Lift Yourself

"Lift Yourself"
Single by Kanye West
ReleasedApril 29, 2018
GenreAvant-garde
Length2:27
Label
Songwriters
  • Kanye West
  • James Massie
  • Ben Winters
Producers
Kanye West singles chronology
"Glow"
(2017)
"Lift Yourself"
(2018)
"Ye vs. the People"
(2018)

"Lift Yourself" is a song by the American rapper Kanye West. West wrote the song alongside James Massie and Ben Winters, producing it himself with additional production from Mike Dean. It was announced on April 27, 2018 through West's website, and was distributed by GOOD Music and Def Jam as a standalone single on April 30 for digital download and streaming.

West released "Lift Yourself" to insult the Canadian rapper Drake, to whom he had previously offered the instrumental. It was West's first music release since his album The Life of Pablo (2016). Fans and publications have characterized "Lift Yourself" as an act of trolling; following a long buildup that samples Amnesty's "Liberty" and Dancer's "Boom Boom", West scats and raps nonsense lyrics.

"Lift Yourself" received mixed reviews from music critics, who disliked the lyrics and lack of seriousness, though some found it humorous and praised the song’s production. It instigated a feud between West and Drake, who was angered by West's use of the instrumental and responded with the diss track "Duppy Freestyle" in May 2018. That month, Pusha T confirmed a version with proper lyrics exists; it has not been released.

"Lift Yourself" peaked at number two on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, while also appearing on charts in Ireland, New Zealand, and Sweden. West and the Sunday Service Choir performed it live on multiple occasions in 2019, including for a performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Smokepurpp released a remix in April 2018, which West approved of.