Dorothy R. Santos

I had to post something fun and random since I’ve been fixated a bit too much on art theory and philosophy lately. This past week, as I was walking back home from work and listening to Kanye and Jay-Z‘s reflection on art and artist muses on the track, “That’s my Bi*ch” on collaborative album, ‘Watch the Throne‘, with Kanye West. Jay-Z has taken the liberty to weave lyrics together that offer a speedy discourse on the lack of women of color in the arts while paying homage to his wife, Beyonce. Interestingly, the woman singing the hook in the song is Elly Jackson (aka La Roux) who is, well, not a woman of color. Hmmm. Kanye references Basquiat but briefly.

Now, if you can get over the word, ‘bi*ch’ in the song, it’s quite clever. The lyrics are posted below for your convenience AND Rap Genius (RG) where RG users can offer meanings to hip hop song lyrics (one of my favorites sites!) has a pretty good breakdown of lyrics to this song.

**Please note: I didn’t post a youtube video due to many of the videos being modified and often times take down. However, if you’re at all interested in this post and learning about the song, I’m hoping you don’t mind doing a quick a search for it. Thanks for understanding! 🙂

[Intro: Kanye West]
Uh, hello, can I speak to, uh…uh
Yeah, you know who you are, look
You had no idea what ya dealing with
Somethin’ on some of this realest shit
Pop champagne, I’ll give you a sip
‘Bout to go dumb: how come?
Yeah that’s my bi*ch
That’s my bi*ch
Shorty right there?
That’s my bi*ch

[Hook: Elly Jackson]
I’ve been waiting for a long long time
Just to get off and throw my hands up high
And live my life and live my life
Just to get off and throw my hands up high

[Verse 1: Kanye West]
I paid for them titties, get your own
It ain’t safe in the city, watch the throne
She say I care more about them basquions
Basquiats, she learning a new word, it’s yacht
Blew the world up as soon as I hit the club with her
Too Short called, told me I fell in love with her
Seat by actors, ball players and drug dealers
And some lesbians that never loved ni**as
Twisted love story, True Romance
Mary Magdalene from a pole dance
I’m a freak, huh, rock star life
The second girl with us, that’s our wife
Hey boys and girls, I got a new riddle
Who’s the new old perv that’s tryna play second fiddle
No disrespect, I’m not tryna belittle
But my di*k worth money I put Monie in the middle
Where she at?
In the middle

[Hook]

[Bridge: Justin Vernon]
Silly little vixen, mixes ’til morning, I’m yearnin’, ooh yeah
Do you really think I give a damn ’bout that potion, stop motion, ooh, yeah

[Verse 2: Jay-Z]
Go harder than a ni**a for a ni**a go figure
Told me “keep my own money” if we ever did split up
How can somethin’ so gangsta be so pretty in pictures?
Ripped jeans and a blazer and some Louboutin slippers
Uh, Picasso was alive he woulda made her
That’s right ni**a Mona Lisa can’t fade her
I mean Marilyn Monroe, she’s quite nice
But why all the pretty icons always all white?
Put some colored girls in the MoMA
Half these broads ain’t got nothing on Willona
Don’t make me bring Thelma in it
Bring Halle, bring Penélope and Selma in it
Back to my Beyoncés
You deserve three stacks, word to Andre
Call Larry Gagosian, you belong in moseums
You belong in vintage clothes crushing the whole building
You belong with ni**as who used to be known for dope dealing
You too dope for any of those civilians
Now shoo children, stop looking at her titties
Get ya own dog, ya heard? That’s my bi*ch