It’s also good to point out that he cracks this joke while simultaneously killing the charts with Rihanna on “Love the way you lie”.

The show, The Young and the Restless was set in the fictionalized version of Genoa City, Wisconsin. Wisconsin is located in the Midwest region of the United States.

Clever line.

Kanye is also referring to the Midwest hip-hop scene, which was overshadowed at the time by East Coast, West Coast, and Southern (ATL & Houston) rap scenes. For too long they have played a background role in the hip-hop landscape, and now that Kanye is in the forefront he is representing all of Chicago/Midwest with his music.

The metaphors of committing robberies relates to the Midwest hip-hop artists coming up and taking air time and revenue from the other geographical bases. This line is somewhat foreshadowing the rise of Chance the Rapper, Chief Keef, and other Chicago/Midwest artists to come up subsequently of Kanye’s rises.

‘'Where West-less (niggas) might snatch your necklace.’‘ – which tails in with ’‘Somebody tell these (niggas) who Kanye West is. ’'

Chicago, Illinois is in the Midwest.

Midwest, East, North, South, deficiencies are everywhere, we gotta work to educate not haterate, if we can’t get it done at home how can we do it as a global concern. Struggle is Gods belief in our ability to overcome. Be blessed you have challenges, God has a great plan for you. May you keep the crown on your head and never look down. You are a Masterpiece, divinely blessed unique and on purposely created by God. His divine light shines with in you. Radiate.

he predicted Jesus Is King

@LilWiggy he changed it after an earlier version of the album leaked. The older version still has this intro.

This introduction also serves as a comment on American involvement in the Middle East, more specifically in Iraq, on rather shady grounds. It not only speaks on foreign wars that the US was involved in, but also speaks of the civil unrest that was present domestically in the mid-2000’s. It speaks to a spiritual war, yes, but definitely also speaks on a real, physical war.

It’s also fun to note that in the booklet that comes with “The College Dropout”, the page displaying the lyrics to each song(or “poems” as it fits the theme of booklet) presents that originally Kanye wrote the intro as:
“I need to recruit all the soldiers…all of God’s soldiers
We at war
We at war with society, racism, terrorism but mostly we at war with ourselves”

Now I don’t know if Kanye changed it when he was recording it because it sounds better, or if he just wrote it differently in the booklet. But i thought it was worth mentioning.

Kanye is not trying to argue about the details of the history of the religion, or to force his beliefs upon others, he is only trying to spread his truth – what he believes.

With the performances of Jesus Walks during Kanye’s Sunday Service, he has changed the wording from “Or” to “I”

Kanye’s staying that this song isn’t to change anyone’s mind, just to prove a point.

Kanye’s mother, Donda West, died on November 10, 2007.

THE REFERENCE YOU NEED! – “"I’m calling the next one Late Registration,” he said earnestly. “I’ve got this song ‘Hey Mama’ I did three years ago that I’m saving for that one.”“ – from

Producer Kanye West's Debut LP Features Jay-Z, ODB, Mos Def — MTV News

Kanye West is still months away from releasing his solo debut, College Dropout, but the star rap producer has already made plans for his next three albums. "I'm calling the next one Late Registration," he said earnestly. "I've got this song 'Hey Mama' I did three years ago that I'm saving for that one.

Dryspell warning. So BLUE without you.

i’ve always wondered what “gone till november” was about, thanks.

“Gone till November” also references the end of touring season.

This also has a political double meaning, especially after “George Bush hates black people.” He will be gone until November (the month of presidential elections) because he has ‘packs’ (also PACs are huge parts of the American election process) of people to move politically.

I think that the idea of “suits and cases” refers to three different things:

• “we ain’t going nowhere” may refrence the idea that even with suitcases, African Americans get stopped by airport security because of racial profiling. They are unable to get past the security checkpoint because of the color of their skin

• “suits” and “cases” could refrences wearing suits for a court"case". “Suits” refers to the attire when attending court and “cases” refers to why you would be in court

• “suits” and “cases” may also refrence the death of someone, and the fact that they are no longer going anywhere because they are deceased. When someone is buried, they are often times dressed in a “suit” and buried in a coffin oor “case”

Again, I think there can be three interpretations of this line. I think that’s an example of why Kanye is so talented as an artist and a lyricist.

Kanye sums up the mood of African American youth who feel they are denied opportunities to advance in life and are instead facing a future that inevitably includes criminal cases and prison jumpsuits.

“We ain’t going no where” could have a broader meaning: they aren’t going anywhere in life because they’re bound by poverty and racism

you should mentioned that this a homophone.

The first bullet point might be accurate but it’s highly unlikely that that was what Ye intended

^ yes

what kanye west means is that black people are usually in jail and on trial or in a lawsuit hence meaning suits and cases lawsuits=suits court cases=cases

I think the suits + cases parts is meant to say both suits, and suitcases, why say suit twice?

Kayne West hopes that this song can take away his sins. However, according to the bible, specifically Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
The only way to get to heaven is to trust in Jesus and believe that He has died for your sins.

This song definitely didn’t end up “taking away from his spins” as it is the most popular song on the album and considered by some to be his best

If i were God, i’d TOTALLY be down with Kanye making more ill songs like this.

“Next time I’m the club”. Could be interesting that ‘In Da Club’ by 50 Cent was the biggest song at the time that Kanye was breaking through as a rapper. It even further connects because Kanye was moving the genre away from the gangster rap exemplified in 50’s song.