Released: 2024 • Features: Kanye West, Ty Dolla $ign
“PAID” by ¥$, Ye, Kanye West feat. Ty Dolla $ign, is a high-energy anthem focused on the hustle and grind that comes along with fame and fortune. The song ties together the worlds of nightlife, excess, and the pursuit of wealth, as the artists navigate through success and its material rewards.
The repetition of the line “I’m just here to get paid” serves as a bold declaration of their intentions. They’re in the game for the money and aren’t afraid to admit it. Music is a business after all, and they’re about their business.
References to specific lifestyle choices and cultural markers, such as “Cut Wock’ and the cost is 15”, underscore the artists’ immersion in a world of luxury and excess. Wock’ refers to Wockhardt, a brand of prescription cough syrup often used recreationally in the hip-hop community, reflecting a culture of codeine use. The ‘cost is 15’ suggests the price of this indulgence.
When ¥$ raps, “Old stomach is the new ass”, he’s likely referencing the trend in body modification and the growing popularity of flat stomachs, similar to how butt augmentations have been the rage. The line “Told her what you gon’ do with a durag?” brings in the element of street fashion.
The mention of “Roxanne” could be interpreted as an allusion to the classic Police song retold through the lens of the hip-hop escapades. In the original song, Roxanne is asked not to put on her red light, which signified she was available as a sex worker.
Here, it might indicate a female persona caught in the whirlwind of party life, seduced by the allure of the fast and flashy lifestyle.
The line, “Dark skin nigga only shootin’ Billy Blanks”, is worth noting. Billy Blanks is the creator of the Tae Bo workout system, which could serve as a metaphor for Kanye going hard in his hustle, being relentless and consistent, figuratively ‘working out’.
The narrative shifts in Ty Dolla $ign’s verse where the focus moves to the women attracted to this lavish lifestyle. The line, “Dollars all she do it for”, suggests that the women in this context are primarily drawn to the wealth and status.
The ending lines, “Friday night, let’s all get paid”, tied with the club-like atmosphere of the song, encapsulate the spirit of celebration, partying, and the thrill of payday, adding an exuberant note to the hustle narrative.
