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Downtown mixing fabrics, tryna find the magic JAY-Z & Kanye West (Ft. Frank Ocean) – Made in America

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Kanye is starting a clothing line and is talking here about the preparations that are going into him doing so. The “magic” here is likely also a reference to the bi-annual Magic convention, a hugely important fashion gathering.

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I don't even know what we doing here
Seems to me a complete waste of gear
Just a fuckin' waste of time, a complete waste of bottles
Niggas' fashion is weak, they be wastin' all the models JAY-Z & Kanye West – Illest Motherfucker Alive

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The main thrust of this line is a reference to Jay’s known aversion to the Grammy Awards. He first boycotted the show in 1999 (which happened to be the year he won his first Grammy when DMX’s album Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood was overlooked by the committee, stating:

I am boycotting the Grammy Awards because too many major rap artists continue to be overlooked … Rappers deserve more attention from the Grammy committee and from the whole world.

The line breaks down as follows:

1. Waste of gear as in the gears on a clock or a watch. Relates to “waste of time” – Jay’s label will sweep all the awards, so all the time and alcohol consumed at the Grammys could’ve been put to better use.

2. Gear as in fresh clothes. Jay’s competitors are in a nice suit to collect the award but their music is wack, so it’s a waste.

3. Also a wordplay with “fashion is weak” and “fashion week” – Jay thinks it’s a shame that models had to come out to Grammy parties to be around so many wack artists while they could’ve been at Fashion Week in NYC which is held around the same time as the Grammys.

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The main thrust of this line is a reference to Jay's [known aversion](http://getwritegossip.com/2011/02/15/did-jay-z-boycott-the-grammys-rappers-absence-may-have-been-intentional/) to the Grammy Awards. He [first boycotted](http://www.mtv.com/news/1429669/jay-z-plans-grammy-boycott/) the show in 1999 (which happened to be the year he [won his first Grammy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awards_and_nominations_received_by_Jay_Z#Grammy_Awards) when [DMX](http://genius.com/artists/Dmx)’s album [*Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood*](http://genius.com/albums/Dmx/Flesh-of-my-flesh-blood-of-my-blood) was overlooked by the committee, [stating:](http://www.mtv.com/news/1429669/jay-z-plans-grammy-boycott/)
> I am boycotting the Grammy Awards because too many major rap artists continue to be overlooked … Rappers deserve more attention from the Grammy committee and from the whole world.

The line breaks down as follows:

**1.** Waste of gear as in the gears on a clock or a watch. Relates to "waste of time" - Jay's label will sweep all the awards, so all the time and alcohol consumed at the Grammys could've been put to better use.

**2.** Gear as in fresh clothes. Jay's competitors are in a nice suit to collect the award but their music is wack, so it's a waste.

**3.** Also a wordplay with "fashion is weak" and "fashion week" - Jay thinks it's a shame that models had to come out to Grammy parties to be around so many wack artists while they could've been at Fashion Week in NYC which is held around the same time as the Grammys.

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So I’m back with another hit to let the truth be known Kanye West (Ft. Dwele) – Power (Saturday Night Live Version)

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Kanye has been known for his social commentary pieces including “All Falls Down”, “Jesus Walks”, “Crack Music”, “Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)”, “Roses”, and “Gorgeous”.

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live from Ground Zero Kanye West (Ft. Dwele) – Power (Saturday Night Live Version)

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SNL is taped at NBC’s home at the Rockerfeller Center, New York City. While Rockefeller Center is roughly 7 miles from Ground Zero – a 30 minute subway ride – it still resides in the same vicinity as Ground Zero.

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You belong with niggas who used to be known for dope dealing
You too dope for any of those civilians JAY-Z & Kanye West – That's My Bitch

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Beyoncé is way too “dope” (beautiful) to be with an ordinary person that didn’t know how to handle actual dope in their past life.

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Liz

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7 years

Once you graduate from dope dealing because you made so much money you can be legit and still be a gangsta. A beautiful girl belongs with someone that see their worth and is just better being with a dope as man than a regular cheap ass dude that takes to out to eat McDonald’s.

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Couture-level flow is never going on sale JAY-Z & Kanye West (Ft. Otis Redding) – Otis

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Kanye’s flow is the best of the best, and just like high end couture (whether custom or off the rack), it will always be full price and exclusive (i.e. never on sale at a discount)

Also, this line contradicts Jay’s previous one “everything’s for sale”. This shows that The Throne can purchase anything they want, but are highly reluctant to give up anything of value.

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4 years

Kanye is saying that his flow is as valuable and grand as a couture garment but also (possibly) referencing a couture flo atelier . Flo is a category of workshop within a haute couture house. Diving further in the specificity of his reference.

When he says the flow “is never going on sale” besides saying that it will never dminish in value he is referencing the fact that a couture piece is not sold in the conventional way of production and then sales. It does not exist until a client puts in a special order for, and it is made exclusevily to that client.

Kanye’s flow was never available to anyone else. It was created for him (by him) and can only exist because of his desire. Much like a couture piece can only be made through the wish and order of a client.

As Jay said in the previous verse “everything is for sale” even things that don’t exist and have to be materialized.

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Call my dick "Curiosity" 'cause it killed the cat (Killed the cat)
And satisfaction brought it back Kelly Rowland (Ft. Big Sean) – Lay It on Me

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Sean’s dick beat this girl’s pussy to death, and the sex was so good that she kept coming back for more.

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Said he had got a friend for my home girl Lily, Lily, Lily, Lily David Guetta (Ft. Flo Rida & Nicki Minaj) – Where Them Girls At

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Nicki Minaj previously referred to herself as the black Hannah (Montana) in the popular underground song “I Get Crazy”. On the Hannah Montana show, Hannah’s best friend name is Lily. Put two & two together, and her home girl is Lily.

Lilly is also one of Nicki Minaj’s friends back home. The guy she met is saying he has a friend that could date Lilly.

Given the London line above, this could be referring to Lily Allen, whom Nicki Minaj met in England.

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Eduardo

3 years

This line is simply a sexual reference: the guy says he has a friend (his penis) for her homegirl Lily (her vagina)…

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Olivia

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4 years

Nicki Minaj also refers to herself as Barbie. Lily is a popular doll brand in Germany that is the predecessor or “sister” brand to the Barbie franchise. Because of this Nicki may be saying that her home girl is Lily since it would also be the real Barbie’s home girl.

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And cutless supremes
Seen Diana Ross remember that my sisters is queens Kanye West (Ft. Common & Ma$e) – Jesus Walks (Remix)

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Nice wordplay on Common’s part. In reference to the previous verse talking about material addition, Supreme is a high-end clothing retailer that predominantly sells shirts.

The Supremes were an all-female singing group signed to Mowtown. Diana Ross started as a member, eventually received top-billing (the group became Diana Ross & The Supremes), then left to pursue a successful solo career. Her daughter Tracee Ellis Ross appears in Kanye’s music video for “The New Workout Plan”.

“Sisters is queens” – again, hearkening back to the days of royalty.

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I bust in dudes' mouths like Gushers motherfucker The Lonely Island (Ft. Chris Parnell & Natalie Portman) – Natalie's Rap

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Throughout the whole song, she is acting like a chick with a dick. So she would want you to give her a blowjob and let her bust in your mouth (jizz). And you’d better swallow. Cuz spitters are quitters. This could also refer to being punched square in the jaw or “busting their mouths”

Gushers refer to Fruit Gushers, fruit-flavored gummy snacks filled with fruit juice that, as the name suggests, “gushes” out when you bite into the candy. You can probably see the innuendo here.