Swagga Like Us

Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, T.I.

About Swagga Like Us

"Swagga Like Us" is a song by American hip hop recording artists Jay-Z, T. I., Kanye West, and Lil Wayne and British recording artist M. I. A.. It was released on September 6, 2008 in the United States as the fifth single from T. I.'s album Paper Trail, and was also slated for inclusion on Jay-Z's eleventh album The Blueprint 3 (2009), although it ultimately did not make the final track listing. The song was produced by West and is constructed primarily around a vocal sample of "Paper Planes" by British musician M. I. A. "Swagga like Us" received mostly mixed reviews from music critics: whilst many complimented T. I.'s performance and the production, most denounced the other three rappers' performances as lyrically uninspired and overly brash, with Wayne and West also singled out for criticism from the perceived overuse of Auto-Tune in their vocals. Commercially, however, the song was a success despite a premature leak to the internet: it debuted and peaked at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100, and also charted modestly in a few overseas territories. It was nominated for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 51st Grammy Awards, winning the latter: the four rappers, alongside M. I. A. herself, also performed "Swagger Like Us" and the original "Paper Planes" during the ceremony. 


Year:
2008
5:27
571 
#3

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No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us

No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us

No one on the corner,
Mr. West is in the building
Swagger on a hundred thousand, trillion (No one on the corner)
Hey yo I know I got it first
I'm Christopher Columbus, y'all just the pilgrims
Thanksgiving do we even gotta question
Hermes Pastille I pass the dressing
My attitude is tattooed
That means it's permanent, so I guess we should address it, huh?
My swagger is Mick Jagger
Every time I breathe on the track I asthma attack it
Why he's so mad for, why he gotta have it
Cause I slaved my whole life, now I'm the master
Na-na-na, how it feel to wake up and be the shit and the urine'a-na-na-na-nal
Trying to get that Kobe number, one over Jordan

No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us

(No one on the corner) Gotta bop like this
Can't wear skinny jeans cause my knots don't fit (No one on the corner)
Gotta pocket like this
So I rock Roc jeans cause my knots so thick
You can learn how to dress just by
Jockin' my fresh, jockin' jockin' my fresh, jockin' jocking' my fresh
Follow my steps, it's the road to success
Where the niggas know you thorough
And the girls say yes
But I can't teach you my swag
You can pay for school but you can't buy class
School of hard knocks I'm a grad
And that all-blue Yankee is my graduation cap, it's Hova!
Dipping different rovers whipping with the soda, Hova!
Could you even have any doubt after doubt it was over

No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us

No one on the corner has swagger like moi, Chuch
But I'm too clean for the choir
I require, what I desire
I got stripes, Adidas
Mami scream papi no mas!
Run up in your shit just me no mas
Running this shit like I got four thighs
None has swagger like this four guys!
When it comes to styles I got several
Sharper than a swagger, dagger all metal
And my jewels, blue and yellow
The type of shit that make 'em call you Carmelo
Rules as follows stay true to the ghetto
Write your name on the bullet make you feel special, ha
What the f*ck you boys talking about?
I know its us cause we the only thing you talk about

No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us

Yea, ha! Ya think? that's right,
You know see Weezy for the wordplay,
Jeezy for the bird-play,
Kanyeezy for diversity and me for controversy,
All my verses picture perfect all is meant to serve a purpose,
You ain't living what you kicking then you worthless,
Looking from the surface it may seem that I got reason to be nervous
Then observe my work and see that my adversity was worth it,
Verses autobiographical, absolutely classical,
Last thing I'm worried 'bout is what another rapper do,
Ain't nobody hot as me
Even if they rap they ass off
Blast off and have outstanding quality,
Sell a lot of records I respect and salute that,
But spitting real life on hot beats I'm the truth at
You kick it like me no exaggeration necessary,
Living revolutionary, nothing less than legendary,
Gangsta shit hereditary, got it from my dad
Flow colder than February with extraordinary swag

No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us

No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
No one on the corner have swagger like us
Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us
Like us, like us, like us, like us, like us, like us

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Jay-Z

Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America. In 2012, Forbes estimated Carter's net worth at nearly $500 million. He has sold approximately 50 million albums worldwide, while receiving fourteen Grammy Awards for his musical work, and numerous additional nominations. He is consistently ranked as one of the greatest rappers of all-time. He was ranked #1 by MTV in their list of The Greatest MCs of All-Time in 2006. Two of his albums, Reasonable Doubt (1996) and The Blueprint (2001) are considered landmarks in the genre with both of them being ranked in Rolling S… more »

6 fans

Written by: CLIFFORD HARRIS, DWAYNE CARTER, SHAWN CARTER, THOMAS WESLEY PENTZ, PAUL GUSTAVE SIMONON, JOHN DAVID MELLOR, GEOFFREY JONES MICHAEL, NICHOLAS BOWEN HEADON, MATHANGI ARULPRAGASAM, KANYE WEST, JEFF BHASKER, PAT REYNOLDS

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Release
"Swagga Like Us" was released in late 2008 as part of the album "The Blueprint 3" by Jay-Z.
Collaborations
The song features the talents of four contemporary heavy-weights at the time, namely Jay-Z, T.I., Kanye West, and Lil Wayne.
Production Credits
The song was produced by Kanye West, and the beat was inspired by M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes."
Award Performance
An electrifying performance of "Swagga Like Us" was given at the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009 by all four artists, along with an 8 months pregnant M.I.A.
Chart Performance
It reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot Rap Tracks.
Grammy Awards
The song not only led to a memorable Grammy performance but also won the award in the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group category.
Purpose
The song is stated to have been created as a celebration of the swagger and dexterity of black masculinity, with the phrase "No one on the corner has swagga like us" being a key refrain.
Song Reception
Despite reaching high in music charts, "Swagga Like Us" had mixed critical reception, with some lauding the collaboration while others felt that talented artists didn’t live up to their potential.
M.I.A's Contribution
The song samples "Paper Planes" by M.I.A. This is an ironic twist, as "Paper Planes" is about the immigrant experience while "Swagga Like Us" focuses on African-American experiences.
Cultural Impact
Despite boarder critical reception, "Swagga Like Us" has left a lasting legacy, being considered by many as a significant collaboration within the hip-hop genre.

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    Swagga Like Us

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 2008

    Billboard #5


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