"True Love" is a song by Kanye West and XXXTENTACION that was released as the opening track from Ye's demo studio album, Donda 2 (2022) and the twenty-fifth and final track from XXXTENTACION's posthumous album, LOOK AT ME: THE ALBUM (2022). It was released as a single on May 27, 2022, serving as the third and final single from Donda 2.[1][2]
In the song, Kanye raps about his divorce with Kim Kardashian and the custody of his children.
Production[]
The beat heavily samples Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth's 1992 song, "The Basement".[3]
Background[]
The song was initially as throwaway from late rapper XXXTENTACION that had been produced by John Cunningham and was recorded in 2018 during what would have been the Yandhi sessions for Kanye prior to his death that same year.[4]
On January 29, 2022, the song was rebounced by its producer John Cunningham to prepare it for future use.[5] Past that point, the song was handed off to Kanye for use on his album Donda 2. On February 1st, Moneybagg Yo recorded a reference for the song, marking the first post-Kanye verse recorded for the song.[6] Two days later the producer duo Ojivolta would add their additions to the song and Kanye would record his first freestyle for the song and the singer Simon Said would also record a feature for the song though was unused from this point onward.[7]
Between the previous date and February 13th, Don Toliver and Bump J would record references for the song and Fat Money would record his first reference.[8] On the 13th however came the first writer's camp reference and the first full rework of the song produced by Beach House.[9][10] The following day during one of the 9AM meetings Kanye would meet up with The Game and bounce ideas for his verse for the song.[11]
On February 16th, Fat Money would record his second reference for the song.[12] Though none of the lyrics on this reference were utilized, the flow in some portions was replicated in the final version.
A day before release on the day of the listening party, Jack Harlow would meet up with Kanye and record a feature verse for the song over the Beach House instrumental, seemingly interpolating an earlier CyHi reference track.[13] Neither the Jack Harlow verse nor the Beach House instrumental were used.[14] A version of the song debuted at the album's listening party on February 22. The version played at the event used the same drums from "Runaway."
When the album released on the Stem Player, an alternate version was on it. This version used different drums, which yielded mixed to negative reception.[15] One day later, the original version was uploaded as the sixteenth and final track, under the name, "True Love (Stadium Version)".[16] It was moved to the opening track, but it was later replaced with the normal version.
In late May, the song was re-released one more time as the lead single for X's posthumous compilation album titled LOOK AT ME: THE ALBUM, which served as a companion piece to a documentary about the late rapper.[17] That version is similar to the stadium version, but is trimmed down and has some added production. Ye's line "no hard feelings but these feelings harder" is looped several times, which has yielded some ridicule by fans. The single was released on May 27 and the full album came out on June 10.[18] The third version is the only version that has been made available on streaming platforms.
Lyrics[]
[Chorus]
True love shouldn't be this complicated
I thought I'd die in your arms, I thought I'd die in your—
True love shouldn't be this complicated
I thought I'd die in your arms, I thought I'd die in your—
[Bridge]
No hard feelings, but these feelings harder
No-no hard feelings, but these feelings harder
No-no hard feelings, but these feelings harder
[Verse]
Wait, when you see the kids? I'll see y'all tomorrow
Wait, when the sun set? I see y'all tomorrow
Wait, when I pick 'em up, I feel like they borrowed
When I gotta return them, scan 'em like a bar code
Wait, no hard feelings, but these feelings hard though
Wait, who got the kids in those "What are those?"
Wait, why they can't wear Yeezys with the cargos?
Y'all know Nike don't like me, y'all take it too far, though
At least have 'em in some Mike's, he played for Chicago
I only see three kids, who watchin' Chicago?
And you know all the nannies they're Danny Nesbrasco
Let the kids dig a tunnel to my house like Chapo
Only neighbor in the hood with a door they can knock on
I leave the light on
[Chorus]
True love shouldn't be this complicated
(Daddy's not gone, you see the light on)
I thought I'd die in your arms, I thought I'd die in your—
(Daddy's at home, tell Gekyume)
True love shouldn't be this complicated
(Daddy's not gone, tell Gekyume)
I thought I'd die in your arms, I thought I'd die in your—
(Daddy's at home)
[Post-Chorus]
Oh, woah, oh, woah, oh, woah
Oh, woah, oh, woah, oh, woah (Love)
Oh, woah, oh, woah, oh, woah
Oh, woah, oh, woah, oh, woah
[Bridge]
No hard feelings, but these feelings harder
No-no hard feelings, but these feelings harder
No hard feelings, but these feelings harder
[Chorus]
True love shouldn't be this complicated
I thought I'd die in your arms, I thought I'd die in your—
True love shouldn't be this complicated
I thought I'd die in your arms, I thought I'd die in your—
[Chorus]
True love shouldn't be this complicated
Thought I'd die in your arms
I thought I'd die in your—
True love shouldn't be this complicated
Thought I'd die in your arms
I thought I'd die in your—
[Verse]
No hard feelings, but these feelings harder
When I think about it, my eyes fill up with water
Don't have our daughters butterfly while they larvae
Wait, when you see the kids? I'll see y'all tomorrow
Wait, when the sun set? I see y'all tomorrow
Wait, when I pick 'em up, I feel like they borrowed
When I gotta return them, scan 'em like a bar code
Wait, no hard feelings, but these feelings hard though
Wait, who got the kids in those "What are those?"
Wait, why they can't wear Yeezys with the cargos?
Y'all know Nike don't like me, y'all take it too far, though
At least have 'em in some Mike's, he played for Chicago
I only see three kids, who watchin' Chicago?
And you know all the nannies is Donnie Nesbrasco
Let the kids dig a tunnel to my house like Chapo
Only neighbor in the hood with a door they can knock on
I leave the light on
[Chorus]
True love (Daddy's not gone) shouldn't be this complicated
(You see the light on)
Thought I'd die in your arms (Daddy's at home)
I thought I'd die in your— (Tell Gekyume)
True love (Daddy's not gone) shouldn't be this complicated (Tell Gekyume)
Thought I'd die in your arms (Daddy's at home)
I thought I'd die in your—
[Outro]
Oh, woah, oh, woah, oh, woah
Oh, woah, oh, woah, oh, woah (Love)
Oh, woah, oh, woah, oh, woah
Oh, woah, oh, woah, oh, woah
Trivia[]
- As of today, "True Love" is Ye's last song released under a record label.[2]
References[]
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donda_2
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_Love_(Kanye_West_and_XXXTentacion_song)
- ↑ https://www.whosampled.com/XXXTENTACION/True-Love/
- ↑ Image. Genius. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/6a6fcdd8e3e96f86a5e1f38b47a8c706
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/fdb57fcd8a55137e88af52ddab365c5d
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/c62cde9f76ffe2b26489e07633f34f23
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/f8e028f224be53741b9acbf4806f27a0
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/c857cbd18ffafab1dc2355c6ec6a1fdb
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/8fa2a7232486aaacc65aa1297fd34c56
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/cf906235c23258d661fb79017fd20768
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/f6bf563b91fe4160ae77794973562478
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/02872612738ba5496f051015044480d3
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/74b055863243c45c3c3dc4ee0c7cf9c7
- ↑ Corcoran, Nina, Minsker, Evan (February 24, 2022). "Kanye West Releases New Album Donda 2 on Stem Player". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ Watching the Throne (February 26, 2022). "True Love (Stadium Version) added to Stem Player | Donda 2 | Kanye West, XXXTentacion". YouTube. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ "True Love" by Kanye West & XXXTENTACION. Spotify. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ LOOK AT ME: THE ALBUM. Spotify. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
Donda 2 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|