Donda 2

Selfish

Kanye West

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

168

Internal

Multi

198

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Chorus: John Legend, Slum Village & Kanye West]

I'm calling^✦ (Yeah, maybe I'm selfish)^✦

Out to (I want you to myself,^✦ I can't help it)

All my (Yeah, maybe I'm selfish)^✦

Y'all my ladies^✦

And I can't (Maybe I'm selfish)^✦

Let you, let you (I want you to myself,^✦ I can't help it)

Be with (Yeah) no one (Yeah)

But me (Yeah) baby^✦

[Verse 2: Kanye West]

Uh, and don't be tryna^✦ come around^✦ my girl actin' like Mr. Friendly

And steal the spotlight like Mr. Bentley

I spotted her like Spud McKenzie

And for them fake boobies,^✦ I paid them Benjy's

Get your own

I got Paris,^✦ he got Nicky,^✦ he tried to get 'em a clone

He said, "Ye, you know you got extra^✦ hoes

And everything you do is extra^✦ cold"

From the Polo fleece to the Jesus^✦ piece

I got family^✦ in high places^✦ like Jesus'^✦ niece

Can I please, say my piece?

If y'all fresh to death, then I'm deceased

And this one here is a heat rock, spit like a beat box

The way the beat rocks, new version of Pete Rock

But for that Benz, I get CL love

So I switch my girls around^✦ like 3L-dub, I'm calling^✦

[Chorus: John Legend & Slum Village]

I'm calling^✦ (Yeah, maybe I'm selfish)^✦

Out to (I want you to myself,^✦ I can't help it)

All my (Yeah, maybe I'm selfish)^✦

Y'all my ladies^✦

And I can't (Maybe I'm selfish)^✦

Let you, let you (I want you to myself,^✦ I can't help it)

Be with (Yeah) no one (Yeah)

But me (Yeah) baby^✦

[Verse 3: eLZhi]

What up, Pam? How your little man doing in New Jersey?^✦

Last I heard, he caught the flu and you was worried

Hope he feels better,^✦ and thanks Jonetta from Cleveland

For that good head in your Jetta,^✦ better^✦ believe it

Shanice, you're my piece from Compton

Before^✦ I'm off the plane, make sure you cop some trees to spark up

Danielle, ATL, got them pictures in the mail

You sealed^✦ with a kiss and you sent it with Chanel

You looking good in that one showing off your body^✦

Had a Beverly Hills mami^✦ that would buy me Carti's^✦

Take me to afterparties,^✦ her name was Khari^✦

And it sucks that we didn't keep in touch, I'm sorry^✦

But, hey Kim, how's Minneapolis?

You so pretty,^✦ hate you show off your titties^✦ for silly^✦ classes

'Cause I love you girls, though you ain't mine

I wish my arms was long enough^✦ to hug you all at the same time

[Chorus: John Legend & Slum Village]

I'm calling^✦ (Yeah, maybe I'm selfish)^✦

Out to (I want you to myself,^✦ I can't help it)

All my (Yeah, maybe I'm selfish)^✦

Y'all my ladies^✦

And I can't (Maybe I'm selfish)^✦

Let you, let you (I want you to myself,^✦ I can't help it)

Be with (Yeah) no one (Yeah)

But me (Yeah) baby^✦

[Outro: John Legend]

I'm calling^✦ (Calling)^✦

Out to (Out to)

All my (All my)

Y'all my ladies^✦

And I can't (I can't)

Let you (Let you)

Be with no one

But me, baby^✦

[Produced by Kanye West]

Technical Breakdown

7.7

Multisyllabic Rhymes7.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres6.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm8.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity6.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control7.0

Performance and control

Computed Score7.67

Production

— Kanye West

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Kanye utilizes his signature blend of colloquial wit and brand-name dropping to establish a playful, possessive persona, balancing internal rhyme density against a laid-back, conversational cadence.

B+

7.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

8.5

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

6.5

Wordplay

Delivery

AABB rhyme structure with heavy internal slantPop-culture referential ironyConversational cadenceHomophonic wordplay

Rhyme Architecture: The verse relies on a loose AABB(C) structure with a heavy emphasis on internal syllable matching ('Mr. Friendly', 'Mr. Bentley', 'Spud McKenzie', 'Benjy's') that anchors the performance rhythmically despite the informal tone.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"I spotted her like Spud McKenzie"

① Physical act of seeing someone and choosing them (the 'spotting').② Reference to Spuds MacKenzie, the 1980s marketing mascot for Bud Light, implying a brand-conscious, party-lifestyle identification.

"I got family in high places like Jesus' niece"

① A flex implying he has influence or connections in the highest possible sphere.② A playful, slightly sacrilegious expansion on the common idiom 'friends in high places' used to emphasize status.

"If y'all fresh to death, then I'm deceased"

① A boast that his style is so superior it transcends the 'fresh to death' trope.② Hyperbole indicating he has reached the ultimate level of 'dead' (cool), figuratively burying the competition.

Effective use of internal multisyllabic rhyme clusters

Clear, consistent character voice

Strong rhythmic pocket that allows for conversational delivery

Clever pop-culture integration for the era

Limited thematic depth beyond jealousy and material signifiers

Occasional reliance on easy 'Jesus' rhymes

Flow becomes slightly repetitive in the final four bars

Selfish

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

User Scores