Kanye West - The College Dropout Album Lyrics

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Intro

Kanye, can I talk to you for a minute?
Me and the other faculty members was wondering
Could you do a lil' some'
Lil' something beautiful
Something that the kids is gon' love when they hear it
That's gonna make 'em start jumping up and down
And sharing candy and stuff
Think you could probably do something for the kids
For graduation to sing?

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We Don't Care

Oh yeah, I got the perfect song for the kids to sing
And all my people that's

Drug dealin' just to get by
Stackin' money 'til it get sky high
We wasn't supposed 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" (yeah, yeah, yeah, uh)

If this is your first time hearin' this
You are about to experience something so cold, man
We never had nothin' handed
Took nothin' for granted
Took nothin' from no man
Man, I'm my own man
But as a shorty I looked up to the dope man
Only adult man I knew that wasn't broke, man
Flickin' Starter coats, man
Man, you don't know, man
We don't care what people say

This is for my niggas outside all winter
'Cause this summer, they ain't finna say
"Next summer I'm finna"
Sittin' in the hood like community colleges
This dope money here is lil' Trey's scholarship
'Cause ain't no tuition for having no ambition
And ain't no loans for sittin' your ass at home
So we forced to sell crack, rap, and get a job
You gotta do somethin' man, your ass is grown

Drug dealin' just to get by
Stackin' money 'til it get sky high
(Kids, sing, kids, sing)
We wasn't supposed 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"

The second verse is for my dogs working 9 to 5
That still hustle 'cause a nigga can't shine off .55
And everybody selling makeup, Jacob's
And bootlegged tapes just to get they cake up
We put shit on layaway, then come back
We claim other people kids on our income tax
We take that money, cop work, then push packs to get paid
And we don't care what people say
Mama say she want to move south
Scratchin' lottery tickets, eyes on a new house
'Round the same time, Doe ran up in dude house
Couldn't get a job, so since he couldn't get work
He figured he'd take work
The drug game bulimic, it's hard to get weight
So nigga's money is homo, it's hard to get straight
But we gon' keep bakin' 'till the day we get cake
And we don't care what people say
My niggas

Drug dealin' just to get by (yeah)
Stackin' money 'til it get sky high
(Kids, sing, kids, sing)
We wasn't supposed 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, uh)

You know the kids gon'' act a fool
When you stop the programs for after school
And they DCFS, some of 'em dyslexic
They favorite 50 Cent song "12 Questions"
We scream, "rocks, blows, weed, park"
See, now we smart
We ain't retards the way teachers thought
Hold up, hold fast, we make more cash
Now tell my mama I belong in that slow class
It's bad enough we on welfare
You tryna to put me on the school bus
With the space for the wheelchair
I'm trying to get the car with the chromey wheels here
You trying to cut our lights out like we don't live here
Look what was handed us, fathers abandoned us
When we get them hammers, go on call the ambulance
Sometimes I feel no one in this world understands us
But we don't care what people say
My niggas

Drug dealin' just to get by
Stackin' money 'til it get sky high
(Kids, sing, kids, sing)
We wasn't supposed 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"

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Graduation Day

What in the f*ck was that Kanye?
I told you to do some shit for the kids
You give me your motherf*cking graduation tickets right now
You give me this motherf*ckin' robe
What you catchin' senioritis?
You will not walk across that stage
You won't slide across that stage
A motherf*cker can't pull you
Across that motherf*ckin' stage, Kanye
Who told you? See, I told you to do something uplifting
I'm trying to get you out here with these white people
And this how you gon' do me?
You know what, you's a nigga
And I don't mean that in no nice way
Had little kids singin' about the shit
No, the jokes on you
You throw your mother- hands in the air
And wave goodbye to everybody
As you get the f- off this campus
What the f- you gon' do now?

I'm no longer confused, but don't tell anybody
I'm about to break the rules, but don't tell anybody
I got something better than school, but don't tell anybody
My mama would kill me, so don't tell anybody
She wants me to get a good-ass job, just like everybody
She ain't walked in my shoes, I'm just not everybody

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All Falls Down

Oh, when it all (yeah)
It all falls down (this the real one, baby)
I'm tellin' you all (uh)
It all falls down (Chi-Town, stand up)
Oh, when it all (Southside, Southside)
It all falls down (we gon' set this party off right)
I'm tellin' you all (Westside, Westside)
It all falls down, oh, when it all (we gon' set this party off right)

Man, I promise, she's so self-conscious
She has no idea what she doin' in college
That major that she majored in don't make no money
But she won't drop out, her parents'll look at her funny
Now, tell me that ain't insecurr
The concept of school seems so securr
Sophomore, three yurrs, ain't picked a carurr
She like, "F*ck it, I'll just stay down hurr and do hair"
'Cause that's enough money to buy her a few pairs
Of new Airs, 'cause her baby daddy don't really care
She's so precious with the peer pressure
Couldn't afford a car, so she named her daughter Alexis
She had hair so long that it looked like weave
Then she cut it all off, now she look like Eve
And she be dealin' with some issues that you can't believe
Single black female addicted to retail, and well

Oh, when it all, it all falls down (uh)
And when it falls down, who you gon' call now?
I'm tellin' you all (c'mon, c'mon)
It all falls down
And when it falls down, oh, when it all (and when it all falls down)

Man, I promise, I'm so self-conscious
That's why you always see me with at least one of my watches
Rollies and Pashas done drove me crazy
I can't even pronounce nothin', pass that Ver-say-see
Then I spent four hundred bucks on this
Just to be like, "Nigga, you ain't up on this"
And I can't even go to the grocery store
Without some Ones that's clean and a shirt with a team
It seem we livin' the American Dream
But the people highest up got the lowest self-esteem
The prettiest people do the ugliest things
For the road to riches and diamond rings
We shine because they hate us, floss 'cause they degrade us
We tryna buy back our 40 acres
And for that paper, look how low we'll stoop
Even if you in a Benz, you still a nigga in a coupe

Oh, when it all (c'mon, c'mon)
It all falls down (and when it falls down, who you gon' call now?)
I'm tellin' you all (come on, come on)
It all falls down, oh, when it all (and when it all falls down)

I say, "F*ck the police," that's how I treat 'em
We buy our way out of jail, but we can't buy freedom
We'll buy a lot of clothes, but we don't really need 'em
Things we buy to cover up what's inside
'Cause they made us hate ourself and love they wealth
That's why shorty's hollerin', "Where the ballers at?"
Drug dealer buy Jordan, crackhead buy crack
And the white man get paid off of all of that
But I ain't even gon' act holier than thou
'Cause f*ck it, I went to Jacob with twenty-five thou
Before I had a house and I'd do it again
'Cause I wanna be on 106 & Park, pushin' a Benz
I want to act ballerific like it's all terrific
I got a couple past-due bills, I won't get specific
I got a problem with spendin' before I get it
We all self-conscious, I'm just the first to admit it

Oh, when it all (yeah, c'mon, c'mon)
It all falls down (and when it falls down, who you gon' call now?)
I'm tellin' you all (c'mon, c'mon)
It all falls down (and when it falls down)
Oh, when it all (Southside, Southside)
It all falls down (we gon' set this party off right)
I'm tellin' you all (Westside, Westside)
It all falls down (we gon' set this party off right)
Oh, when it all (Chi-Town, Chi-Town)
It all falls down (We gon' show 'em how we get down)
I'm tellin' you all (Now, Syleena, you just like a safe belt)
It all falls down (you saved my life, c'mon)
Oh, when it all, it all falls down
I'm tellin' you all, it all falls down

I's can't keep workin' like this
This grave shift is like a slave ship

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I'll Fly Away

One glad morning, when this life is over
I'll fly away
To a land where joy shall never end, oh
I'll fly away

Oh, I'll fly away, oh glory
I'll fly away
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by
I'll fly away

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Spaceship

I've been workin' this grave shift and I ain't made shit
I wish I could buy me a spaceship and fly past the sky
I've been workin' 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
If my manager insults me again I will be assaulting him
After I f*ck the manager up then I'm gonna shorten the register up
Let's go back, back to the Gap
Look at my check, wasn't no scratch
So if I stole, wasn't my fault
Yeah I stole, never got caught
They take me to the back and pat me
Askin' me about some khakis
But let some black people walk in
I bet they show off their token blacky
Oh now they love Kanye, let's put him all in the front of the store
Saw him on break next to the "No Smoking" sign with a blunt in the mall
Takin' my hits, writin' my hits
Writin' my rhymes, playin' my mind
This f*ckin' job can't help him
So I quit, y'all welcome
Y'all don't know my struggle
Y'all can't match my hustle
You can't catch my hustle
You can't fathom my love dude
Lock yourself in a room doin' five beats a day for three summers
That's a different world like three summers
I deserve to do these numbers
The kid that made that deserves that Maybach
So many records in my basement
I'm just waitin' on my spaceship, blaow

I've been workin' this grave shift and I ain't made shit
I wish I could buy me a spaceship and fly past the sky
I've been workin' this grave shift and I ain't made shit
I wish I could buy me a spaceship and fly past the sky

Man, I'm talkin' way past the sky
Let's go, yeah
And I didn't even try to work a job
Represent the mob
At the same time thirsty on the grind
Chi state of mind
Lost my momma, lost my mind
My life, my love that's not mine
Why you ain't signed?
Wasn't my time
Leave me alone, work for y'all
Half of it's yours, half of it's mine
Only one to ball
Never wanna to fall
Gotta get mine
Gotta take mine
Got a tech nine
Reach my prime
Gotta make these haters respect mine
In the mall 'til 12 when my schedule headset nine
Puttin' them pants shelves
Waitin' patiently I ask myself
Where I want to go, where I want to be
Life is much more than runnin' in the streets
Holla at 'ye, hit me with the beat
Put me on my feet
Sound so sweet
Yes I'm the same ol' G, same goatee
Stayin' low key, nope
Holler at God "Man why'd you had to take my folks?"
Hope to see Freddy G., Yusef G
Love my G, Rolly G
Police watch me smoke my weed and count my G's
Got a lot of people countin' on me
And I'm just tryin' to find my peace
Should of finished school like my niece
Then I wouldn't finally wouldn't use my piece, blaow
Aw man, all this pressure

I've been workin' this grave shift and I ain't made shit
I wish I could buy me a spaceship and fly past the sky
I've been workin' this grave shift and I ain't made shit
I wish I could buy me a spaceship and fly past the sky

I remember havin' to take the dollar cab
Comin' home real late at night
Standin' on my feet all damn day
Tryin' to make this thing right
And havin' one of my co-workers say "Yo you look just like
This kid I seen in the old Busta Rhymes video the other night"
Well easy come, easy go
How that sayin' goes
No more broad service, cars, and them TV shows
I all had that snatched from me
A and R's and their faculties all turn their back on me
And didn't want to hear a rap from me
So naturally actually had to face things factually
Had to be a catastrophe with the fridgest starin' back at me
'Cause nothing's there, nothing's fair
I don't want to ever go back there
So I won't be takin' no days off 'til my spaceship takes off

I've been workin' this grave shift and I ain't made shit
I wish I could buy me a spaceship and fly past the sky
I've been workin' this grave shift and I ain't made shit
I wish I could buy me a spaceship and fly past the sky

I want to fly, I want to fly
I said I want my chariot to pick me up
And take a brother for a ride

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Jesus Walks

Order, huh
Yo, we at war
We at war with terrorism, racism, but most of all we at war with ourselves

(Jesus walks)
God show me the way because the Devil's tryin' to break me down
(Jesus walks with me, with me, with me, with me, with me)

You know what the Midwest is?
Young and Restless
Where restless niggas might snatch ya necklace
And next these niggas might jack ya Lexus
Somebody tell these niggas who Kanye West is
I walk through the valley of Chi where death is
Top floor of the view alone will leave you breathless
Try to catch it, it's kinda hard
Getting choked by detectives yeah, yeah, now check the method
They be asking us questions, harass, and arrest us
Saying, "We eat pieces of shit like you for breakfast"
Huh, y'all eat pieces of shit? What's the basis?
We ain't goin' nowhere, but got suits and cases
A trunk full of coke rental car from Avis
My Mama used to say only Jesus can save us
Well Mama, I know I act a fool
But I'll be gone 'til November, I got packs to move, I hope

(Jesus walks)
God show me the way because the Devil's tryin' to break me down
(Jesus walks with me)
The only thing that I pray is that my feet don't fail me now (I want Jesus)
(Jesus walks)
And I don't think there is nothing I can do now to right my wrongs
(Jesus walks with me)
I want to talk to God, but I'm afraid because we ain't spoke in so long
(I want Jesus)
God show me the way because the Devil's tryin' to break me down
The only thing that I pray is that my feet don't fail me now
And I don't think there is nothing I can do now to right my wrongs
I want to talk to God, but I'm afraid because we ain't spoke in so long, so long

So long
(Jesus walks with me)

To the hustlers, killers, murderers, drug dealers even the strippers
(Jesus walks with them)
To the victims of welfare for we living in hell here hell yeah
(Jesus walks with them)
Now hear ye hear ye want to see Thee more clearly
I know He hear me when my feet get weary
'Cause we're the almost nearly extinct
We rappers is role models, we rap we don't think
I ain't here to argue about his facial features
Or here to convert atheists into believers
I'm just trying to say the way school need teachers
The way Kathie Lee needed Regis, that's the way I need Jesus
So here go my single, dawg, radio needs this
They said you can rap about anything except for Jesus
That means guns, sex, lies, video tape
But if I talk about God my record won't get played
Huh?
Well if this take away from my spins
Which'll probably take away from my ends
Then I hope this take away from my sins
And bring the day that I'm dreaming 'bout
Next time I'm in the club everybody screaming out

(Jesus walks)
God show me the way because the devil trying to break me down
(Jesus walks with me, with me, with me)
The only thing that I pray is that me feet don't fail me now

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Never Let Me Down

When it comes to being true, at least true to me
One thing I found, one thing I found
Oh no you 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

Yo, first I snatched the streets then I snatched the charts
First I had they ear, now I have they heart
Rappers came and went, I've been here from the start
I seen them put it together, watched them take it apart
Seen the rovers roll up with ribbons
I seen them repo'd, resold then re-driven
So when I reload, he holds number one position
When you hot I'm hot
And when your feet cold, mines is sizzlin'
It's plain to see, niggas can't f*ck with me
'Cause I'm a be that nigga for life
This is not an image, this is God given
This is hard livin', mixed with Cristal sippin'
It's the most consistent, Hov
Give you the most hits you can fit inside a whole disc and
Nigga I'm home on these charts, y'all niggas visitin'
It's Hov tradition, Jeff Gordon of rap
I'm back to claim pole position, holla at ya boy

Get up, I get down
Get up, I get down
Get up, I get down
Get up, I get down

I get down for my grandfather who took my momma
Made her sit in that seat where white folks ain't want us to eat
At the tender age of six she was arrested for the sit-ins
And with that in my blood I was born to be different
Now niggas can't make it to ballots to choose leadership
But we can make it to Jacob's and to the dealership
That's why I hear new music and I just don't be feelin' it
Racism still alive, they just be concealin' it
But I know they don't want me in the damn club
They even make me show ID to get inside of Sam's club
I done did dirt and went to church to get my hands scrubbed
Swear I've been baptized each three or four times
But in the land where niggas praise Yukons and getting paid
Its goin' take a lot more than coupons to get us saved
Like it take a lot more than du-rags to get you waves
Nothing sad as that day my girl father past away
So I promised to Mr. Rainey I'm gonna marry your daughter
And you know I gotta thank you for the way that she was brought up
And I know that you was smiling when you seen the car I bought her
And you sent tears from heaven when you seen my car get balled up
But I can't complain what the accident did to my left eye
'Cause look what an accident did to Left Eye
First Aaliyah, now Romeo must die
I know I got angels watchin' me from the other side

When it comes to being true, at least true to me
One thing I found, one thing I found
Oh no you 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

We are all here for a reason on a particular path
You don't need a curriculum to know that you a apart of the math
Cats think I'm delirious but I'm so damn serious
That's why I expose my soul to the globe, the world
I'm tryin' to make it better for these little boys and girls
I'm not just another individual
My spirit is a part of this that's why I get spiritual
But I get my hymns from Him
So it's not me it's He that's lyrical
I'm not a miracle, I'm a heaven sent instrument
My rhythmatic regiment navigates melodic notes
For your soul and your mental
That's why I'm instrumental, vibrations is what I'm into
Yeah I need my loot by rent day
But that ain't what gives me the heart of Kunta Kinte
I'm tryin' to give us us free like Sinke
I can't stop, that's why I'm hot
Determination, dedication, motivation
I'm talking to you of my many inspirations
When I say I can't let you or self down
If I were on the highest cliff, on the highest riff
And you slipped off the side and clinched on to your life
In my grip I would never ever let you down
And when these words are found
Let it be known that God's penmanship has been signed
With a language called love
That's why my breath is felt by the death
And while my words are heard and confined to the ears of the blind
I too dream in color and in rhyme
So I guess I'm one of a kind in a full house
'Cause whenever I open my heart, my soul or my mouth
A touch of God reigns out

When it comes to being true, at least true to me
One thing I found, one thing I found
Oh no you 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

Who else you know been hot this long
Started from nothing but he got this strong
Built the Roc from a pebble, peddled rock before I met you
Peddled bikes, got my nephews peddle bikes because they special
Let you tell it man I'm fallin' well
Somebody must have caught him 'cause
Every fourth quarter, I like to Mike Jordan 'em
Number one albums what I got, like four of 'em
More of them on the way, the eighth wonder on the way
Clear the way, I'm here to stay
Y'all can save the chitter chat, this and that
This is Jay, dissin' Jay will get you Mase'd
When I start spittin' them lyrics niggas get very religious
Six hail Mary's please Father forgive us
Young, the archbishop, the Pope John Paul of y'all niggas
They way y'all all follow Jigga
Hov's a livin' legend and I'll tell you why
Everybody want to be Hov and Hov's still alive

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Get Em High

I'm trying to catch the beat, uh
I'm trying to catch the beat
I'm trying to catch the beat, uh, uh, uh
I'm trying to catch the beat

Now, thr-thr-throw your motherf*cking hands (get 'em high)
All the girls pass the weed to your motherf*cking man (get 'em high)
Now I ain't never tell you to put down your hands (keep 'em high)
And if ya losing yo' high than smoke again (keep 'em high)

N-n-n-now, my flow
Is in the pocket like wallets, I got the bounce like hydrolics
I can't call it, I got the swerve like alcoholics
My freshman year I was going through hell, a problems
Still I, built up the nerve to drop my ass up outta college
My teacher said I's a loser, I told her why don't you kill me
I give a f*ck if you feel me, I'm gonna follow
My heart, and if you follow the charts, or to the plaques or the stacks
You ain't gotta guess who's back, you see
I'm so shy that you thought it was bashful but this
Bastard's flow will bash a 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 asking fo'
Why you think, me and Dame cool, we assholes
That's why we here your music in fast fo'
Cause we don't want to here that weak shit no mo'

Now, thr-thr-throw your motherf*cking hands (Get 'em high!)
All the girls pass the weed to your motherf*cking man (Get 'em high!)
Now I ain't never tell you to put down your hands (Keep 'em high!)
And if ya losing yo' high than smoke again (Keep 'em high!)

Now now now now now who the hell is this
E-mailing me at 11:26, tellin' me that she 36-26,
Plus double D you know how girls on black planet be when they get bubble E
At NYU but she hail from Kansas,
Right now she just lamping, chilling on campus
Sent me a picture with a feeling 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, lyric sticks 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 lying)
Yo Kwe', she don't believe me, please pickup the line
She goin' think that I'm lying, just spit a couple of lines
Then maybe I'll be able to give her dick all the time, and get her high

Yeah, I can't believe this nigga use my name for picking up dimes but
Get 'em high, I need some tracks you trying to pull tracks out
And my rhymes as fitting to blow you trying to blow backs out
Well OK, you twisted my arm, I'll assist with the charm, hey yo
Ain't you meet that chick that got friends with yo moms
And she's the bomb, boy she got the bougie behavior
Always got something to say like a okay playa hater
Anyways, I don't usually f*ck with the internet
Or chicks with birth control stuck to they arm like Nicorette
You really f*cking that much, you trying to get off cigarettes
And she think it's fly, she ain't met a real nigga yet
I apologize if I come off a little inconsiderate
I got the bubble kush and a sister could get ahead of it

Get em high like noon, or the moon or room filled with smoke
A high filled with dope
Y'all assumed I was doomed, out of tune, but I still feel 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, to have my own reality show
Called Soul Survivor, I stole all liver, niggas in you
You'se 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, mug is to sexy to even make songs like these
That's why the raw don't know your name, like Alicia Keys
To many featured emcees, and producers is popular
Twelve thousand spins, nobody got to copping her
Album, how come, you the hot garbager
The years clear your image and looped up
Label got you suped up, telling you you sick
Man 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 infa', red across your head I'm bread king like Simba
Bolder then Denver, I ain't a Madd Rapper just a emcee with a temper
You dancing for money like honey, I did this my way
So when the industry crash, I survive like Kanye
Spitting through wires and fires, emcees retiring
Got yo hands up, get them motherf*ckers higher then

Now, thr-thr-throw your motherf*cking hands (get 'em high)
All the girls pass the weed to your motherf*cking man (get 'em high)
Now I ain't never tell you to put down your hands (keep 'em high)
And if ya losing yo' high than smoke again (keep 'em high)

---

Workout Plan

Hey, what's up, girl?

Hey, girl

Hey, how you doin'?

Hey, 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 Shakuar and stuff

You know I'm sayin'?

My nigga, my nigga
I'm tired of putting 1-8-7 in my nigga's pager
That shit ain't workin' no more

Girl, you know I'm a video ho-fessional 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 how 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 looking out for us

My nigga now I can throw away my bus pass and shit, oh my God

Oh shit

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The New Workout Plan

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

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
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

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 talkin' about freaking out
Then maybe we can work it out, work it out (c'mon, c'mon)
Work it out, work it out, work it out now (c'mon, c'mon)
Maybe we can work it out (c'mon, c'mon)

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, yeah, I bought them cars
Still kill a nigga on sixteen 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 (yeah)
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
Okay, 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 'fore you start back dating
Hustlers, gangstas, all us ballers

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 talkin' about freaking out
Then maybe we can work it out, work it out (c'mon, c'mon)
Work it out, work it out, work it out now (c'mon, c'mon) (hi, my name is Jill)
Maybe we can work it out (c'mon, c'mon) (I just wanna 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, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo

My name is Lasandra, and I just wanted to say
Since listening to Kanye's workout tape
I was able to get my phone bill paid, I got sounds and 13s
Put on my Cavalier and I was able to get a free trip to Cancun
And what's most importantly
Is that I ain't gotta f*ck with Ray-Ray 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, rode a plane, rode a plane

(Woo) thanks to Kanye's workout plan
I'm the envy of all my friends
See I pulled me a baller man (yeah)
And I ain't gotta work at the mall again

(Lemme break ya off wit' a piece of)
Favorite work out plan (oh, oh, oh)
I wanna see you work out
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
(That's like that old Michael Jackson shit, uh) work it out

That's right put in work, move your ass, go berserk (uh, okay)
Eat your salad, no dessert
Get that man you deserve
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)

That's right, put in work (uh)
Move your ass, go berserk
Eat your salad, no dessert
Get that man you deserve (uh, and stop)
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 (well, I hope not, 'cause on this one I need y'all)
His workout plan (to give me a soul clap, okay? Double time)

That's right, put in work (woo)
Move your ass, go berserk (ow)
Eat your salad, no dessert (uh)
Get that man you deserve

That's right, put in work
Move your ass, go berserk
Eat your salad, no dessert
Get that man you deserve (you hear 'em, uh)

That's right, put in work
Move your ass, go berserk
Eat your salad, no dessert
Get that man you deserve (woo)

Okay, okay, okay, that's very good (whoa yeah, whoa yeah)
Whoa yeah, whoa, whoa, whoa yeah
I appreciate your time
Whoa yeah, I want to see you work out for me
Whoa, yeah

That felt good, good
It's good, it's good (yo)

---

Slow Jamz

Kanye, it's Foxx, man
I'm just sayin' I was talkin' to the girls, you know
And 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 92 hundred songs back to back
With ain't nobody really, 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

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 Ripperton will definitely set this party off right

Yes it will, it definitely will
You know what I told her?

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', calling me Biggie like Shyne home
Man I swear she fine homes (back in the day)
Why she always lying though?
Tellin' me them diamonds (back in the day)
When she know they rhinestones
She's 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

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 Ripperton will definitely set this party off right
Yes it will
Oh, yes it will

Smokey Robinson, Smokey Robinson
Freddie Jackson, everything, everything
Smokey Robinson, Ashford & Simpson
Set the party, really set the party off right
Yes it will, yes it will
Al Green, oh
Al Green, oh yeah
Ooh, whatcha know about the Isley Brothers?

Now, now Kanye, I know I told you to slow it down, baby
And it's good, it's all good, it's beautiful, 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

Got you looking at the glist on my hands and wrist
While I'm laying back smoking on my cannabis
When it come to rocking 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 sipping Hennessy, play some R&B
While I smoke a b, you can preferably find that I'm a G
And all this (well, well, well, well)
Come with 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 moving so I bump a lil' Spinners
While I'm smoking on a b dipping through the streets
Bumpin' R&B and I got the heat on the 23's
And I do it (well, well, well, well)
With 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 controlling me
I'm lovin' the way you be holdin' me when I be listening to Jodeci
And when I come over and bend ya ass
You be bumping 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 with me
And when some Luther come on I hope you feelin' me
And still will be in love wit me, Chi ride

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 Ripperton will definitely set this party off right
Yes it will
Oh, yes it will

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

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 Ripperton will definitely set this party off right
Yes it will
Oh, yes it will

---

Breathe In Breathe Out

Yeah, breathe in, breathe out
If ya iced up, pull ya sleeves out
Push a big truck, pull ya keys out
Girls go wild and pull ya D's out
Breathe in, breathe out
Let them hoes fight, pull her weave out
If a nigga act up, pull a Desert E's out
When I pull the piece out, niggas like, "Peace out!"

Golly, more of that bullshit ice rap
I got to apologize 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 rappin', 'bout money, hoes, and rims again
And it's still about the Benjamins
Big faced hundreds and whatever other synonyms
Strippers named Cinnamon
More chips than Pentium
"What ya gon' buy next?" Whatever new trend it is
I'm tryin' to 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, dawg?
Sing along with me, y'all

Yeah, breathe in, breathe out (uh)
If ya iced up, pull ya sleeves out
Push a big truck, pull ya keys out
Girls go wild and pull ya D's out
Breathe in, breathe out
Let them hoes fight, pull her weave out
If a nigga act up, pull a Desert E's out
When I pull the piece out, niggas like, "Peace out!"

Now, even thouh I went to college and dropped out of school quick
I always had a Ph.D., a pretty huge dick
Ladies tired of gettin' ripped off by guys like this
And givin' head is like a whale thats usin' a toothpick
Well, I'm in the club for a limited time
Act now and get some action for free-ninety-nine
Later on I might charge for ménage
Heard her man was the boss of the floss
But she still wanna toss me the drawers
And it ain't goin' cost me because she my caddy
'Cause she grabbed my golf balls in the club
And I'm still actin' calm than a mug
She asked, "Can you drive me and 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 trickin' off, don't get no rich nigga
Give me some head, that'll really piss him off

Yeah, breathe in, breathe out
If ya iced up, pull ya sleeves out
Push a big truck, pull ya keys out
Girls go wild and pull ya D's out
Breathe in, breathe out
Let them hoes fight, pull her weave out
If a nigga act up, pull a Desert E's out
When I pull the piece out, niggas like, "Peace out!"

I blow past low class niggas with no cash
In the fo' dash six, bitch, you can go ask
So when I go fast popo just lauh
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
Pullin' up in the Lexus's one on both hand
So I guess them GS's was ambidextrous
Could of sworn her breasteses was sendin' 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, ya gotta breathe

Yeah, breathe in, breathe out
If ya iced up, pull ya sleeves out
Push a big truck, pull ya keys out
Girls go wild and pull ya D's out
Breathe in, breathe out
Let them hoes fight, pull her weave out
If a nigga act up, pull a Desert E's out
When I pull the piece out, niggas like, "Peace out!"

Yeah, uh-uh-uh, uh
And you say, "Chi-City" (Chi-City)
Y-Yeah, and you say, "Chi-City" (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)
Uh-huh (uh-huh), you say, "Chi-"
Y-You say, "Ch-", Y-You say, "Chi-City" (Chi-City)
Chi-city (Chi-City), Chi-City (Chi-City)
(Chi-city, Chi-City, Chi-City)

---

School Spirit Skit 1

You keep it going, man, you keep those books rolling
You, you pick up all those books that you're gonna read
And not remember and you roll, man
You get that Associate degree, okay?
Then you get your Bachelors', then you get your Masters
Then you get your Master's masters
Then you get your Doctrine
You go, man
And then, when everybody says quit
You show them those degree, 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 52, so what?"
Hate all you want, but I'm smart, I'm so smart
And, and I'm in school
These guys are out here 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

---

School Spirit

School spirit-

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

I'ma get on this TV, mama
I'ma, I'ma put ish down
I'ma make sure these light-skinned-
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 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- graduated at the top of our class
I went to Cheesecake, he was a waiter there

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 (uh) is raw

I got a Jones like Norah for your sorrow
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 1's, 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
Bend over, I'm here for a reason

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

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
I feel some woos coming on, cuz
A couple woos coming on, cuz
(Woo, woo)
There they was

---

School Spirit Skit 2

You keep it going, man, you keep those books rolling
You, you pick up all those books that you're gonna read
And not remember and you roll, man
You get that Associate degree, okay?
Then you get your Bachelors', then you get your Masters
Then you get your Master's masters
Then you get your Doctrine
You go, man
And then, when everybody says quit
You show them those degree, 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 52, so what?"
Hate all you want, but I'm smart, I'm so smart
And, and I'm in school
These guys are out here 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

---

Lil Jimmy Skit

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
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
He 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 gonna 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?

---

Two Words

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 (nowhere to go)
Still nowhere to go (nowhere to go)
Now throw your hands up
Hustlers, busters, boosters, hoes
Everybody, f*ck that
Still nowhere to go (nowhere to go)
Still nowhere to go (nowhere to go)

(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, BK, NY, Bed-Stuy
Two 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 shit, gun 'pon cock shit
We won't stop, everybody move

Now throw your hands up (throw your hands up high)
Hustlers, busters, boosters, hoes
Everybody, f*ck that
Still nowhere to go (nowhere to go)
Still nowhere to go (nowhere to go)

And keep your hands up ('til they reach the sky)
Hustlers, busters, boosters, hoes
Everybody, f*ck that
Still nowhere to go (nowhere to go)
Still nowhere to go (nowhere to go)

Ayo, two words, Chi-Town, Southside, worldwide
'Cause I rep that 'til I f*ckin' 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, "F*ck 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 (throw your hands up high)
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

Now throw your hands up (throw your hands up high)
Hustlers, busters, boosters, hoes
Everybody, f*ck that
Still nowhere to go (nowhere to go)
Still nowhere to go (nowhere to go)

Two words, Freeway, two letters, A-R
Turn y'all rap niggas into 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," uh
Two words, Freeway, slightly retarded
F*ck around, throw a clip in your artist, leave with his broad

Red, white blue, black (throw your hands up)
Calm down, move back (throw your hands up)
Motherf*ckers 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)
And show it to 'em like

---

Through The Wire

Yo, Gee, they can't stop me from rappin', can they?
Can they, Hop?

(Through the fire, to the limit, to the wall)
I spit it through the wire, man
(For a chance to be with you, I'd gladly risk it all)
There's too much stuff on my heart right now, man
I'd gladly risk it all right now
(Through the fire, through whatever, come what may)
It's a life-or-death situation, man
(For a chance at loving you, I'd take it all the way)
Y'all, y'all don't really understand how I feel right now, man
It's your boy, Kanye to the
(Right down to the wire, even through the fire)
Chi-Town, what's goin' on?
Uh-huh, yeah, yeah

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 been tryna be mine
She a Delta, so she been throwing that Dynasty sign
No use me tryna be lyin', I been tryna be signed
Tryna 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

(Through the fire, to the limit, to the wall)
I really apologize to everyone right now
If, if it's unclear at all, man
(For a chance to be with you, I'd gladly risk it all)
They got my mouth wired shut
For like, I dunno, the doctor said like six weeks
You know, he had reconstruct, I had reconstructive surgery on my jaw
(Through the fire, through whatever, come what may)
I looked in the mirror, half my jaw was in the back of my mouth, man
(For a chance at loving you, I'd take it all the way)
I couldn't believe it
But I'm still here for y'all right now, man
(Right down to the wire, even through the fire)
This what I got to say right here, dawg
Yeah, turn me up, yeah, uh

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 Ma$e felt (Mason Betha)
Thank God I ain't too cool for the safe belt (uh-huh)
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 (uh-huh)
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 (uh-huh, yeah, yeah)
Make music that's fire, spit my soul through the wire (woo)

(Through the fire, to the limit, to the wall)
You know what I'm sayin'?
When the doctor told me I had a, um, I was gonna have to have a plate in my chin
(For a chance to be with you, I'd gladly risk it all)
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
(Through the fire, through whatever, come what may)
You can't be serious, man
(For a chance at loving you, I'd take it all the way)
(Right down to the wire, even through the fire)

---

Family Business

How's your son? (All, all, all the thang, thang)
He made the team this year? (All, all, the thang, thang)
Aight, they said he wasn't tall enough (all, all that glitters is not gold)
Ma, we here, we gon' cook this Sunday, okay? (And all gold is not reality)
So come by (real is what you lays on me)
That's your new girlfriend?

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
That's 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
Yeah, 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 have to look all to 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

And I don't care about (all, all, diamond rings, diamond rings)
They don't mean a thing (all, all, the thang, thang)
All these fancy things (all, all, the thang, thang)
I tell you that all my weight in gold (all, all that glitters is not gold, all good is not reality)
Now all I know, I know all these things (real is what you lays on me)

Yeah, yeah, this is family business
And this is for everybody standin' 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 photo book up
I got an 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 eatin' her food
And you don't wanna stay there 'cause them your worst cousins
Got roaches at their crib like them your first cousins
Act like you ain't took a bath with your cousins
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

Rain, rain, rain, go away (uh)
Let the sun come out and all the children say (uh)
Rain, rain, rain, go away (yeah, yeah, uh)
Let the sun come out and all the children say (yeah)

I woke up early this mornin' with a new state of mind
A creative way to rhyme without usin' 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 Shiela always performin'?
Second she storm out then he storms 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 lettin' everybody in our family business, uh

(All, all, diamond rings, diamond rings)
They don't mean a thing (all, all, all the thang, thang)
They don't mean a thing (all, all, all the thang, thang, thang)
(All, all that glitters is not gold, all gold is not reality)
They don't mean a thing, a thing (real is what you lays on me)
And I don't care about (all, all, diamond rings, diamond rings)
They don't mean a thing (all, all, all the thang, thang)
All these fancy things (all, all, all the thang, thang, thang)
I tell you that all my weight in gold (all, all that glitters is not gold, all good is not reality)
Now all I know, I know all these things (real is what you lays on me)

All these things (all these things)
CLK Mercedes Benz
These things (all these things)
All these things (all these things)
All these things (these things)
A whole lotta money
All these things (all these things)
Mommy and daddy, can you please stop fighting?
These things (and I don't care about)
All these things (these things)
All these things (all these things)
These things
Let's get Stevie out of jail

---

Last Call

(Let's run it, let's run it, let's run it)
Yo, f*ck you, Kanye, first and foremost
For making me do this shit, muhf*cker
Had to throw everybody out the muhf*ckin' room
'Cause they don't f*ckin'

I'd like to propose a toast
I said toast, motherf*cker

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

The all around the world Digital Underground Pac
The Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer of the Roc
I take my chain, my 15 seconds of fame
And come back next year with the whole f*cking 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 10 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

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

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
When you 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 ooh
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 tryna shine
Every motherf*cker 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 Kan, 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

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

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 played a songs, he's like "Who that spittin'?" I'm like "It's me"
He's like, "Oh, okay."
Uh, he started talkin' to me on the phone, going back and forth
Just askin' me to send him beats
And I think he's tryna get into managing producers
'Cause he had this other kid named Just Blaze he was messin' with
And um, he was friends with my mentor, No I.D.
And No I.D. told him
"Look, man, if you wanna mess with Kanye you gotta tell him that you like the way he rap"
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
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 get 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 it sped up sample
And now it's kind of like my whole style, where 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
Just I, I just needed some fresh air, you know what I'm sayin'?
'Cause I, I been there for a while
I appreciate what they did for me but
You know there's a time in every man's life where he gotta make a change
And try to move up to the next level
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"
And he, uh, played the song 'cause he already spit his verse by the time I got to the studio
You know he do it one take
He said 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?"
And I was like, "Man, that shit tight," you know what I'm sayin'? 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 tryna do my thing
You know, I got groups, I got acts I'm tryna get on
And like 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 tryna leave my company
And I got evicted at the same time
So I went down and tracked the beats from him
And 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
Newark, New Jersey, I hadn't even seen my apartment
I remember I pulled up, 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"
So I played "Heart of the City"
And really I made "Heart of the City," I really wanted to give that beat to DMX
Then I played another beat, then 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, ooh
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"
"You that kid that gave all them beats to Jay? Yo, this nigga got classics to your beats, B"
You know how he talk his 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 or whatever
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, go back to in story
The day I did the 'Can't be Life' beat I tracked
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"
And that was it, you know, I ain't get no deal or nothin'
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
'Cause 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"
Ayy, 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 f*cked with me though
But then like the heads, it'd be somebody at the company that'll say "nah"
Like, Dave Lighty f*cked with me, my nigga Mel brought me to a bunch of labels
Jessica Rivera, man
I'm not gonna say nothin' to mess my promotion up
Let's just say I ain't get my deal
The nigga that was behind me, I mean, he wasn't even a nigga
The person that actually kicked everything off was Joe 3H from Capitol Records
He wanted to sign me really bad
Dame was like, "Yo, you got a deal with Capitol? Okay, man, just 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 you'll never hear
Well 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 eleven plaques on my walls right now
You got your first gold single, damn, nigga, wow"
Like the chorus went like
Don't bite that chorus, I might still use it
So I play that song for him and he's like "oh, shit"
"I ain't gonna front, it's 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 hallway
He's like "Yo, man, B, B, you don't want a brick, you don't want a brick"
"You gotta be under an umbrella or you'll get rained on"
I told Hip Hop and Hip Hop was like, "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, and they had Mel call me, they said, "Yo, Capitol pulled 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?