Diamonds from Sierra Leone
Kanye West
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(Diamonds are forever) Throw your diamonds in the sky if you feel the vibe The Roc is still alive every time I rhyme (Forever) Good mornin', this ain't Vietnam still People lose hands, legs, arms, for real Little was known of Sierra Leone And how it connect to the diamonds we own When I speak of diamonds in this song I ain't talkin' about the ones that be glowin' I'm talkin' about Roc-a-Fella, my home My chain, these ain't conflict diamonds Is they Jacob? Don't lie to me, man See, a part of me sayin' "Keep shining" How? When I know what a blood diamond is Though it's thousands of miles away Sierra Leone connects to what we go through today Over here it's a drug trade, we die from drugs Over there they die from what we buy from drugs The diamonds, the chains, the bracelets, the charmses I thought my Jesus-piece was so harmless Til I seen a picture of a shorty armless And here's the conflict It's in a black person soul to rock that gold Spend your whole life trying to get that ice Bought a Polo rugby, it looks so nice How can somethin' so wrong make me feel so right? Right? 'Fore I beat myself up like Ike You can still throw your Roc-a-Fella diamond tonight (Diamonds are forever) Throw your diamonds in the sky if you feel the vibe The Roc is still alive every time I rhyme (Forever) People asking me "Is I'm gon' give my chain back?" That'll be the same day I give the game back You know the next question dog, "Yo where Dame at?" This track the Indian dance that bring our rain back "What's up with you and Jay, man? Are y'all okay man?" Yup, I got it from here 'Ye, damn The chain remains, the gang is intact The name is mine, I'll take blame for that The pressure's on, but guess who ain't gonna crack? Haha, pardon me, I had to laugh at that How could you falter when you're the Rock of Gibraltar? I had to get off the boat so I could walk on water This ain't no tall order, this is nothin' to me Difficult takes a day, impossible takes a week I do this in my sleep I sold kilos of coke, I'm guessin' I can sell CDs I'm not a businessman, I'm a business, man! Let me handle my business, damn Kanyeez you got me, Freeway then Foxy YG's, Teairra Mari, Peedi watch me Bleek could be one hit away his whole career As long as I'm alive he's a millionaire And even if I die he's in my will somewhere So he could just kick back and chill somewhere Oh yeah, he don't even have to write rhymes The Dynasty like my money, last 3 lifetimes Shirley Bassey's in the rear saying exactly What I've been saying practically my whole career A diamond is forever, I've been minin' this forever Now the Louis Vuitton Don's timin' couldn't be better People lined up to see the Titanic sinkin' Instead we rose up from the ash like a phoenix If you're waitin' for the end of the Dynasty sign It would seem like forever is a mighty long time (I'm Young, bitches) Good night!
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Written by: Andre Benjamin, Antwan Patton, David Sheats, Devon Harris, Don Black, John Barry, Kanye West
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Artist InformationKanye West is an influential and highly acclaimed American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. He is known for using his personal experiences and topics of societal concern as part of his rap lyrics.
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Song Information"Diamonds from Sierra Leone" is a track from Kanye West's second studio album, "Late Registration," released in 2005.
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BackgroundThe song initially started out as a simple track about 'diamonds,' but West transformed it into a politically and socially conscious piece referencing the diamond trade in Sierra Leone.
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CollaborationA remix of "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" features fellow rapper Jay-Z, where both artists use the diamond industry as a metaphor for their own experiences in the music industry.
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Chart PerformanceThe song was a commercial success. It peaked at number 43 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and later gained platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
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Award Achievement"Diamonds from Sierra Leone" won Best Rap Song at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards in 2006, adding to Kanye's string of accolades.
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Music VideoThe music video, directed by Hype Williams, depicts the harsh realities of the conflict diamond trade. It features scenes of child labor and violence, contrasted with the glamorous portrayal of diamonds in the west.
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Social ImpactThe song and its video raised awareness about the unethical diamond trade in Sierra Leone, contributing to a broader conversation about the source of diamonds and consumers' responsibility.
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Samples Used"Diamonds from Sierra Leone" samples "Diamonds Are Forever" by Shirley Bassey, which is the theme song of the 7th James Bond film. This musical choice laid the foundation for the song's instrumentation and tone.
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Memorable LyricsThe song contains thought-providing lyrics such as "Over here, it's the drug trade - we die from drugs / Over there, they die from what we buy from drugs." This comparison underscores the interconnected suffering caused by different vices in different parts of the world.
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Citation
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"Diamonds from Sierra Leone Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/16270727/Kanye+West/Diamonds+from+Sierra+Leone>.
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