Yikes

"Yikes" is a candid and confrontational exploration of Kanye West's struggles with mental health, specifically his bipolar disorder, and his addiction to opioids. The song serves as a raw confession of his deepest anxieties and moments of crisis. The recurring line, "Shit could get menacing, frightening, find help / Sometimes I scare myself, myself," underscores a sense of self-awareness about his own volatility and self-destructive tendencies. The lyrics detail his experiences with psychedelic drugs like 2C-B and DMT, linking them to his turbulent state of mind.

A significant aspect of the song's meaning is West's re-framing of his bipolar disorder. In the outro, he proclaims, "That's my bipolar shit, nigga what? / That's my superpower, nigga ain't no disability / I'm a superhero! I'm a superhero!" This declaration is a radical act of self-acceptance and an attempt to destigmatize mental illness, portraying it as a source of strength and creativity rather than a weakness. The song also touches on his public persona and controversies, including a reference to Russell Simmons and the #MeToo movement, highlighting the pressures of fame. Ultimately, "Yikes" is a complex tapestry of vulnerability, bravado, and self-examination, offering a glimpse into West's chaotic mental landscape while simultaneously challenging societal perceptions of mental health.

The song opens with a raw and repetitive hook, expressing a sense of impending danger and a frightening internal state: "Shit could get menacing, frightening, find help / Sometimes I scare myself, myself." This sets a tone of vulnerability and self-awareness amidst chaos. The lyrics then delve into a state of being under the influence, referencing the psychedelic drug 2C-B and the dissociative DMT, suggesting a journey of altered consciousness and perhaps a brush with mortality, as he proclaims he's "done died and lived again."

He then shifts to his public persona and the controversies that surround him, mentioning turning TMZ into a "Smack DVD," a reference to street fight videos, implying a more aggressive and confrontational approach to media scrutiny. He also touches on the #MeToo movement with a controversial line about praying for Russell Simmons, immediately followed by a moment of self-reflection on what would happen if he faced similar accusations. This highlights a complex and at times contradictory perspective on celebrity, accountability, and public perception.

Throughout the track, West grapples with his mental health, which he directly addresses in the outro. He candidly states, "That's my bipolar shit, nigga, what?" This is not presented as a moment of weakness but is immediately reframed as a source of strength. He triumphantly declares, "That's my superpower, nigga, ain't no disability / I'm a superhero! I'm a superhero!" This reclamation of his diagnosis as a 'superpower' is a central theme of the song and his album 'ye'. It's a defiant statement against the stigmatization of mental illness, portraying it as a source of unique perspective and creative energy. The song is a whirlwind tour of West's psyche, touching on drug use, public feuds, fear, and ultimately, a bold embrace of his identity, flaws and all.

"Yikes" was created for Kanye West's eighth studio album, 'ye', which was released in 2018. The album was famously recorded at West Lake Ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, as part of the "Wyoming Sessions" that also produced albums for Pusha T, Nas, and Teyana Taylor. The song was produced by West himself, with co-production from Mike Dean and additional production from Pi'erre Bourne and Apex Martin. The track was originally titled "Exctacy".

A notable aspect of the song's creation is the number of credited songwriters, which totals fourteen. This includes Canadian rapper Drake, who is credited with co-writing the hook. The song prominently samples the 1976 track "Kothbiro" by the Kenyan afro-rock group Black Savage, which led to songwriting credits for Ayub Ogada and James Mbarack Achieng. "Yikes" was released as the lead single from 'ye' on June 8, 2018, to UK mainstream radio and on June 11, 2018, to US radio stations.

West's opioid addiction, which he has stated began after a liposuction procedure, was a significant inspiration for the lyrical content of "Yikes". He also addresses his bipolar disorder, a diagnosis he received at the age of 39. The creation of "Yikes" and the album 'ye' was part of a highly publicized and controversial period for West, marked by his outspoken support for Donald Trump and contentious statements made during a TMZ interview.

The rhyme scheme in "Yikes" is predominantly characterized by a series of couplets and short, punchy rhymes that contribute to its driving and aggressive rhythm. The song's verses often feature end rhymes that create a sense of momentum, for example, "Tweakin', tweakin' off that 2CB, huh? / Thought I was gon' run, DMC, huh?". West also employs internal rhymes, which can be seen in lines like "Yeezy, Yeezy trollin' OD, huh? / Turn TMZ to Smack DVD, huh?".

The rhythm of "Yikes" is built around a trap-influenced beat with a tempo of 174 BPM. The song's rhythmic structure is relatively straightforward, which allows the focus to remain on West's lyrical delivery and the intensity of the production. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical rhythm is tight, with West's flow often mirroring the hard-hitting nature of the instrumental. The catchy and repetitive chorus, "Shit could get menacin', frightenin', find help / Sometimes I scare myself, myself," serves as a rhythmic anchor for the track, providing a memorable and impactful hook.

Musically, "Yikes" is characterized by its aggressive and minimalist production, featuring a chilling bassline, echoing voices, and a sparse, horror-film-esque beat that has been compared to his earlier work on "Wolves" from 'The Life of Pablo'. The track incorporates a prominent sample of "Kothbiro" by the Kenyan afro-rock band Black Savage, which provides a unique melodic and rhythmic texture. The instrumentation is chopped-up after the chorus, adding to the song's disjointed and chaotic feel.

Lyrically, West employs a confrontational and candid narrative voice, directly addressing his personal struggles with drug addiction and his bipolar diagnosis. He uses rhetorical questions to engage the listener and create a sense of internal dialogue, for example, "Thought I was gon' run, DMC, huh?" and "Tweakin', tweakin' off that 2CB, huh?". His vocal delivery is described as an "anesthetized Juvenile flow," contributing to the song's raw and unfiltered quality. The outro features a shift to spoken word, where West delivers his powerful statement about his bipolar disorder being a "superpower," adding a climactic and definitive end to the track.

"Yikes" achieved significant commercial success, debuting at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it the highest-charting track from the album 'ye' and West's first top 10 song as a solo artist in the US and UK since 2008's "Heartless". The song's candid discussion of mental health, particularly the line about bipolar disorder being a "superpower," sparked considerable dialogue about mental health within the hip-hop community and beyond.

Critically, "Yikes" received generally positive reviews, with many critics praising its production and honest lyrical content. The song's aggressive sound and introspective themes were seen as a continuation of the musical and lyrical directions West had explored in his previous work. While the album 'ye' received mixed reviews for its brevity and sometimes scattered lyrical focus, "Yikes" was often highlighted as a standout track.

The song's cultural influence also lies in its reflection of a particularly tumultuous period in West's career, marked by public controversies. "Yikes" serves as a musical documentation of this era, capturing his defiant and unapologetic attitude. The track remains a significant piece in West's discography, showcasing his ability to translate personal struggles into compelling and commercially successful art.

The most prominent metaphor in "Yikes" is Kanye West's reframing of his bipolar disorder as a "superpower." This is a powerful act of symbolic re-appropriation, transforming a medical diagnosis often associated with instability and weakness into a source of extraordinary ability and strength. The declaration "I'm a superhero!" at the end of the song solidifies this metaphor, suggesting that his mental condition gives him unique, almost superhuman, creative and perceptive capabilities.

The references to psychedelic drugs like 2C-B and DMT can be seen as symbolic of West's journey into the depths of his own consciousness and his struggles with addiction. The line "I done died and lived again on DMT, huh?" is a metaphor for a profound, transformative, and perhaps harrowing experience that has given him a new perspective on life and death.

The mention of turning "TMZ to Smack DVD" is a metaphor for taking control of his own narrative in the media. Smack DVDs were popular in the early 2000s for their raw and uncensored footage of street culture and hip-hop beefs. By invoking this, West is suggesting a shift from being a passive subject of media scrutiny to an active and aggressive participant in shaping his public image.

The most significant recurring phrase in "Yikes" is the chorus: "Shit could get menacin', frightenin', find help / Sometimes I scare myself, myself." This line is repeated throughout the song, acting as a haunting mantra that encapsulates the central theme of internal turmoil and self-awareness. Its repetition emphasizes the persistent nature of West's anxieties and the cyclical struggle with his mental health.

Another recurring lyrical motif is the use of the word "huh?" at the end of several lines in the verses, such as "Tweakin', tweakin' off that 2CB, huh?" and "Thought I was gon' run, DMC, huh?". This stylistic choice creates a conversational and somewhat confrontational tone, as if West is directly addressing his critics or challenging the listener's perceptions of him. The repetition of "You see? You see?" towards the end of the verses also serves to reinforce his points and demand acknowledgement from his audience.

The ultimate recurring theme, which culminates in the outro, is the idea of his bipolar disorder as a "superpower." This concept is a powerful motif that re-frames his struggles into a source of strength and is a key message of the song and the album 'ye'.