recorded this song with his mouth still wired shut... so the world could feel his pain!
[Intro]
Yo, Gee, they can't stop me from rappin', can they?
Can they, Hop?
[Chorus: Chaka Khan]
Through the fire, to the limit, to the wall
For a chance to be with you, I'd gladly risk it all
Through the fire, through whatever, come what may
For a chance at loving you, I'd take it all the way
Right down to the wire, even through the fire
[Over Chorus]
I spit it through the wire, man
There's too much stuff on my heart right now, man
I'd gladly risk it all right now
It's a life-or-death situation, man
Y'all, y'all don't really understand how I feel right now, man
It's your boy, Kanye to the…
Chi-Town, what's goin' on?
Uh-huh, yeah, yeah
[Verse 1]
I drink a Boost for breakfast, an Ensure for dessert
Somebody ordered pancakes, I just sip the sizzurp
That right there could drive a sane man berserk
Not to worry, Mr. H-to-the-Izzo's back to wizzerk
How do you console my mom or give her light support
Tellin' her her son's on life support?
And just imagine how my girl feel
On the plane scared as hell that her guy look like Emmett Till
She was with me before the deal, she'd been tryna be mine
She a Delta, so she'd been throwin' that Dynasty sign
No use in me tryna be lyin', I been tryna be signed
Tryin' to be a millionaire, how I used two lifelines
In the same hospital where Biggie Smalls died
The doctor said I had blood clots, but I ain't Jamaican, man
Story on MTV and I ain't tryna make a band
I swear, this right here, history in the makin', man
[Chorus: Chaka Khan]
Through the fire, to the limit, to the wall
For a chance to be with you, I'd gladly risk it all
Through the fire, through whatever, come what may
For a chance at loving you, I'd take it all the way
Right down to the wire, even through the fire
[Over Chorus]
I really apologize for everything right now
If it's unclear at all, man
They got my mouth wired shut
For like… I dunno, the doctor said like six weeks
Y'know, he had, I had reconstructive surgery on my jaw
I looked in the mirror
And half my jaw was in the back of my mouth, man
I couldn't believe it
But I'm still here for y'all right now, man
This what I got to say right here, dawg
Yeah, turn me up, yeah, uh
[Verse 2]
What if somebody from the Chi' that was ill got a deal
On the hottest rap label around?
But he wasn't talkin' 'bout coke and birds
It was more like spoken word, 'cept he's really puttin' it down?
And he explained the story 'bout how Blacks came from glory
And what we need to do in the game
Good dude, bad night, right place, wrong time
In the blink of a eye, his whole life changed
If you could feel how my face felt
You would know how Mase felt (Mason Betha!)
Thank God I ain't too cool for the safe belt
I swear to God, driver two wanna sue
I got a lawyer for the case, to keep what's in my safe safe
My dawgs couldn't tell if I…
I looked like Tom Cruise in Vanilla Sky, it was televised
There's been an accident like GEICO
They thought I was burnt up like Pepsi did Michael
I must got a angel, ‘cause look how death missed his ass
Unbreakable, what, you thought they'd call me Mr. Glass?
Look back on my life like the Ghost of Christmas Past
Toys "R" Us where I used to spend that Christmas cash
And I still won't grow up, I'm a grown-ass kid
Swear I should be locked up for stupid shit that I did
But I'm a champion, so I turned tragedy to triumph
Make music that's fire, spit my soul through the wire
[Chorus: Chaka Khan]
Through the fire, to the limit, to the wall
For a chance to be with you, I'd gladly risk it all
Through the fire, through whatever, come what may
For a chance at loving you, I'd take it all the way
Right down to the wire, even through the fire
[Over Chorus]
Y'know what I'm sayin'?
When the doctor told me I had, um
That I was gonna have to have a plate in my chin
I said, "Dawg, don't you realize I'll never make it on a plane now?"
"It's bad enough I got all this jewelry on!"
You can't be serious, man
20. Family Business (未訳)
[Intro]
How's your son?
(All, all, all tha-thang, thang, all, all tha-thang, thang, thang)
He made the team this year?
Aight, they said he wasn't tall enough
(All, all that glitters is not gold, all gold is not reality, real is what you lays on me)
Ma, we here, we gon' cook this Sunday, okay? So come by
Damn, that's your new girlfriend?
[Verse 1]
This is family business
And this is for the family that can't be with us
And this is for my cousin locked down, know the answer's in us
This why I spit it in my songs so sweet, like a photo of your granny's picture
Now that you're gone, it hit us
Super hard on Thanksgiving and Christmas, this can't be right
Yo, you heard the track I did man? "This Can't Be Life"
Somebody please say grace, so I can save face
And have a reason to cover my face
I even made you a plate, soul food, know how Granny do it
Monkey bread on the side, know how the family do it
When I brought it, why the guard had to look all through it?
As kids, we used to laugh, who knew that life would move this fast?
Who knew I'd have to look at you through a glass?
And look, you tell me you ain't did it, then you ain't did it
And if you did, then that's family business
[Chorus]
And I don't care about (All, all, diamond ring, diamond ring)
They don't mean a thing
(All, all, all, tha-thang, thang, all, all tha-thang, thang, thang)
All these fancy things
I tell you that all is my weight in gold
(All, all that glitters is not gold, all gold is not reality, real is what you lays on me)
Now all I know I know all these things
[Verse 2]
Yeah, this is family business
And this is for everybody standing with us
Come on, let's take a family Grammy picture
Abi, remember when they ain't believe in me?
Now she like, "See! That's my cousin on TV!"
Now, we gettin' it and we gon' make it
And they gon' hate it, and I'm his favorite
I can't deny it, I'm a straight rider
But when we get together, be Electric Slidin'
Grandma, get 'em shook up
Aw naw, don't open the photobook up
I got a Aunt Ruth that can't remember your name
But I bet them Polaroids'll send her down memory lane
You know that one auntie, you don't mean to be rude
But every holiday nobody eating her food
And you don't wanna stay there 'cause them your worst cousins
Got roaches at they crib like them your first cousins
Act like you ain't took a bath with your cousin
Fit three in the bed if it's six of y'all
I'm talkin' 'bout three by the head and three by the leg
But you ain't have to tell my girl I used to pee in the bed
[Bridge]
Rain, rain, rain, go away
Let the sun come out and all the children say (Uh)
Rain, rain, rain, go away (Yeah)
Let the sun come out and all the children say (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
[Verse 3]
I woke up early this morning with a new state of mind
A creative way to rhyme without using nines and guns
Keep your nose out the sky, keep your heart to God
And keep your face to the risin' sun
All my niggas from the Chi' is my family, dawg
And my niggas ain't my guys, they my family, dawg
I feel like one day you'll understand me, dawg
You can still love your man and be manly, dawg
You ain't gotta get heated at every housewarmin'
Sittin' here, grillin' people like George Foreman
Why Uncle Ray and Aunt Sheila always performin'?
Second she storm out, then he storm in
Y'all gon' sit down, have a good time this reunion
And drink some wine like Communion
And act like everything fine and if it isn't
We ain't letting everybody in our family business, uh
[Chorus]
(All, all, diamond ring, diamond ring)
They don't mean a thing
(All, all, all tha-thang, thang, all, all tha-thang, thang, thang)
They don't mean a thing
(All, all that glitters is not gold, all gold is not reality, real is what you lays on me)
They don't mean a thing, a thing
And I don't care about (All, all, diamond ring, diamond ring)
They don't mean a thing (All, all, all tha-thang, thang, all, all tha-thang, thang, thang)
All these fancy things
I tell you that all is my weight in gold (All, all that glitters is not gold, all gold is not reality, real is what you lays on me)
And all I know, I know all these things
[Outro]
All these things
CLK Mercedes Benz
All these things
A whole lotta money
All these things
Mommy and Daddy, can you please stop fighting?
All these things (And I don't care about)
All these things
Let's get Stevie out of jail
21. Last Call (未訳)
[Produced by Evidence & Kanye West]
[Intro: JAY-Z]
Aight, let's run it, let's run it
Yo fuck you, Kanye, first and foremost
For making me do this shit. Muh'fucker
Had to throw everybody out the motherfucking room
'Cause they don't fucking--
[Kanye West]
I'd like to propose a toast
I said toast, motherfucker!
[Chorus: Kanye West]
And I am
(Here's to the Roc)
And they ask me, they ask me, they ask me, I tell them
(Here's to Roc-A-Fella)
Raise your glasses, your glasses, your glasses to the sky and
(Here's to the Roc)
This is the last call for alcohol, for the
(Mr. Rockefeller)
So get your ass up off the wall
[Verse 1: Kanye West]
The all around the world Digital Underground Pac
The Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer of the Roc
I take my chain, my fifteen seconds of fame
And come back next year with the whole fucking game
Ain't nobody expect Kanye to end up on top
They expected that College Dropout to drop and then flop
Then maybe he stop savin' all the good beats for himself
Roc-A-Fella's only niggas that helped
My money was thinner than Sean Paul's goatee hair
Now Jean Paul Gaultier cologne fill the air, here
They say he bougie, he big-headed
Would you please stop talking about how my dick head is
Flow infectious, give me ten seconds
I'll have a buzz bigger than insects in Texas
It's funny how wasn't nobody interested
'Til the night I almost killed myself in Lexus
[Chorus: Kanye West]
Now I am
(Here's to the Roc)
And they ask me, they ask me, they ask me, I tell them
(Here's to Roc-A-Fella)
Raise your glasses, your glasses, your glasses to the sky and
(Here's to the Roc)
This is the last call for alcohol, for the
(Mr. Rockefeller)
So get your ass up off the wall
[Verse 2: Kanye West]
Now was Kanye the most overlooked? Yes sir
Now is Kanye the most overbooked? Yes sir
Though the fans want the feeling of A Tribe Called Quest
But all they got left is this guy called West
That'll take Freeway, throw him on tracks with Mos Def
Call him Kwa-li or Kwe-li, I put him on songs with JAY-Z
I'm the Gap like Banana Republic and Old Navy, and oooh
It come out sweeter than old Sadie
Nice as Bun-B when I met him at the Source awards
Girl he had with him - ass coulda won the horse awards
And I was almost famous, now everybody love Kanye
I'm almost Raymond
Some say he arrogant, can y'all blame him?
It was straight embarrassing how y'all played him
Last year shoppin' my demo, I was tryin' to shine
Every motherfucker told me that I couldn't rhyme
Now I could let these dream killers kill my self-esteem
Or use my arrogance as the steam to power my dreams
I use it as my gas, so they say that I'm gassed
But without it I'd be last, so I ought to laugh
So I don't listen to the suits behind the desk no more
You niggas wear suits 'cause you can't dress no more
You can't say shit to Kanye West no more
I rocked 20,000 people, I was just on tour, nigga
I'm Kon, the Louis Vuitton Don
Bought my mom a purse, now she Louis Vuitton Mom
I ain't play the hand I was dealt, I changed my cards
I prayed to the skies and I changed my stars
I went to the malls and I balled too hard
"Oh my god, is that a black card?"
I turned around and replied, "Why yes
But I prefer the term African American Express"
Brains, power, and muscle, like Dame, Puffy, and Russell
Your boy back on his hustle, you know what I've been up to
Killin y'all niggas on that lyrical shit
Mayonnaise-colored Benz, I push Miracle Whips
[Chorus: Kanye West]
And I am
(Here's to the Roc)
And they ask me, they ask me, they ask me, I tell them
(Here's to Roc-A-Fella)
Raise your glasses, your glasses, your glasses to the sky and
(Here's to the Roc)
This is the last call for alcohol, for my niggas
(Mr. Rockefeller)
So get your ass up off the wall
[Outro]
So this A&R over at Roc-A-Fella, named Hip Hop Picked the "Truth" beat for Beanie. And I was in the session with him. I had my demo with me. You know, like I always do. I play the songs, he's like "Who that spittin'?" I'm like "It's me." He's like "Oh, well okay."
Uhh, he started talkin' to me on the phone, going back and forth
Just askin' me to send him beats, and I'm thinking he's trying to get into managing producers, 'cause he had this other kid named Just Blaze he was messin' with
So won't you raise your glass, won't you?
So won't you raise your glass, won't you?
So won't you raise your glass, won't you?
So won't you raise your glass, won't you?
And um, he was friends with my mentor, No ID. And No ID told him, "Look, man, you wanna mess with Kanye you need to tell him that you like the way he rap"
No ID: "Yo, you wanna sign him, tell him you like how he rap"
[Saxophone Solo]
I was all, I dunno if he was gassin' me or not but he's like he wanna manage me as a rapper AND a producer
[Hiphop: "I'll sign you as a producer and a rapper"]
I'm like oh shit. I was messin' with, uh, D-Dot also. People were like this, started talking about the ghost production but that's how I got in the game. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't be here. So you know, after they picked that "Truth" beat I was figuring I was gonna do some more work but shit just wasn't poppin' off like that. I was stayin' in Chicago, I had my own apartment, I be doin' like, just beats for local acts just to try to keep the lights on, and then to go out and buy, get a Pelle Pelle off lay-away, get some Jordans or something or get a TechnoMarine, that's what we wore back then
I made this one beat where I sped up this Harold Melvin sample I played it for Hip over the phone, he's like, "Oh, yo that shit is crazy Jay might want it for this compilation album he doin', called The Dynasty. And at that time, like the drums really weren't soundin' right to me So I went and um, I was listening to Dre Chronic 2001 at that time. And really I just, like bit the drums off "Xxplosive" and put it like with a sped-up sample, and now it's kind of like my whole style, when it started, when he rapped on "This Can't Be Life."
And that was like, really the first beat of that kind that was on The Dynasty album. I could say that was the the resurgence of the soul sound You know, I got to come in and track the beat and at the time I was still with my other management. I really wanted to roll with Hip Hop 'cause I, I just needed some fresh air, you know what I'm sayin' 'cause I been there for a while. I appreciated what they did for me but, you know there's a time in every man's life where he gotta make a change. Try to move up to the next level. And that day I came and I tracked the beat and I got to meet JAY-Z and he said, "Oh you a real soulful dude."
[JAY-Z: "Oh you a real soulful dude, man"]
And he, uh, played the song 'cause he already spit his verse by the time I got to the studio. You know how he do it, one take. And he said
[JAY-Z: "Check this out, tell me what you think of this, right here"]
"Tell me what you think of this." And I heard it, and I was thinking like, man, I really wanted more like of the simple type JAY-Z. I ain't want like the, the more introspective, complicated rhy- or the... in my personal opinion. So he asked me, "What you think of it?"
[JAY-Z: "So what you think of this?"]
And I was like, "Man that shit tight," you know what I'm sayin', man what I'ma tell him? I was on the train, man, you know. So after that, I went back home. And man I'm, I'm just in Chicago, I'm trying to do my thing. You know, I got groups. I got acts I'm trying to get on, and like there wasn't nothin' really like poppin' off the way it should have been. One of my homies that was one of my artists, he got signed. But it was supposed to really go through my production company, but he ended up going straight with the company. So, like I'm just straight holdin' the phone, gettin' the bad news that dude was tryin' to leave my company. And I got evicted at the same time. So I went down and tracked the beats from him, I took that money, came back, packed all my shit up in a U-Haul, maybe about ten days before I had to actually get out so I ain't have to deal with the landlord 'cause he's a jerk. Me and my mother drove to...
[Donda West: "Come on, let's just go"]
...Newark, New Jersey. I hadn't even seen my apartment. I remember I pulled up...
[Donda West: "Kanye, baby, we're here"]
...I unpacked all my shit. You know, we went to Ikea, I bought a bed, I put the bed together myself. I loaded up all my equipment, and the first beat I made was, uh, "Heart of the City."And Beans was still working on his album at that time, so I came up there to Baseline, it was Beans' birthday, matter of fact, and I played like seven beats. And, you know I guess he was in the zone, he already had the beats that he wanted, I had did "Nothing Like It" already at that time but then Jay walked in. I remember he had a Gucci bucket hat on. I remember it like, like it was yesterday. And Hip-hop said, "Yo play that one beat for him." And I played "Heart of the City." And really I made "Heart of the City," I really wanted to give that beat to DMX
[Hiphop: "No I think Jay gon' like this one right here"]
And I played another beat, and I played another beat. And I remember that Gucci bucket, he took it and like put it over his face and made one of them faces like 'OOOOOOOOOOH.' Two days later I'm in Baseline and I seen Dame. Dame didn't know who I was and I was like, "Yo what's up I'm Kanye."
[Dame: "Yo, you that kid, Kanye?"]
"You that kid that gave all them beats to Jay? Yo, this nigga got classics to your beats"
[Dame: "Jay got classics, G."]
You know I ain't talkin' shit. I'm like "oh shit." And all this time I'm starstruck, man. I'm still thinking 'bout, you know I'm picturing these niggas on the show, The Streets is Watching, I'm lookin', these were superstars in my eyes. And they still are, you know.So, Jay came in and he spit all these songs like in one day, and in two days... I gotta bring up one thing, you know, come back to the story, the day I did the 'Can't be Life' beat on track, I remember Lenny S, he had some Louis Vuitton sneakers on, he think he fly. And Hip Hop was there, I think Ty-Ty, John Meneilly, a bunch of people. I didn't know all these people at the time they was in the room, and I said, "yo Jay I could rap." And I spit this rap that said, uh "I'm killin' y'all niggas on that lyrical shit. Mayonnaise colored Benz, I push miracle whips." And I saw his eyes light up when I said that line. But you know the rest, the rap was like real wack and shit, so that's all the response. He said, "Man that was tight."
[JAY-Z: "That, that was cool. That was hot."]
That was it. You know, I ain't get no deal then, hehe. Okay, fast forward. So, Blueprint, "H to the Izzo," my first hit single. And I just took that proudly, built relationships with people. My relationship with Kweli I think was one of the best ones to ever happen to my career as a rapper. Because, you know, of course, later he allowed me to go on tour with him. Man, I appre-- I love him for that. And at this time, you know I didn't have a deal, I had songs, and I had relationships with all these A&R's, and they wanted beats from me, so they'd call me up, I'd play them some beats. "Gimme a beat that sound like JAY-Z." You know, they dick riders. Whatever. So I'll play them these post-Blueprint beats or whatever and then I'll play my shit. I'll be like, "yo but I rap too." Hey, I guess they was lookin' at me crazy 'cause you know, 'cause I ain't have a jersey on or whatever. Everybody out there listen here: I played them "Jesus Walks" and they didn't sign me. You know what happened, it was some A&R's that fucked with me though, but then like the heads, it'd be somebody at the company that'll say, "Naw." Like, Dave Lighty fucked with me, my nigga Mel brought me to a bunch of labels. Jessica Rivera, man...
[Jessica: "Man, you niggas is stupid if y'all don't sign Kanye, for real."]
I'm not gonna say nothin' to mess my promotion up
["Y'all niggas is stupid"]
Let's just say I didn't get my deal. The nigga that was behind me, I mean, he wasn't even a nigga, you know? The person who actually kicked everything off was Joe 3H from Capitol Records. He wanted to sign me really bad
[Joe: "We gonna change the game, buddy."]
Dame was like, "Yo you got a deal with Capitol? Okay man, just make sure it's not wack."
[Dame: "You gotta make sure it's not wack."]
Then one day I just went ahead and played it, I wanted to play some songs, 'cause you know Cam was in the room, Young Guru, and Dame was in the room. So I played... actually it's a song that you'll never hear, but maybe I might use it. So, it's called 'Wow.'
"I go to Jacob with 25 thou, you go with 25 hundred, wow
I got 11 plaques on my walls right now
You got your first gold single, damn, nigga, wow."
Like the chorus went. Don't bite that chorus, I might still use it. So I play that song for him and he's like "oh shit"
[Dame: "Oh shit it's not even wack."]
"I ain't gonna front, it's kinda hot."
[Dame: "it's actually kinda hot."]
Like they still weren't looking at me like a rapper. And I'm sure Dame figured, 'Like man. If he do a whole album, if his raps is wack at least we can throw Cam on every song and save the album, you know. So uh Dame took me into the office, and he's like "yo man, B, B, you don't want a brick, you don't want a brick"
[Dame: "you don't wanna catch a brick"]
"You gotta be under an umbrella, you'll get rained on." I told Hip-hop and Hip-hop was all, "oh, word?" Actually, even with that, I was still about to take the deal with Capitol 'cause it was already on the table and 'cause of my relationship with 3H. That, you know, 'cause I told him I was gonna do it, and I'm a man of my word, I was gonna roll with what I said I was gonna do. Then, you know, I'm not gonna name no names, but people told me, "oh he's just a producer-rapper," and told 3H that told the heads of the Capitol, and right-- the day I'm talking about, I planned out everything I was gonna do. Man, I had picked out clothes, I already started booking studio sessions, I started arranging my album, thinking of marketing schemes, man I was ready to go. And they had Mel call me, they said, "yo... Capitol pulled on the deal"
[Mel: "Yo, Capitol pulled out on the deal."]
And, you know I told them that Roc-A-Fella was interested and I don't know if they thought that was just something I was saying to gas them up to try to push the price up or whatever. I went up... I called G, I said, "man, you think we could still get that deal with Roc-A-Fella?"
So won't you raise your glass, won't you?
So won't you raise your glass, won't you?
So won't you raise your glass, won't you?
So won't you raise your glass, won't you?
22. Heavy Hitters(未訳）
[Intro: Kanye West]
Heavy hitters fo' life
Heavy hitters fo' life
Mm, mm
Mm-mm
[Verse 1: Kanye West]
You rappers think I give a fuck about the way that they spit
Wanna be on my album, but don't want me on they shit
Everybody thought I was making a compilation
I was really making myself they compe-tation
Fresh off the plane from the All-Star game
Bone girls on TV, so it's All-Star trains
Just picture, man (Uh-huh), no snitchin', man (Uh-uh)
Something for the fiends fresh out the kitchen, man
Last 9/11, I was poor on the ave', 'til I pluraled my math
Now it's Porsche 911 and I'm flooring the gas (Errr!)
Got a lot of problems, money's one that I not have (No more, ugh)
Well, Dame look at how everybody changed
Tell Jay that I'm 'bout to change the game
Tell Biggs that we about to get paid
All my niggas is 'bout to have it made
This makes everything else sound played
"Goddamn, Kanye!" ("Kanye! Kanye!")
Now hold up! Ain't nobody messing with me, dog
Now, you say it! ("Ain't nobody messin' with you at all!")
I told dude, "You can't even rap on my interlude"
Now, does that make me as rude as Jude?
("When the album coming out?") Man, the people is asking
Yamamoto, Adidas, he's sick with the fashion
You already got dough, so you spit for the passion (Ugh)
The way you rhyme give me Tribe Called Quest flashbacks
And let's not even bring up the tracks, man
Nope, nope, let's not do that, man
You eating up the game like Pac-Man
And got the whole world shaking just like crack fiends
[Chorus: Kanye West]
Heavy hitters, fo' life (Woo!)
Roc-a-Fella is fo' life
Throw your diamonds up, throw your diamonds up
Throw your diamonds (Just let the beat ride out for a minute)
[Interlude: GLC & Kanye West]
Let's take it there, take it there, man
Champ 'posed to be, GLC
Can't be the champ, you ugly
GLC, where you at homie?
[Verse 2: GLC]
How many niggas you know that put their life on the line
To get signed? Did a few high crimes, almost had lights-out
After the sunshine, you thinking it might count
How could I might doubt? Just look at my account
I used to work at the mall with nothing at all
Seeing niggas that ball, that shit was depressing
Keep my clothes in the cleaners, I ain't with the pressing
When I copped them pounds, it was my best investments
Dre got shot (Aww) and that taught me a lesson
For stickin' niggas up in them robbery masses
Mask like Batman, minus the tight pants
Would hit your baby momma, but her elbows is ashy (Uh-uh)
Four different blues, man, your outfit is clashing (Ha!)
You ain't got no muscles, you weak, lame bastard (Haha)
Man, look at your haircut
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, naw, your hair sucks
How many niggas you know is really heavy hitters?
'87 Go-Getters, two hoes like John Ritter
Even did it on his crime picture and yeah (Ugh, ugh, ugh)
And offers to sell and yell, ugh
[Chorus: Kanye West]
Heavy hitters fo' life
Roc-A-Fella is fo' life
Throw your diamonds up, throw your diamonds up
Throw your diamonds
[Outro: Rude Jude]
Yo, what up?
This is Rude motherfuckin' Jude
A.K.A "The Tapioca Stroker"
A.K.A "The J-Man"
A.K.A "Rascal Lovato"
A.K.A "That guy"
Think about it
Now I-
I'm over here chillin' with Kanye 'cause we got a lot in common, you know what I'm sayin'?
He got a unique style, I got a style of my own
I've been listening to the radio and shit and I've been hearing a lot of high pitch singy songs on the background
I'm like, yo, "Yo, Kanye, that's your shit, that's your shit!"
He's like, "Nah dawg"
So you you don't gotta be a mathematician or a muhfucking marine biologist to figure this shit out
Motherfuckers is bitin'
So please, do yourself and everybody else a favor
Take that style that you had
Put it in an UPS package and send it back to Kanye's house 'cause he want his style back
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