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"HOODRAT" is a song by ¥$ (Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign) that was released as the sixth track from their debut studio album, VULTURES 1 (2024).[1] The song features sampled vocals from Mike Tyson.[2]

The song's title and hook call back to Kanye's 2010 single, "Runaway". It also acts as an ode to Kanye's new lover, Bianca Censori.[3]

Production[]

The song allegedly features a very prominent sample loop of the notorious Latarian Milton news report, looping the word "hoodrat" throughout. The outro samples an episode of the "Hotboxin' with Mike Tyson" podcast, in which Tyson talks about Ye.[4]

Background[]

The song was initially created some time in early 2023 and had been intended for Kanye's solo album, YEBU. An early version of the song was sent to Fivio Foreign and a snippet of it was first previewed in his documentary Without Warning.[2] It was later confirmed by Alek that the snippet was just of the beat, meaning it was likely that Fivio was meant to record a reference for the song. While the voice memo Fivio recorded was not intended for the song, it's likely he did end up recording for the song as it was later confirmed by Fivio himself that he had worked on a song for VULTURES 1 on his twitter.[5]

In May 2023, the song was accidentally played for a few seconds during the YZY FREE casting before it was stopped.[6] Conservative Christian rapper Bryson Gray recorded a reference track for this song, in which he accuses the LGBTQ community and Satanists of "running the industry".[7] The song appeared on the last known YEBU track list in Japan before Ye's direction had shifted towards working on VULTURES 1, being listed as the fifth track.[8] At this point, the vocals had been primarily mumble.[9]

The song was later revived during the Italy sessions. It was worked on again during the Saudi sessions for VULTURES 1 with reworked production from London On Da Track.[10] It continued to be worked on into 2024 with Ye recording reference vocals for Ty and Malik Yusef recording a reference for this song around this time period as well.[11]

The song was not seen on any track lists for VULTURES 1 until January 31, when North was seen wearing the track list for VULTURES 1 on a shirt. "Hoodrat" was listed as the fourteenth track.[12] Another snippet of the song's instrumental, presumably from December 2023, was leaked on February 4.[13] The song was first previewed at the VULTURES 1 listening party in Chicago. This version was pitched lower than previous demos of the song, and Ye stuck with this pitch.[14]

Lyrics[]

[Intro]
Hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat
Hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat
Hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat
Hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat
Hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat (Auntie)
Hoodrat, hoodrat, hood— (N***a)

[Refrain]
Hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat (Ahh, ma, what up?)
Hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat
Hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat
Hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat
Hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat (Ahh, ma, what up?)
Hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat
Hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat (Auntie)
Hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat (N***a)

[Chorus]
You look like a piece of hallelujah
Wrapped up in— have mercy, Lord (Hoodrat, hoodrat)
I know that I've got a nice whip
But I hope that me and you could be on one accord (Hoodrat, hoodrat)

[Verse 1]
I shot, I scored (Ahh, ma, what up?)
I take it off the board, headboard
Ah, boom, n***a (N***a, ahh, ma, what up?)
She fell in love with the sword
I sliced, I diced, I hit it from the back
Whore, whore (Ahh, ma, what up?)
But I respect your feelings
When your toes tried to touch the ceiling
Havin' safe sex (Auntie)
Of course, unlock the door
Bought all the things that you could dream of
Had I bought a Chanel, Gucci, Pucci creamer
But we all know the outcome that fuck up the income
And then some, have mercy, Lord
And, n***a, eyes on dim sum, let the light dim some
Catch me on your TV, heart broke GD

[Chorus]
You look like a piece of hallelujah
Wrapped up in— have mercy, Lord
I know that I've got a nice whip
But I hope that me and you could be on one accord (n***a)

[Verse 2]
One maker, real breath taker, real rump shaker
Do that, whip what her mama gave her
9-1-1, let me call my savior
Jesus on the main line, brand new T-shirt (Ahh, ma what up?)
Don't make me stain mine
Drank so much, she throwin' up my gang sign
Throwin' up my gang sign (Auntie)
Throwin' up my gang sign (N***a)

[Refrain]
Hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat
Hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat
Hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat
Hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat
Hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat
Hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat (Ahh, ma, what up?)
Hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat
Hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat, hoodrat (N***a)

[Outro]
People are funny, they know Kanye's great too
But the way he conducts himself, they hate to believe it
But they can't help it, they know he's great (Right)
Why would— Listen
Shit Kanye say is basically affirmations what people say for success
And it sounds insane because that's what motherfuckers do
But he sounds insane and that's signs— sounds of a leader
No doubt he's got some mental fuckin' issues, most leaders do
The delusional issue, "I'm a God"

References[]

VULTURES 1
Singles
"VULTURES" • "TALKING" • "CARNIVAL"
Other tracks
"STARS" • "KEYS TO MY LIFE" • "PAID" • "BACK TO ME" • "HOODRAT" • "DO IT" • "PAPERWORK" • "BURN" • "FUK SUMN" • "BEG FORGIVENESS" • "GOOD (DON'T DIE)" • "PROBLEMATIC" • "KING"
Chronology
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