"Flowers" (originally known as "Fuck Flowers"[1]) is the fifth track from Kanye West's demo studio album, Donda 2 (2022).[2]
The song alludes to when Ye tried to give his ex-wife Kim Kardashian flowers on Valentine's Day in 2022, just a few weeks before the song's release.[3] As with much of the songs on the album, this song has him voice his distaste for his ex and his ex's family.[2]
Production[]
The "Set me free" vocals originate from Marshall Jefferson's 1986 song, "Move Your Body".[4]
A lawsuit was filed in June 2022, alleging that the sample was used without permission.[5] On November 21, the track was updated on the Stem Player website and it did not include the sample.
Background[]
The song, initially named simply "Track 2" was made for Digital Nas' own solo album DN3 around Late 2021.[6] By January of the next year, however, the song seemed to have been given over to Kanye for Donda 2, who produced several versions of the song with vocal help from French Montana, will.i.am, and Albe Back, among others.
The song first appeared in a February 4 track list for the album, then referred to as "FUCK FLOWERS".[1][7] A rougher version of the track was shared on Kanye's Instagram prior to the album's release. The song's title switched between its original and its final in the following weeks.[8][9] On February 24, 2022 the song had officially been released alongside the other Donda 2 songs on the Stem Player.
In June of that same year, a lawsuit had been filed against Kanye alleging that the sample was used without permission.[5] As a result, the "set me free" sample was removed from the song.
In December 2023, the song had been revealed to have been given to French Montana as it appeared as "FLOWERS" on his upcoming album Mac & Cheese 5 as track 16, featuring Kanye West and Rich The Kid.[10] After the album was delayed to March of 2024, the track was among the many tracks that appeared on the first tracklist that were scrapped in favor for others.[11]
The song may have been cancelled to release on French Montana's album as Kanye had been reworking it himself, as insider Saint Leon later confirmed that the song was brought back during the Bad Bitch Play Book sessions in Italy with added production from AyoAA. According to Rodri, "Flowers" is the only song from Donda 2 that was ever considered for VULTURES 1. He also revealed that Ty Dolla $ign recorded vocals for the song.[12]
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
Gonna set You free
[Verse 1]
They know something
Some things don't matter (Set me free)
You wish I ain't me
You and time matter (Gonna set You)
You wish I ain't me
I don't find out
You wish I ain't me
F*** inside now
[Refrain 1]
Why you so scared that somebody find out?
I am a flex, imagine your ex face when he find out
I am the best, you hit the top, wait 'til they find out (Set me free)
He not a threat, send him a text, put him on timeout (Set me free)
[Chorus]
Keep the flowers, send a hunnid thousand (Set me free)
Keep the flowers, send a hunnid thousand (Set me free)
Keep the flowers, I said hunnid thousand
Took you out that metro housin', drop your name on my new album (Gonna set You free)
[Refrain 2]
Your life finna change right now (Set me free)
Your life finna change right now
Balenciaga for all your friends, Hermès for the argument
Your life finna change right now (It's gonna set You free)
[Refrain 1]
Why you so scared that somebody find out?
I am a flex, imagine your ex face when he find out
I am the best, you hit the top, wait 'til they find out
He not a threat, send him a text, put him on timeout
[Refrain 2]
Your life finna change right now
Balenciaga for all your friends, Hermès for the argument
Your life finna change right now
[Verse 2]
Don't bring friends around, I wouldn't— behind your back
That's the new rule, rules are rules
And not now then when, if not me then who?
You blacked out your page, went missing for days
They know you with me
You blacked out your page and switched up your boots
They know you with me
You switched up the Benz, you switched it again
I know what you need
You usually go combo, they don't even call you
They know you with me (Gonna set You free)
[Refrain 2]
Your life finna change right now (It's gonna set You free)
Your life finna change right now (Gonna set You free)
[Bridge]
Lord, take me
Lord, take me
Lord, take me where You wanna take me
Too much trauma lately, your life finna change right now (Gonna set You free)
[Refrain 2]
Your life finna change right now (Set me free)
Your life finna change right now (Gonna set You free)
Your life finna change right now (Set me free)
Your life finna change right now (Gonna set You free)
[Outro]
(Set me free)
(Gonna set You free)
(Set me free)
(Gonna set You free)
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 u/BOTTimmy (February 4, 2022). "Potential Donda 2 Tracklist Sighting". Reddit. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Flowers" by Kanye West. Genius. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
- ↑ Bitsky, Leah (February 14, 2022). "Kanye West sends truckload of roses to Kim Kardashian on Valentine's Day". Page Six. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
- ↑ https://www.whosampled.com/Kanye-West/Flowers/
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Minsker, Evan (June 29, 2022). "Kanye West Sued Over Sample on Donda 2's "Flowers"". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
- ↑ https://krakenfiles.com/view/vPHisIcmST/file.html
- ↑ u/imnotlegendyet (February 4, 2022). "Decoded tracklist. Thanks to @sherman on the WSE Discord." Reddit. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ↑ Walker, Joe (February 18, 2022). "Kanye West reveals 'Donda 2' tracklist while celebrating anti-streaming 'revolution'". HipHopDX. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
- ↑ @xxl (February 22, 2022). "Kanye West's #DONDA2 experience setlist". Twitter. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
- ↑ https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GCZCjyqXsAA9kf7.jpg:large
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/5eNbrlazXci6OR5uQeFfV3?si=o37ZRnY_T4Wwm2wkG6VLGQ
- ↑ https://x.com/yeunrlsd/status/1814709859318661382
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