Real Friends

Ty Dolla $ign, Tydolla$ign, Kanye West

About Real Friends

"Real Friends" is a song by American rapper Kanye West, featuring vocals from fellow rapper Ty Dolla Sign. It was released as a promotional single from West's seventh studio album, The Life of Pablo, on January 8, 2016, as part of West's GOOD Fridays program. The song includes West rapping about his family and friends, with Whodini's song "Friends" being directly recalled.


Year:
2016
822 
#6

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer

Real friends, how many of us?
How many of us, how many jealous? Real friends
It's not many of us, we smile at each other
But how many honest? Trust issues
Switched up the number, I can't be bothered
I cannot blame you for havin' an angle
I ain't got no issues, I'm just doin' my thing
Hope you're doin' your thing too
I'm a deadbeat cousin, I hate family reunions
F*ck the church up, I'm drinkin' at the communion
Spillin' free wine, now my tux is ruined
In town for a day, what the f*ck we doin'?
Who your real friends? We all came from the bottom
I'm always blamin' you, but what's sad, you're not the problem
Damn I forgot to call her, shit I thought it was Thursday
Why you wait a week to call my phone in the first place?
When was the last time I remembered a birthday?
When was the last time I wasn't in a hurry?

Tell me you want your tickets when it's gametime
Even to call your daughter on her FaceTime
Even when we was young I used to make time
Now we be way too busy just to make time
Even for my

Real friends
I guess I get what I deserve, don't I?
Word on the streets is they ain't heard from him
I guess I get what I deserve, don't I?
Talked down on my name, throwed dirt on him

I couldn't tell you how old your daughter was
Couldn't tell you how old your son is
I got my own Jr. on the way, dawg
Plus I already got one kid
Couldn't tell you much about the fam though
I just showed up for the yams though
Maybe 15 minutes, took some pictures with your sister
Merry Christmas, then I'm finished, then it's back to business
You wanna ask some questions 'bout some real shit?
Like I ain't got enough pressure to deal with
Please don't pressure me with that bill shit
Cause everybody got 'em, that ain't children
Oh you've been nothin' but a friend to me
Niggas thinkin' I'm crazy, you defendin' me
It's funny I ain't spoke to niggas in centuries
To be honest, dawg I ain't feelin' your energy
Money turn your kin into an enemy
Niggas ain't real as they pretend to be

Lookin' for all my real friends
How many of us? How many of us are real friends
To real friends, to the real end
'Til the wheels fall off, 'til the wheels don't spin
To 3 A.M., callin'
How many real friends?
Just to ask you a question
Just to see how you was feelin'
How many?
For the last you was frontin'
I hate when a nigga text you like, "what's up, fam, oh you good?"
You say, "I'm good" then great, the next text they ask you for somethin'
How many?
What's best for your family, immediate or extended
Any argument, the media'll extend it
I had a cousin that stole my laptop that I was fuckin' bitches on
Paid that nigga 250 thousand just to get it from him
Real friends
Huh?

Real friends
I guess I get what I deserve, don't I
Word on the streets is they ain't heard from him
I guess I get what I deserve, don't I
Talked down on my name, throwed dirt on him

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer


Kanye West

Kanye Omari West ( /ˈkɑːnjeɪ/; born June 8, 1977) is an American musician, film director and fashion designer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and Janet Jackson. His style of production originally used pitched-up vocal samples from soul songs incorporated with his own drums and instruments. However, subsequent productions saw him broadening his musical palette and expressing influences encompassing '70s R&B, baroque pop, trip hop, arena rock, folk, alternative, electronica, synthpop, and classical music. more »

6 fans

Written by: Lawrence Joseph Smith, Rupert Thomas, Kejuan Mechita, Darren Charles King, Glenda Proby, Jalil Hutchins, Mike Dean, Noah D. Goldstein, Adam King Feeney, Cydel Charles Young, Matthew Jehu Samuels, Kanye Omari West, Tyrone William Jr. Griffin

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, MIKE CURB MUSIC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Historical Context
"Real Friends" by Kanye West was released on January 8, 2016.
Album Placement
The track appears on Kanye West's 7th studio album, 'The Life of Pablo,' which attracted a lot of attention for its experimental sound and unconventional release strategy.
Collaborations
"Real Friends" features vocals from Ty Dolla Sign, rapper from Los Angeles, known for his multi-faceted career as a signer, producer and songwriter. The song's production also included the efforts of Frank Dukes, Boi-1da, Havoc, and additional contribution from Darren King.
Inspiration
Kanye West shared on Twitter that the song was a reflection on his own struggles with friends and family since achieving fame and money.
Release Strategy
Interestingly, "Real Friends" was released as a part of Kanye's 'Good Fridays' initiative, where new tracks were released every Friday ahead of the album's full release.
Music Video
No official music video was made for "Real Friends."
Accolades
"Real Friends" was acclaimed by music critics who praised it as sincere and mature. It was also ranked among the best songs of 2016 by multiple publications, including Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and Complex.
Sound and Style
The song is characterized by its somber tone and features minimalistic production, employing an introspective piano and subtle drum machine beat, underscoring the raw emotion of the lyrics.
Lyrics and Themes
In the song, Kanye West discusses distrust, betrayal, and the impacts of fame and success on his relationships with his friends and family.
Samples
"Real Friends" includes a sample from the song "Frankie Teardrop" by metro boomin'.
Criticism
Some fans criticized the initial quality of the mix and mastering of "Real Friends," leading Kanye to remove and re-upload the song onto SoundCloud.
Chart Performance
Although not officially a single, "Real Friends" managed to reach the 92nd spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Discuss the Real Friends Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Real Friends Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/32569922/Kanye+West/Real+Friends>.

    Missing lyrics by Kanye West?

    Know any other songs by Kanye West? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Top Hot 100 Songs 2016

    Billboard #92


    Album

    Real Friends

    • #1
      Real Friends

    Browse Lyrics.com

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    Lou Gramm is more known as a member of which band?
    A Giant
    B U2
    C Mr. Big
    D Foreigner

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Don't miss Kanye West's

    Upcoming Events

    »
    Kanye West tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io


    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!

    Movies soundtrack

    Real Friends

    »