Released: 2022
“True Love” by Kanye West featuring XXXTENTACION digs deep into the complexities of love and the challenges of co-parenting with raw emotion. It highlights the pain of separation and the impact it has not only on the partners but also on the children involved.
The song starts with a powerful reflection, as Kanye repeats, “True love shouldn’t be this complicated.” It’s a cry from the heart speaking to the fact that love, in its purest form, is expected to be easy and nurturing, but often turns out to be fraught with difficulties. When he says, “I thought I’d die in your arms,” it reveals a deep vulnerability and the shattering of an ideal vision of love.
The lyrics then shift to the perspective of a father in the throes of a custody arrangement, expressing the pain of parting from his children – “Wait, when you see the kids? I’ll see y’all tomorrow.” Kanye uses the phrase, “When I pick ’em up, I feel like they borrowed,” to underscore the transient, limited time he has with his kids, making them feel less like a part of his everyday life and more like temporary visitors. Naming Yeezys and Nike, he comments on the petty disputes that can arise over material possessions in the wake of family breakdowns, suggesting such issues trivialize the deeper emotional trauma.
The mention of “Let the kids dig a tunnel to my house like Chapo” uses metaphor to express a desperate wish for closeness with his children, envisioning a world where they can come to him without barrier. The statement “True love (daddy’s not gone)” is a reassurance to his kids, emphasizing his presence even in absence. The specific call-out “tell Gekyume” refers to XXXTENTACION’s son, extending the message of a father’s love beyond his own family to his collaborator’s lineage, thereby uniting their experiences.
Throughout the song, the complicated nature of love, family, and the search for connection in spite of legal and emotional barriers are laid bare. Kanye West and XXXTENTACION weave a narrative that speaks to the heartache of navigating relationships in the limelight, challenging societal norms about family structure, and the enduring bond between a father and his children.
