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Kanye's recent stream-of-consciousness Twitter rant about aligning with president Donald Trump, promoting free-thinking, and attempting to tear down black political stereotypes caused quite the debate online. His latest song "Ye vs the People," which released late last night, is the musical version of that argument, and in the court of Kanye vs the people, T.I. is the vocal representative of the very people that stand in disagreement with West.
While this debate on political alignment among people of color isn't something that can be unpacked in a 3-minute song, what Kanye does attempt to do is defend his position, and that he is ultimately "aligning with love" while T.I. explains that his actions are selfish because of his huge impact on his fans and also that Trump's political agenda stems more from hate than love.
The song ultimately ends with Kanye saying that they could argue about this all day, and ultimately agrees to disagree as the beat cuts off.
Check some of the song's standout lyrics below.
Kanye: You just readin' the headlines, you don't see the fine print / You on some choosin'-side shit, I'm on some unified shit.
T.I. : It's bigger than your selfish agenda / If your election ain't gon' stop police from murderin' niggas, then shit...
Kanye: Bruh, I never ever stopped fightin' for the people / Actually wearin' the hat'll show people that we equal.
T.I. :You gotta see the vantage point of the people / What makes you feel equal makes them feel evil.
Kanye: I know Obama was Heaven-sent / But ever since Trump won, it proved that I could be President.
T.I. : Yeah you can, at what cost though? / Don't that go against the teachings that 'Ye taught for?
Kanye: Yo, Tip, I hear your side and everybody talk, though / But ain't goin' against the grain everything I fought for?
T.I. :Prolly so, Ye, but where you tryna go with this?
It's some shit you just don't align with and don't go against
Kanye: See that's the problem with this damn nation / All Blacks gotta be Democrats, man, we ain't made it off the plantation.
T.I. : Fuck who you choose as your political party / You representin' dudes just seem crude and cold-hearted / With blatant disregard for the people who put you in position / Don't you feel an obligation to them?
Kanye: I feel a obligation to show people new ideas / And if you wanna hear 'em, there go two right here / Make America Great Again had a negative reception / I took it, wore it, rocked it, gave it a new direction / Added empathy, care and love and affection / And y'all simply questionin' my methods.
TI : What you willin' to lose for the point to be proved? / This shit is stubborn, selfish, bullheaded, even for you / You wore a dusty ass hat to represent the same views / As white supremacy, man, we expect better from you / All them times you sounded crazy, we defended you, homie / Not just to be let down when we depend on you, homie / That's why it's important to know what direction you're goin' now / 'Cause everything that you built can be destroyed and torn down.
Kanye: You think I ain't concerned about how I affect the past? / I mean, that hat stayed in my closet like 'bout a year and a half / Then one day I was like, "Fuck it, I'ma do me" / I was in the sunken place and then I found the new me / Not worried about some image that I gotta keep up / Lot of people agree with me, but they too scared to speak up.
