Everything I Am

"Everything I Am" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his third studio album, Graduation (2007). The song features guest scratches from DJ Premier and includes additional vocals from Tony "Penafire" Williams. It was written and produced by West, while Prince Phillip Mitchell, George Clinton, Chuck D, Eric Sadler, and Hank Shocklee received songwriting credits as their material was sampled. West received the song's beat from the recording sessions for Common's seventh studio album, Finding Forever (2007), as mentioned in the intro “Common passed on this beat, I made into a jam.” DJ Premier recorded seven different scratching styles, crafting varied drum break rhythms at West's instruction. West set the song to be relatable for a schoolgirl who gets picked on, attempting to connect with Wendy Williams. A sparse hip hop ballad with soul, pop, and gospel elements, its riff relies on elements of Mitchell's "If We Can't Be Lovers". The song also includes elements of Public Enemy's "Bring the Noise" and both samples are combined with DJ Premier's scratches, appearing on the hook.