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"New Slaves" is the fourth track from Kanye West's sixth studio album, Yeezus (2013).[1] The song features uncredited vocals from Swizz Beatz and Frank Ocean.[2]

In the song, Ye aggressively raps about how everyone in society has become too caught up in consumerism, calling them the new slaves. He also raps about racism in America and how poor and rich black people are treated, while also referencing another Yeezus song, "Blood On The Leaves".[2]

Production[]

The song heavily samples Teachers' 2013 song, "Cruel Cold Winter". The intro uses vocals from Dutch E Germ's 2013 song, "HBA War" and the outro samples Omega's 1969 song, "Gyöngyhajú Lány", which is sung over by Frank Ocean. A portion of the song also samples SALEM's 2007 song, "Lucyfur".[3]

Lawsuit[]

In 2016, Ye was sued by Gábor Presser, who wrote "Gyöngyhajú Lány" in 1969. He claimed that Ye asked if he could sample the song and gave him a $10,000 check to deposit for a future agreement, but the check was never cashed, which is why Presser sued Ye for $2,500,000.[4] Ye tried negotiating with Presser and even tried dismissing the case, but neither worked. Finally, Ye and Presser reached an out-of-court deal on March 20, 2017, two days before Ye was supposed to be deposed.[5]

Background[]

The first known demo for "New Slaves" dates back to December 19, 2012, during the Thank God For Drugs sessions.[6] Originally, the beat for "New Slaves" had much more production compared to the released version. On May 17, 2013, Ye premiered the song by projecting a visual of his face on 66 different buildings in several different countries, including New York, Berlin, London, Miami, and Sydney.[7] A day later, Ye previewed the song on Saturday Night Live along with "Black Skinhead".[8] It was also featured in the Yeezus trailer, which parodies American Psycho.[9]

Ye went on to call the second verse of the song "the best rap verse of all time".[10]

Live performances[]

The song was performed as the second track on the setlist for The Yeezus Tour.[11] He also performed the song on Later... with Jools Holland with Charlie Wilson[12] and at the 2014 London Wireless Festival.

Lyrics[]

[Intro]
Chill, chill, chill, chill, chill, chill
Chill, chill, chill, chill, chill, chill
Chill, chill, chill, chill, chill, chill
Chill, chill, chill, chill, chill, chill

[Verse 1]
My mama was raised in the era when
Clean water was only served to the fairer skin
Doin' clothes, you would've thought I had help
But they wasn't satisfied unless I picked the cotton myself
You see it's broke n***a racism
That's that, "Don't touch anything in the store"
And it's rich n***a racism
That's that, "Come in, please buy more"
"What you want, a Bentley? Fur coat? A diamond chain?
All you blacks want all the same things"
Used to only be n***as, now everybody playin'
Spendin' everything on Alexander Wang
New slaves

[Refrain]
You see it's leaders and it's followers
But I'd rather be a dick than a swallower
You see it's leaders and it's followers
But I'd rather be a dick than a swallower

[Verse 2]
I throw these Maybach keys
I wear my heart on the sleeve
I know that we the new slaves
I see the blood on the leaves
I see the blood on the leaves
I see the blood on the leaves
I know that we the new slaves
I see the blood on the leaves
They throwin' hate at me
Want me to stay at ease
Fuck you and your corporation
Y'all n***as can't control me
I know that we the new slaves
I know that we the new slaves
I'm 'bout to wild the fuck out
I'm goin' Bobby Boucher
I know that pussy ain't free
You n***as pussy, ain't me
Y'all throwin' contracts at me
You know that n***as can't read
Throw on some Maybach keys
Fuck it, c'est la vie
I know that we the new slaves
Y'all n***as can't fuck with me
Y'all n***as can't fuck with Ye
Y'all n***as can't fuck with Ye
I'll move my family out the country
So you can't see where I stay
So go and grab the reporters
So I can smash their recorders
See, they'll confuse us with some bullshit
Like the New World Order
Meanwhile the DEA
Teamed up with the CCA
They tryna lock n***as up
They tryna make new slaves
See, that's that privately owned prison
Get your peace today
They prolly all in the Hamptons
Braggin' 'bout what they made
Fuck you and your Hampton house
I'll fuck your Hampton spouse
Came on her Hampton blouse
And in her Hampton mouth
Y'all 'bout to turn shit up
I'm 'bout to tear shit down
I'm 'bout to air shit out
Now what the fuck they gon' say now?

[Bridge]
Nothing bad, nothing bad, noth—
Noth-Noth—, —ing bad, noth— (Noth-Noth—)
Bad, nothing bad, nothing bad
Nothing—

[Outro]
I won't end this fight, not this time again
So long, so long, so long, you cannot survive
And I'm not dyin', and I can't lose
I can't lose, no, I can't lose
'Cause I can't leave it to you
So let's get too high, get too high again
Too high again, too high, ooh hoo-hoo-hooh, woo
Yeah, h-h-h-high, h-high-high, high-high high-igh-high-high
H-high-igh, yeah, high, high-igh
Egyszer a Nap úgy elfáradt (Yeah, mhm-igh)
Elaludt mély zöld tó ölén
Az embereknek fájt a sötét
Ő megsajnált, eljött közénk

Trivia[]

  • The line, "You see, it's leaders and it's followers, but I'd rather be a dick than a swallower" is an interpolation of "N****s Gossip", an unreleased song by Ye that was created around ten years prior to this song.

References[]

Yeezus
Singles
"Black Skinhead" • "Bound 2"
Other tracks
"On Sight" • "I Am A God" • "New Slaves" • "Hold My Liquor" • "I'm In It" • "Blood On The Leaves" • "Guilt Trip" • "Send It Up"
Chronology
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