Fine Kanye, Let’s Debate: Is the 2nd Verse of “New Slaves” the GVOAT? Posted by Nathan S. on 07/22/13 | Filed under Top Stories, Debates, Kanye West

RefinedHype Nation knows I don't need a reason to launch a rap debate. I've heard stories about gambling addicts in Vegas who would put thousands of dollar down on things like, "Will the valet be right or left handed", and I can relate. Greatest ? Let's do it. Worst Soulja Boy song? I'll spend the next four hours of my life on YouTube making making sure I know more than the obvious choices.

So when Kanye West himself challenges the internet to a debate, there's just no fucking way I can stop myself:

I open the debate… The 2nd verse of New Slaves is the best rap verse of all time….meaning … OF ALL TIME IN THE HISTORY OF RAP MUSIC, PERIOD

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 20, 2013

Off the top let me acknowledge that everyone's gut reaction to this, including mine, was that's a balls crazy claim. If anyone but Ye said it, I probably wouldn't even spend time debating it (despite my aforementioned rap debate addiction). No one, and I mean no one, but Kanye has ever thought the second verse of "New Slaves" was in the GVOAT (Greatest Verse of All-Time) discussion - hell, it's not even in the top 20 greatest Kanye verses. Claiming it's the best verse of all-time is like claiming Millard Fillmore was the greatest U.S. president of all-time, like Tab is the greatest soda of all-time.

BUT, let's do our due diligence. As I tweeted, I honestly haven't listened to "Yeezus" once since I finished reviewing it, let alone taken the time to really look at a verse. So here we go...



"I throw these Maybach keys / I wear my heart on the sleeve
I know that we the new slaves / I see the blood on the leaves [repeat]
They throwin' hate at me / Want me to stay at ease
Fuck you and your corporation / Y'all niggas can't control me
I know that we the new slaves [repeat]
I'm 'bout to wild the fuck out / I'm going Bobby Boucher
I know that pussy ain't free / You niggas pussy, ain't me
Y'all throwin' contracts at me / You know that niggas can't read
Throw 'em some Maybach keys / Fuck it, c'est la vie
I know that we the new slaves / Y'all niggas can't fuck with me [repeat]
I'll move my family out the country / So you can't see where I stay
So go and grab the reporters / So I can smash their recorders
See they'll confuse us with some bullshit / Like the New World Order
Meanwhile the DEA / Teamed up with the CCA
They tryna lock niggas up / They tryna make new slaves
See that's that privately owned prison / Get your piece today
They prolly all in the Hamptons / Bragging 'bout what they made
Fuck you and your Hampton house / I'll fuck your Hampton spouse
Came on her Hampton blouse / And in her Hampton mouth
Y'all 'bout to turn shit up / I'm 'bout to tear shit down
I'm 'bout to air shit out / Now what the fuck they gon' say now?"

I'll admit, taking a closer look at this makes me appreciate it more, although looking at most verses in-depth will make you appreciate it more. Lyrically, I'd say this is pretty standard Ye; and let's acknowledge that Ye's standard is better than most rapper's best. He tackles some serious issues (corporate takeover of music, industrial prison complex) and works in a couple legitimately funny punchlines (Bobby Boucher, the Hampton bit) and gets prophetic with the paparazzi references.

But a great verse isn't just about lyrics, it's about flow and delivery. On the delivery tip, Ye's clearly passionate, which is why I included the live version, but I can't say I'm really blown away. And in terms of flow, this is pretty damn basic. One of the most common mistakes people make with flow is in thinking that faster is always better, but still, this is closer to an angry rant/speech than an exercise in dope rapping.

If someone really wants to make the case that "New Slaves" is the GVOAT, or even in the top 20, have at it, I'm genuinely interested in hearing you make the case. But even after looking back at it as objectively as possible, there's just no way this is getting my vote.

In terms of the greatest Kanye verse, off the top of my head the opening verse on "Can't Tell Me Nothin" is a far superior verse, and the ultimate GVOAT? Sweet baby jesus that's a hard one. Again, stream of consciousness, Big Pun's "Twinz" is absurd on a flow level, I actually think Nas' "Triple Beam Dreams" is one of his best ever, Rakim's "Paid in Full" can't be ignored, Eminem's "Stan" is a storytelling classic (even just the closing verse), Mos Def on "Definition", from a pure entertainment value standpoint I'd throw in Luda on "Fantasy", Big L's "98 Freestyle".

I could go all day...and still not get to Kanye's "New Slaves", which as far as I'm concerned settles the debate pretty goddamn conclusively. But debating myself is just debate masturbation, it's way more enjoyable when all of RefinedHype Nation gets in. [Yep, I said it, pause times four million].

Have at it people...

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