You love me for me? Could you be more phony?

from Kanye West (Ft. Rick Ross) – Devil in a New Dress Lyrics on Rap Genius

Meaning

“I love you for you” is a cliche; Kanye knows the girl is attracted to his social capital

Kanye’s use of the word “phony” is reminiscent of Holden Caulfield, the narrator in The Catcher in the Rye

Kanye is also referring to his own imperfections and superficiality (a theme throughout the album). He is literally saying that he is so “phony” (read: egotistic, superficial, jerk-ish as alluded to earlier in the song and throughout the album) that if you love him for him, you must be those things yourself. This is one of the most clever lines on the album.

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