Music Review: Kanye West & Jamie Foxx "Gold Digger"
Kanye West & Jamie Foxx
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Gold Digger
Album: Late Registration
Year: 2005
Kanye West dates a woman he knows only wants him for his money in the humorous "Gold Digger."
Jamie Foxx opens the single by imitating Ray Charles. Using Charles' "I Got A Woman," Foxx sings it the beginning of the sample with new lyrics. He says that his girlfriend will spend in his money, knowing that he has to to pay bills. He says she's fickle and will find another man soon. She's known to look for men with a lot money within the city. Right now, he's the next victim.
In the chorus, the bits of original Ray Charles' sample are heard and are in parentheses. West sticks up the woman. He says she's not out for him to buy her stuff. However, he's noticed that she only hangs around with rich men. West is all right with it. She has to do what she needs to do.
In the first verse, he meets while he's getting his hair cut. He thinks she's a beauty. He gets a glimpse of her designer purse and takes note of it. She sees him smiling at her and walks up to him. She says that she knows who he is. He's on Jay-Z's Roc-a-fella label. He says that he knows that she has a ton of girlfriends. He says he's wants a serious relationship and flirts with her by telling a cute story. He says a psychic in Hollywood told she would have an ample derriere like Serena Williams, rapper Trina, or product Jennifer Lopez. She would also be a mother with four kids. He will also have to make the children famous. He warms up to the idea of her bringing her kids. But kids' friends heard that Kanye West was going to be there. Then, they wanted to come along, too. He drives to his new girlfriend's house in his Mercedes Benz. The kids all jump in and tell him, "we want to go to Denny's!" So they all have lunch at Denny's. His girlfriend says she doesn't have enough money. But could he please pay for this one time. He pays, but he had heard that she was a gold digger. Before he would even have sex with any of the rich men, they would have to buy her expensive things. According to his friends, one of those kids is Busta Rhymes' and she used to be an Usher groupie. But the facts are irrelevant to him. He's in love with her.
The chorus is sung again.
In the second verse, he tells a story about one of his celebrity friends. His friend went out with a girl and slept with her. They ended up having a kid. West says he's tied to her until the kid turns 18. He's paying the girl child support. However, the child support is going towards a luxury car and mansion for her. He says that he's a marquee football superstar playing on a championship. However, it may seem like he may have a lot. But it doesn't. He leaves the sports arena in a modest-priced car. He says the money was also supposed to go towards toys for the kids. However, she used it for liposuction instead. He compares her to Michael Jackson in the "Living With Michael Jackson" documentary. In it, he goes to an upscale store and basically points to everything, indicating that he wants it. She's just like him. He tells his friend that he should've got his money insured. She's spending it like water. He advises men to have women sign pre-nupital agreements. Otherwise, the fortune will be gone. Then, on the kid's 18th birthday, the woman told him that it wasn't his after all.
The chorus is sung again.
In the bridge, a saxophone replaces Charles' voice. He understands that the woman has to get by. He advises women not to dump their current penniless boyfriends. She tells her boyfriend not to buy drugs. However, he doesn't have the money for it anyway. The guy feels as though she should be treated to a nice dinner. Again, he can't pay (and she doesn't offer). It leaves him to earn some money for a while, washing dishes for the restraruant. West tells the woman that her boyfriend wants to be in a good, well-paying job. He'll be taking odd, soul-crushing jobs for a while. However, he will be successful. She needs to patient. His best friend may be established and in a great job. Although she has to remember that her boyfriend and not be tempted by the yearly salary. He says that staying with him may be fruitless. Eventually, he will dump her for a white girl.
Parts of the chorus are sung once to end the single.
West, whose ego far outweighs any elephant, finally finds a sense of humor. "Gold Digger" takes the usual stereotypes (even the offensive ones) and turns them around. He's the rapper with groupies always wanting his money. In his music, he criticizes those same women. However, after every show, he's spending time with one of them. He makes fun of athletes who have babies all over the States. Again, the press or normal people don't much about it. His inexpensive lifestyle is spun as him being humble. However, it's because he's paying the mother of one of his children.
The second verse is the wittiest. It's written like a blind item with clues as to who the guy may be. For West, it's a rare time that he drops the celebrities-are-a-god act and actually comes across as a snark
The sample also works really well. West follows the less is more formula. It's mostly a loop of a few notes that's then sped up. Although Foxx's cameo is more stuntcasting in the single than anything else. It's like Foxx wants to be typecast for that one role. It's as though he's campaigning for the Stevie Wonder bio, too.
The sarcasm in "Gold Digger" is as good as any celebrity snarkathon on the cable stations.
Album: Late Registration
Year: 2005
Kanye West dates a woman he knows only wants him for his money in the humorous "Gold Digger."
Jamie Foxx opens the single by imitating Ray Charles. Using Charles' "I Got A Woman," Foxx sings it the beginning of the sample with new lyrics. He says that his girlfriend will spend in his money, knowing that he has to to pay bills. He says she's fickle and will find another man soon. She's known to look for men with a lot money within the city. Right now, he's the next victim.
"She take my money when I'm in need/Yea she's a triflin' friend indeed/Oh she's a gold digga way over town/That dig's on me."
In the chorus, the bits of original Ray Charles' sample are heard and are in parentheses. West sticks up the woman. He says she's not out for him to buy her stuff. However, he's noticed that she only hangs around with rich men. West is all right with it. She has to do what she needs to do.
"(She takes my money)/Now I ain't sayin' she a gold digger (When I'm in need)/But she ain't messin' wit no broke niggas/She takes my money)/Now I ain't sayin' she a gold digger (When I'm in need)/But she ain't messin' wit no broke niggas/Get down girl gone head get down (I gotta leave)/Get down girl gone head get down (I gotta leave)/Get down girl gone head get down (I gotta leave)/Get down girl gone head."
In the first verse, he meets while he's getting his hair cut. He thinks she's a beauty. He gets a glimpse of her designer purse and takes note of it. She sees him smiling at her and walks up to him. She says that she knows who he is. He's on Jay-Z's Roc-a-fella label. He says that he knows that she has a ton of girlfriends. He says he's wants a serious relationship and flirts with her by telling a cute story. He says a psychic in Hollywood told she would have an ample derriere like Serena Williams, rapper Trina, or product Jennifer Lopez. She would also be a mother with four kids. He will also have to make the children famous. He warms up to the idea of her bringing her kids. But kids' friends heard that Kanye West was going to be there. Then, they wanted to come along, too. He drives to his new girlfriend's house in his Mercedes Benz. The kids all jump in and tell him, "we want to go to Denny's!" So they all have lunch at Denny's. His girlfriend says she doesn't have enough money. But could he please pay for this one time. He pays, but he had heard that she was a gold digger. Before he would even have sex with any of the rich men, they would have to buy her expensive things. According to his friends, one of those kids is Busta Rhymes' and she used to be an Usher groupie. But the facts are irrelevant to him. He's in love with her.
"Cutie the bomb/Met her at a beauty salon/With a baby Louis Vuitton/Under her underarm/She said I can tell you Roc/I can tell by ya charm/Far as girls you got a flock/I can tell by ya charm and ya arm/But I'm lookin' for the one/Have you seen her/My psychic told me she have a ass like Serena/Trina, Jennifer Lopez, four kids/An I gotta take all they bad ass to show-biz/Ok get ya kids but then they got their friends/I pulled up in the Benz, they all got up in/We all went to Den and then I had to pay/If you fuckin' with this girl then you betta be payed/You know why/It take too much to touch her/From what I heard she got a baby by Busta
My best friend say she use to fuck wit Usher/I don't care what none of y'all say I still love her."
The chorus is sung again.
In the second verse, he tells a story about one of his celebrity friends. His friend went out with a girl and slept with her. They ended up having a kid. West says he's tied to her until the kid turns 18. He's paying the girl child support. However, the child support is going towards a luxury car and mansion for her. He says that he's a marquee football superstar playing on a championship. However, it may seem like he may have a lot. But it doesn't. He leaves the sports arena in a modest-priced car. He says the money was also supposed to go towards toys for the kids. However, she used it for liposuction instead. He compares her to Michael Jackson in the "Living With Michael Jackson" documentary. In it, he goes to an upscale store and basically points to everything, indicating that he wants it. She's just like him. He tells his friend that he should've got his money insured. She's spending it like water. He advises men to have women sign pre-nupital agreements. Otherwise, the fortune will be gone. Then, on the kid's 18th birthday, the woman told him that it wasn't his after all.
"18 years, 18 years/She got one of yo kids got you for 18 years/I know somebody payin' child support for one of his kids/His baby momma's car and crib is bigger than his/You will see him on TV any given Sunday/Win the Superbowl and drive off in a Hyundai/She was spose to buy ya shorty Tyco with ya money/She went to the doctor got lypo with ya money/She walkin' around lookin' like Michael with ya money/Should of got that insured got Geico for ya money/If you ain't no punk holla "We Want Prenup"We want prenup, yeah/It's something that you need to have/'Cause when she leave yo ass she gone leave with half/18 years, 18 years/And on her 18th birthday he found out it wasn't his."
The chorus is sung again.
In the bridge, a saxophone replaces Charles' voice. He understands that the woman has to get by. He advises women not to dump their current penniless boyfriends. She tells her boyfriend not to buy drugs. However, he doesn't have the money for it anyway. The guy feels as though she should be treated to a nice dinner. Again, he can't pay (and she doesn't offer). It leaves him to earn some money for a while, washing dishes for the restraruant. West tells the woman that her boyfriend wants to be in a good, well-paying job. He'll be taking odd, soul-crushing jobs for a while. However, he will be successful. She needs to patient. His best friend may be established and in a great job. Although she has to remember that her boyfriend and not be tempted by the yearly salary. He says that staying with him may be fruitless. Eventually, he will dump her for a white girl.
"Now I ain't sayin' you a gold digger, you got needs/You don't want ya dude to smoke but he can't buy weed/You got out to eat and he can't pay y'all can't leave/There's dishes in the back, he gotta roll up his sleevesBut why y'all washin' watch him/He gone make it into a Benz out of that Datson/He got that ambition baby look in his eyes/This week he moppin' floors next week it's the fries/So, stick by his side/I know his dude's ballin' but yea that's nice/And they gone keep callin' and tryin'/But you stay right girl/But when you get on he leave yo ass for a white girl."
Parts of the chorus are sung once to end the single.
"Get down girl gone head get down/Get down girl gone head get down/Get down girl gone head get down/Get down girl gone head
(lemme hear dat back)."
West, whose ego far outweighs any elephant, finally finds a sense of humor. "Gold Digger" takes the usual stereotypes (even the offensive ones) and turns them around. He's the rapper with groupies always wanting his money. In his music, he criticizes those same women. However, after every show, he's spending time with one of them. He makes fun of athletes who have babies all over the States. Again, the press or normal people don't much about it. His inexpensive lifestyle is spun as him being humble. However, it's because he's paying the mother of one of his children.
The second verse is the wittiest. It's written like a blind item with clues as to who the guy may be. For West, it's a rare time that he drops the celebrities-are-a-god act and actually comes across as a snark
The sample also works really well. West follows the less is more formula. It's mostly a loop of a few notes that's then sped up. Although Foxx's cameo is more stuntcasting in the single than anything else. It's like Foxx wants to be typecast for that one role. It's as though he's campaigning for the Stevie Wonder bio, too.
The sarcasm in "Gold Digger" is as good as any celebrity snarkathon on the cable stations.