School Spirit (song)
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"School Spirit" is a song by American hip-hop artist Kanye West, which is from his debut studio album The College Dropout (2004). In West's T-Pain assisted single "Good Life", from his third studio album, Graduation (2007), Pain quotes the "School Spirit" lyrics: "I'mma get on this TV momma, I'mma/I'mma put shit down".[1] Despite these lines being quoted by the featured artist, West shows that he hasn't changed since the early days of his career by mouthing them in the music video.[2]
Composition and lyrics
Throughout the track, 1970 song "Spirit in the Dark" by Aretha Franklin is sampled.[3] As well as this, it flips a short sample from 1995 song "Like This and Like That" by Monica featuring Mr. Malik.[4]
The lyrics: "I'mma get on this TV, mama/I'mma, I'mma put s**t down/I'mma make sure these light-skinned ni**as/Never, ever, never come back in style/Told 'em I finished school, then I started my own business/They said, "Oh you graduated?" Nah, I decided I was finished/Chasing y'all dreams and what you got planned/Now I spit it so hot, you got tanned" are quoted from West's very own song "Gossip Files" but not exactly, since they're changed slightly.[5]
Censorship
The entirety of "School Spirit" is censored, which was done because Aretha Franklin wouldn't allow the rapper to sample her work without censorship being promised.[6] It was revealed by Plain Pat that there was around three other versions of the song, but West hated those alternative versions and Pat said in reference to the Franklin sample: "That song would have been so weak if we didn’t get that sample cleared.".[7] However, in 2011, an uncensored version of the track was distributed online.[8]
Critical reception
HipHopDX wrote of the track that it: 'is a classic soulful offering that doubles as a lesson in style by Kanye'.[9] Pitchfork described "School Spirit" and similar songs on the album as engaging 'the anti-education themes of College Dropout's songs and skits'.[10]
Live performances
In 2004, when performing live in Amsterdam, West rapped the song totally uncensored.[11]
Skit 1
| "School Spirit" | |
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A skit comes straight before "School Spirit" on The College Dropout, which includes no actual vocals from West himself, with all of them being contributed by comedian DeRay Davis.[7]
Critical reception
Billboard described "School Spirit (Skit 1)" as being 'a hilarious skit that pokes fun at the post-college experience'.[12]
Skit 2
| "School Spirit" | |
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| Song |
A second skit comes straight after the song as well, with the vocals for it being contributed by Davis too.[7]
Critical reception
Billboard had praise for the second skit as well as the first, describing it in comparison to the first as: 'More hilarity from DeRay Davis, who takes shots at the ridiculousness of higher education.'.[12]
References
- ^ "Kanye West feat. T-Pain's 'Good Life' sample of Kanye West's 'School Spirit'". WhoSampled. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ "Kanye West - Good Life ft. T-Pain". YouTube. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ "Kanye West's 'School Spirit' sample of Aretha Franklin's 'Spirit in the Dark'". WhoSampled. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ "Kanye West's 'School Spirit' sample of Monica feat. Mr. Malik's 'Like This and Like That'". WhoSampled. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ "Kanye West - Gossip Files Lyrics". Genius Lyrics. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ "When Rap Lyrics Get Censored, Even on the Explicit Version". Complex. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- ^ a b c "The Making of Kanye West's "The College Dropout"". Complex. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- ^ "Kanye West – School Spirit (Uncensored Version)". Fake Shore Drive®. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ "Kanye West - College Dropout". HipHopDX. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
- ^ "Kanye West: The College Dropout Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ "Kanye West Live in Amsterdam 7/8". YouTube. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ a b "Kanye West's 'The College Dropout' at 10: Classic Track-by-Track Review". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
