"Christmas In Harlem" is a song by Kanye West that was released as a single on December 17, 2010.[1] It was the fifteenth and final track from Ye's GOOD Fridays series.[2] The GOOD Fridays version of the song features vocals from Cam'ron, Jim Jones, Vado, CyHi the Prynce, Pusha T, Musiq Soulchild, Teyana Taylor, and Big Sean; however, the version on streaming services only features CyHi and Teyana.[3]
Production[]
The song's instrumental heavily samples Marvin Gaye's 1971 song, "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)". The drums are also sampled from Joe Tex's 1966 song, "Papa Was Too".[4]
Background[]
Producer Hit-Boy explained that he got in contact with Ye because his friend, Dala Roc, "hooked me up with Kanye’s cousin, Ricky". From there, Hit-Boy sent Ye several beats in hopes that Ye would use them for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Finally, on the day of the release party in New York, Ye said that "[he] wanted to use one of my beats for a Christmas song".[5] On December 15, 2010, the song was leaked in full onto the Internet.[6]
Cover art[]
The cover art for the single features the 1609 painting, "Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence".[2]
Lyrics[]
[Chorus]
Christmas in Harlem
Right after autumn falls
Soakin' it all in
Then we go hit the mall
Even though we ain't ballin'
Feels like we bought it all
The mistletoe's right here
Come give a kiss to Santa Claus
[Verse 1]
Merry Christmas to all, and all a good night
Huh, now we all livin' the good life
Yeah, though it's forty below the wind chill
And we wipin' snow up off the windshield
It's still wonderful night to be alive, baby
And I'm so happy I'm with my baby
And we a little late with the Christmas gifts
Rushin' for the mall, don't trip, you know I drive crazy
The streets lit up, it feel like Christmas officially
Told her that "You the star at the top of my Christmas tree"
My only question is, "Where my presents?"
She said, "Shhh," she got a gift for me that ain't for the kids to see
Well, I like the way you think, mami
Now pour some more eggnog in your drink, mami
You've been a bad girl, give Santa three kisses
Gave her the hot chocolate, she said, "It's Dee-ricious"
Hahahaha, yeah
[Chorus]
Christmas in Harlem
Right after autumn falls (Uh, uh)
Soakin' it all in
Then we go hit the mall (I'm like Bad Santa though)
Even though we ain't ballin' (Somebody sit on my lap)
Feels like we bought it all
The mistletoe's right here
Come give a kiss to Santa Claus
[Verse 2]
Merry Xmas, Santa Claus cherry X6
They ain't hear my rain, dear, make it snow on the next chick (Yes)
Got enough toys, wonderin' what's my next pick
Before my exit, it get diamond Rolex reckless (Huh)
Big bags, got everything on the checklist
Necklace, baguette wrist (Uh-huh)
Pockets fat, they precious (Uh-huh)
Give Ma a peck kiss, look and tell her she precious (Mwah)
Lightin' up the sour, this tree give me the best gifts (Vado)
[Verse 3]
And I remember when I couldn't play Santa Claus (Uh)
No reindeers, just horses and a Panamera Porsche (Vroom-vroom)
We on two fifth shoppin', what the damage cost? (At most?)
I got your fam while you biddin' in the can up north (I got you)
Whoops, I'm at Neimans, I hope they still got em (Word)
You want the thigh-high spikes with the red bottoms (Size 37)
Err, let's make a toast 'cause Christ is born
We gon' party all night 'til the lights come on (Amen)
[Chorus]
Christmas in Harlem
Right after autumn falls
Soakin' it all in
Then we go hit the mall
Even though we ain't ballin'
Feels like we bought it all
The mistletoe's right here
Come give a kiss to Santa Claus
[Verse 4]
Yeah, Mom and Dad, I won't be home for the holidays
Ha, I'm over 800 miles away
In the city that's so pretty
Where the hustlers dash through the snow without a sleigh
Tell my family that I'm sorry that I gotta stay
I'm with Ye at the Macy Day Parade
Lettin' the snow fall on my aviator shades
Even though I'm in New York, I'm still reppin' for the A
Cyhi!
[Chorus]
Christmas in Harlem
Right after autumn falls
Soakin' it all in
Then we go hit the mall
Even though we ain't ballin'
Feels like we bought it all (Yes, it's G.O.O.D. Music, y'all)
The mistletoe's right here (Check it, uh, uh)
Come give a kiss to Santa Claus
[Verse 5]
On the stoop of that Brownstone, shovellin' the brownstone
Santa's on a diet, gotta get the pounds gone
Downtown got me feelin' like it's Dow Jones
But uptown got me feelin' like its down home
Snow like sugar hill, chains on wheels
We turn our two doors into snowmobiles
We got our own style, no Soho feel
Put on your play clothes, how that logo feel?
[Verse 6]
Oh, pose for them photo stills
You don't wanna miss a moment, where's your NoDoz pills?
I caught her lookin' at my Rollie as my mojo spills
Snowflakey on the bezel, hope you know those real
Okay, my white girl Veronica, black girl Monica
Got me celebrating ChristmaHanuKwanzaakah
Rock-rock-rock-rock-rock-rock-rockin' dashikis with a yarmulke
Where the Christmas tree at? Let's design it up
[Chorus]
Christmas in Harlem
Right after autumn falls
Soakin' it all in
Then we go hit the mall
Even though we ain't ballin'
Feels like we bought it all
The mistletoe's right here
Come give a kiss to Santa Claus
[Verse 7]
Uh, Lenox Ave to Saint Nick, never seen Saint Nick (Nah)
Just n***as sellin' the same nicks, the same bricks (What up, y'all?)
Same hustlers running' up to Broadway
That's where the snow's at, taste it, foreplay
No turkey or greens, just Jimbo's (Jimbo's)
Christmas lights in project windows (Yes)
Shouts to the coldest on my barometer
Berkman, Shapiro, Kalina, Hanukkah (My lawyers)
[Verse 8]
All the flashin' lights up on a tree
The house lit up nice
With your family is where you wanna be
Here on Christmas night
When you wake up and you see the gifts
Don't that make you feel good?
So since we all snowed in in Harlem
Let's have Christmas in the hood
[Verse 9]
All of the flashin' lights
Yeah, them things shine so bright
Always for you and me
Baby, you're Christmas Eve
If you like what you see
Won't you come sit on my knee?
And tell me everything that you want
'Cause, baby, I'm your Santa Claus, yeah
[Chorus]
Christmas in Harlem
Right after autumn falls
Soakin' it all in
Then we go hit the mall
Even though we ain't ballin'
Feels like we bought it all
The mistletoe's right here
Come give a kiss to Santa Claus
[Chorus]
Christmas in Harlem
Right after autumn falls
Soakin’ it all in
Then we go hit the mall
Even though we ain’t ballin’
Feel like we bought it all
The mistletoe’s right here
Come give a kiss to Santa Claus
[Verse 1]
Merry Christmas to all, and all a good night
Huh, now we all livin’ the good life
Yeah, though it’s forty below the wind chill
And we wipin’ snow up off the windshield
It’s still wonderful night to be alive, baby
And I’m so happy I’m with my baby
And we a little late with the Christmas gifts
Rushin’ for the mall, don’t trip, you know I drive crazy
The streets lit up, it feel like Christmas officially
Told her that “You the star at the top of my Christmas tree”
My only question is, “Where my presents?”
She said, “Shhh,” she got a gift for me that ain’t for the kids to see
Well, I like the way you think, mami
Now pour some more eggnog in your drink, mami
You've been a bad girl, give Santa three kisses
Gave her the hot chocolate, she said, “It’s Dee-ricious”
Hahahaha, yeah
[Chorus]
Christmas in Harlem
Right after autumn falls (Uh, uh)
Soakin’ it all in
Then we go hit the mall (I'm like Bad Santa though)
Even though we ain’t ballin’ (Somebody sit on my lap)
Feel like we bought it all
The mistletoe’s right here
Come give a kiss to Santa Claus
[Verse 2]
Yeah, Mom and Dad, I won't be home for the holidays
Ha, I’m over 800 miles away
In the city that's so pretty
Where the hustlers dash through the snow without a sleigh
Tell my family that I’m sorry that I gotta stay
I’m with Ye at the Macy Day Parade
Lettin' the snow fall on my aviator shades
Even though I’m in New York, I’m still reppin' for the A
[Chorus]
Christmas in Harlem (Cyhi!)
Right after autumn falls
Soakin’ it all in
Then we go hit the mall
Even though we ain’t ballin’
Feel like we bought it all
The mistletoe’s right here
Come give a kiss to Santa Claus
[Verse 3]
All the flashin' lights up on a tree
The house lit up nice
With your family is where you wanna be
Here on Christmas night
When you wake up and you see the gifts
Don’t that make you feel good?
So since we all snowed in in Harlem
Let’s have Christmas in the hood
[Verse 4]
All of the flashin' lights
Yeah, them things shine so bright
Always for you and me
Baby, you’re Christmas Eve
If you like what you see
Won’t you come sit on my knee?
And tell me everything that you want
‘Cause, baby, I’m your Santa Claus, yeah
[Chorus]
Christmas in Harlem
Right after autumn falls
Soakin’ it all in
Then we go hit the mall
Even though we ain’t ballin’
Feel like we bought it all
The mistletoe’s right here
Come give a kiss to Santa Claus
Trivia[]
- The song is named after Run-DMC's song, "Christmas in Hollis".[2]
References[]
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_in_Harlem
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 https://genius.com/Kanye-west-christmas-in-harlem-original-lyrics
- ↑ https://genius.com/Kanye-west-christmas-in-harlem-lyrics
- ↑ https://www.whosampled.com/Kanye-West/Christmas-in-Harlem/
- ↑ https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/v-exclusive-christmas-harlem-producer-hit-boy-talks-finished-new-dipsetgood-music-55950/
- ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanyes-holiday-song-christmas-in-harlem-leaks-249988/
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