Kanye's New Slaves: Song Analysis

“New Slaves” a rap, hip hop, song written, produced, and composed by Grammy award winning, hip hop mogul, Kanye West. Recording artist Kanye West, could possible be considered the most controversial rapper of all time. Kanye speaks on topics relating to him and his culture in his music. West grew up with a mother who was raised during the segregation era, meaning that he has many extreme views on fairness, and equality in America. In Kanye’s career, along with his amazing music and creative image, he is well known for his public outbursts, and his hatred for the media and the paparazzi. West stands up for what he believes in, and is sometimes selfish of his feelings. This track was included on his sixth studio album entitled “Yeezus” in 2013.

This song serves as a “standout” track compared to the rest album, due to the context of the lyrics. The song touches many controversies dealing with the black community, and the struggles of his own success. Kanye West uses “New Slaves” as an argument that the current black community is a new era of slaves to white corporations. West uses the language and context of his lyrics, and an informative, outraged tone to validate his argument in this throughout the record.
This track is remotely about the misguided tendencies in the black community, and how they are a new era of slaves. Many “pro-black” organizations and committees has spoken on this subject. A great deal of people agree with West’s accusations of the topic. Some say that the black community holds itself back from becoming great. Kanye West is a 21st Century Hip-Hop, Rap superstar who is currently in a legendary “lane”. West knows the strength of his popularity, and which shows there is a “bond” between and him and his audience. He is one of the most award musicians of all time, a controversially creative individual who makes music defending who he is, as well as speaking on arguable subjects. While being an appealing rapper, it takes certain language to appeal to the public. On the song “New Slaves” very commonly, West uses vulgar and explicit language to promote the validation of his argument. In the current generation of music, uses of this language is an easy way to get our attention, and keep us interested. This type of language and specific vocabulary makes him appealing to the people who he makes music for. The song is critically acclaimed by audiences world-wide, as well as accepted by those in that genre.
The song starts off with the origin of his feelings for the topic. West proclaimed, “My momma was raised in an era when, Clean water was only served to the fairer skin” (West) in the opening of the song. The opening is a reminder that not too long ago, the black community was still treated poorly against. Racism was still going on, and the blacks were fighting for rights. With that opening, I feel that West is implying that the current black community has taken their “freedom” for granted, saying that we shouldn’t be so comfortable, and never forget what happened. Then West later declares, “You see it's broke nigga racism That's that "Don't touch anything in the store" And this rich nigga 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" (West), in the same verse. This statement, Kanye West is comparing the times from before, and the times now. He talks about the mistreatment and discrimination of black in stores, and then about the company’s taking money from the blacks. This statement, by far, really validates his points. This was a great example of the argument he’s trying to prove.
The bridge of the song relates to his critics, and incidents throughout his successful career.

The bridge reads, “You see it's leaders and it's followers, But I'd rather be a d*ck than a swallower”. In Kanye’s career, along with his amazing music and creative image, he is well known for his public outbursts, standing up for what he believes in, and his hatred for the media and the paparazzi. The biggest outburst of his career was his ambush at the Video Music Awards ceremony interrupting an acceptance speech from another artist, claiming that the award should’ve gone to Beyonce Knowles. He insisted that winner of that award won, because she was white. After that outburst, and innumerable more, many people began to criticize and dislike West. Others see it as him standing up for what he believes in, even though, he can be selfish with his

feelings.
The next verse, West continues to make many references comparing the old ways of the black community, and the new ways.

Next he proclaims,”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”. In these lines, he refuses to let material items, like an expensive car, hold him back. He also says he doesn’t hide his feelings, and that his passion and emotions are never concealed. Then, he admits that the black community actually is a new era of slaves. He then states, “I see the blood on the leaves,” referencing the common practice of lynching blacks during Slavery. Black Slaves were beaten, sodomized, and then hung off trees for little to no reason, leaving behind blood on the leaves. He emphasises that line by repeating it four more times. He’s confirming that the new African-American generation actually are new slaves, because he can see the “blood on the leaves”. That lyric also references to another song on his album entitled,”Blood On The Leaves”. Next, West continues to on ranting about how white corporations can’t control him. During this section of the song, is when West becomes even more vulgar and explicit. Once again, the vulgar language is a huge asset of Hip-hop music. Reaching hip-hop fans, vulgar language, is a must. West continues with,” They throwin' hate at me, Want me to stay at ease F*** you and your corporation Y'all n*ggas can't control me.” (West) West argues that even though these

“white corporation owners” may have power over some of the black community, they don’t have power over him. He refuses to be known as a “new slave”. This excerpt also is directed at his critics. West speaking out on controversial subjects acquired a lot of negative attention, he refers to as “Hate”. The rapper then says that these people want him to stay in line (at ease), which is something he refuses to do. He feels that as an artist, or as a creative, he can express himself in any way that he can. West never fails to remind people that his is his own person, who lives his own life, and does what he wants to do.
For the outro, the song transitions from an aggressive and passionate rap, to a melodic, emotional singing voice. West serenades the end of the song, confirming his feelings, and standing strong with his argument. West sings finishing the song, “I won't end this high, 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” (West) In this transition, we says how he can’t leave this world, allowing these things to continue. This works with his argument, because he shows how passionate he is on the topic. He using everything in his power to prove his argument. When reviewing this section of the song, I see how West uses “Pathos” as an appeal to support his argument. Finally, this ending of the song speaks about how freely he is, and how he’s now a free “slave”.
The lead single, “ New Slaves,” from Kanye West sixth studio “Yeezus” that challenged many controversial topics. The context of the lyrics in this track, was critically acclaimed by numerous media outlets, and to West’s fans. At the time of this song's release, West attempted to challenge himself musically, opening up his music to different types of audiences. In this song, Kanye West decided to speak on deep topics, that affects him and his fans. The song “New Slaves” serves as an argument that speaks on contentious topics that involve the black community, claiming that they are a new era of “slaves” to “white corporation owners”. West used his language(vocabulary and word plays), an assertive and emotional tone, and the context of his lyrics for validation of his argument. He, effectively, then calls the black community new slaves, for spending all their money on expensive things, making white corporations even richer.