Released: 2024
The song “SLIDE” by ¥$ featuring Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign is about living a lavish lifestyle and seeking relationships based on wealth and status. The artists talk about their past struggles, newfound success, and the temporary nature of the connections they make along the way.
The first lines, “Pretty girl, all she ever do is take selfies / So she only fuckin’ with a nigga ’cause I’m wealthy”, show how materialism and superficial relationships are a central theme. The girl is interested in the wealth, not the person.
The line “Back when I was broke, I couldn’t find no one to help me / Now it ain’t a motherfuckin’ thing they can tell me (get up)” highlights the shift from struggling to make ends meet to achieving success and no longer needing anyone’s approval.
Kanye West’s lines, “Ye got the rhythm, make the ladies go brazy / Dolla got the stroke, make her wanna have my babies”, emphasize their confidence and the influence they have on women now that they are successful. This confidence is a recurring theme in the song.
The chorus, “Slide in, slide in, would you ride? / Baby, would you ride with me? (Get up)”, asks if someone would stay by their side, even with their busy and flashy lifestyles. This could also imply loyalty amidst the chaos of their lives.
Kanye continues with lines like “Headed to the high-rise, cruisin’ like Eyes Wide Shut / But I slide in it like a drive-by”, using imagery of luxury and spontaneity to describe their actions and lifestyle. The mention of “Eyes Wide Shut” refers to the 1999 film about secrecy and hidden desires.
Lines like “The industry don’t like me, tell them pussy niggas likewise (get up)” show a rebellious attitude towards the music industry and its standards. They refuse to conform and do things their way.
Kanye further describes their fearless approach with lines like “If you play with one of my guys, it’s gon’ be a homicide twice / We gon’ paint the city red, it’s tie-dye”, blending violent imagery with artistic expression. They are protective of their crew and won’t hesitate to retaliate.
The verse, “Told her friends she a ten, I lied / Really, she in the high-fives (get up)”, shows how superficial and temporary their relationships can be. It highlights the superficiality and the transient nature of the connections they make in their world.
The repeated lines “Slide in, slide in, would you ride? / Baby, would you ride with me? (Get up)” reinforce the main theme of seeking loyalty and companionship amidst their high-paced, wealthy lifestyle. It’s a question of whether someone would stick around despite the chaos.
