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"Two Words" (originally known as "2 Words"[1]) is the eighteenth track from Kanye West's debut studio album, The College Dropout (2004), the sixth track from Kanye's 2002 mixtape, Get Well Soon..., and the fifth track from Kanye's 2003 mixtape, I'm Good....[2][3] It released on the B-side of the "Through The Wire" single on November 4, 2003.[4] The song features vocals from Freeway, Yasiin Bey, and The Boys Choir of Harlem.

The song's lyrics focus mainly on the struggles of black people in America and how they overcome them.[5]

A cinematic version of the track was featured in The College Dropout Video Anthology.[6]

Production[]

The song mainly samples Mandrill's 1970 song, "Peace and Love (Amani Na Mapenzi): Movement IV (Encounter)", and uses its drums from The 5th Dimension's 1971 song, "The Rainmaker".[7]

Background[]

In 2016, Consequence revealed an early track list for The College Dropout, showing that the song was originally titled "2 Words" and it was originally placed as the fifth track on the album.[1] According to Olskool Ice-Gre, Kanye worked with the Hezekiah Walker choir for the song at one point, but instead went with the Boys Choir of Harlem.[8] Miri Ben-Ari also recalled that Kanye made a version of "Two Words" solely featuring the strings. However, this version has yet to leak.[8]

Music video[]

The music video was officially released on The College Dropout Video Anthology on March 22, 2005, and independently on November 4, 2005.[9] Everyone who was in the music video shot their portion of the video in completely different places.

Lyrics[]

[Chorus]
We in the streets, playa, get your mail
It's only two places you end up, either dead or in jail
Still nowhere to go (nowhere to go)
Still nowhere to go (nowhere to go)
Now throw your hands up
Hustlers, busters, boosters, hoes
Everybody, fuck that
Still nowhere to go (nowhere to go)
Still nowhere to go (nowhere to go)

[Verse 1]
(Listen)
Two words, United States, no love, no breaks
Low brow, high stakes, crack smoke, Black folks
Big Macs, fat folks, ecstasy capsules
Presidential scandals, everybody move
Two words, Mos Def, K West, hot shit
Calm down, get back, ghetto people got this
Game 'pon lock shit, gun 'pon cock shit
We won't stop shit, everybody move
Two words, BK, NY, Bed-Stuy
Two harsh, too hungry, too many, that's why
These streets know game, can't ball, don't play
Heavy traffic, one lane, everybody move
Two words, Mos Def, Black Jack, hot shit
Calm down, get back, ghetto people got this
Game 'pon lock shit, gun 'pon cock shit
We won't stop, everybody move

[Chorus]
Now throw your hands up (throw your hands up high)
Hustlers, busters, boosters, hoes
Everybody, fuck that
Still nowhere to go (nowhere to go)
Still nowhere to go (nowhere to go)
And keep your hands up ('til they reach the sky)
Hustlers, busters, boosters, hoes
Everybody, fuck that
Still nowhere to go (nowhere to go)
Still nowhere to go (nowhere to go)

[Verse 2]
Ayo, two words, Chi-Town, Southside, worldwide
'Cause I rep that 'til I fuckin' die
One neck, two chains, one waist, two gats
One wall, twenty plaques, dues paid, gimme that
I am limelight, Blueprint, five Mics
Go-Getters rhyme like, should've been signed twice
Most imitated, GRAMMY nominated
Hotel accommodated, cheerleader, prom-dated
Barbershop player-hated, mom and pop bootlegged it
Felt like it rained 'til the roof caved in
Two words, Chi-Town, raised me, crazy
So I live by two words, "Fuck you, pay me"
Screaming, "Jesus, save me"
You know how the game be, I can't let 'em change me
'Cause on Judgment Day, you gon' blame me
Look, God, it's the same me
And I basically know now, we get racially profiled (throw your hands up high)
Cuffed up and hosed down, pimped up and ho'd down
Plus, I got a whole city to hold down
From the bottom, so the top's the only place to go now

[Chorus]
Now throw your hands up (throw your hands up high)
Hustlers, busters, boosters, hoes
Everybody, fuck that
Still nowhere to go (nowhere to go)
Still nowhere to go (nowhere to go)

[Verse 3]
Two words, Freeway, two letters, A-R
Turn y'all rap n***as into two words, fast runners
Like Jackie Joyner, you better sleep with your burner
The heat skeet, blow a reef through your car, my God
Two words, no guns, break arms
Break necks, break backs, Steven Seagal
Free, young boss, freshman of the Roc
With the beef in the pot, Jay sent for his dogs to brawl
Forget your squad, better fend for yourself
Have you screamin' out four words, "Send for the law," uh
Two words, Freeway, slightly retarded
Fuck around, throw a clip in your artist, leave with his broad

[Outro]
Red, white blue, black (throw your hands up)
Calm down, move back (throw your hands up)
Motherfuckers askin', "Who is that?" (Throw your hands up)
You know it's the almighty Black Jack (throw your hands up)
Mos Def, K West (throw your hands up)
Ghetto people, get this shit off your chest (throw your hands up)
North to the south, to the east, to the west (throw your hands up)
Black Jack Johnson, it's no contest (throw your hands up)
And show it to 'em like

References[]

The College Dropout
Singles
"Through The Wire" • "Slow Jamz" • "All Falls Down" • "Jesus Walks" • "The New Workout Plan"
Other tracks
"Intro" • "We Don't Care" • "Graduation Day" • "I'll Fly Away" • "Spaceship" • "Never Let Me Down" • "Get Em High" • "Workout Plan" • "Breathe In Breathe Out" • "School Spirit Skit 1" • "School Spirit" • "School Spirit Skit 2" • "Lil Jimmy Skit" • "Two Words" • "Family Business" • "Last Call" • "Heavy Hitters"
Chronology
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