10 Outspoken Lyrics from Kanye West’s ‘Ye’ Album
As promised, Kanye West released his eighth studio album called Ye on Friday (June 1). The seven-track collection is Kanye's confessional, with the mercurial rapper-producer opening up about his bipolar disorder, his marriage and his TMZ Live debacle where he said that “slavery was a choice.”
The album features contributions from A-list superstars like Kid Cudi, Charlie Wilson, Nicki Minaj, Young Thug, Jeremih, Ty Dolla $ign, PARTYNEXTDOOR, 070 Shake and more. As for the production, it's fantastic. For all of the headlines he generates for his behavior, when it comes to delivering sample-driven, gospel-esque hip-hop bangers, he is unrivaled.
Standout tracks include "I Thought About Killing You" where he talks about his opioid addiction and "Wouldn't Leave," where he salutes his wife, Kim Kardashian, for not leaving him during his TMZ Live shenanigans. Another highlight is "Violent Crimes" where Yeezy reflects on how poorly he treated women in his past relationships and his plans to protect his two daughters - North and Chicago - from unsavory men when they grow up.
Like Usher, these are Kanye's confessions: good, bad or indifferent. Overall, Ye is Kanye's most concise and brilliantly produced album since his 10-year run on Roc-A-Fella Records.
So without further ado, check out the 10 of Kane West's most outspoken lyrics from the album.
- 1
"I contemplated, premeditated murder / And I think about killing myself, and I love myself way more than I love you..."
Kanye West opens the album with "I Thought About Killing You" a very haunting song where he delivers a spoken-word passage about his suicidal thoughts. In this verse, he admits that he thought of premeditated murder. But he loves himself so much that he will never commit the act. Much like the rest of the content on Ye, he is confessing his sins to the world.
- 2
"I can feel the spirits all around me / I think Prince and Mike was tryin' warn me / They know I got demons all on me..."
On “Yikes,” Kanye West raps about his opioid addiction from prescription drugs to handle his “bipolar shit” and the paranoia that came along with it. At one point, Russell Simmons, a former drug addict himself, expressed his concerns about ‘Ye’s drug addiction. “Russell Simmons wanna pray for me too / I'ma pray for him 'cause he got #MeToo'd / Thinkin' what if that happened to me too / Then I'm on E! News,” raps Kanye.
- 3
"All these thots on Christian Mingle / Almost what got Tristan single…”
On “All Mine,” Kanye addresses groupies (or thots) who pursue wealthy celebrities whether they married or single. On this verse, Kanye hints at the infidelity rumors between Khloe Kardashian and Cavaliers baller Tristan Thompson. Yeezy adds himself to the infidelity list by playfully rapping that if he sees a fly woman wearing three stripes (aka Adidas), he might bag her up.
- 4
"Ayyy, time is extremely valuable and I prefer to waste it / On girls that's basic, that's just some Ye s---..."
On "All Mine," Kanye shares his thoughts on why celebrities cheat on their spouses. Again, keep in mind that this is the "other" 'Ye talking and that the happily married Kanye would never cheat on his wife.
- 5
"I said, 'Slavery a choice,' they said, 'How, Ye?' / Just imagine if they caught me on a wild day..."
“Wouldn’t Leave” is a major standout on the album as Kanye gets candid about his TMZ Live debacle where he claimed that “Slavery was a choice.” On the track, he salutes his wife Kim Kardashian who stood by his side throughout his controversial pro-Trump tweets and TMZ shenanigans. “Told her she could leave me now, but she wouldn't leave,” he raps. We must also add that Jeremih, Ty Dolla $ign and Young Thug’s harmonizing on the song is phenomenal.
- 6
"Even if, publicly, I lack the empathy / I ain't finna talk about it, another four centuries / One and one is two but me and you, that's infinity."
Again, on "Wouldn't Leave," Kanye addresses his TMZ Live interview. And although it was PR nightmare he doesn't want to talk about for "another four centuries" (alluding to his slavery reference). As far as he is concerned, he's going to love Kim until infinity.
- 7
"The true soul of Ice Cube / Too close to snipe you / Truth told, I like you...Too rich to fight you / Calm down, you light skin!”
Mr. West flips a Slick Rick sample and taps soulful crooner Charlie Wilson for the triumphant song “No Mistakes.” It has an “old Kanye vibe,” with the G.O.O.D. Music leader acknowledging it’s been a “shaky-ass year” for him but he vows to stay on top of his game.
- 8
"Sometimes I take all the shine / Talk like I drank all the wine / Years ahead but way behind..."
A precursor to what we are going to hear on the Kanye West-Kid Cudi joint album Kids See Ghosts, “Ghost Town” is a guitar-charging rap banger with Yeezy and Cudder opening up about heartbreak and pain. On this verse, 'Ye references his embarrassing 2009 MTV VMAs moment with Taylor Swift and suggests that he's ahead of his time when it comes to his creativity.
- 9
"Father forgive me, I'm scared of the karma / 'Cause now I see women as somethin' to nurture / Not somethin' to conquer..."
Another major standout on Ye, “Violent Crimes” is Kanye’s most personal and confessional track. On the song, Yeezy gets very candid about how he treated women in the past and how his views have changed now that he’s a father of two daughters. Nicki Minaj is featured on the song, but sadly she doesn’t rap on it. It would have been interesting to hear a woman’s perspective on the song. How about a remix, ‘Ye?
- 10
“Just being salty, but n----s is nuts / And I am a n----, I know what they want / I pray that you don't get it all at once…”
Again, on "Violent Crimes," Kanye prays that his daughters don't date a guy like him when they grow up. Yeezy admits he was a monster in his past relationships and he doesn't want that for his two girls North and Chicago.
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