Kanye West, Two Words | Bangerz N Bopz 🔥

In the 36^th edition of Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 (2024), we highlight “Two Words” performed by Kanye West featuring Mos Def, Freeway, and The Boys Choir of Harlem. 

Bring on the bold, fierce songs! Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 serves up background info and insight into songs of various styles, especially songs that raise eyebrows and/or stir the pot.  Featured records can be classic or brand new. In the 36^th edition of Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 (2024), we break down “Two Words” performed by Kanye.

“We in the streets, playa, get your mail / It’s only two places you end up: either dead or in jail.” Word. The College Dropout is one of the best, most influential rap albums of all time.  This was the beginning of Kanye West, the musical genius.  Put aside all of the controversies and missteps made by West.  The College Dropout is that album.  With so many hits, a song like “Two Words” gets less love.  It shouldn’t.  West collaborates with Mos Def, Freeway, and the beautiful voices of The Boys Choir of Harlem.  Furthermore, “Two Words” samples four songs: “Peace and Love (Amani Na Mapenzi): Movement IV (Encounter)” by Mandrill, “The Rainmaker” by The 5^th Dimension, “Got Nowhere” by State Property, and “Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)” by Jay-Z.  West, who produces, is the architect of this The College Dropout gem.  Also, give credit to Miri Ben-Ari for that epic string arrangement and her violin skills.

West is the first voice heard in the banger, delivering the memorable chorus.  From there, Mos Def (Yasiin Bey) drops kick-ass bars.  He sets the tone: “Listen, two words, United States, no love, no breaks / Low brow, high stakes, crack smoke, black folks.” His cadence and flow are sick.  He’s followed by West’s chorus, which adds The Boys Choir of Harlem.  West then drops the second verse, patterned similarly to Bey’s first. One of his most memorable lines is adapted from Goodfellas: “Two words: Chi-Town raised me, crazy / So I live by two words: ‘Fuck you, pay me.’” Woo! Freeway gets his bars in the third verse, concluding with a ‘bang’: “Two words, Freeway, slightly retarded / Fuck around, throw a clip in your artist, leave with his broad.” Damn! The outro is sweet as well – a collaboration between Bey and The Boys Choir of Harlem.  All in all, “Two Words”, a non-charting, non-single from The College Dropout is one of its best songs. Kanye Omari West did that!

Kanye West // The College Dropout // Def Jam / UMG Recordings, Inc. // 2004

Kanye West, Two Words: Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 No. 36 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Def Jam / UMG Recordings, Inc.; cottonbro studio, Harry Shelton, Kool Shooters, Lucas Pazeta, Mavluda Tashbaeva, Teddy Yang, Wesley Souza from Pexels]