Vocabulary from the Lyrics of Kanye West

Perhaps known more for his publicity stunts and his relationship with Kim Kardashian, Kanye West is a popular and best-selling rapper in his own right. Arguably no one embodies what it means to be a famous pop culture icon in 2015 more than West. In this list we examine his lyrical output, both as a solo act and in collaboration with others. Here are ten vocabulary words from the lyrics of Kanye West.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. echelon
    level of authority in a hierarchy
    Tell your job you gotta fake 'em out / Since you brought me in this world, let me take you ou t/ To a restaurant, upper echelon / I'mma get you a jag, whatever else you want / Just tell me what kind of S-Type Donda West like? / Tell me the perfect color so I make it just right / It don't gotta be Mother's Day, or your birthday / For me to just call and say (Hey Mama)
    — Hey Mama
  2. complacent
    contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions
    Look at the valedictorian scared of the future / While I hop in the Delorean / Scared-to-face-the-world complacent career student / Some people graduate, but we still stupid / They tell you read this, eat this, don't look around / Just peep this, preach us, teach us, Jesus / Okay, look up now, they done stole your streetness / After all of that, you receive this
    — Good Morning
  3. scrutiny
    the act of examining something closely, as for mistakes
    I feel the pressure, under more scrutiny / And what I do? Act more stupidly / Bought more jewelry, more Louis V, my momma couldn't get through to me / The drama, people suing me / I'm on TV talking like it's just you and me / I'm just saying how I feel man / I ain't one of the Cosbies, I ain't go to Hill, man / I guess the money should've changed him / I guess I should've forgot where I came from
    — Can't Tell Me Nothing
  4. euphemism
    an inoffensive expression substituted for an offensive one
    Is hip-hop just a euphemism for a new religion / The soul music for the slaves that the youth is missin' / This is more than just my road to redemption / Malcolm X had the whole nation standing at attention / As long as I'm in polos they think they got me / But they would try to crack me if they ever see a black me
    — Gorgeous
  5. abomination
    hate coupled with disgust
    They say I was the abomination of Obama's nation / Well that's a pretty bad way to start the conversation
    — Power
  6. menace
    something that is a source of danger
    I've been a menace for the longest
    But I ain't finished I'm devoted
    And you know it, and you know it
    — Black Skinhead
  7. hypocrisy
    pretending to have qualities or beliefs that you do not have
    Now, I’ma need you to kill the hypocrisy
    This is an aristocracy
    I’m Socrates, but my skin more chocolately
    — See Me Now
  8. empathy
    understanding and entering into another's feelings
    Lack of visual empathy equates the meaning of L-O-V-E
    Hatred and attitude tear us entirely
    — Blame Game
  9. facade
    a showy misrepresentation to conceal something unpleasant
    What does it feel like to live real life to be real?
    Not some facade on TV that no can really feel
    Do you really have the stamina...
    For everybody that sees you and that say 'where's my camera?'
    — Pinocchio Story
  10. stamina
    enduring strength and energy
    What does it feel like to live real life to be real?
    Not some facade on TV that no can really feel
    Do you really have the stamina...
    For everybody that sees you and that say 'where's my camera?'
    — Pinocchio Story
Created on Tue Jun 16 15:41:25 EDT 2015 (updated Tue Jun 16 16:24:07 EDT 2015)

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