"Gotta Have It" is a song by American hip hop artists Kanye West and JAY-Z from their collaborative album Watch the Throne. The song was produced by West and The Neptunes, and samples three original compositions by James Brown: "Don't Tell a Lie About Me and I Won't Tell the Truth About You", "People Get Up and Drive Your Funky Soul" and "My Thang". The song explores themes of wealth, decadence and the economic stature in the US
Reception[]
The song received positive reviews from critics who complimented the production and the clever wordplay of the two rappers. The song was released as the sixth single from Watch the Throne on December 6, 2011. The song peaked at number 69 on the US Billboard Hot 100 entered the top 15 both the US Billboard Hot Rap Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. The song has since been certified Platinum in the United States. The song peaked at number 69 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and at numbers 14, 13 and 17 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot Rap Songs and Rhythmic charts respectively.
Lyrics[]
[Intro: Kanye West]
Turn my headphones up, louder, uh-huh, uh-huh
[Sample: James Brown]
What you need, what–what you need
I got what you need, what–what you need (Bam)
What you need, what–what you need
I got what you need
[Verse 1: Kanye West & Jay-Z]
Hello, hello, hello, hello, white America, assassinate my character
Money matrimony, yeah, they tryna break the marriage up
Who gon' act phony, or who gon' try to embarrass ya?
I'ma need a day off, I think I'll call Ferris up
Bueller had a Muller but I switched it for a Mille
'Cause I’m richer, and prior to this shit, was movin' free base
Had a conference with the DJs (Yeah?), Puerto Rico three days
Poli with the PDs, now they got our shit on replay
Sorry I’m in pajamas but I just got off the PJ
And last party we had, they shut down Prive
Ain’t that where the Heat play? (Yeah)
N****s hate ballers these days (Yeah)
Ain’t that like LeBron James?
Ain’t that just like D-Wade? Wait
[Sample: James Brown]
What you need, what–what you need
I got what you need, what–what you need (Bam)
What you need, what–what you need
I got what you need (Bam, bam, bam, bam, bam)
[Verse 2: Jay-Z & Kanye West]
Wussup, wussup, wussup, wussup
Wussup, muh'fucka? Where my money at?
You gon' make me come down to your house where yo' mommy at
Mummy wrap the kids, have ‘em cryin’ for they mommy back
Dummy that your daddy is, tell 'em I just want my racks
Racks on racks on racks (Racks!)
Maybachs on bachs on bachs on bachs on bachs
Who in that? Oh shit, it’s just blacks on blacks on blacks
Hunnid stack–How you get it? N***a layin’ raps on tracks
I wish I could give you this feeling, I’m planking on a million
I’m riding through yo' hood, you can bank I ain’t got no ceiling
Made a left on Nostrand Ave., (Right), we in Bed Stuy
Made a right on 79th, I’m coming down South Shore Drive
I remain Chi-town, Brooklyn ‘til I die
[Outro: James Brown]
Take ‘em on home, take ‘em on home
Take ‘em on home, take ‘em on home
I got what you need, what–what you need
Take ‘em on home
What you need, what–what you need
I got what you need, what–what you need
Take ‘em on home, take ‘em on home
Take ‘em on home, take ‘em on home
Tryna hurt my name, huh?