Polarizing rapper/producer Kanye West addresses his controversial endorsement of President Donald Trump on “Ye Vs the People.” T.I. assists. 

Kanye West often finds ways to offend and piss of just about everybody.  And to think, at one time, a young Justin Bieber asserted the rapper is “not really an asshole”. Hmm. A number of fans were rethinking their ‘Kanye love’ following ‘Ye professing his ‘Trump love’, something he addresses in his new single, “Ye Vs the People,” featuring southern rapper T.I.  The assumption is that “Ye Vs the People” will appear on West’s new album, LOVE EVERYONE.

After some smoothly sung “oh(s),” a soulful Four Tops sample kicks in on the intro of “‘Ye Vs the People”:

“I had for us

You turned my dreams into dust

I watch a phone that, I had for us

You turned my dreams into dust.”

After the Four Tops set the tone, Kanye West and T.I. trade lines over the course of one gargantuan verse. West, playing himself (Ye), starts things off addressing Obama as well as Trump, asserting, “But ever since Trump won, it proved that I could be president.” T.I. plays the role of challenging West’s controversial stances – he’s “the people” in the context of the record.  Addressing the purported ‘Trump love’ West has, T.I. asks, “Yeah, you can [be president], at what cost though?” For every respective T.I. challenge, West provides a response, often socially-charged, over the Four Tops backdrop.  The bars and the discussion between the two rappers is compelling to say the least.

Final Thoughts

The return of Kanye West hasn’t come without its fair share of controversy.  Nonetheless, his collaboration with T.I. on “Ye Vs the People” is definitely relevant.  West has always been at his best over a soulful sample.  He’s arguably the most polarizing artist of our time, yet his musical talent speaks for itself.  Is “Ye Vs the People” vintage Kanye West? No, but it is interesting.

Kanye West • Ye vs. the People (Starring T.I. as the People) – Single • Def Jam • Release: 4.28.18

Photo Credit: Def Jam