Us Placers

"sounds like he's saying he wishes he was standing in line to get shot, like the rest of them I dunno.."

I think he means that the shooter would have felt guilty afterwards or something. "What a way to see the cover of Time, I know that nigga wish he was standing in line to see it... as if he didn't do it."

Like he was standing in line to buy the magazine to see what happened, instead of being there doing it. shrug

This song is an allusion to the sociological theory of Affluenza - when too much is never enough.

Lupe's verse - Pretty obvious. He introduces the argument of the song; the fact that, by the very essence of the human condition, we always desire to have more. Purchase this.... And that...... And that.... And that... And that over there... And that too..... And...

Kanye's verse - Illustrates how the affluence and desire to become famous and receive recognition often results in the exact opposite occurring; being left in destitution and without privacy. Nonetheless, we all still stubbornly strive for it.

Pharrel's verse - Conclusion of the song. Portrays someone who initially became involved in drugs for the money, as a way to survive, and inevitably began to routinely dip in his/her own stash, as a way to escape. All of this caused by our Affluenza. Though this person became involved in drugs, they had the potential to become much more: "perfect paradigm, wrong place, wrong time" - very unfortunate, indeed. The very activity that he/she's engaged in as a way to get by has manifested itself differently with the big pharmaceutical companies that are worth billions. Instead of focusing on more important issues such as global warming, we spend our time devoured by this need for more. In fact, this affluence has ultimately caused some to purposely and directly cross the line for recognition, such as the VATech shooter. If only he could see himself as others see him; as the famous VATech shooter in Time magazine.

Lupe's verse really touched me. It kind of makes you look at yourself in pity, yet materialism is really pointless if you think about it. Money can't buy you happiness.

for real...i like Thom Yorkes original, but this is just...original in itself..its a bomb ass song..i like pharrell's verse

At home supermodel, myspaces

refers to all the myspace-whore.

this is a Child Rebel Soldier song btw ...

I love concept songs, and concept things like this. If you hadn't noticed they each took on a different persona and point of view, they each were unhappy. I dont' think Pharrell stuck to the concept as much as the others did, it seemed like he abandoned it towards the end but it's a possibility I'm not looking deep enough.

Lupe Fiasco = Rich, Unhappy, Famous person who's money doesn't stop the pains of the ups and down.. Upperclass.

Kanye West = Not rich, Reality TV show star who has all the troubles of a famous person but not nearly enough money. The whole thing hanging over their heads all their life, or even the person that got famous through Myspace.. all the fame none of the money.

Pharrel = Low class, Uneducated, "street pharmicist" cooking coke, ironically a chemist.. in that he is making drugs... It doesn't seem he gets deep as the others did he simply set up the picture in your mind on what was going on, letting you come to your own conclusions.. what throws me off is the last part where he's rapping about the Virginia Tech shooter, I don't quite understand it.. sounds like he's saying he wishes he was standing in line to get shot, like the rest of them I dunno..

Excellent song though I hope this project doesn't get shelved and gets released soon, they each have alot on their plates.. Kanye West just released Graduation and is producing for others still, aswell as touring. Lupe Fiasco is finishing up an album, and I think Pharrel is doing somethings aswell with N.E.R.D.

I get a different feel from the Pharrell verse. I think he wraps up the song quite well, saying he's wondering how God will paint today's canvuses (people) when there are so many different kinds of people in the world, the ballers, the no-names, the drug dealers. He then uses the allusion to VA Tech to show what people will do for fame nowadays, saying he bets the shooter wishes he was alive to see himself on the cover of time like he didn't do it, therefore recognizing someone the average person wouldn't before (random person on a magazine cover).

Thought about this awhile back on verse III, but forgot to post it with the other post.

The line "'Cause who knew, that day, that man would just Go to VA with a Tec and spray campuses..." Has a slight, obvious pun in it. "Va with a Tec"= VA Tech, the school the (then) recent shooting happened at, as well as tec being a gun.

Lupe's verse- Raps about all the useless crap you buy when yoou're famous, bigscreen TVs, boats, expensive paintings, a mansion to put it in, and a doberman to protect all your precious belongings, And ends with him pretty much saying "Money can't buy happiness"

Kanye's verse- Raps about people that WERE famous, or are trying to be famous, talking about how they try and keep getting popular after whatever gave them that momentary popularity ("Trying to keep that balance after MTV, that's a real world challenge" - Reference to The Real World, a reality show on MTV) Has a slight, obvious pun in it. "Va with a Tec"= VA Tech, the school the (then) recent shooting happened at, as well as tec being a gun.

Pharell's verse- Raps about people who don't recognize their full potential like people who could have been chemists, had circumstances been different ("Perfect paradigm, wrong place, wrong time, shoulda been Phizer, GlaxoSmithKline"), and finishes with the lesson of "you never know what tomorrow will bring" ("I wonder how God's gonna paint today's canvases?/Cause who knew that day, that man would just/Go to VA with a Tec and spray campuses...

Lupe's entire verse is a build up to the last two lines. He makes a good point.