Black Skinhead

## Single by Kanye West

"**Black Skinhead**" (also stylized as "**BLKKK SKKKN HEAD**") is a song by American rapper Kanye West, from his sixth studio album *Yeezus* (2013). It samples "War Paint / Soldier Boy" and the 1989 song "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode. Fellow American rapper Lupe Fiasco is credited as one of the co-writers and additional producers, where he penned the first verse. A remix leaked on January 21, 2016, purportedly featuring Fiasco, Travis Scott, and Miley Cyrus, though only the latter two were explicitly heard.

## Background

Fiasco admitted he did not know what the track was about, though described it as "emotional," "cliché," "balled in together," where "it's just supposed to be presented as a package and you digest it."

## Personnel

* Anthony Kilhoffer – recording engineer
* Chris Galland – assistant mixing engineer
* Cydel "Cyhi the Prynce" Young – writer
* Daft Punk – producer
* David Rowland – assistant recording engineer
* Delbert Bowers – assistant
* Derrick "Fonzworth Bentley" Watkins – writer
* Elon Rutberg – writer
* Eric Lynn – assistant recording engineer
* Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo – writer
* Jack Donoghue – additional producer
* Kanye West – lead artist, vocals, writer, producer
* Kenta Yonesaka – assistant recording engineer
* Kevin Matela – assistant recording engineer
* Khoi Huynh – assistant recording engineer
* Louis "Brodinski" Rogé – additional producer
* Malik Jones – writer
* Manny Marroquin – mixing engineer
* Marc Portheau – assistant recording engineer
* Michael "Mike" Dean – writer, additional producer, recording engineer
* Mike "Gesaffelstein" Lévy – additional producer
* Nabil Essemlani – assistant recording engineer
* Noah Goldstein – producer, recording engineer
* Raoul Le Pennac – assistant recording engineer
* Sakiya Sandifer – writer
* Sean Oakley – assistant recording engineer
* Thomas Bangalter – writer
* Wasalu Jaco – writer, additional producer

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Verse 1]

For my theme song (*Black*)

My leather black jeans on (*Black*)

My by-any-means on

Pardon, I'm getting my scream on (*Black*)

Enter the kingdom (*Black*)

But watch who you bring home

They see a black man with a white woman

At the top floor they gone come to kill King Kong

Middle America packed in (*Black*)

Came to see me in my black skin (*Black*)

Number one question they're askin'

Fuck every question you askin' (*Black*)

If I don't get ran out by Catholics (*Black*)

Here come some conservative Baptists

Claiming I'm overreactin'

Like them black kids in Chiraq, bitch

[Chorus]

Four in the mornin', and I'm zonin'

They say I'm possessed, it's an omen

I keep it 300, like the Romans

300 bitches, where the Trojans?

Baby, we livin' in the moment

I've been a menace for the longest

But I ain't finished, I'm devoted

And you know it, and you know it

[Post-Chorus]

So follow me up 'cause this shit 'bout to go (Down)

I'm doing 500, I'm outta control (Now)

But there's nowhere to go (Now)

And there's no way to slow (Down)

If I knew what I knew in the past

I would've been blacked out on your ass

[Chorus]

Four in the mornin', and I'm zonin'

They say I'm possessed, it's an omen

I keep it 300, like the Romans

300 bitches, where the Trojans?

Baby, we livin' in the moment

I've been a menace for the longest

But I ain't finished, I'm devoted

And you know it, and you know it

[Verse 2]

Stop all that coon shit (*Black*)

Early morning cartoon shit (*Black*)

This is that goon shit

Fuck up your whole afternoon shit

I'm aware I'm a wolf

Soon as the moon hit

I'm aware I'm a king

Back out the tomb, bitch (*Black*)

Black out the room, bitch (*Black*)

Stop all that coon shit (*Black*)

These n\*\*\*as ain't doin' shit (*Black*)

Them n\*\*\*as ain't doin' shit

Come on, homie, what happened?

You n\*\*\*as ain't breathin', you gaspin'

These n\*\*\*as ain't ready for action

Ready—ready for action—action

[Chorus]

Four in the mornin', and I'm zonin'

I think I'm possessed, it's an omen

I keep it 300 like the Romans

300 bitches, where the Trojans?

Baby, we livin' in the moment

I've been a menace for the longest

But I ain't finished, I'm devoted

And you know it, and you know it

[Post-Chorus]

So follow me up 'cause this shit 'bout to go (Down)

I'm doing 500, I'm outta control (Now)

But there's nowhere to go (Now)

And there's no way to slow (Down)

If I knew what I knew in the past

I would've been blacked out on your ass

[Outro]

God! God! God! God!

God! God! God! God!

God! God! God!

## References

1. ↑ Blistein, Jon (January 21, 2016). "Hear Miley Cyrus, Kanye West's 'Black Skinhead' Remix". *Rolling Stone*. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017.
2. ↑ "Lupe Fiasco Sounds Off on 'Yeezus,' New Album, & 'Control' Response". *Rap-Up*. November 17, 2013.