"Black Skinhead" (also known as "BLKKK SKKKN HEAD"[1]) is the second track from Kanye West's sixth studio album, Yeezus (2013).[2] The song features uncredited vocals from Lupe Fiasco.[3] It was released as a single on June 19, 2013.[1]
In the song, Kanye angrily expresses his feelings about racial issues. The song is known for its rebellious, rock-and-roll-style sound.[3]
Background[]
The song was initially made during the Thank God For Drugs sessions in early 2013.[4] Producer Mike Dean revealed that the song was nearly taken off of Yeezus for sounding "too much like a soccer song."[5] On May 18, 2013, Kanye premiered the song live on Saturday Night Live.[6]
Remixes[]
- Main article: Black Skinhead (Remix)
A remix with production from DJ Maco was in the making, although was shelved as another remix of the song featuring a sample from Tears For Fears' 1985 single "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" was made.[7][8] Miley Cyrus and Travis Scott would record for this remix, though it would be repurposed into a song separate from "Black Skinhead" and later scrapped.
Music video[]
On July 8, 2013, the music video was leaked in its entirety. However, Kanye stated that it was incomplete.[9] On July 21, the video was officially released onto Kanye's website. The video opens with three people wearing black hoods that are inspired by hoods worn by the Ku Klux Klan. Throughout the video, a shirtless Kanye is seen dancing to the song. The video is shot in black-and-white.
Live performances[]
2013[]
During The Yeezus Tour, Ye performed the song as the seventh track on the setlist.[10] He also performed the song in black-and-white with a new intro and outro during the French TV show, Le Grand Journal.[11]
2014[]
During the OVO Fest, Ye made a surprise guest appearance and performed the song with Drake.[12] During his performance at the London Wireless Festival, he performed the song as the opening track on the setlist. He ended the performance while laying on his back.[13] He also performed the song at the Made In America Festival.
2015[]
Ye performed the song in a surprise appearance at KOKO in March.[14] During his performance at the Billboard Music Awards, most of the song was noticeably censored by TV censors.[15] He also performed the song at his headline set in the Glastonbury Festival, although he was forced to restart after comedian Lee Nelson stormed on stage while wearing a "Leezus" T-shirt.[16]
2016[]
Ye performed the song as the tenth track on the Saint Pablo Tour setlist.[17]
2021[]
On December 9, 2021, Ye performed the song at the Free Larry Hoover benefit concert. This version featured a new electric guitar from Mike Dean.[18]
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
For my theme song (Black)
My leather black jeans on (Black)
My by-any-means on
Pardon, I'm getting my scream on (Black)
Enter the kingdom (Black)
But watch who you bring home
They see a black man with a white woman
At the top floor they gone come to kill King Kong
Middle America packed in (Black)
Came to see me in my black skin (Black)
Number one question they're askin'
Fuck every question you askin' (Black)
If I don't get ran out by Catholics (Black)
Here come some conservative Baptists
Claiming I'm overreactin'
Like them black kids in Chiraq, bitch
[Chorus]
Four in the mornin', and I'm zonin'
They say I'm possessed, it's an omen
I keep it 300, like the Romans
300 bitches, where the Trojans?
Baby, we livin' in the moment
I've been a menace for the longest
But I ain't finished, I'm devoted
And you know it, and you know it
[Post-Chorus]
So follow me up 'cause this shit 'bout to go (Down)
I'm doing 500, I'm outta control (Now)
But there's nowhere to go (Now)
And there's no way to slow (Down)
If I knew what I knew in the past
I would've been blacked out on your ass
[Chorus]
Four in the mornin', and I'm zonin'
They say I'm possessed, it's an omen
I keep it 300, like the Romans
300 bitches, where the Trojans?
Baby, we livin' in the moment
I've been a menace for the longest
But I ain't finished, I'm devoted
And you know it, and you know it
[Verse 2]
Stop all that coon shit (Black)
Early morning cartoon shit (Black)
This is that goon shit
Fuck up your whole afternoon shit
I'm aware I'm a wolf
Soon as the moon hit
I'm aware I'm a king
Back out the tomb, bitch (Black)
Black out the room, bitch (Black)
Stop all that coon shit (Black)
These n***as ain't doin' shit (Black)
Them n***as ain't doin' shit
Come on, homie, what happened?
You n***as ain't breathin', you gaspin'
These n***as ain't ready for action
Ready—ready for action—action
[Chorus]
Four in the mornin', and I'm zonin'
I think I'm possessed, it's an omen
I keep it 300 like the Romans
300 bitches, where the Trojans?
Baby, we livin' in the moment
I've been a menace for the longest
But I ain't finished, I'm devoted
And you know it, and you know it
[Post-Chorus]
So follow me up 'cause this shit 'bout to go (Down)
I'm doing 500, I'm outta control (Now)
But there's nowhere to go (Now)
And there's no way to slow (Down)
If I knew what I knew in the past
I would've been blacked out on your ass
[Outro]
God! God! God! God!
God! God! God! God!
God! God! God!
[Intro]
Welcome to your life
Diamond through the light
This Miami vice
It's that life (Okay, okay, yeah, yeah)
Dodging bullets in the air when (Okay, okay)
There's cameras everywhere, yeah (okay, okay)
You don't know how to act right
Everybody wants to rule the world
[Verse 1]
For my theme song (Black)
My leather black jeans on (Yea-ah)
My by-any-means on
Pardon, I'm gettin' my scream on (Ooh-ah)
Enter the kingdom (Black)
But watch who you bring home
They see a black man with a white woman
At the top floor they gon' come to kill King Kong (Skrrrt)
(Straight up)
Middle America packed in
Came to see me in my black skin (Yea-ah)
Number one question they're askin'
Fuck every question you askin' (Straight up, yeah)
If I don't get ran out by Catholics
Here come some conservative Baptists
Claiming I'm overreactin'
Like them black kids in Chiraq, bitch
[Bridge]
Actin' on your worst behavior (Ooh)
Turn your back on all your haters
Everybody wants to rule the- (Ooh-ooh)
Everybody wants to rule the world (Straight up)
The world (Straight up)
[Refrain]
(Now)
But there's nowhere to go (Now)
And there's no way to slow (Down)
If I knew what I knew in the past
I would've been blacked out on your ass
[Break]
Yea-ah
Everybody
Yea-ah, oh
Everybody
Yea-ah, uhh-uh
[Chorus]
Four in the mornin', and I'm zonin'
Everybody wants to rule the world
They say I'm possessed, it's an omen
I keep it 300, like the Romans
The world, the world, the world
300 bitches, where the Trojans?
Baby, we livin' in the moment
The world, the world, the world
I've been a menace for the longest
But I ain't finished, I'm devoted
And you know it, and you know it
[Verse 2]
(Ohh-oh-oh-oh)
Stop all that coon shit
Early morning cartoon shit
This is that goon shit
Fuck up your whole afternoon shit
I'm aware I'm a wolf
Soon as the moon hit
I'm aware I'm a king
Back out the tomb, bitch (Yea-ah)
Black out the room, bitch
Stop all that coon shit
These n***as ain't doin' shit
Them n***as ain't doin' shit
Come on homie what happened
You n***as ain't breathin', you gaspin'
These n***as ain't ready for action-action
Ready-ready for action
[Chorus]
Four in the mornin', and I'm zonin'
I think I'm possessed, it's an omen
I keep it 300, like the Romans
300 bitches, where the Trojans?
Baby, we livin' in the moment
I've been a menace for the longest
But I ain't finished, I'm devoted
And you know it, and you know it
[Refrain]
So follow me up 'cause this shit 'bout to go (Down)
I'm doin' 500, I'm outta control (Now)
But there's nowhere to go (Now)
And there's no way to slow (Down)
If I knew what I knew in the past (The world, the wor-)
I would've been blacked out on your ass
[Interlude]
God
God (Straight up)
God
God (Yea-ah)
God (Do it, do it, do it, yea-ah, uh)
God (Yea-ah)
God (Yea-ah, uh)
God
God (Do it, do it, do it)
God
God
[Outro]
Everybody wanna rule it
Get inside it, why they do it
Everybody, ride a little bit
Everybody, body do it
Do it, do it
Trivia[]
- In the song, Kanye says the infamous lyric, "I keep it 300, like the Romans", referencing the 2006 movie, 300. However, 300 is not about Romans; instead, it is about Spartans.[19]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Skinhead
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/7D2NdGvBHIavgLhmcwhluK
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://genius.com/Kanye-west-black-skinhead-lyrics
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NHu_qmUk2Q
- ↑ https://pitchfork.com/features/article/9157-the-yeezus-sessions/
- ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/kanye-west-unleashes-the-fury-of-black-skinhead-on-snl-20130519
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Skinhead#Background_and_development
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msGxPLacFuk
- ↑ http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/07/kanye-west-says-black-skinhead-video-was-leaked/
- ↑ https://www.kanyetothe.com/threads/setlist-of-the-yeezus-tour.566321/
- ↑ https://pitchfork.com/news/52378-watch-kanye-west-perform-black-skinhead-on-le-grand-journal/
- ↑ https://www.spin.com/2014/02/drake-kanye-west-black-skinhead-berlin-live-video/
- ↑ https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/kanye-west/2014/finsbury-park-london-england-6bc1fe8e.html
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20171225074809/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/11448579/Kanye-West-gig-London-Koko-the-reaction.html
- ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-censored-for-full-minute-of-billboard-awards-performance-66781/
- ↑ https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/kanye-west-puts-the-ego-aside-and-admits-messed-up-glastonbury-performance-left-him-depressed-a7165841.html
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Pablo_Tour
- ↑ https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/kanye-west-bd6bd8a.html?songid=73d84641
- ↑ https://genius.com/1794421
| Yeezus | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|