Everything We Need
"Everything We Need" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his ninth studio album, Jesus Is King (2019). The song features guest appearances from American singers Ty Dolla Sign and Ant Clemons, and additional vocals by the Sunday Service Choir. It was come up with during a freestyle session in the fall of 2018, inspired by a conversation West had with Clemons about Jesus and religion. The song was recorded as a new version of the leaked track "The Storm".
For the A Day to Remember song, see You're Welcome (A Day to Remember album)."Everything We Need"
October 25, 2019
2018–19
1:56
- Kanye West
- Tyrone Griffin, Jr.
- Anthony Clemons
- Michael Mulé
- Isaac DeBoni
- Ronald Spence, Jr.
- Jahmal Gwin
- Federico Vindver
- Mike Dean
- Bradford Lewis
- Cydel Young
- Josh Berg
- Gerard A. Powell
A gospel and R&B ballad with trap elements, "Everything We Need" is reliant on a sparse arrangement. Lyrically, it is themed around being ready for meeting any hardship and need after a religious rebirth. The song received lukewarm reviews from music critics, who mostly complimented the vocals of Ty Dolla Sign and Clemons. Some highlighted the song structure, though critics were generally split towards West's verses.
"Everything We Need" reached number 33 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of Clemons' first two appearances on the chart. It peaked within the top 50 in 10 other countries, including Australia and Iceland. The song was certified gold in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), giving West his record-setting 85th single to attain this certification. On Easter 2019, it was performed by the Sunday Service Choir at the Coachella Festival. The group performs the song in West's film Jesus Is King, which accompanied the album.
Composition and lyrics[edit]
Musically, "Everything We Need" is a gospel and R&B ballad, with elements of contemporary trap.[11][12][13] It is sonically minimalist, relying on a sparse arrangement.[7][14] The song includes guitar, contributed by co-writer Bradford Lewis.[8] West enthusiastically raps short, sparse verses with a sharp delivery, which are succeeded each time by the song's chorus and bridge.[11][12][15] These sections are sang gently by Clemons and Ty Dolla Sign,[12][15][16] with the soulful chorus being multi-tracked.[17][18] The artists accompany West's vocals at points,[16][19][20] while a falsetto is contributed by Clemons.[14]
Lyrically, "Everything We Need" follows the theme of using the blessings that freely flow from a religious rebirth to be prepared to meet every hardship and need.[21] Ty Dolla Sign and Clemons deliver lyrical melodies on the chorus, including singing "ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh oh".[2][12] The two also assert, "We have everything we need."[7] West makes numerous witty remarks, such as "What if Eve made apple juice?/ You gon' do what Adam do?"[16][19][22]
Commercial performance[edit]
Following the album's release, the song entered the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 33. With this entry, it became one of Clemons' first two appearances on the chart, simultaneously with "Water".[28] The former also debuted at number five on both the US Christian Songs and Gospel Songs charts.[29] It was less successful on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, reaching number 17.[30] On July 20, 2022, the song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for pushing 500,000 certified units in the United States, making West become the first artist to have 85 singles earn this certification as a lead act.[31]
"Everything We Need" was most successful in Iceland, peaking at number 19 on the Icelandic Singles Chart.[32] Similarly, the song debuted at number 20 on the Latvian Singles Chart.[33] It peaked at numbers 26 and 27 on the ARIA Singles Chart and NZ Singles Chart, respectively.[34][35] The song further charted within the top 50 in Canada,[36] Estonia,[37] Denmark,[38] Norway,[39] Lithuania,[40] and Sweden.[41]