Bound 2
"Bound 2" is a hip-hop song by American rapper Kanye West, serving as the closing track on his sixth studio album Yeezus, released on June 18, 2013.[1] The track features soulful vocals from singer Charlie Wilson and interpolates the 1971 composition "Bound" by the Ponderosa Twins Plus One, contributing to its retro R&B-infused sound amid the album's experimental production.[2] Released as the second single from Yeezus on August 28, 2013, it peaked at number 55 on the UK Singles Chart and number 12 on the US Hot Rap Songs chart.[3][4] The song received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Song in 2015. Its music video, self-directed by West and premiered on Saturday Night Live in November 2013 after an early leak, depicted West and his then-fiancée Kim Kardashian in simulated intimate acts superimposed over green-screen mountain-climbing footage, intentionally evoking a low-budget, parody aesthetic that sparked widespread criticism for perceived amateurism and explicitness but was defended by West as a deliberate artistic statement.[5] Additionally, the track faced legal scrutiny when drummer Ricky Spicer of the Ponderosa Twins Plus One sued West in December 2013, alleging unauthorized use of the sample without proper clearance or credit.[6]Development and composition
Background and conception
The development of Kanye West's sixth studio album Yeezus spanned late 2012 to mid-2013, with initial recording sessions occurring in locations such as a Paris hotel loft referred to as the "No Name Hotel," New York City studios including Germano Studios and Madpan Studio, and other sites in Miami and Paris.[7] West sought a raw, minimalist, and industrial sound for the project, diverging from the orchestral maximalism of his prior album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010) to prioritize visceral impact and longevity over commercial appeal.[7] The album's abrasive aesthetic was refined in final stages with producer Rick Rubin at Shangri-La Studios in Malibu, California, during late May and early June 2013, resulting in a stripped-down, confrontational tone across its tracks.[8] Yeezus was released on June 18, 2013, via Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings.[8] "Bound 2," positioned as the album's closing track, was conceived to provide a soulful, redemptive contrast to Yeezus' prevailing harshness, drawing on soul music and hip-hop sampling traditions reminiscent of West's earlier work on The College Dropout (2004).[7] This intent aligned with West's personal circumstances, as the song's themes centered on romantic commitment amid his evolving relationship with Kim Kardashian, which had become public in 2012 and culminated in the birth of their daughter North West on June 15, 2013—just days before the album's release.[9] West emphasized love as a core motivation in his life during this period, viewing it as transcending superficial concerns and influencing his artistic output.[10] By ending the album on this intimate, optimistic note, West aimed to resolve the preceding tracks' themes of frustration and ego with vulnerability and affection.[9]Recording and production
"Bound 2" was produced by Kanye West and Che Pope, with additional production credits to Eric Danchick, Noah Goldstein, No I.D., and Mike Dean.[11][12] The track originated as a band-recorded version featuring singing by unidentified performers before late-stage refinements.[2] Rick Rubin contributed to these adjustments, stripping R&B elements to emphasize a rawer structure while discussing potential alternate Yeezus configurations with West.[2][13] Recording occurred during 2013 sessions for the Yeezus album, with Charlie Wilson providing background vocals.[14][11] Noah Goldstein and Mike Dean handled recording and mixing engineering duties.[14] Che Pope detailed his workflow for the beat in subsequent masterclasses, starting with MPC sequencing to layer melodies and orchestration.[15] The production emphasized sample integration for a nostalgic tone, finalized ahead of the album's June 18, 2013 release.[2]Sampling and musical elements
"Bound 2" centers on a pitched-up sample of the flute melody from "Bound" by Ponderosa Twins Plus One, originally released in 1971, which forms the track's foundational loop and imparts a buoyant, soulful texture when accelerated.[16] Additional samples include the "uh huh, honey" vocal hook from Brenda Lee's 1960 single "Sweet Nothin's" and elements from Wee’s 1977 "Aeroplane (Reprise)," contributing layered, nostalgic soul flourishes amid subtle static and chopped loops for a raw, fragmented aesthetic.[6] These sampled components, manipulated through speeding and pitching, hybridize vintage R&B warmth with abrasive hip-hop edge, as verified in production breakdowns.[17] The instrumentation features a classic boom-bap drum pattern—characterized by hard-hitting kicks and snares—overlaid with sparse piano chords and gospel-inflected backing vocals from Charlie Wilson, evoking a church-like call-and-response dynamic.[11] Produced primarily by Kanye West with co-production from Che Pope and additional contributions from Eric Danchick, Noah Goldstein, No I.D., and Mike Dean, the arrangement emphasizes minimalism, clocking in at 3:45 with a structure of intro, verses, chorus, and outro that prioritizes rhythmic drive over dense orchestration.[18] Tonal analysis places the core melody in E-flat major, with modulations adding harmonic tension that underscores the samples' pitched alterations.[19] This setup yields a polished yet gritty fusion, where the sped-up soul loops contrast the punchy percussion to evoke both reverence for 1970s soul traditions and contemporary hip-hop innovation.[12]Lyrics and themes
Content and structure
"Bound 2" opens with an intro sampling the 1971 soul track "Bound" by Ponderosa Twins Plus One, featuring layered vocals repeating "bound to fall in love" over a piano loop.[11] The song structure comprises three verses rapped by Kanye West, alternating with choruses sung by Charlie Wilson, who delivers the central hook: "Bound to fall in love" in falsetto, backed by synthesizers and drum patterns shifting keys between E♭ major and F♯ major.[11][19] This arrangement builds a narrative flow starting with West's assertive dismissal of romantic competitors—"All them other niggas lame, you know it now"—and progresses through escalating personal disclosures across 3 minutes and 49 seconds.[11][20] West's verses mix bravado with relational vulnerability, clocking standard rap cadences over the sampled beat. The first verse establishes dominance via sexual metaphors, including "My dick is like an umbrella in the rain, gives y'all shelter," positioning the narrator as a reliable partner amid fame's distractions.[11] The second verse intensifies explicit content with directives like "I wanna fuck you hard on the sink / After that, give you somethin' to drink / Step back, can't get spunk on the mink," evoking raw physicality and material excess tied to celebrity status.[11] Commitment emerges in lines such as "When a real nigga hold you down, you know how," contrasting fleeting encounters with enduring loyalty. The third verse shifts toward introspection, questioning mutual foresight—"Do you think about me still? / Or do you not think so far ahead?"—before resolving in shared indulgence: "You know I pop bottles when you pop bottles, yeah, we do."[11] The choruses, repeating Wilson's soulful pleas, punctuate West's raps, creating a call-and-response dynamic that underscores inevitability in love dynamics.[11] An outro reprises the intro sample, fading with echoed "bound to fall in love" to reinforce cyclical attachment without resolution.[11] This lyrical construction draws from hip-hop conventions, with West's delivery varying pitch and rhythm to mirror emotional duality—boastful flows yielding to melodic vulnerability—while explicit sexual imagery directly references consummation and possession.[11]Interpretations and viewpoints
"Bound 2" has been interpreted as a sincere declaration of romantic commitment, contrasting the aggressive, ego-centric themes prevalent throughout the Yeezus album, with lyrics expressing Kanye West's emotional attachment to Kim Kardashian amid personal and public turmoil.[11] West's references to being "bound" to his partner evoke a sense of inevitable surrender to love, blending raw physical desire—such as lines about intimate acts—with pleas for fidelity, suggesting a search for stability in a fame-distorted relationship.[21] This viewpoint posits the track as a humanizing closer, revealing vulnerability beneath West's bravado, where the repetition of "one more time" before "fizzle out" underscores existential longing for enduring connection.[22] Critics have countered that the song's machismo-tinged lyrics, including crude imagery like avoiding "spunk on the mink," represent performative posturing rather than authentic emotion, mirroring the superficiality of celebrity unions.[23] Some analyses highlight objectification in the portrayal of female partnership as a conquest intertwined with luxury and control, reflecting broader patterns in hip-hop where dominance overshadows mutual agency.[24] This perspective frames the lyrics' oscillation between possession ("I can see your lifestyle through the window") and submission as contrived theater, emblematic of relationships strained by ego and media scrutiny rather than grounded reciprocity.[25] Deeper causal examinations reveal the lyrics' tension as illustrative of fundamental relational dynamics under fame's pressures: the male impulse toward control clashing with the binding forces of attraction and dependency, evidenced in West's own admissions of relational fragility driven by self-sabotage.[26] Fans predominantly praise the track's emotional candor, with user aggregates on platforms like Rate Your Music lauding its introspective flow and soulful resolution as a standout, often rating it higher than preceding Yeezus cuts for lyrical depth.[27] Critics, however, show greater division, with some outlets like Grantland dismissing it as inauthentic denouement while others acknowledge its raw honesty as a counterpoint to the album's industrial aggression, though empirical splits lack comprehensive polling data beyond anecdotal review trends.[23][11]Release and promotion
Single release
"Bound 2" was issued as a digital single in November 2013 by Def Jam Recordings, marking the third single from Kanye West's album Yeezus, which had debuted on June 18, 2013; it succeeded "Black Skinhead" and "Send It Up" in the album's single sequence.[28][5] The track's single rollout emphasized streaming and download platforms without accompanying physical formats, aligning with the digital-first distribution strategy common for late-album cuts. Promotion for the single occurred amid the holiday period, yet prioritized extending the Yeezus campaign's momentum over standalone marketing efforts.[11]Marketing and live performances
"Bound 2" was promoted primarily through live television appearances and integration into Kanye West's Yeezus Tour, capitalizing on the album's existing buzz from its June 18, 2013 release rather than aggressive radio campaigns limited by the track's explicit content containing profanity.[29] West first performed "Bound 2" live on September 10, 2013, during Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, joined by Charlie Wilson on vocals, The Roots providing instrumentation, and a children's choir for the chorus, marking the song's public debut outside album listening events.[30][31] One week later, on September 17, 2013, West and Wilson delivered another rendition on BBC's Later... with Jools Holland, emphasizing the song's soul-infused sampling and melodic structure amid the Yeezus Tour's impending start.[32] As the Yeezus Tour launched on October 19, 2013, "Bound 2" became a staple in the 27-song setlist, often closing the main set or the entire show to contrast the tour's industrial visuals and high-energy tracks with its retro soul closer.[33]Music video
Production and content
The music video for "Bound 2" was directed by fashion photographer Nick Knight and primarily shot using green screen techniques, with principal footage featuring Kanye West and Kim Kardashian composited against landscape backgrounds.[34] [35] The video centers on West and a nude Kardashian straddling him on a motorcycle, simulating sexual intercourse throughout much of the runtime.[36] [37] Background elements include stock footage of the Grand Canyon, running wild horses, and mountainous terrain, creating a deliberately crude composite effect.[38] [39] With a runtime of approximately four minutes, the video eschews a traditional cast, focusing exclusively on West and Kardashian as the central figures, interspersed with abstract landscape shots and minimal additional visuals.[34] The low-fidelity green screen integration contributes to an unpolished aesthetic, emphasizing raw intimacy over high-production polish.[39] [36]Initial release and parody responses
The "Bound 2" music video premiered on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on November 19, 2013, directed by Nick Knight and featuring Kanye West and Kim Kardashian in simulated intercourse atop a motorcycle superimposed on green-screen footage of landscapes including the Grand Canyon and wild horses.[5] Uploaded to West's official Vevo channel on YouTube the same day, it achieved rapid virality, accumulating over 14 million views by early December 2013.[40] West described the video's aesthetic as an intentional departure from high-production standards, aiming for a "phony" appearance to subvert expectations of commercial perfection and embrace raw, unpolished expression.[41] He likened this choice to Walt Disney's risks in animation, emphasizing artistic vulnerability over conventional appeal.[42] In discussions with Seth Rogen, West clarified that the visuals were "supposed to be bad" to provoke reaction against media norms.[43] Parody responses emerged swiftly, amplifying the video's cheesiness while echoing its uncanny deliberate style. On November 25, 2013, James Franco and Seth Rogen released "Bound 3," a near-exact shot-for-shot spoof using outtakes from their film The Interview, which West endorsed and later incorporated into his wedding plans.[44] Additional parodies, including one by YouTuber Bart Baker, further highlighted the original's provocative, low-fi elements through humorous exaggeration.[45]Commercial performance
Chart performance
"Bound 2" debuted at number 73 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart dated December 7, 2013, propelled by digital sales from the Yeezus album release earlier that year.[46] The following week, it surged to its peak of number 12, driven by a boost in digital downloads and video airplay following the music video's premiere.[46] Concurrently, the track climbed to number 3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart from position 24, marking West's highest placement on that tally in 2013 up to that point.[47] In the United Kingdom, "Bound 2" first appeared on the Official Singles Chart dated September 21, 2013, and reached a peak of number 55 after five weeks.[48][49] The song achieved modest international success, peaking at number 56 on Australia's ARIA Singles Chart in December 2013.[50]| Chart (2013) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 56 [50] |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 55 [49] |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 12 [46] |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) | 3 [47] |
Sales and certifications
In the United States, "Bound 2" was certified Platinum by the RIAA on April 10, 2015, reflecting at least 1 million units in sales and streaming equivalents at the time. By March 2022, it reached 3× Platinum status, and as of October 2023, the single holds a 5× Platinum certification from the RIAA, equivalent to 5 million units consumed, primarily driven by digital downloads initially and later bolstered by on-demand audio and video streams. [51] In the United Kingdom, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified "Bound 2" Platinum on October 7, 2022, signifying 600,000 units sold or streamed.[52] No further certifications from major international bodies like IFPI affiliates in Europe or Australia have been reported for the single, limiting its global recognition compared to West's other hits, though streaming data indicates over 1.2 billion global plays contributing to equivalent units.[53]Reception
Critical analysis of the song
"Bound 2" received widespread praise from critics for its soul-infused production, which provided a stark contrast to the abrasive, minimalist industrial sound dominating the rest of Yeezus. Reviewers highlighted the track's looped sample from Ponderosa Twins Plus One's "Bound" (1971) and the soulful chorus by Charlie Wilson as a revival of Kanye West's earlier chipmunk soul style, evoking albums like The College Dropout (2004). Pitchfork described it as a "soulful outlier" capping off the album's "barbed-wire" aggression, suggesting it teased a more traditional direction amid Yeezus' experimental harshness.[54][55] The song was frequently cited as an emotional and musical highlight, serving as a redemptive closer that humanized West's otherwise confrontational project. XXL Magazine called it Yeezus' "emotional and musical highlight," praising its twisted yet compelling love song structure, with West's introspective lyrics over the hypnotic sample loop offering respite from the album's intensity. Other outlets echoed this, noting how the track's sunny soul vibe and personal reflections on romance pleased fans seeking West's classic introspection, positioning it as a bridge to his soul-sample-heavy past.[56] Critiques focused on the track's conventionality and perceived lack of innovation relative to Yeezus' bolder experiments, with some arguing it relied too heavily on nostalgic sampling without pushing boundaries. The repetitive looping of the soul vocal sample, while hypnotic, drew comments on dated aesthetics and awkward bars that undercut the romance. Grantland characterized the lyrics as a "garish pantomime" rather than genuine sentiment, viewing the song as a phony resolution to the album's darker themes. User aggregates reflected divided opinions, with some Metacritic reviewers labeling it West's "worst song" for clashing with the album's edge, though professional consensus leaned positive, aligning with Yeezus' overall Metacritic score of 84/100.[23]Accolades and recognitions
"Bound 2" earned two nominations at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards held on February 8, 2015: Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.[57][58] The track lost Best Rap Song to Kendrick Lamar's "i" and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration to Sam Smith's "Stay with Me (Darkchild Version)".[59] Critic Rob Sheffield ranked "Bound 2" among his Top 25 Songs of 2013 in Rolling Stone, praising it as the softest closer to the abrasive Yeezus album.[60] Complex placed the song at number 16 on its mid-year list of Best Songs of 2013.[61]Response to the music video
The music video for "Bound 2," released on November 18, 2013, elicited a sharply divided response from critics and audiences, with detractors labeling it crass and exploitative while supporters hailed its deliberate anti-commercial aesthetic as innovative. Art critic Jerry Saltz praised the video's juxtaposition of intimate, low-fi footage of West and Kardashian against appropriated cowboy imagery reminiscent of Richard Prince, describing it as embodying a "new uncanny" that offered raw insight into the couple's personal dynamic and challenged conventional taste hierarchies.[62][63] Saltz argued that dismissals of the work as mere kitsch overlooked its subversive intent, suggesting it warranted inclusion in prestigious exhibitions like the Whitney Biennial for its boundary-pushing form.[64] Kanye West articulated the video's intent as an embrace of phoniness and vulnerability, stating he aimed to create something "as phony as possible" using white-trash motifs to subvert polished production norms and expose unfiltered emotion.[65][41] This approach fueled defenses framing the video as satirical genius rather than ineptitude, with observers noting its intentional clumsiness as a critique of media expectations.[40] Conversely, widespread backlash focused on its explicit simulation of sex acts, with initial YouTube metrics reflecting polarization: among over 225,000 viewers, approximately 163,000 issued thumbs-down votes, signaling strong disapproval from a significant portion of the audience.[40] Feminist-leaning critiques highlighted perceived objectification of Kim Kardashian, who appears topless throughout, questioning the portrayal's reinforcement of male gaze dynamics despite the couple's real-life relationship.[66] Kardashian's family reportedly expressed disgust, viewing the content as disrespectful and prompting discussions of intervention.[67] Counterarguments positioned the depiction as consensual and egalitarian, emphasizing mutual participation and Kardashian's agency in a narrative of romantic journey, which some deemed more progressive than typical hip-hop visuals.[68] This tension underscored broader debates on artistic intent versus cultural impact, with the video's raw style defended as prioritizing authenticity over commercial appeal.[38]Controversies
Sampling lawsuit
On December 23, 2013, Ricky Spicer, the lead vocalist of the 1970s soul group Ponderosa Twins Plus One, filed a lawsuit in New York federal court against Kanye West, along with his labels Rock-A-Fella Records, Def Jam Recordings, and Island Def Jam Music Group, alleging unauthorized use of his vocal performance from the group's song "Aeroplane (Flew Away)" in West's track "Bound 2".[6][69] Spicer claimed that although West's team had obtained sample clearance from Rhino Records, the master rights holder, he personally had not consented to the use of his voice or received compensation, despite the track's commercial success on the album Yeezus.[70][71] The suit sought an injunction to halt distribution of "Bound 2" and unspecified damages for copyright infringement, right of publicity violations, and unjust enrichment, arguing that Spicer's childhood recording rights as a performer were not adequately addressed in the label's agreement.[6] West's representatives maintained that the sample had been properly cleared through standard industry channels with the rights holders they identified, highlighting a common contractual distinction between master recordings controlled by labels and individual performers' personal rights.[69][70] The case was settled out of court in May 2015, with terms remaining confidential and neither party admitting liability, as confirmed in court filings dismissing the action.[72][71][69] This resolution underscores persistent tensions in music sampling practices, where label clearances may overlook performer-specific approvals, though no further legal actions or public details on the agreement have emerged.[70]Debates on artistic intent and cultural portrayal
The music video for "Bound 2," premiered on November 18, 2013, prompted debates over West's artistic intent, with interpretations ranging from a subversive commentary on celebrity romance to a reinforcement of exploitative gender dynamics. West articulated his vision as capturing dreams and joy through unconventional green-screen techniques, deliberately rejecting hip-hop video norms to pioneer new expressions, akin to Walt Disney's innovations in animation.[42] Critics from feminist outlets, such as FEM Newsmagazine, faulted the video for objectifying Kim Kardashian through her topless depiction and passive role, interpreting her actions—like repeated hair-touching—as emblematic of subservience, while lyrics such as "One good girl is worth a thousand bitches" were seen as degrading women and prioritizing male ego over mutual agency.[73] These viewpoints, often rooted in ideological frameworks prevalent in academic and activist media, emphasized normalized exploitation in relationship portrayals.[73] Defenders, including art critic Jerry Saltz, countered that the video embodies the "New Uncanny"—a fractured authenticity in fame—through appropriation of kitsch American imagery and raw intimacy, aligning it with high art traditions like Jeff Koons' works rather than mere sensationalism.[62] Saltz highlighted West's collaborations with artists like Vanessa Beecroft as evidence of deliberate cultural critique, revealing psychological tensions in modern relationships under public scrutiny.[62] These debates underscored broader cultural divides: supporters argued the explicit content authentically reflected fame's causal pressures on commitment, portraying West and Kardashian's bond as resilient amid excess, while detractors viewed it as ego-driven boundary-pushing that eroded traditional relational norms without sufficient self-awareness. Empirical responses, including the video's parody in Seth Rogen and James Franco's "Bound 3," amplified discussions on intentional "badness" as artistic strategy, though ideological biases in critique sources often amplified claims of harm over verifiable consent and mutual participation.[74][42]Legacy and impact
Cultural influence
"Bound 2" contributed to a resurgence in soul sampling within hip-hop, particularly as a counterpoint to the album Yeezus's predominant industrial and minimalist production. By layering samples from the Ponderosa Twins Plus One's 1971 track "Bound" with additional soul elements from artists like Brenda Lee and Lord Huron, the song highlighted Kanye's ability to integrate vintage R&B aesthetics into contemporary rap, inspiring producers to revisit obscure soul records for emotional depth amid experimental frameworks.[75][76][77] The music video's deliberate lo-fi green-screen effects and pastiche of American iconography—juxtaposing celebrity intimacy with stock footage of landscapes and wildlife—have been cited in analyses as a postmodern critique of media spectacle and authenticity in pop culture. Kanye West described the visuals as intentionally "bad" to challenge conventional expectations, a stance corroborated by collaborators like [Seth Rogen](/page/Seth Rogen), fostering discourse on irony and subversion in visual media that persisted in subsequent artist commentaries.[40][43][38] Parodies, such as the 2013 James Franco and Seth Rogen recreation, extended the song's reach into mainstream satire, embedding it in online meme culture and amplifying debates on celebrity relationships and artistic vulnerability. These reinterpretations humanized West's public image by foregrounding lyrical themes of romantic commitment, which later retrospectives in the 2020s linked to his real-life partnership dynamics amid evolving personal narratives.[78][22][79]Remixes and reinterpretations
Several promotional remixes of "Bound 2" were produced following its 2013 release, including the Solidisco Remix, distributed under Roc-A-Fella/Island Def Jam affiliations for DJ use.[80] Rapper Rick Ross recorded a freestyle adaptation over the original instrumental, releasing a video version on January 17, 2014.[81] The track inspired numerous covers across genres, such as acoustic renditions by independent artists like Justin MacDonald in 2015, emphasizing stripped-down vocals and guitar.[82] A medieval bardcore reinterpretation, reimagining the song with lute and period instrumentation, emerged in 2020 via YouTube, garnering attention for its anachronistic stylistic contrast.[83] Parodies served as prominent reinterpretations, often satirizing the song's music video. In November 2013, actors James Franco and Seth Rogen produced "Bound 3," a direct spoof lip-syncing the lyrics with altered visuals, which Kanye West later praised and reportedly considered featuring at his wedding.[84] Saturday Night Live aired a holiday-themed parody on December 21, 2013, featuring cast members Jay Pharoah and Nasim Pedrad as West and Kardashian, respectively, atop a reindeer while mimicking the original choreography.[85] These adaptations highlighted the song's cultural visibility through humorous exaggeration rather than musical alteration.Credits and personnel
Personnel- Kanye West – vocals, producer
- Charlie Wilson – featured vocals
- Che Pope – co-producer
- Mike Dean – additional production, mixing
- No I.D. – additional production
- Noah Goldstein – additional production, mixing engineer
- Eric Danchick – additional production
- Anthony Kilhoffer – recording engineer