Curtis vs. Graduation Video (MV)

September 11th, 2007
It's the six year anniversary of The Blueprint and 9/11
Seventeen could hell raise, heavily in the twelve grade
Debating in the school cafeteria, you could smell haze
I never smoked though, I was sober minded when picking West
Tryna tell the guys he made better music and he's the best
One of the greatest marketing tactics we've ever witnessed
Cared for just the music, the business wasn't none of our business
The third album of Kanye West and 50 Cent
Dropping on the same day, couldn't wait for our pay day
Me and my boys had a job, we worked the same place (T-Dot)
Worked for the city but couldn't afford a vacay
Debating with my homie Koolaid, tells me he's buying Curtis
I'm buying Graduation, 50's making me nervous
I Get Money was killing the streets
But when Goodlife dropped I was feeling relief
The biggest 50 fan, me yes, was geeking for real
But Ye was making better music, fam just keeping it real
Hopped on the TTC, to get home quick
We took the sixty then the thirty five Jane, then got off in the Lane
Kanye was selling records, but 50's moving units
Thirteen mill on his first LP, a classic
The Massacre sold 1.1 in the first week
I bought it second hand got the cd for dirt cheap
Anyways fast forward to 6pm
We at home, Monday September 10th, 6:45
50 and Ye on 106 and Park, channel fourty nine
50's performing I Get Money, crack fresh off the stove
But knew it was the wrap when Ye performed and brought out Hov
Seven days goes by and Kanye won the battle
50 sold 691, Ye 957 (thousand)
I was happy then cause Kanye west he been live
But I'm feeling regret now, listen and let me tell y'all why
Why
Curtis versus Graduation
They said that Kanye West won, well congratulations
Or were the street niggas tricked or just procrastination
Or was it planned from the execs of Fifth's emancipation
Listen to what I'm saying
Curtis versus Graduation
They said that Kanye West won, well congratulations
Or were the street niggas tricked or just procrastination
Or was it planned from the execs of Fifth's emancipation
Look at the shit that's been going on since 50 lost
The streets don't have a say and we first saw it with Ricky Ross
Respect to Rozay though, I'm just listing the facts
If he got exposed in the 90's he'd be kicked outta rap
The music execs couldn't afford for 50 to be a powerful figure
Their sons pretending pulling a trigger
A genius who'd be running shit and can't f*ck with him
Would be a liability or worse, the kids look up to him
What's up with him, they'd rather a genius that they couldn't control
But wouldn't punch somebody in the face, that's the second best goal
Kanye is outspoken, but he is non-violent
And it's a trade off, even though he is not silent
And because Ye won, look what we have now
Drake, direct descendant of West, another cash cow
And even a better version of Ye, he can fit in them rooms
He won't rap about a revolt, he can sit as a loom
We went from rapping about selling drugs to we using them
Took away our power, the substances we're abusing them
But it ain't all bad J. Cole is multi platinum
Conscious rapper back in the 90's? Probably go double talcum
Kendrick is from streets like J. Cole, hood lived
But even the homie Kendrick had to say he's a good kid
If 50 won we'd have smart shooters all over rap
Intelligent street niggas who's good at business but over clap
The only gangstas we got, they ain't about shit
Ignorant autotune users who barely pronounce shit
I guess my final conclusion is that we f*cked up
Promoting all this soft ass music I guess our luck's up
And now it's feeling like rap is in debt
Who would have thought Kanye winning would have had this affect
Because I bought Graduation I did rap a disservice
If I could go back in time, I guess I would have bought Curtis
Curtis versus Graduation
They said that Kanye West won, well congratulations
Or were the street niggas tricked or just procrastination
Or was it planned from the execs of Fifth's emancipation
Listen to what I'm saying
Curtis versus Graduation
They said that Kanye West won, well congratulations
Or were the street niggas tricked or just procrastination
Or was it planned from the execs of Fifth's emancipation
Listen to what I'm saying