Kanye West's "Late Registration" Lyrics

Kanye was a little bit older, and a little bit more famous, when he recorded his sophomore album, and his growing maturity is reflected in its content. He waxed poetic on money hungry women (“Gold Digger”), touched on the crack epidemic of the '80s (“Crack Music”) and crafted an ode to his mother (“Hey Mama”), whose single parenting clearly had a profound affect on him. While the subject matter could get a little deep at times, ‘Ye kept it upbeat with songs like “Celebration” and “Touch the Sky,” and collaborations with everyone from Nas to Jay-Z to Adam Levine and Jamie Foxx.

Here are the lyrics for Kanye West's second album, Late Registration.

[Chorus 1]

I gotta testify, come up in the spot looking extra fly

For the day I die, I'mma touch the sky

Gotta testify, come up in the spot looking extra fly

For the day I die, I'mma touch the sky

Back when they thought pink polo's would hurt the Roc,

Before Cam got the shit to pop, the doors was closed.

I felt like Bad Boy's street team, I couldn't work the Lox (locks).

Now let's go.

Take 'em back to the plan...

Me and my momma hopped in the U-Haul van.

Any pessimists I ain't talked to them,

Plus, I ain't have no phone in my apartment.

Let's take 'em back to the club.

Least about an hour I’d stand on line,

I just wanted to dance.

I went to Jacob an hour after I got my advance.

I just wanted to shine.

Jay's favorite line: "Dog, in due time"

Now he look at me, like "Damn, dog, you where I am"

A hip hop legend.

I think I died in an accident, cause this must be heaven.

[Chorus]

[Hook 1 (P. Diddy)]

Now let's take 'em high-igh-igh-igh-igh-igh la la la la la la la

(Top of the world, baby. T-Top of the world)

Now let's take 'em high-igh-igh-igh-igh-igh la la la la la la la

(Top of the world, baby. T-Top of the world)

Back when Gucci was the shit to rock,

Back when Slick Rick got the shit to pop,

I'd do anything to say "I got it".

Damn, them new loafers hurt my pocket.

Before anybody wanted K-West beats,

Me and my girl split the buffet at KFC.

Dog, I was having nervous breakdowns,

Like "Man, these niggas that much better than me?"

Baby, I'm going on an airplane,

And I don't know if I'll be back again.

Sure enough, I sent the plane tickets,

But when she came to kick it, things became different.

Any girl I cheated on, sheets I skeeted on.

I couldn't keep it at home, I thought I needed a Nia Long.

I'm trying to right my wrongs,

But it's funny these same wrongs helped me write this song.

Now,

[Chorus 2]

I gotta testify, come up in the spot looking extra fly

For the day you die, You gonna touch the sky

(You gonna touch the sky babygirl!) Testify, come up in the spot

Looking extra fly

For the day you die, You gonna touch the sky

Yes, yes, yes guess who's on third?

Lupe steal like Lupin the Third.

Hear like ear till I'm beer on the curb

Peach fuzz buzz but beard on the verge

Slow it down like we're on the syrup

Bottle-shaped body like Mrs. Butterworth's.

But, before you say another word,

I'm back on the block like I'm laying on the street.

I'm trying to stop lion like a Mum-Ra,

But I'm not lying when I'm laying on the beat.

Engard, touché Lupe cool as the unthawed

But I still feel as possessed as a gun charge.

I come as correct as a porn star,

In a fresh pair of steps and my best foreign car.

So, I represent the first.

Now, let me end my verse right where the horns are like

[Chorus 2]

[Hook 2 (P. Diddy)]

(We back at home, baby)

Sky high

I'm, I'm sky high

I'm, I'm sky high

I'm, I'm sky high

I'm, I'm sky high

I'm, I'm sky high

Sky, Sky high

I'm, I'm sky high

Yeah! (Keep it rolling)

(Feels good to be home, baby! Feels good to be home!)

[Jamie Foxx]

She take my money when I'm in need

Yeah she's a trifling friend indeed

Oh she's a gold digger way over town

That digs on me

[Chorus:]

(She gives me money)

Now I ain't sayin' she a gold digger (When I'm in Need)

But she ain't messin' with no broke niggas

(She gives me money)

Now I ain't sayin' she a gold digger (When I'm in need)

But she ain't messin' with no broke niggas

Get down girl go head get down (I gotta leave)

Get down girl go head get down (I gotta leave)

Get down girl go head get down (I gotta leave)

Get down girl gone head

[Verse 1:]

Cutie the bomb

Met her at a beauty salon

With a baby Louis Vuitton

Under her underarm

She said I can tell you ROC

I can tell by your charm

Far as girls you got a flock

I can tell by your charm and your arm

but I'm looking for the one

have you seen her?

My psychic told me she’ll have an ass like Serena

Trina, Jennifer Lopez, four kids

An I gotta take all they bad ass to show-biz?

OK get your kids but then they got their friends

I pulled up in the Benz, they all got up in

We all went to Den and then I had to pay

If you fucking with this girl then you better be payed

You know why

It take too much to touch her

From what I heard she got a baby by Busta

My best friend say she use to fuck with Usher

I don't care what none of y’all say I still love her

[Chorus]

[Verse 2:]

18 years, 18 years

She got one of your kids got you for 18 years

I know somebody paying child support for one of his kids

His baby mamma's car and crib is bigger than his

You will see him on TV any given Sunday

Win the Superbowl and drive off in a Hyundai

She was suppose to buy you shorty TYCO with your money

She went to the doctor got lypo with your money

She walking around looking like Michael with your money

Should of got that insured, GEICO for your money

If you aint no punk holla we want prenup

WE WANT PRENUP! Yeah

It's something that you need to have

'Cause when she leave yo ass she gone leave with half

18 years, 18 years

And on her 18th birthday he found out it wasn't his

[Chorus]

[Verse 3:]

Now I ain't saying you're a gold digger you got needs

You don't want your dude to smoke but he can't buy weed

You got out to eat, he cant pay you all can't leave

There's dishes in the back, he gotta roll up his sleeves

But why you all washing watch him

He gone make it to a Benz out of that Datson

He got that ambition baby look in his eyes

This week he mopping floors next week it's the fries

So, stick by his side

I know his dude's balling and yeah that's nice

And they gone keep calling and trying

But you stay right girl

And when he get on he leave your ass for a white girl

Get down girl go head get down

Get down girl go head get down

Get down girl go head get down

get down girl go head

(lemme hear that back)

[Chorus:]

Drive slow homey

Drive slow homey

Ya never know homey might meet some hoes homey

Ya need to pump your brakes and drive slow homey

[Kanye:]

My homey Mali used to stay, 79th and May

One of my best friends from back in the day

Down the street from Calumet a school full of stones

He nicknamed me K-Rock so they'd leave me alone

Bulls jacket with his hat broke way off

Walk around the mall with his radio face off

Plus he had the spinner from his Dayton's in his hand

Keys in his hand reason again to let you know he's the man

Back when we rocked Alesis he had dreams of Caprice's

Drove by the teachers even more by police's

How he get that cash today his father passed away

Left him with a little something 16 he was stunting

Al B Sure nigga with the hair all wavy

Hit lakeshore girls go all crazy

Hit the freeway go at least bout 80

Boned so much that summer even had him a baby

See back back then then if you had a car

You was the Chi town version of Baby

And I was just a virgin a baby

One of the reasons I looked up to him crazy

I used to love to play my demo tape when the system yanked

Felt like I was almost signed when the shit got cranked

We'd take a Saturday and just circle the mall

They had the Lincoln's and Aurora's we were hurting them all

With the girls a lot of flirting involved

But dawg fuck all that flirting I'm trying to get in some draws

So put me on with these hoes homey

He told me don't rush to get grown drive slow homey

Drive slow homie

Drive slow...

Ya never know homey about these hoes homey

Ya need to pump your breaks and drive slow homey

[Paul Wall:]

What It do

I'm posted up in the parking lot my trunk wavin'

The candy gloss is immaculate it’s simply amazing

Them elbows poking wide on that Candy-lac

Trunk open, screen's on, neon's lit with fifth relax

I'm on a mission for dime pieces and sexy ladies

Allow me to introduce you to my CL Mercedes

It's a star-studded event when I valet park

Open up my mouth and sunlight illuminates the dark

You see them 4's crawling, you see them screens falling

The disco ball in my mouth insinuates I'm balling

I'm leaning on a switch sitting crooked in my slab

But I could still catch boopas if I drove a cab

A young Houston hard hitter all about the scrilla

Riding some candy coated crawling like a caterpillar

I'm tipping on those 4's I'm jamming on this screw

I'm looking for them hoes baby what it do?

[Chorus:]

Drive slow homey

Turn your hazard lights on when you see them hoes

Drive slow homey

If you riding around the city with nowhere to go

Drive slow homey

Live today cause tomorrow man you never know

Ya never know homey might meet some hoes homey

Ya need to pump your brakes and drive slow homey

[Kanye:]

My cars like the movies my cars like the crib

I got more TV's in here then where I live

[GLC:]

And that don't make no sense but baby I'm the shit

And everything I flip you know is something serious

I got the custom grill I got the Brabus rims

I got the baller genetics baby that's evident

You see a player flicking and you ain't convinced

That you should go and kiss it just a little bit

I wear my custom kicks I got my Jesus chain

My canaries is gleaming though my angel wings

They see me hoes acting like they seen a king

With that mean lean smoking on the finest Cali green

My wood grain oak I'm riding on vogues

My cylinder quiet like tip toes

I sold O's and this I know

When you see them hoes little homey drive slow

Chopped and Screwed

Yeah..

Drive slow homey

Drive slow homey

Ya never know homey might meet some hoes homey

Ya need to pump your brakes and drive slow homey

Drive slow homey

Yeah

I'm on my way home

(Common)

They say home is where the hate is

My dome is where fate is

I stroll where souls get lost like vegas

Seen through the eyes of rebel glasses

Pray to god that my arms reach the masses

The young smoke grass in grassless jungles

Rubberband together in cashless bundles

We wear struggling chains

Divided only hustle remains

Making sense of it we hustle for change

Revolution ain't a game

It's another name

For life fighting

Someone to stay in they corner like Mike Tyson

Hypes fighting for hits to heighten they hell

Don't he know he could only get as high as he fell

Show money becomes bail

Relationships become jail

Children are unheld

I wish love was for sale

Behold the pale

Horse got me trapped like r. kel, I bail and it-

Might not be such a bad idea if I never, never went home again

I'm on my way home

I left three days ago

But no one seems to know I'm gone

Home is where the hatred is

Home is filled with pain and it

Might not be such a bad idea if I never

Never went home again.

[Hook]

[Kanye]

That's that crack music nigga

That real black music nigga

La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

La-la-la-la-la-la

[The Game]

That's that crack music nigga

That real black music nigga

La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

La-la-la-la-la-la

[Verse 1]

[Kanye]

How we stop the black panthers?

Ronald Reagan cooked up an answer

You hear that?

What Jill Scott was hearin

When our heroes and heroines got hooked on heroin.

Crack raised the murder rate in DC and Maryland

We invested in that it's like we got Merril-Lynched

And we been hangin from the same tree ever since

Sometimes I feel the music is the only medicine

So we cook it, cut it, measure it, bag it,sell it

The fiends cop it

Nowadays they can’t tell if that's that good shit

We ain't sure man

Put the CD on your tongue yeah, thats pure man.

[Hook]

[Verse 2]

From the place where the fathers gone,

The mothers is hardly home

And the madigons

lock us up in "Audy Home"

How the Mexicans say we just tryin to party homes

They wanna pack us all in a box like styrofoam

Who gave Saddam anthrax?

George Bush got the answers

Back in the hood it's a different type of chemical,

Arm and Hammer baking soda

Raised they own quota

Right when our soldiers ran for the stove cuz--

Cuz dreams of being 'Hova went from bein a brokeman to bein a dopeman

To bein a president look theres hope man

This that inspiration for the mos and the folks man,

Shorty come and see if mama straight overdosin.

And this is the soundtrack,

This the type of music you make when you round that--

Crack music nigga,

That real black music nigga.

[The Game]

That's that crack music nigga

That real black music nigga

La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

La-la-la-la-la-la

[Kanye]

God-how could you let this happen, happen, happen, happen, happen, happen?

La-la-la [etc.]

[Kanye]

That's that crack music, crack music

That real black music, black music

La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

La-la-la-la-la-la

[The Game]

That's that crack music nigga

That real black music nigga

La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

La-la-la-la-la-la

[Kanye]

That's that crack music, crack music,that real black music, black music

[Malik Yusef]

Our father, give us this day our daily bread ...give us these days and take our daily bread,

See I done did all this ole bullshit

And to atone I throw a little somethin, somethin on the pulpit.

We took that shit, measured it and then cooked that shit

And what we gave back was crack music

And now we ooze it through they nooks and crannies

So our mammas aint got to be they cooks and nannies

And we gonna repo everything they ever took from granny

Now the former slaves trade hooks for Grammys

This dark diction has become America's addiction those who ain't even black use it.

We gon’ keep bagging up this here crack music

[Kanye West]

I know it's past visiting hours

But can I please give her these flowers

The doctor don’t wanna take procedures

He claim my heart can't take the anesthesia

It'll send her body into a seizure

The little thing by the hospital bed, it'll stop beeping,

Hey chick, im at a lost for words

What do you say at this time?

Remember when I was nine?

Tell her everything gone be fine?

But I'd be lying, the family crying

They want her to live, and she trying

I'm arguing like what kind of doctor can we fly in

You know the best medicine go to people that’s paid,

If Magic Johnson got a cure for A.I.D.S.

And all the broke muthafuckers past away

You tellin me if my grandma was in the N.B.A.

Right now she'd be ok?

But since she was just a secretary

Working for the church

For thirty five years

Things sposed to stop right here

My grandfather tryin to pull it together, he's strong,

Thats where I get my confidence from

I asked the nurse "did you do the research?"

She ask me, "can you sign some t-shirts?"

Bitch is you smokin reefer?

You don’t see that we hurt

But still...

[Chorus]

...I smile

When roses come to see me

And I can't wait for a sunny day

(Im seeing it through your eyes)

Can't wait for the clouds to break

[Verse 2]

[Kanye West]

They outside of the emergency room, room

You can feel my heart beat, beat, beat

If she gone pull through

We gone find out soon

But right now she sleep, sleep, sleep

My mama say, they say she could pass away any day

Hey chick what these doctors know anyway

Let me see the X-rays

I ain't no expert, I'm just hurt

Cousin Kim took off for work

Plus my Aunt Shirley, Aunt Beverly, Aunt Claire and Aunt Jean

So many Aunties, we could have an Auntie team

Feel like Amerie "Its this one thing"

When they said that she made it

You see the eyes gleam

I think we at an all time high

To get there we run, we fly, we drive

Coz with my family we know where home is

So instead of sending flowers

We the roses...

[Chorus]

I smile

When roses come to see me

And I can't wait for a sunny day

(Im seeing it through your eyes)

Can't wait for the clouds to break

Who brings the sunshine?

Ohhhhh I smile

When roses come to see me

And I can't wait for a sunny day

(Im seeing it through your eyes)

Can't wait for the clouds to break

[Chorus: Brandy]

I always knew that one day

They'd try to bring me down

One day, they tried to bring me down

Always knew that one day, they'd try to bring me down

Down, way down

[Kanye]

We're going to mass today, we have to pray

Besides what the pastor say, I have to say

Since Pac passed away

Most you rappers don't even deserve a track from me

You see, if you ever wanted to ever be anything

There'd always be somebody that will shoot down any dream

There'll always be haters, that's the way it is

Hater niggas marry hater bitches and have hater kids

But they're gonna have to take my life 'fore they take my drive

'cause when I was barely living, that's what kept me alive

Just the thought that maybe it could be better than what we at at this time

Make it out of this grind, 'fore I'm out of my mind

And get some lee way on the he say she say

You girl don't like me, how long has she been gay

Spanish girls say "No hable inglés"

And everybody want to run to me for their single

It's funny how these wack niggas need my help

Wasn't around when I couldn't feed myself

Dog, If I was you, I wouldn't feel myself

Dog, If I was you, I'd kill myself

Made a mill myself, and I'm still myself

And I'ma look in the mirror if I need some help

Now I'll speak from the heart, y’all all fronting

Everybody feel a way about K but at least you all feel something

[Brandy]

Why you come here, I bet it only it was forget to get you

What kind of dream we found, see I'm often at your cross way

forgetting it was that heaven let you. They tried to bring me down

[Chorus - 5X]

[Chorus]

[Kanye (Female Voice)]

Why everything that's supposed to bad make me feel so good?

Everything they told me not to is exactly what I would

Man I tried to stop man I tried the best I could

But (You make me smile)

What's your addiction? Is it money? Is it girls? Is it weed?

I've been afflicted by not one, not two, but all three

She's got the same thing, about me, but more, about us

She's coming over, so I guess, that means, I'm a drug

Just let me peek now, I mean damn, I'm so curious

She's got a lover, so the lies, and the lust, is a rush

Time's of the essence, I need, you to be, spontaneous

Roll up the doge, henny and c-c-c-cola, then I'm co coming over

Cuz its ne-never over

[Chorus]

[Kanye (Female Voice)]

Why everything that's supposed to bad make me feel so good

Everything they told me not to is exactly what I would

Man I tried to stop man I tried the best I could

But (You make me smile)

I see the emotion in your eyes, that you, try not to show

We get the closest when you high, or you drunk, or you blow

So I pour the potion, so we could both get high, as we could go

Then I'll get the lotion, and do something to me, when your thighs is exposed

There's no turning back now, I mean I don't mean to impose

Not now but right now, I need you to undress, and then pose

I'm into that now, catch a vibe, when the doors, get closed

Roll up the doge, henny and c-c-c-cola, and I keep co coming over

Cuz its ne-never over

[Chorus]

[Female Voice (Female Voice)]

Why everything that's supposed to bad make me feel so good

Everything they told me not to is exactly what I would

Man I tried to stop man I tried the best I could

But... (You Make Me Smile)

(You make me smile with my heart)

[INSTRUMENTAL]

[Chorus]

[Kanye (Female Voice)]

Why everything that's supposed to bad make me feel so good

Everything they told me not to is exactly what I would

Man I tried to stop man I tried the best I could

But... (You make me smile, With my heart)

I just wanted to ask you

Just wanted to um

Let how would I put this uhh

Let's say all your friends

Remember the one

You said if you ever she would be the one

Ok, Ok, Ok (You make me smile with my heart)

Well I was thinking, hypothetically

I mean don't take this seriously

Don't take me: I mean just

Uhh not credibly

I'm feeling incredibly

I mean let’s let it be

Just let it be

I mean you, her and me (You make me smile with my heart)

I mean you, her and me

Maybe, Baby, Baby, baby, baby

You know I was just kidding

Unless you gon' do it

(You make me smile...)

[Chorus: Kanye West]

I'll be late for that, baby I'll wait for that

If you had a taste of that, you'd probably pay for that

I'm comin in when I feel like

To turn this muh'fucker up only if it feels right

I'll be late for that, I can't wait for that

I think I was made for that

So I'm comin in when I feel like

To turn this muh'fucker up only if it feels right

[Kanye West]

Stop all your blood clot crying, I was flying

Made it to school with barely 'nuff time to sign in

Yeah I hear the alarm, yeah I hear you mom

Yeah yeah I don't wan' be broke when I'm 31

They said the best classes go to the fastest

Sorry Mr. West there's no good classes, and that's what yo' ass get

Not even electives? Not even prerequisites?

You mean I missed my major by a couple of seconds?

Now I'm in the shop class or the basket weave

With all the rest of the muh'fuckers underachievin

Man, this is a insult

I went to junior high with all of them and they been slow

If I can catch the beat then slow down the tempo

Just notice at the end if I'm too late for the intro

Will I make it from the student loans to a Benzo?

Like old folks pissin, I guess it all depends, oh, oh

... Stop you're cryin baby

[Chorus]

[Kanye West]

You know when you be late you miss all the lights

That's right (that's right) that's right (that's right)

And when you get back she gon' start up a fight

That night (that night) that night

Baby it's too late for that, lately I've been takin it slow

Try and make it to the party 'fore the guest list close

With the freshest hoes, the professors know

We about to get real unprofessional

Like them eskimos, what would you do for a Klondike?

Or two dykes that look Christina Milian like

Hmmm, I'll be on time for that

I ain't thought of no line that could rhyme with that

Yo, I'll be there in five minutes, five hours later

I'll be there in five minutes, go 'head ride with it

I'm so live with it, look how I did it

Been bullshittin but I finally arrived with it

I know it's late and I took all year but

You can stop complaining cause I'm finally here, yeah

"I'll be late for that" - [repeat 4X]

[Intro]

Diamonds are forever

They won't leave in the night

I've no fear that they might

Desert me

[Chorus]

Diamonds are forever (forever, forever)

Throw your diamonds in the sky if you feel the vibe

Diamonds are forever (forever, forever, forever)

The Roc is still alive every time I rhyme.

Forever ever? Forever ever? Ever, ever? Ever, ever? Ever, ever? Ever, ever?......

Close your eyes and imagine, feel the magic

Vegas on acid,

Seen through Yves St. Laurent glasses

And I've realized that I've arrived, cuz

It take more than a magazine to kill my Vibe

Does he write his own rhymes, so sort of

I think 'em

That mean I forgot better shit than you ever thought up

Damn, is he really that caught up?

I ask if you talkin' bout classics, do my name get brought up?

I remember I couldn't afford a Ford Escort or even a four-track recorder

So its only right that I let the top drop on a drop-top Porsche

- its for yourself that's important

If a stripper named Porscha and u get tips from many men

Then your fat friend her nickname is Minivan

Excuse me,

That's just the Henny, man, I smoke, I drink, I'm supposed to stop I can't because

[Chorus]

Diamonds are forever (forever, forever)

Throw your diamonds in the sky if you feel the vibe

Diamonds are forever (forever, forever, forever)

The Roc is still alive every time I rhyme.

Forever ever? Forever ever? Ever, ever? Ever, ever? Ever, ever? Ever, ever?......

I was sick about awards

Couldn't nobody cure me

Only playa that got robbed but kept all his jewelry

Alicia Keys tried to talk some sense to them

30 minutes later seems there's no convincing them

What more can you ask for?

The international assholes

Who complains about what he is owed?

And throw a tantrum like he is 3 years old

You gotta love it though somebody still speaks from his soul

And wouldn't change by the change, or the game, or the fame,

When he came, in the game, he made his own lane

Now all I need is y'all to pronounce my name

It’s Kanye - But some of my plastic - they still say Kane

Got family in the D, Kinfolk from Motown

Back in the Chi - them folks ain't from Motown

Life movin' too fast I need to slow down

Girl ain't give me no ass, ya need to go down

Diamonds are forever (forever, forever)

My father Ben said I need Jesus

So he took me to church and let the water wash over my caesar

Diamonds are forever (forever, forever)

The preacher said we need leaders

Right then my body got still like a paraplegic

You know who you can call you gotta best believe it

The Roc stand tall and you would never believe it

Take your diamonds and throw 'em up like you bulimic

Yea the beat cold but the flow is anemic

After debris settles and the dust get swept off

Big K pick up where young Hov left off

Right when magazines wrote Kanye West off

I dropped my new shit sound like the best of

A&R's lookin' like "pssh we messed up"

Grammy night, damn right, we got dressed up

Bottle after bottle till we got messed up

In the studio, where really though, yea he next up

People askin' me if I'm gon' give my chain back

That'll be the same day I give the game back

You know the next question dog "Yo, where Dame at?"

This track the Indian dance to bring our reign back

"What's up with you and Jay, man, are y'all ok man?"

They pray for the death of our dynasty like Amen

R-r-r-right here stands a-man

With the power to make a diamond with his bare hands...

Diamonds are forever (forever, forever)

Throw your diamonds in the sky if you feel the vibe

Diamonds are forever (forever, forever, forever)

The Roc is still alive every time I rhyme.

Forever ever? Forever ever? Ever, ever? Ever, ever? Ever, ever? Ever, ever?......

Diamonds are forever (forever, forever)

Diamonds are forever (forever, forever, forever)

Wished I had told

Ooh was (the) only one

But it's too late, it's too late

He's gone

[Kanye West]

You sweat her, and I ain't talkin 'bout a Coogi

You a big L, and I ain't talkin 'bout Cool J

See me at the airport, at least 20 Louis

Treat me like the Prince and this my sweet brother Numpsay

BROTHER NUMPSAY! Groupies sound too choosy

Take 'em to the show and talk all through the movies

Says she want diamonds, I took her to Ruby Tuesdays

If we up in Friday's, I still have it my way

[Chorus]

Too late, we, gone - we strivin home

Gone - I ride on chrome

It's too late

[Kanye West]

Y'all don't want no prob from me

What you rappers could get is a job from me

Maybe you could be my intern, and in turn

I'll show you how I cook up summer, in the win-turr

Aaron love the raw dog, when will he learn

Caught somethin on the Usher tour he had to "Let it Burn"

Plus he already got three chil'run

Arguin over babysitters like, "Bitch - it's yo' turn!"

Damn 'Ye, it'd be stupid to ditch you

Even your superficial raps is super official

R-R-R-Roc Pastelle with Gucci on

With TV's in the ride, throw a movie on

Said he couldn't rap now he at the top with doobie long

Cause the dookie's on any song that they threw me on, gone

[Chorus]

We strivin home, gone

[Cam] I ride on chrome...

We strivin home, gone

[Cam] Killa, I ride on chrome

[Cam'Ron]

Knock knock, who's there? Killa Cam, Killa who?

Killa Cam, hustler, grinder, gorilla true

Oh my chinchilla blue, blue you ever dealt with a dealer

Well here's the deal ma we goin to the dealer boo

No concealin, no ceiling I don't need a roof

Act up, get out, I don't need you poof

Poof, be gone, damn tough luck dag

Dag, niggaz still doing puff puff pass

Pull the truck up fast and I tell 'em

Hey, back in a touched up Jag, shit

Y'all niggaz want give Cam, cerebellum

An old man just gon' tell 'em (too late, he, gone)

Then I see how y'all gonna react when I'm (gone)

My last girl want me back then I'm on

Fine stay, you got the grind hey

Came back, read what the sign say (too late, he, gone)

Yes I know you wanna see my demise

Yeah you church boy actin like a thief in disguise

Ain't leavin my side, see the greed in my eyes

Ask Abby y'all hustle for a week to the Chi, shit

And that ain't leavin alive, please believe me

Gave Weezy a piece of the pie, and

You can ask George or Regina

The whole Westside I explore with the Beemer now

[Chorus]

We striving home, I ride on chrome

Listen homeboy move on

That's your best bet, why's that?

Cause

[Consequence]

Uhh, uhh, yo, yo

I been pourin out some liquor for the fact that my pal's gone

And tryin to help his momma with the fact that her child gone

And since we used to bubble like a tub full of Calgon

Guess it's only right that I should help her from now on

But since they got a foul on, what coulda gone wrong

Now they askin Cons, how long has this gone on

And maybe all this money mighta gone to my head

Cause they got me thinkin money mighta gone to the feds

So I ain't goin to the dread, but he'll go on up to bed

And when I came the next mornin he was gone with my bread

And with that being said, I had gone on my instincts

And gone to the spots where they go to get mixed drinks

But lookin back now shoulda gone to the crib

And rented "Gone With the Wind," cause I'da gone about 10

But I had gone with my friend, and we had gone to the bar

And heard a nigga talkin shit so I had gone to the car

And now the judge is tellin me that I had gone too far

And now we gone for 20 years, doin time behind bars

And since I gone to a cell for some petty crimes

I guess I gone to the well one too many times, cause I'm gone

[long instrumental pause]

[Kanye West imitating "The Show" at first]

Uh-uh-uh

Uh-uh-uh uh uh onnn, uh uh-uh onnn

Uh-uh onnn, uh uh-uh I'mmmm

Ah-head of my time, sometimes years out

So the powers that be won't let me get my ideas out

And that make me wanna get my advance out

And move to Oklahoma and just live at my Aunt's house

Yeah, I romance the thought of leavin it all behind

Kanye step away from the lime-

-light, like, when I was on the grind

In the "One, Nine, Nine, Nine"

Before, model chicks was bending over or

Dealerships asked me Benz or Rover, man

If I could just get one beat on Hova

We could get up off this cheap-ass sofa

What the summer of the Chi got to offer an 18-year-old

Sell drugs or get a job, you gotta play gyro

My dawg worked at Taco Bell, hooked us up plural

Fired a week later the manager count the churros

Sometimes I can't believe it when I look up in the mirror

How we out in Europe, spendin Euros

They claim you never know what you got 'til it's GONE

I know I got it, I don't know what y'all on

I'ma open up a store for aspiring MC's

Won't sell 'em no dream, but the inspiration is free

But if they ever flip sides like Anakin

You'll sell everything including the mannequin

They got a new bitch now you Jennifer Aniston

Hold on I'll handle it, don't start panicking, stay calm

Shorty's at the door cause they need more

Inspiration for they life, they souls, and they songs

They said sorry Mr. West is gone!

Yeah, you know what this is

It's a celebration, bitches!

Grab a drink, grab a glass

After that I grab your ass

Why you actin' all

Shy and all

Why is y'all

Lyin' for?

"I never did this before..."

Stop that

What, you want some petron?

I got that.

I mean I promise y'all

You fine and all

And your girlfriend, she kinda raw

But she not like you

No, she not like you

Right now I need you to mute all the monologue

All that talkin is gon' give me a tylenol

You put a nigga to sleep, I'm tired of ya'll

Right now the Louis Vuitton Don is signing off

But, I just thought you should know

We hit the liquor store

Got some Cris and some Mo

And we about to let it floooooow

Had some problems before but see we let em go

Got an ounce of that dro

And we about to let it bloooooow

Yeah, you know what this is

It's a celebration, bitches!

Grab a drink, grab a glass

After that, I grab yo ass

See you know my style

I'm very wild

And I vow that my child will be well endowed

Like his daddy

And tell him that your mama had a fattie

He looked up at me said, "daddy that's the reason why you had me?"

Yep, we was practicing

Til one day your ass bust through the packaging

You know what though? You my favorite accident

So go head pop some Cristal

For my newborn child cuz now y'all

Know what this is

It's a celebration, bitches!

Grab a drink, grab a glass

After that I grab yo ass

But, I just thought you should know

We hit the liquor store

Got some cris and some mo

And we about to let it floooooow

Had some problems before but see we let em go

Got an ounce of that dro

And we about to let it bloooooow

Ho! Ho! (We lookin' for some) Ho! Ho!

Chorus]

(Hey Mama), I wanna scream so loud for you, cuz I'm so proud of you

Let me tell you what I'm about to do, (Hey Mama)

I know I act a fool but, I promise you I'm goin back to school

I appreciate what you allowed for me

I just want you to be proud of me (Hey Mama)

[Verse 1]

I wanna tell the whole world about a friend of mine

This little light of mine and I'm finna let it shine

I'm finna take y’all back to them better times

I'm finna talk about my mama if y’all don't mind

I was three years old, when you and I moved to the Chi

Late December, harsh winter gave me a cold

You fixed me up something that was good for my soul

Famous homemade chicken soup, can I have another bowl?

You work late nights just to keep on the lights

Mommy got me training wheels so I could keep on my bike

And you would give anything in this world

Michael Jackson leather and a glove, but didn't give me a curl

And you never put no man over me

And I love you for that mommy can’t you see?

Seven years old, caught you with tears in your eyes

Cuz a nigga cheatin, telling you lies, then I started to cry

As we knelt on the kitchen floor

I said mommy I’mma love you till you don't hurt no more

And when I'm older, you ain’t gotta work no more

And I’mma get you that mansion that we couldn't afford

See you're, unbreakable, unmistakable

Highly capable, lady that's makin loot

A living legend too, just look at what heaven do

Send us an angel, and I thank you (Hey Mama)

[Chorus]

[Verse 2]

Forrest Gump mama said, life is like a box of chocolates

My mama told me go to school, get your doctorate

Somethin to fall back on, you could profit with

But still supported me when I did the opposite

Now I feel like it's things I gotta get

Things I gotta do, just to prove to you

You was getting through, can the choir please

Give me a verse of "You, Are So Beautiful To Me"

Can't you see, you're like a book of poetry

Maya Angelou, Nicky Giovanni, turn one page and there's my mommy

Come on mommy just dance wit me, let the whole world see your dancing feet

Now when I say Hey, y’all say Mama, now everybody answer me (Hey Mama)

[Chorus]

[Bridge]

I guess it all depends tho, if my ends low

Second they get up you gon get that Benzo

Tint the windows, ride around the city and let your friends know (Hey Mama)

[Verse 3]

Tell your job you gotta fake em out

Since you brought me in this world, let me take you out

To a restaurant, upper echelon

I’mma get you a jag, whatever else you want

Just tell me what kind of S-Type Donda West like?

Tell me the perfect color so I make it just right

It don't gotta be Mother's Day, or your birthday

For me to just call and say (Hey Mama)

[Chorus (with variations}

[Chorus]

You motherfuckers better do your job and roll up and watch how we roll up and

I can't control it, can't hold it, it's so nuts

I take a sip of that yak, I wanna fuck

I take a hit of that chronic, it got me stuck

But really what's amazing is how I keep blazing

Towel under the door smoke until the days end

Puff, puff then pass, don't fuck up rotation

Hpnotic for Henny, now nigga that's your chaser

Turn nothin to something now pimpin' that's a savior

Best things are green now pimpin’ get your paper

High off the ground instead of skyscraper

Cool off thinkin' we local, come on homie, we major

We major (come on, homie, we major) [repeat]

Feeling better than some head on a Sunday afternoon

Better than a chick that say yes to soon

Until you have a daughter, that's what I call karma

And you pray to god she don't grow breasts too soon.

Projects to' up, gang signs is thrown up

Niggas hats broke off that's how we grow up

Why else you think shorty's write rhymes just to blow up?

Get they first car and then IRS show up

He ain't never had shit but he had that nine

Nigga come through flickin' and he had that shine

Put two and two together in a little bad weather

Gon' be a whole family on that funeral line

Ask the reverend was the strip club cool if my tips help send a pretty girl through school

That's all I want like wino's want they good whisky

I ain't in the Klan, but I brought my hood with me

[chorus]

[Nas:]

I heard the beat and I ain't know what to write

First line, should it be about the hoes or the ice?

Four-four's or black christ? Both flows would be nice

Rap about big paper or the black man plight

At the studio consol asked my man to the right

What this verse sound like, should I freestyle or write?

He said, Nas, what the fans want is Illmatic, Stillmatic

Picked up the pad and pencil and jotted what I feel

Been like 12 years since a nigga first signed

Now I'm a free agent

And I'm thinking it's time

To build my very own Motown

Cuz rappers be deprived of executive 9 to 5s

And it hurts to see these companies be stealing the life

And I love to give my blood sweat and tears to the mic

So y'all copped the LPs and y'all fiends got dealt

I'm Jesse Jackson on the balcony where King got killed

I survived the livest niggas around

Lasting longer than more than half of you clowns

Look, I used to cook before I had the game took

Either way my change came like Sam Cooke.

Feeling better than I ever felt before today

Like better late than never is orientation

Still we can make it better throwing all your cares away

[chorus]

[Intro:]

Diamonds are forever

They're all I need to please me

They can't stimulate or tease me

They won't leave in the night

Have no fear that they might

Desert me

[Hook:]

"Diamonds are forever forever forever"

Throw ya diamonds in the sky

If you feel the vibe

"Diamonds are forever forever forever"

The ROC is still alive

Everytime I rhyme

"Forever and ever! "

For ever ever? for ever ever? ever ever?

Ever ever? ever ever? ever ever? ever ever?

[Verse 1:]

Good Morning, this ain't Vietnam still

People lose hands, legs, arms for real

Little was known of Sierra Leone

And how it connect to the diamonds we own

When I speak of Diamonds in this song

I ain't talkin bout the ones that be glowin

I'm talkin bout Rocafella, my home, my chain

These ain't conflict diamonds, is they Jacob? don't lie to me mayne

See, a part of me sayin' keep shinin',

How? when I know of the blood diamonds

Though it's thousands of miles away

Sierra Leone connect to what we go through today

Over here, it's a drug trade, we die from drugs

Over there, they die from what we buy from drugs

The diamonds, the chains, the bracelets, the charmses

I thought my Jesus Piece was so harmless

'Til I seen a picture of a shorty armless

And here's the conflict

It's in a black person's soul to rock that gold

Spend ya whole life tryna get that ice

On a polo rugby it look so nice

How could somethin' so wrong make me feel so right, right?

'Fore I beat myself up like Ike

You could still throw ya Rocafella diamond tonight, 'cause

[Hook]

[Verse 2:]

[Kanye From Original Song:]

People askin' me is I'm gon' give my chain back (uh)

That'll be the same day I give the game back (uh)

You know the next question dog 'yo, where Dame at? ' (uh)

This track the Indian dance to bring our reign back (whoo!)

'Wassup with you a Jay man, are ya'll okay man? '

[Jay-Z:]

Yep!

I got it from here 'Ye damn!

The chain remains, the game is in tact

The name is mine, I'll take blame for that

The pressure's on, but guess who ain't gon' crack? [laughs]

Pardon me I had to laugh at that

How could you falter when you're the rock of Gibraltar

I had to get off the boat so I could walk on water

This ain't no tall order, this is nothin to me

Difficult takes a day, impossible takes a week

I do this in my sleep,

I sold Kilos of coke, (so?) I'm guessin' I can sell CD's

I'm not a businessman, I'm a business, man

Let me handle my business, damn!

Kanyeez you got me, Freeway and Foxy

YG', Teairra Mari, Petey watch me

Bleek could be one hit away his whole career

As long as I'm alive, he's a millionaire

And even if I die, he's in my will somewhere

So he can just kick back and chill somewhere, oh yeah

He don't even have to write rhymes

The Dynasty like my money last three lifetimes

Shirley Bassey was in the rear sayin exactly

What I been sayin practically me whole career

The diamond is forever, I been minin' this forever

Now the Louis Vuitton Don's timin' couldn't be better

People lined up to see the Titanic sinkin'

Instead we rose from the ash like a phoenix

If you waitin' for the end of the dynasty sign

Then what seem like forever is a mighty long time

I'm young bitches [laughs]

Goodnight!