Touch the Sky

## Single by Kanye West featuring Lupe Fiasco

"**Touch the Sky**" is a song recorded by Kanye West for his second studio album, *Late Registration* (2005). The song samples Curtis Mayfield's "Move on Up" (1971) and features Lupe Fiasco on the third verse.

Despite both being from Chicago, Fiasco stated, "I never met him through any Chicago connections. He was always in a different world. He was in a Hyde Park, Common, backpacker world." Originally, he did not want to appear on the track, feeling it was not his "piece," though his partner convinced him to.

## Music video

The music video was directed by Chris Milk and premiered June 17, 2006. It features Baywatch actress Pamela Anderson. Producer Just Blaze shared that Kanye West spent to the "last dime" in re-shooting the video, not liking the one Def Jam paid for. He added, "He came back after the fact and specked out this whole movie deal that we know with the cannon and the Evel Knievel thing and whatever. And I want to say that was something like 700, 800 thousand dollars."

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Chorus: Kanye West]

I gotta testify

Come up in the spot lookin' extra fly

'Fore the day I die, I'ma touch the sky

Gotta testify

Come up in the spot lookin' extra fly

'Fore the day I die, I'ma touch the sky

[Verse 1: Kanye West]

Back when they thought pink Polos would hurt the Roc

Before Cam got the shit to pop

The doors was closed

I felt like Bad Boy's street team: I couldn't work the locks

Now let's go, take 'em back to the plan

Me and my momma hopped in that U-Haul van

Any pessimists, I ain't talk to them

Plus I ain't have no phone in my apart-a-ment

Let's take 'em back to the club

Least about an hour I stand on line

I just wanted to dance, I went to Jacob an hour

After I got my advance, I just wanted to shine

Jay favorite line: "Dawg, in due time!"

Now he look at me, like, "Damn, dawg! You where I am!"

A hip-hop legend

I think I died in that accident, 'cause this must be Heaven

[Chorus: Kanye West]

I gotta testify

Come up in the spot lookin' extra fly

'Fore the day I die, I'ma touch the sky

Gotta testify

Come up in the spot lookin' extra fly

'Fore the day I die, I'ma touch the sky

[Post-Chorus: Kanye West]

Now let's take them hi-ah-igh-igh-igh-ighhhh

(Top of the world, baby, top top of the world!)

A-la-la-la-lah-la-lahhhhh

(Top of the world, baby, on top of the world!)

Now let's take them hi-ah-igh-igh-igh-ighhhh

(Top of the world, baby, top top of the world!)

A-la-la-la-lah-la-lahhhhh

(Top of the world, baby, on top of the world!)

[Verse 2: Kanye West]

Back when Gucci was the shit to rock

Back when Slick Rick got the shit to pop

I'd do anything to say I got it

Damn, them new loafers hurt my pocket

Before anybody wanted K. West beats

Me and my girl split the buffet at KFC

Dog, I was havin' nervous breakdowns

Like "Man, these n\*\*\*\*s that much better than me?"

Baby, I'm goin' on an aeroplane

And I don't know if I'll be back again

Sure enough, I sent the plane tickets

But when she came to kick it, things became different

Any girl I cheated on, sheets I skeeted on

Couldn't keep it at home, thought I needed a Nia Long

I'm tryin' to right my wrongs

But it's funny them same wrongs helped me write this song

[Chorus: Kanye West]

I gotta testify

Come up in the spot lookin' extra fly

'Fore the day you die, you gon' touch the sky

You gon' touch the sky, baby girl, testify

Come up in the spot lookin' extra fly

'Fore the day you die, you gon' touch the sky

[Verse 3: Lupe Fiasco]

Yes, yes, yes, guess who's on third?

Lupe steal like Lupin the 3rd

Here like ear 'til I'm beer on the curb

Peachfuzz buzz but beard on the verge

Let's slow it down like we're on the syrup

Bottle-shaped body like Mrs. Butterworth

But, before you say another word

I'm back on the block like I'm layin' on the street

I'm tryna stop lyin' like I'm Mumm-Ra

But I'm not lyin' when I'm layin' on the beat, en garde

Or touché, Lupe cool as the unthawed

But I still feel possessed as a gun charge

Come as correct as a porn star

In a fresh pair steps in my best foreign car

So, I represent the first

Now let me end my verse right where the horns are, like uh

[Chorus: Kanye West]

I gotta testify

Come up in the spot lookin' extra fly

'Fore the day you die, you gon' touch the sky

You gon' touch the sky, baby girl, testify

Come up in the spot lookin' extra fly

'Fore the day you die, you gon' touch the sky

[Outro: Kanye West]

We back at home, baby!

Sky high, I'm, I'm sky high!

I'm, I'm sky high!

I'm, I'm sky high!

I'm, I'm sky high!

I'm, I'm sky high!

Sky, sky high! I'm, I'm sky high!

Yeah, keep it rollin'!

Yeah, uh, feels good to be home, baby!

Feels good to be home!

## References

1. ↑ "Lupe Fiasco Speaks on His Relationship With Kanye & Jay Z [SKEE Live - Season 2]". *YouTube*. June 30, 2014.
2. ↑ Zlsook, Brian (October 7, 2016). "Kanye West "Spent His Last Dime" to Bankroll "Touch The Sky" Video". *DJ Booth*.