Music Video

Featured In

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Kanye West
Kanye West
Vocals
Connie Mitchell
Connie Mitchell
Additional Vocals
Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Sampled Artist
Tony Williams
Tony Williams
Additional Vocals
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Walter Becker
Walter Becker
Songwriter
Donald Fagen
Donald Fagen
Songwriter
Kanye West
Kanye West
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Kanye West
Kanye West
Producer
Anthony Kilhoffer
Anthony Kilhoffer
Recording Engineer
Bram Tobey
Bram Tobey
Assistant Recording Engineer
Jason Agel
Jason Agel
Assistant Recording Engineer
Nate Hertweck
Nate Hertweck
Assistant Recording Engineer
Anthony Palazzole
Anthony Palazzole
Assistant Recording Engineer
Andy Marcinkowski
Andy Marcinkowski
Assistant Recording Engineer
Andrew Dawson
Andrew Dawson
Recording Engineer
Brian "All Day" Miller
Brian "All Day" Miller
Producer

Lyrics

[Intro]
Did you realize
That you were a champion in their eyes?
[Chorus]
Yes, I did
So I packed it up and brought it back to the crib
Just a lil' somethin', show ya how we live
Everybody want it but it ain't that serious
Mmhmm, that's that shit
So if you gon' do it, do it just like this
[Refrain]
Did you realize
That you were a champion in their eyes?
[Verse 1]
You don't see just how wild the crowd is?
You don't see just how fly my style is?
I don't see why I need a stylist
When I shop so much, I can speak Italian
I don't know, I just want it better for my kids
And I ain't sayin' we was from the projects
But every time I wanted layaway or a deposit
My dad'd say, "When you see clothes, close your eyelids"
We was sort of like Will Smith and his son
In the movie, I ain't talkin' 'bout the rich ones
'Cause every summer he'd get some
Brand new hare-brained scheme to get rich from
And I don't know what he did for dough
But he'd send me back to school with a new wardrobe, but aye
[Refrain]
Did you realize
Aye, aye, aye
That you were a champion in their eyes?
[Chorus]
I think he did
When he packed it up and brought it back to the crib
Just a lil' somethin', show ya how we live
Everything I wanted, man, it seem so serious
Mmhmm, that's that shit
So if you gon' do it, do it just like this
[Refrain]
Did you realize
That you were a champion in their eyes?
[Verse 2]
When it feel like living's harder than dyin'
For me, givin' up's way harder than tryin'
Lauryn Hill said her heart was in Zion
I wish her heart still was in rhymin'
'Cause who the kids gon' listen to? Huh?
I guess me if it isn't you
Last week, I paid a visit to the institute
They got the dropout keepin' kids in the school
I guess I'll cleaned up my act like Prince'll do
If not for the pleasure, least for the principle
They got the CD, they got to see me
Drop gems like I dropped out of PE
They used to feel invisible
Now they know they invincible
[Refrain]
Did you realize
Aye, aye, aye
That you were a champion in their eyes?
[Bridge]
This is the story of a champion
Runners on their mark and they pop their guns
Stand up, stand up, here he comes
Tell me what it takes to be number one
Tell me what it takes to be number one
This is the story of a champion
Runners on their mark and they pop their guns
Stand up, stand up, here he comes
Tell me what it takes to be number one
Tell me what it takes to be number one
[Refrain]
Did you realize
That you were a champion in their eyes?
[Chorus]
Yes, I did
So I packed it up and brought it back to the crib
Just a lil' somethin', show ya how we live
Everybody want it but it ain't that serious
Mmhmm, that's that shit
So if you gon' do it, do it just like this
Like this
[Outro]
Did you realize
That you were a champion in their eyes?
Written by: Kanye West, Donald Fagen, Walter Becker
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