Kanye West’s Obsession With Mercedes-Benz Cars Lurks in His Song Lyrics
Mercedes-Benz is one of the most famous car brands, so it’s no surprise the German luxury automaker has crept into pop culture. Much of that stems from wealthy celebrities who love to show off their Benzes. That’s what music mogul Kanye West has done, especially through his song lyrics.
Why do celebrities love Mercedes-Benz cars?
Mercedes-Benz vehicles aren’t cheap, and that exclusivity attracts the affluent. Like any other sign of wealth, a Mercedes shows the world that the owner is someone who can probably afford the car, and that’s part of the reason why the G-Wagen SUV has become iconic in celebrity culture.
Another reason is simple. Mercedes vehicles are upscale and high-performance. Those are qualities most people want in a car. Those luxurious features and eye-catching styling attract the rich and famous. On top of that, Mercedes has a sub-brand that represents extreme luxury.
Maybach vehicles like the Mercedes-Maybach S600 are some of the finest examples of automotive excellence. It’s no surprise the Maybach brand has become part of celebrity culture as well. In fact, a record label is called Maybach Music because the name has become ingrained in pop culture.
Kanye West has name-dropped Mercedes-Benz in several songs
That affinity for Mercedes-Benz applies to Kanye West, too, so much so that the rapper has referenced Mercedes-Benz in his songs over the decades.
For instance, in 2005’s “Out of Your Mind,” he raps, “The Benz coupe is so sweet. When I roll down the street. Tears roll down her cheeks. She said, ‘You must love that car more than me.'”
Those lyrics show Ye’s love of Mercedes-Benz, but the song also discusses his relationship issues and why he likes his cars more.
However, most of the other times the German automaker’s name shows up in his songs, Ye expresses his desire to gain wealth and success.
For example, in 2005’s “Late,” he spits, “Will I make it from the student loans to a Benzo? Like old folks pissing, I guess it all Depends, oh.”
That lyric is not only a joke about older people but also thoughts on his future while in college.
After he became successful, he used Mercedes to knock others down a peg.
In 2011’s “Otis,” he raps, “Don’t be reaching, don’t be touching s**t. We in Kanye West’s Benz. ‘Cause I will turn you back to a pedestrian.”
The message? If you’re in Kanye’s inner circle, you’re in his Mercedes. But he won’t hesitate to kick you out.
One of the more recent examples is in “Lord I Need You,” released in 2021, the year he and his wife Kim Kardashian separated. “You had a Benz at 16, I could barely afford an Audi,” West sings.
ET points out that the lyric seemingly references the reality star’s privileged upbringing. Though that’s speculation, we know Ye gave Kardashian a neon-green G-Wagen during their marriage. The gift could be his self-validation and message to all that he made it to the top.
Kanye West has some rare Mercedes-Benz cars in his collection
In addition to giving the custom G-Wagen to Kim, Kanye has collected several Benzes for himself.
One of the most expensive cars in his garage is a Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss. The company made only 75 examples, each costing over $1 million.
Another Mercedes in Ye’s garage is an SLR McLaren. This rare supercar costs an estimated $450,000.
And not only does West name-drop Mercedes in “Otis,” but he also owns the Mercedes-Maybach 57 that appears in the music video for the song. This car costs over $300,000, but he added some mods.
Aside from those Mercedes models, Kanye also owns various supercars, such as a Bugatti Veyron and a Lamborghini Aventador.
