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Two Words
open-in-new
<h2 id="background">Background</h2> <p>The original version of the track list for <i>The College Dropout</i> showed that the song was initially scheduled to be titled "2 Words" and have the position of number 5, rather than number 18 as it stands on the official release.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> Featured artist Freeway stated that Kanye wasn't initially respected as a rapper, but, after seeing West's talent, when asked to feature on the album, Freeway's response was: "Hell yeah. Let’s do it."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="composition-and-lyrics">Composition and lyrics</h2> <p>Within "Two Words", there is an orchestral sound that includes classical strings. <a href="/facts/Miri_Ben-Ari/3lqm1WIo">Miri Ben-Ari</a> revealed that she was the one who introduced West to this sound, which led to him falling in love with it.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> The track contains a sample of 1970 recording "Peace and Love (Amani Na Mapenzi) Movement III (Time)", written by Lou Wilson, Ric Wilson and Carlos Wilson, and performed by <a href="/facts/Mandrill_(band)/Kj4pfYH6">Mandrill</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> On top of this, it samples drums from <a href="/facts/The_5th_Dimension/fkLmXf7F">The 5th Dimension</a>'s 1971 track "The Rainmaker".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p><p>West references a group he was once in known as the Go Getters with the line: "Go Getters rhyme like, should've been signed twice" and over the years, West has actually recycled multiple rhymes that he first spit when part of the group.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="recording">Recording</h2> <p>Miri Ben-Ari revealed that "Two Words" was the first recording she ever did with West.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> It was revealed by West that he drove to the Harlem Boys Choir's summer camp to record them in a barn for the track.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> West actually had to pay them $10,000 to record a feature for him.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> Freeway liked the beat when he heard it, which made him: "want to go ham on it" and the rapper laid his verse down for the song before West and Mos recorded their parts.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="in-popular-culture">In popular culture</h2> <p>An alternative version titled "Two Words (Frisky Remix)" was shared to <a href="/facts/BBC_Music/XLVNnCRt">BBC Music</a>, which is a mashup of the original and <a href="/facts/Tinie_Tempah/zfj1e9Tf">Tinie Tempah</a>'s <a href="/facts/Labrinth/7mb5ecov">Labrinth</a>-featuring single "<a href="/facts/Frisky_(song)/SdWB0PFt">Frisky</a>", but only Kanye West, Labrinth and Mos Def are included as artists in the remix.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> On February 27, 2014, <a href="/facts/Ace_Hood/rdH19PfA">Ace Hood</a> released a freestyle titled "Lyrical Exercise" over the instrumental of "Two Words".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="critical-reception">Critical reception</h2> <p>Eric Tullis of <i><a href="/facts/Spin_(magazine)/tCLvAj2N">SPIN</a></i> described the track as being "the perfect playground for [the three rappers] to break character and address the American reality".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> It was pointed out by Paul Cantor of <i><a href="/facts/Billboard_(magazine)/CVruQGq5">Billboard</a></i> as what is "perhaps the symphonic high point of the record".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> It received a nomination for Best Hip-Hop Deep Cut at the 2005 Groovevolt Music and Fashion Awards.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="live-performances">Live performances</h2> <p>West and Mos performed "Two Words" live with <a href="/facts/The_Roots/eDbSbBfU">The Roots</a> as a backing band on September 18, 2004 as part of <i><a href="/facts/Dave_Chappelle%2527s_Block_Party/f1alQzWY">Dave Chappelle's Block Party</a></i> concert.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> Freeway has performed the song at his live shows for years and said himself that: "Everyone loves it."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> On one occasion, Freeway joined West for a performance of it at a <a href="/facts/Super_Bowl/W2dqzqY4">Super Bowl</a> party with <a href="/facts/Pepsi/4ntWzEI9">Pepsi</a>, which was at the time of <a href="/facts/Super_Bowl_XL/x3q3AWpw">Super Bowl XL</a> in February 2006.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="music-video">Music video</h2> <p>Despite the song not being one of the album's singles, a <a href="/facts/Music_video/FccodeNC">music video</a> was officially released for it as part of West's <i><a href="/facts/The_College_Dropout_Video_Anthology/G8m5NNco">The College Dropout Video Anthology</a></i> on March 22, 2005.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> He released an edited version of the video independently on November 4.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a> </p><p>All of the people who starred in the music video shot their parts in different places.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a> This didn't mark the only time a video was released for a non-single from West's debut album, since he also shot one for "Spaceship", which was posted online by featured artist <a href="/facts/GLC_(rapper)/QsnHjMQb">GLC</a> on June 1, 2009 - however, it was originally scheduled to be released as a single, unlike "Two Words".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23"><sup>23</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24"><sup>24</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="personnel">Personnel</h2> <p>Information taken from <i>The College Dropout</i> liner notes.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25"><sup>25</sup></a> </p> <ul><li>Songwriters: Kanye West, Dante Smith, Leslie Pridgen, Lou Wilson, Ric Wilson, Carlos Wilson</li> <li>Record producer: Kanye West</li> <li>Recorders: Marc Fuller, Keith Slattery, Carlisle Young</li> <li>Mix engineer: Mike Dean</li> <li>Additional vocals: The Boys Choir of Harlem</li> <li>Keyboards: Keith Slattery</li> <li>Violin: Miri Ben-Ari</li></ul> <h2 id="cinematic-version">Cinematic version</h2> <p>On March 22, 2005, <i>The College Dropout Video Anthology</i> was released, which features a bonus audio CD with a cinematic version of "Two Words" as a track on it.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26"><sup>26</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090104174940/http://www.mtv.com/lyrics/west_kanye/two_words/6349054/lyrics.jhtml">"Two Words" lyrics</a> at <a href="/facts/MTV/S5gxqCxh">MTV</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Garrison, Lucas (January 25, 2016). "Kanye's Early 'College Dropout' Tracklist Will Blow Your Mind". DJBooth. Retrieved November 1, 2018. <a href="https://djbooth.net/features/2016-01-25-kanye-west-college-dropout-early-tracklist" target="_blank">https://djbooth.net/features/2016-01-25-kanye-west-college-dropout-early-tracklist</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"The College Dropout - Kanye West". AllMusic. Retrieved January 20, 2010. <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-college-dropout-mw0000326741" target="_blank">https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-college-dropout-mw0000326741</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Ahmed, Insanul (February 10, 2012). "Interview: Freeway Talks About The Making of Kanye West's "Two Words"". Complex. Retrieved July 30, 2018. <a href="https://www.complex.com/music/2012/02/interview-freeway-talks-about-the-making-of-kanye-wests-two-words" target="_blank">https://www.complex.com/music/2012/02/interview-freeway-talks-about-the-making-of-kanye-wests-two-words</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Ahmed, Insanul (February 10, 2014). "The Making of Kanye West's "The College Dropout"". Complex. Retrieved September 26, 2018. <a href="https://www.complex.com/music/2014/02/kanye-west-college-dropout-making-of/" target="_blank">https://www.complex.com/music/2014/02/kanye-west-college-dropout-making-of/</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>The College Dropout (Media notes). Kanye West. Roc-A-Fella Records. 2004. 986 173-9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) <a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_AV_media_notes" target="_blank">/wiki/Template:Cite_AV_media_notes</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Ahmed, Insanul (February 10, 2014). "The Making of Kanye West's "The College Dropout"". Complex. Retrieved September 26, 2018. <a href="https://www.complex.com/music/2014/02/kanye-west-college-dropout-making-of/" target="_blank">https://www.complex.com/music/2014/02/kanye-west-college-dropout-making-of/</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Bassil, Ryan (August 13, 2013). "Kanye West Recycles Lyrics From Old Material". Noisey. Retrieved November 1, 2018. <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/kanye-west-used-to-be-in-a-group-called-the-go-getters-and-he-re-used-their-lyrics/" target="_blank">https://www.vice.com/en/article/kanye-west-used-to-be-in-a-group-called-the-go-getters-and-he-re-used-their-lyrics/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Ahmed, Insanul (February 10, 2014). "The Making of Kanye West's "The College Dropout"". Complex. Retrieved September 26, 2018. <a href="https://www.complex.com/music/2014/02/kanye-west-college-dropout-making-of/" target="_blank">https://www.complex.com/music/2014/02/kanye-west-college-dropout-making-of/</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Carroll, Jim (June 19, 2013). "Y-Day: Kanye West's trip from "College Dropout" to "Yeezus"". On The Record. Retrieved November 1, 2018. <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/ontherecord/2013/06/19/y-day-kanye-wests-trip-from-college-dropout-to-yeezus/" target="_blank">https://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/ontherecord/2013/06/19/y-day-kanye-wests-trip-from-college-dropout-to-yeezus/</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"50 Things You Didn't Know About Kanye West". Complex. February 26, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2018. <a href="https://www.complex.com/music/2013/02/50-things-you-didnt-know-about-kanye-west/" target="_blank">https://www.complex.com/music/2013/02/50-things-you-didnt-know-about-kanye-west/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Ahmed, Insanul (February 10, 2012). "Interview: Freeway Talks About The Making of Kanye West's "Two Words"". Complex. Retrieved July 30, 2018. <a href="https://www.complex.com/music/2012/02/interview-freeway-talks-about-the-making-of-kanye-wests-two-words" target="_blank">https://www.complex.com/music/2012/02/interview-freeway-talks-about-the-making-of-kanye-wests-two-words</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>West, Kanye; Labrinth. "Two Words (Frisky Remix) (feat. Mos Def) - Kanye West & Labrinth Song". BBC. BBC Music. Retrieved November 1, 2018. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/tracks/n2hrg3" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/tracks/n2hrg3</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Lilah, Rose (February 27, 2014). "Ace Hood - Lyrical Exercise (Freestyle)". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 1, 2018. <a href="https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/ace-hood-lyrical-exercise-freestyle-new-song.1834428.html" target="_blank">https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/ace-hood-lyrical-exercise-freestyle-new-song.1834428.html</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Tullis, Eric (February 2, 2014). "Two Words - Kanye West - 12". SPIN. Retrieved July 30, 2018. <a href="https://www.spin.com/2014/02/kanye-west-college-dropout-10-year-anniversary/140131-kanye-west-two-words/" target="_blank">https://www.spin.com/2014/02/kanye-west-college-dropout-10-year-anniversary/140131-kanye-west-two-words/</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Cantor, Paul (February 10, 2014). "Kanye West's 'The College Dropout' at 10: Classic Track-by-Track Review". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2018. <a href="https://www.billboard.com/articles/review/5901147/kanye-wests-the-college-dropout-at-10-classic-track-by-track-review" target="_blank">https://www.billboard.com/articles/review/5901147/kanye-wests-the-college-dropout-at-10-classic-track-by-track-review</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>"05 GV Music & Fashion Awards Winners: Hip Hop". Groovevolt. 1 March 2005. Archived from the original on 7 March 2005. Retrieved 10 December 2017. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20050307094525/http://www.groovevolt.com:80/gvawards/hiphop.asp" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20050307094525/http://www.groovevolt.com:80/gvawards/hiphop.asp</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Watson, Elijah C. (10 October 2017). "Thirteen Years Ago Dave Chappelle Put On The Greatest Concert Of The Year". Okayplayer. Retrieved November 1, 2018. <a href="https://www.okayplayer.com/culture/dave-chappelle-block-party-corbin-reiff-lighters-in-the-sky.html" target="_blank">https://www.okayplayer.com/culture/dave-chappelle-block-party-corbin-reiff-lighters-in-the-sky.html</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>Ahmed, Insanul (February 10, 2012). "Interview: Freeway Talks About The Making of Kanye West's "Two Words"". Complex. Retrieved July 30, 2018. <a href="https://www.complex.com/music/2012/02/interview-freeway-talks-about-the-making-of-kanye-wests-two-words" target="_blank">https://www.complex.com/music/2012/02/interview-freeway-talks-about-the-making-of-kanye-wests-two-words</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>Ahmed, Insanul (February 10, 2012). "Interview: Freeway Talks About The Making of Kanye West's "Two Words"". Complex. Retrieved July 30, 2018. <a href="https://www.complex.com/music/2012/02/interview-freeway-talks-about-the-making-of-kanye-wests-two-words" target="_blank">https://www.complex.com/music/2012/02/interview-freeway-talks-about-the-making-of-kanye-wests-two-words</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>"Kanye West - College Dropout: Video Anthology". Amazon. Retrieved November 1, 2018. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kanye-West-College-Dropout-Anthology/dp/B0007LEJKY/" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/Kanye-West-College-Dropout-Anthology/dp/B0007LEJKY/</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>"Two Words (Edited Version) by Kanye West, Mos Def, Freeway & The Boys Choir of Harlem on Apple Music". iTunes. November 4, 2005. Retrieved November 1, 2018. <a href="https://music.apple.com/us/music-video/two-words-edited-version/268383574" target="_blank">https://music.apple.com/us/music-video/two-words-edited-version/268383574</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:22"><p>Ahmed, Insanul (February 10, 2012). "Interview: Freeway Talks About The Making of Kanye West's "Two Words"". Complex. Retrieved July 30, 2018. <a href="https://www.complex.com/music/2012/02/interview-freeway-talks-about-the-making-of-kanye-wests-two-words" target="_blank">https://www.complex.com/music/2012/02/interview-freeway-talks-about-the-making-of-kanye-wests-two-words</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:23"><p>"Video: Kanye West f. GLC & Consequence, "Spaceship"". The Fader. June 1, 2009. Retrieved July 30, 2018. <a href="http://www.thefader.com/2009/06/01/video-kanye-west-f-glc-consequence-spaceship" target="_blank">http://www.thefader.com/2009/06/01/video-kanye-west-f-glc-consequence-spaceship</a> <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:24"><p>Schiff, Mark (January 29, 2016). "Five rare Kanye West music videos you may not have seen". AXS. Retrieved September 18, 2018. <a href="https://www.axs.com/news/five-rare-kanye-west-music-videos-you-may-not-have-seen-74990" target="_blank">https://www.axs.com/news/five-rare-kanye-west-music-videos-you-may-not-have-seen-74990</a> <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:25"><p>The College Dropout (Media notes). Kanye West. Roc-A-Fella Records. 2004. 986 173-9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) <a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_AV_media_notes" target="_blank">/wiki/Template:Cite_AV_media_notes</a> <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:26"><p>"Kanye West - College Dropout: Video Anthology". Amazon. Retrieved November 1, 2018. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kanye-West-College-Dropout-Anthology/dp/B0007LEJKY/" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/Kanye-West-College-Dropout-Anthology/dp/B0007LEJKY/</a> <a href="#fnref:26" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>