Hip-hop gets the cover of Time. “More GQ than gangsta, Kanye West is challenging the way rap thinks about race and class.”

Yeah, he’s preppier than the other rappers, but if Kanye is really so innovative, why the tired Mayfield sample?
Kanye West – “Touch The Sky (Feat. Lupe Fiasco)” (MP3 Link Expired)
I’ll give him this, though: Late Registration‘s gotta be the first album to feature cameos by Adam Levine, Paul Wall, Jon Brion, and Michel Gondry. Yes, the French director. He plays drums.
Related: Lushlife mashes Mr. West with Pet Sounds and lets you download the whole album in MP3 format.
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first post!
At a pre-Grammy luncheon this year Kanye said he wanted to be paid every time his photo ran in a magazine. So now I am going to have to assume that TIME paid him a million bucks for that cover. Kanye may be “a gentleman,” just not a very smart one.
That quote is actually referenced in the article. Kanye’s a great producer, but it’s amusing how using sped-up soul samples (about, what, every single time?) can make you the savior of rap. Yeah, how novel.
I enjoy some of his tracks, but I’m completely sick of this guy. His attitude probably has something to do with it, he seems to be infatuated with telling people how awesome his life is now that he’s rich and famous. Most rapper talk about how much money they’ve got, and all that jazz, but he seems to take it to the next level. I saw about 30 seconds of an interview with him on MTV the other day and he made the statement, “Sometimes I wonder if I’m already in the afterlife, it’s so good for me.”
Plus, he can’t rap, and his lyrics are surprisingly weak for a guy who is supposedly “enlightened”.
you think the mayfield sample is tired? how about jamie foxx mimicking ray charles again on the hook of kayne’s exhausted new song “goldigger”. listen here, if you can bear it: http://www.badmintonstamps.com/zarchive0508.html#38
Gotta love any mainstream (and Christian) rapper who preaches against homophobia. I agree on the “Move on Up” sample, though–a little lazy, indeed.
just cause he’s metrosexual doesnt mean he’s newsworthy, its his gimic. like a pro wrestler. Hip hop is a parody of itself. he raps about jesus walks but you cant sing any of his other songs in church… so dont be talking about jesus homeboy. you breed drugs, sex, lies, videotape on all the rest of your tracks so we dont buy you being “saved” you breed more stereotypes then you bend. he was hot when he’s hungry, now that he’s rich, he’s wack…
Snarky ass crackers. Don’t you have some washed up celebrity to rip on or snide comments to make about an album made my middle class crackers that you all buy but hate on? You know why there are hardly any brothers at your indie rock shows? Cause brothers aren’t such boring ass pussies. Also, brothers like booty not that resembling a 12 year old nerd shit dressed in thrift store bullshit you’re all pimping. Man I’m surprised Urkel isn’t a goddamn indie rock pinup. Bitches. I got sent here cause someone said hey go get the new Kanye track. You all disgust me, goddamn middle class yuppie boring ass crackers. Let’s hate on the successful socially conscious but honest black artist but oooh, cool, he used a French white dude as a drummer! I don’t care if you talked to moveon.org on the phone or read some Ralph Ellison in college, y’all is still ignorant white folk.
“yo Dre stick to producing”…..never more has this phrase been more prevalent then with Kanye ?..WEAK rhymes, but great producer ? so why all the praise. I guess it?s for the people who don?t care about the lyrics, but ?just like a good beat? Overrated!
ignorant white folk…..thats so 90′s, hey so was urkel…..skills is skills – Kanye doesn’t got ‘em – do yourself a favor Kassim and go buy a blackalicious album – your head might explode
ignorant white folk…..thats so 90′s, hey so was urkel…..skills is skills – Kanye doesn’t got ‘em – do yourself a favor Kassim and go buy a blackalicious album – your head might explode
what a ridiculous thread.
john – sped-up soul samples are noticeably absent from the new album
justin – of all the self-promoting things kanye has said (say, for example, claiming he was robbed at the AMAs), the thing that’s gonna get your goat is ‘my life is so good right now, it feels like heaven’ ?
“you can’t sing any of his other songs in church” – that one should win some kind of prize. but you’re absolutely right. someone take kanye’s christianity away. he swears and shit!
and as far as lyrics/flow go… i’ll take him over most top 40 hip-hop any day of the week.
The best part about Kassim’s post above is the sentence that only reads: “Bitches.” I can really taste the pregnant pause before *AND* after that sentence. Nice. (See, I can do it too). And by the way, Kassim, I like booty (have you been to Suicide Girls? There are so many fat indie girls there…brothers like fats girls too, right?). Also: don’t forget that we used to listen to Arrested Development in addition to the move-on.org and Ellison in college. So, we aren’t totally ignorant.
“Free South Africa, you dumb son-of-a-bitch.”
-Danny Glover / Sgt. Murtaugh in Lethal Weapon
Shows what you know, Kassim, I’m an UPPER-middle class cracker.
Negatives aside (like the fact that ‘Jesus Walks’ is way too much like Nas) I can’t help but like Kanye.
Yeah he talks big, but I feel like it’s in a nicer, be-my-friend kind of way.
But I’m just a cracka’, what does I kno’?
go back to picking cotton kassim, is that ignorant enough for you?
Kanye’s new record isn’t too bad. What I have a problem with is the fact that he raps some insightful ideas, then the songs end up talking about himself and his image. It’s pretty bizarre. But it’s a pretty good record.
Oh but I didn’t mean to interrupt the silly anonymous personal attacks… those always help a conversation.
Kanye may be arrogant, but he’s talented. Can’t deny that. Great producer and good lyricist. Yeah, maybe he’s not Blackalicious or Dead Prez, but here’s a socially conscious rapper who’s actually on Top 40 radio; is that so bad? I’m willing to bet that if he hadn’t blown up, most people commenting on this site would hail him as “the next great MC.” The album is actually pretty good, give it a listen and a chance.
And howard sterns nose, you’re a fucking asshole prick! Take your elitist racist attitude and shove it.
Everyone just got TOLD by Kassim.
gum posts it, everyone loves or hates it, personal attacks with rebuttals, its still just a record. thanks for the news, gum.
you guys know he didn’t write jesus walks, right? it’s a cover version. he bought the song with the beat, and it includes most of the original’s lyrics. “i don’t make music, i make medicine”. you make faker bullshit, kayne.
I can’t deny it…I love me some Kanye…mmmm.
yea I cant help but like kayne to a degree too… which shows you how much one can be brainwashed by the interconnected industry of radio, labels, mtv and the like. and kayne is pretty good and one of the better things hip hop has to offer. WHICH IS WHY I DONT GET WHY PEOPLE DONT HEAR THE EMERGENCY CALL THAT HIP HOP’S ELITIE LIKE KAYNE WEST ARE SIRENS FOR: hip hop is wack. untalented, undereducated mouthpieces for america and the world. theives, drug users, disrespectful morons are “hot”… nah. what hip hop right now is really doing is parodizing those who create it and those who consume it’s real and beleive in it. hip hop is dead.
yea thats true, jesus walks was bought from “rhymefest” from indianapolis indiana… he won a grammy for it. I went to see him at mid west music confrence and he didnt show up to play… I left after waiting 2 hours and he had a wack DJ poser. they only way kayne is challenging the way the US tries to look at culture and class and race and whatnot is by being metrosexual. if TIME equates this with challenging class or race I must be loss. dude makes lots of money, buys expensive shit, is still lyrically irresponsbile, kinda weak, getting lazy and got lucky in life, with skills that dont mean jack… and now he’s the role model for millions. wack.
Michel Gondry? Kanye should have gotten Jean-Luc Godard and Chris Marker to play drums, that’s how real gangstas roll.
Geez you guys are grumpy. I like the new album, it’s a solid, well written, excellently produced pop album – and a very musical one at that. Having Jon Brion join the mix really seems to have paid off, definetely some unusual insturmentation – it’s pretty out there in terms of the actual music when placed along all the other top 40 hip hop stuff. Not that it means anything but Rolling Stone gave it 5 stars and I saw it got 4 out of 4 stars in the LA Times today.
I’m kinda in the middle on ol’ Kanye, where on the one hand, College Dropout was a classic LP, and I admire what he is doing. But while he is hailed as having such an innovative, positive approach to hip hop, the guy comes off as being so Goddamn arrogant, he may as well be rapping about luxury goods and strippers. This Time article compares him to Run DMC back in the day, how they were middle class African Americans doing songs addressing the importance of education, not pretending to be from the streets, and it says that Kanye is in the same boat. I understand how he can do songs like “Gold Digger” and “the new workout plan” with a hint of irony, taking on a money loving, misogynisic character for the sake of illustrating a point, but then you read things about his outburts at award shows, and that million dollars for his picture in a magazine comment, and you start to wonder how much of this “Polo clad educated rapper from the suburbs” image is bullshit. I mean, I love Jay Z for his cockiness, but he never pretends or hints that he is any other way. With Kanye, I think it may be a case of saying one thing and doing another.
“I felt like the Bad Boy street team
I couldn’t work the LOX”
THAT SHIT IS FUNNY!
I’m not a buisness man, I’m a buisness, man
Let me handle my buisness, damn!
yea, jay z is the real shit. Kayne is a flamboyent, cocky punk. Its funny about how much rappers talk about sex, how many… as opposed to how many do… how many do you think DONT have STDs?
We got it, Kanye, you don’t like rap…
if you wanna hear some real rap, go listen to House Of Pain – Jump Around. Y’all betta recognize! Bitches. (I can do it too.)
“I’m the cream of the crop, I rise to the top
I never eat a pig cause a pig is a cop
Or better yet a terminator
Like Arnold Schwarzenegger”
check out these lyrics. they are fat. it’s like the great american novel!
Wow…lets all use ebonic’s in our comments
kanye west – Late Registration-2005-RETAIL Z
http://files.filefront.com/k05_exe/;4052834;;/fileinfo.html
password= kanye
No… the thing is I love hip hop. I really do. but its stale and sad because of what it has become. I’ve worked in it, on the inside and ran from that ish as soon as I could. you had real innovation for a while, now its stagnent. something big has to happen. and besides, the sort of influence the people have who are artists, labels, radio, film, videogames etc. should cause people to wrech and throw up. reckless, undereducated, heathens are our role models! yuck.
he’s arrogant, he’s fake. whatever. who cares? he is an entertainer and entertainers peddle bullshit. it’s their job. now if you like his rapping, cool. if not, don’t listen.
I wonder if kayne will slowly turn as bitchass as the neptunes. remember them? they used to make hot tracks. then their balloon got too inflated and bust, they turned into garbage. ¡Viva! Industry Hype! ¡Viva Record Industry and its fraternal club of GARBAGE!
Cindy Sheehan’s PR agent is so gonna get fired.
the track with the mayfield sample was produced by just blaze not kanye.
I don’t like kanye all that much and I don’t like the attitude of this board in general. I visit here often enough for long enough to know for a fact that the majority of you know nothing about hip hop. Hey, man. I don’t know all that much either. But I don’t understand the double standard. How can people who write 2,000 word essays on why their knowledge and experience and erudition give them more right to their opinion about a particular band or movement (I’ve listened to DCFC since the womb, anyone?) then turn around and offer opinions on areas where they’re clearly ignorant?
Kanye, I don’t believe you know what you’re talking about. Even I know that no one that is currently listening to hip hop uses the word “wack” like that. It’s not 1996, honey.
Janine – “I know that no one that is currently listening to hip hop uses the word “wack” like that. It’s not 1996, honey.” …. EXACTLY.
I do like Kanye and the album’s pretty decent, but still.. same shit, different day. Kanye admits as much in the article, where he says that he didn’t want to “innovate too much.” Basically, if ain’t broken, don’t fix it.
As to fewer sped up soul samples, well…
01.”Wake Up Mr. West” contains excerpts from “Someone That I Used To Love” as performed by Natalie Cole. (Produced by Kanye West)
02. “Heard ‘Em Say” contains excerpts from “Someone That I Used To Love” as performed by Natalie Cole. (Produced by Kanye West)
03. “Touch The Sky” contains samples from the Curtis Mayfield recording “Move On Up” (Produced by Just Blaze)
04. “Gold Digger” contains samples from the Ray Charles recording of “I Got a Woman” (Produced by Kanye West)
05. “Skit #1″
06. “Drive Slow” contains a sample from a Hank Crawford recording. (Produced by Kanye West)
07. “My Way Home” contains a sample from “Home Is Where The Hatred Is” performed by Gil Scott-Heron. (Produced by Kanye West)
08. “Crack Music” contains a sample of “Since You Came In My Life” as performed by New York Community Choir. (Produced by Kanye West)
09. “Roses” contains a sample of “Rosie” as performed by Bill Withers. (Produced by Kanye West)
10. “Bring Me Down” (Produced by Kanye West)
11. “Addiction” contains elements of “My Funny Valentine” performed by Etta James. (Produced by Kanye West)
12. “Skit #2″
13. “Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)” contains a sample from “Diamonds Are Forever” performed by Shirley Bassey. (Produced by Kanye West)
14. “We Major” contains a sample of the recording “Action” as performed by Orange Crush. (Produced by Kanye West)
15. “Skit #3″
16. “Hey Mama” contains samples from the Donal Leace recording “Today Won’t Come Again” (Produced by Kanye West)
17. “Celebration” contains a sample of “Heavenly Dream” performed by the KayGee’s. (Produced by Kanye West)
18. “Skit #4″
19. “Gone” contains samples from the Otis Redding “It’s Too Late” (Produced by Kanye West)
20. “Diamonds From Sierra Leone” contains a sample of “Diamonds Are Forever” performed by Shirley Bassey. (Produced by Kanye West) (Bonus Track)
21. “Late” (Hidden Track) (Produced by Kanye West)
The fact that Kanye is King simply illustrates just how mediocre the field of rap/hip-hop has become. OK, so he’s better than Fergie “I-Piss-My-Pants-On-Stage” and her dreadfully defangled BlackEyedPees compadres. Bue Kanye is just about 17 light years away from freakin’ Ghetto Boys, Sugarhill Gang, early Snoop/Dre shiznit and early stuff from my homeboyws NWA…Homeboy needs to get more than a Euro drummer to reach the level of smooth cool & passion those brothers mentioned above were flying at.
And Kassim cracks me up, he sounds like he’s about two thoughts away from mandating an affirmative action program in the musicmaking biz…one in which only half-assedly decent, defangled acts could prevail. Phew…
Where is Youngblood Priest when you need him?
Janine – “I know that no one that is currently listening to hip hop uses the word “wack” like that. It’s not 1996, honey.” …. EXACTLY.
2 POINTS FOR REVERSAL!
Did “Eurocracker” really just put the SugarHill Gang in the same category as the Geto Boyz and NWA? The SugarHill Gang were about as “real” as Debbie Harry on “Rapture.” Gimme a break.
does anyone know where i can download the new broken social scene cd?
get me your E-mail DanO….. and what about the snizzle on your dizzle?
Janine, I totally know more about hip-hop than you.
Kanye makes catchy, danceable music that has (relatively) smart lyrics. I, for one, approve. Stop over-analyzing music people.
By the way, Kassim speaks the truth.
I love it when people post stupid comments like “I don’t like kanye all that much and I don’t like the attitude of this board in general” yet *voluntarily* continue going to the site… or maybe someone’s propping open their eyelids and forcing them to watch Clockwork Orange style!
Is no one going to comment on Lushlife’s weak mashup of Kanye songs with one of the greatest albums of all time, ‘Pet Sounds’?
Lushlife basically takes a string sample from a Beach Boys song, drops kanye’s vocals on it, and makes his own beats. You can’t even tell it’s Beach Boys most of the time.
The songs rise and fall on Kanye’s lyrics, the beats are pedestrian, and then no Beach Boys. The most heinous offender is “Breathe in Breathe Out” that has no Beach Boys except for one vocal line thrown in.
The “wouldn’t it be nice” mash with “Kanye’s Workout Plan” is one exception. Brilliant use of the music of the Beach Boys, fitting the singing in the song perfectly. Another exception is Diamonds mashed with “That’s Not Me” – Simply for it’s use of the “I once had a dream so I packed up and split for the city”.
This is airtight mashing, but it shows very little taste, and seems like more of a gimmick to gain attention, rather than a real work of art. It doesn’t hold a candle to “The Grey Album.”
Welly Well Well…if so…boys and gals, break out your suspenders and codpieces. It’s time for the surprise visit, and maybe a little in and out.
I gotta laugh at the dumbasses on here repeatedly referencing “kayne” west (even posting as “kayne”). Yeah you definitely know your hip hop…
chu chu – well at least Im not a train. did fergie piss her pants on stage?
“Kassim speaks the truth”
Actually, Kassim doled out every hateful ‘indie rocker’ stereotype he could think of and called us all racist for liking that certain genre of music. Classy!
That aside, Kanye West is totally overrated, and I used to not mind him as well, but all his attention getting bullshit has got to stop. OOh! he’s talking about Jesus! SCANDALOUS! OH god, now he’s telling all his ‘fellow rappas’ to dig the gays!! He’s a true AMERICAN HERO!!
I’m sorry, but people have been campaigning against the unjust hate of social minorities for years. Kanye is nothing new, and his rap itself is uninspired. Funny though, whenever anyone says this, someone in turn comments ‘His production is amazing’. I take solace in the idea that one day his ego will grow to be so enormous, that perhaps his head will explode. And for the record, I don’t give a shit that his jaw was wired shut and he had the courage to come back!! or whatever. People do this all the time. He’s not special. He’s very average, he’s very run of the mill.
Scott, really now, screw Kanye “I’m the Best Rapper to Ever Rap Raps” West, post some new Broken Social Scene mp3′s.
15-min… I’ve been coming here forever and I will continue to. I’m just pointing out hypocrisy when I see it. (BTW, I vistied your blog to find out who you think you are. No one’s definitely being forced to go there, eh? Maybe one of your posts will get 10 comments one day… maybe)
I also visit some hip hop boards, as I grew up on old school hip hop but dropped it in the 8th grade. (I’ve completely dated myself as ancient. Raise your hands if you remember the premier of the Push It video on BET.) I’ve been trying to find out what quality music I’ve missed. Across the board, the good web sites treat other genres with respect.
Anyways, I’m referring in general to the sort of indie universalism and club-housery I see, where unless you own like every EP of every side project put out by all the members of frickin Dinosaur Jr., you have no right to talk. But at the same time, you’re any kind of judge of hip hop based on your love of M.I.A, Fannypack, and one Outkast album?
You still didn’t address my question: Can you justify this double standard to me, rather than adopting a “Love it or Leave It” attitude more appropriate to Ken Chesney than a so-called hipster with an appropriately ignored blog.
But does KANYE have GAME?
The Game – Untold Story, Vol. 2 [2005]
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=223F0QHD
The new ‘Ye album is quite possibly the best hip hop album of the year (thus far, still looking forward to the Little Brother and Blackalicious releases). The last time there was such a leap in quality between a first and second release was with Outkast’s Southernplaya… and ATLiens. Tired Mayfield sample? I think not. Take a close listen to Late Registration and you’ll find something that is better than just about any other album this year, especially out of the some of the shit that you guys dickride on.
The new ‘Ye album is quite possibly the best hip hop album of the year (thus far, still looking forward to the Little Brother and Blackalicious releases). The last time there was such a leap in quality between a first and second release was with Outkast’s Southernplaya… and ATLiens. Tired Mayfield sample? I think not. Take a close listen to Late Registration and you’ll find something that is better than just about any other album this year.
I don’t know, Kevin, “dickride”? That sounds vaguely homophobic. Would ‘Ye approve?
the beach boys/kanye mash is TERRIBLE.
wow. A black guy that actually wears clothes that fit for once. I hate those xxxxxl white tshirts. I like how he rails against the african diamond mines but wears alot of bling himself.
Holy. Chill out, Janine. Your first post was based entirely on a stereotype. You seem to harbor some resentment towards ‘indie kids’…let it go, man. Let it go!
How is dickride homophobic?
“I also visit some hip hop boards, as I grew up on old school hip hop but dropped it in the 8th grade. (I’ve completely dated myself as ancient. Raise your hands if you remember the premier of the Push It video on BET.) I’ve been trying to find out what quality music I’ve missed. Across the board, the good web sites treat other genres with respect.
Anyways, I’m referring in general to the sort of indie universalism and club-housery I see, where unless you own like every EP of every side project put out by all the members of frickin Dinosaur Jr., you have no right to talk. But at the same time, you’re any kind of judge of hip hop based on your love of M.I.A, Fannypack, and one Outkast album?”
A-fucking-men, Janine!
ummm actually you homosexuals and metros, this new album kanyeezy upped his lyrical game and his production style is more complicated this time around. Gone are the constant sped up samples and simple song structure. This album is worth all the rave reviews. Kanye is improving at what he does and in this day and age, thats special because most artists get worse with each album they drop. So start showing some love and respect to this guy who is putting out good hiphop music that can everyone can listen to. Appreciate it!
kanye west’s music is missing something: authenticity
everything he does seems forced and unnatural
that’s why M.I.A. said nothankyou to a guest appearance, because the real deal can smell the fetid stench of inauthentic shit from miles away
Kanye is inauthentic? Forced and unnatural?? He couldn’t be more full of himself (in every possible interpretation of the phrase). Would an inauthentic artist rerecord his first single before it starts to really blow up after learning that his subject matter is less than glamorous? And then make those conflicting feelings the subject of the new song? M.I.A. is good, and we’ll see where her career goes; she still has a lot to prove. Kanye is well established and proven. Late Registration is a solid step forward.
yes that’s exactly what an inauthentic artist would do: suddenly try to correct for the fact that he is missing a certain chip…what’s that chip…oh yeah…the authenticity chip
as for “a solid step forward”
are you even aware of the fact that modernism is over???
the kanye / beach boys mash up IS THE WORST. DON’T BOTHER WITH IT
“OOh! he’s talking about Jesus! SCANDALOUS! OH god, now he’s telling all his ‘fellow rappas’ to dig the gays!! He’s a true AMERICAN HERO!!
I’m sorry, but people have been campaigning against the unjust hate of social minorities for years. Kanye is nothing new, and his rap itself is uninspired.”
Holy shit. It’s hard to fathom, but this might be the single stupidest statement on the entire Internet. Social activism is played out, huh? Try to grasp this … innovation is not the last word in musical excellence. Music can be about heritage and communication, not just new trix. We have your vaunted newness to thank for electroclash, remember. As long as people like you are saying things like “fellow rappas” and “the gays,” it’s clear that “campaigning against the unjust hate of social minorities” has plenty of life left in it.
Ultimately KW makes disposable music. It has all the soul of a Black Eyed Peas commercial, er that is, music video. The “college dropout” schtick is already old and tired. And, did anyone see him on Punk’d? …not very Christian KW. His pink cardigan wrapped around his neck almost came undone. Jeepers!
…and Pitchfork’s 9.5 is absolutely ridoculous. Apparently, you can close the books b/c it isn’t likely that there will ever be such a near flawless record made ever again. Hang up yuur mics dun!
I’d rather listen to Late Registration than stab my ears out listening to a complete ridiculous band named “clap your hands say yeyah!!!”
Booty Basster, have you actually listened to the College Dropout? I think somebody’s making uninformed opinions!!!
Just because he sang “Jesus Walks” doesn’t mean he’s Billy Graham for fuck’s sake. He’s arrogant, but he’s human, and that’s what makes his album so great. I know it’ll be hard to top your favorite Kid ‘N Play records, but you really should give it a chance.
Call me “ridoculous,” but I can’t wait to pick up Late Registration tomorrow.
u guys all hate but u take take time to recognize him and write a bunch of shit. he isn’t as big as he is because he sucks
so relax with the i hate kanye west’s
i really dont understand what everyone’s crying about. half the reason kanye is so good is because he is hilarious, the irony of his lyrics isnt him being ‘wack’ its him being funny. i dont think someone like kanye would get so support by the likes of mos def, talib kweli and common if he wasnt lyrically talented. personally he is by far one of the most talented rappers on the stage at the moment. so what he talks about how much money hes got? half the time its a joke anyway, and the clueless of you suggesting that the irony of hip-hop will be its downfall are the most ignorant. the irony of hip-hop is what ads to its deliciousness, you see people on TV with millions, bitching about how hard they had it. hip hop is the way of the future, the middle ground between angry dance/trance music and indie rock, its music you can dance to but can also sit at home and lounge around to and kanye epitomises that through both his lyrics and beats.
Yeah!!! Let’s here it for the bitter, miserable, elitist, emotionally numb assholes on this board. You father fuckers wouldn’t know a good time if it sat on your face. I admit that Kanye isn’t the greatest ever, but he pisses you people off which is just great to me. Lighten up and try making something yourselves, instead of shitting on other people’s work. “Mr. West’s music is often shallow and arrogant.” Whoopty fucking doo! So is the AC/DC catalog. Stop analyzing the world and let yourselves be part of it OR keep stewing in your criticisms and trying to convince yourself you’re cool. I’m too arrogant to honestly give a shit:)
Kanye West has got talent, and there’s no deneying that. What he has learnt to do, is come from another point of view from the hustling type such as Jay-Z. Jay-Z and Damon Dash said, when they met Kanye, they knew straight away, he hadn’t hustled once in his life. He is though talented, and there’s not deneying that. His first LP the college dropout was great. Yes, the skits are a bit annoying, but Eminem has them too. No doubt, if Kanye Came into the ROC from the start, it would be a hundred times stronger then when it was at its hay-day. LONG LIFE ROCAFELLA
i’m confused, you say long ‘life’ rocafella, but your name is rewind. thats a nas song. which brings me to my next point, isn’t it a bit wrong for kanye to do a track with nas on his new album(even though it is possibly the worst track) when it was jay-z who signed him?
please explain
Even though Jay-Z signed Kanye, that shouldn’t mean that he shouldn’t do work with other artists. Jay said at the metting where Kanye played his new album, that during production of Late Registration that one of his favorite songs was that one with Nas. Nas is a great artist, no doubt about it, and rewind is a great song. Do you not agree that one of the problems with hip-hop these days is that fact so many great artists are not working together because of the beef that other artists on the same record label have with them.
kanye is better than a lot that is out there, but he ain’t no genius and ther are many flaws in both albums both lyrically and in terms o beats, i mean come on ‘forever ever’ repeated 500 times is more than paying homage to outkast, this is what we like to call ‘skanking the fuck out of some one elses lyrics’. and M.I.A has more talent in one of the opening skits in her album then kanye has in his entire album, she is the fucking queen, and he knew that thats why he want her to guest on his album, and to be frank its obious that collaboration would do nothing fo her in terms of music evoltion or progression, perhaps in terms of publicuty it would have been beneficial.
I think Kayne West is an absolute idiot. I cannot believe that he used the Red Cross Concert/Fundraiser as a personal forum to air is personal views. I will never support anything that he ever has to say or sing again. How dare he accuse our president of not caring about the people of New Orleans. Even if you do not support the president’s political views it is still tasteless to ignore what he came there to do. He only seemed to be trying to create more panic and outrage than actually help victims of this horrible disaster. Shame on you Kayne! It is sad that you think that people will look up to you for you airing your dirty laundry.In the wake of this disaster, I am shocked and appalled by his behavior.
Amen to that brotha!
Kayne West – *shrugs shoulders* What can I say? He proved last night with his comments that he is one of the most ignorant “celebraties” out there. “Sending troops to kill people.” What about the people popping off rounds that forces relief workers to worry about their own safety instead of getting those stranded folk out of there? “I went shooping, and I’m checking with my Manager to see how much I can afford to give.” what were you shopping for, another suit?If you’re so passionate about helping the folks, you’d pull out your checkbook and write a check and give whtat your heart feels instead of “checking with my Manager”. Better yet, auction some of your bling, and donate that to the Red Cross, or even go hire some folks to go help these people out. Like some of the news networks who keeps stirring up more trouble than help, he is just plain ignorant. Go back to whatever hole you came out of,and stay there. I pity you fool!
Kayne West is obviously a racist, who doesn’t watch the same hurricane coverage that the rest of the country sees. Of course it is obviously the media’s fault that every looter is black – they should be more diligent about searching around to find some white looters!
Kayne West is an arrogant opportunist. Using the hurricane relief fundraiser to drawl attention and publicity to himself proves it. What a loser!
Remarks made by Mr. West during the NBC Katrina fundraiser showcased that Mr. West is a terribly immature, uninformed, selfish man. If Mr. West was so concerned about the people suffering, why was he out shopping instead of sending his shopping money to a relief fund. To believe and then announce during a fund raiser that President Bush does not care for black people was just asinine. To suggest that relief efforts were delayed in order to kill black people is ludicrous. Mr. West owes apologies to all American citizens, President Bush, NBC, and all the other entertainers (especially Mike Myers that had to stand next to Mr. West during his rant) involved in the fund raiser in which he so inappropriately spouted out the hate in his heart.
Kayne West has lost me as a fan. I can’t believe he was ranting and raving about how long it took for President Bush to send relieve funds, Well Kayne It’s a little more complicated than pulling out a $100 bill out of your pocket to donate, We are talking about 11 billion tax payers dollars, and Kayne why has it took you so long to donate money? Oh your manager hasn’t approved it (one person). President Bush had to get congress to approve the funds(hundreds of people). The little fame Kayne West has recently recieved has went straight to his head and I hope he loses all of his fans, I dont every want to see him on Tv again, He is a waste of airtime and money!
I agreed about the Kayne West comments. I think everyone should stopping buying his music and let see what Kayne has to say. Media is to blame for alot of what goes on in society today. These celebrities think they can say whatever they want because they have the power to do it.
Instead of blaming Bush, Kanye should dig out of his pocket or better yet volunteer for the Red Cross and go in to rescue those poor people himself. It was a shame becuase it was a good concert until he spoke. We should help the victims of this tragic event because they need our help and leave the color issue out.
Kayne West is a MORON
I hope he is hit by a druck driver and never recovers
Way to go Kayne, never heard of him before, but agree with every word he said. Anyone that supports this murderer George W. Bush has blood on their hands.
I was searching on the web and stumbled across this site. For the better part of an hour I laughed myself silly at the comments on this site. I wasn’t going to comment because I really could care less about Kanye West I listen to music for enjoyment not to be a critic and if the man is annoying he’s not sleeping with me so who cares.
But when the subject came up about the New Orleans victims I became heated. Listen if you don’t like the remark Kanye made about Bush then you’re eyes are closed to reality. Have you ever gone without food or seen your kids suffer or a relative. I have. I live a few miles outside of our nations capital and you know what it’s pitiful. Blacks do not erect liquor stores on every corner or deny funding to the school systems. I’m not saying that as a race we don’t share in the responsibility but have you ever heard of assisted suicide. Those people in New Orleans were poor and forgotten bottom line. They could have evacuated them they didn’t for days. My husband just left the service it takes 24 hours to mobilize I know they did it during September 11. This country still is not equal so no matter how ignorant Kanye may have sounded he spoke the truth. Money is the only color in this country that gets any respect if you don’t have it well you just don’t have it. Right?
i think its pretty obvious to anyone that watched what he said on NBC that kanye west isnt as arrogant as people like to say. it took alot of courage to come out and say that and even if you think he is wrong you have to admit that is true. personally i don’t live in america but all i see on TV is exactly what kanye said. i think a shroud of political correctness has clouded tha judgement of people and in the ensuing chaos of new orleans the true nature of the situation is obvious. its clear to anyone with their eyes open that racism and violence is existent and that something must be done about it and i think the fact that no one seems to care is perhaps the most astonishing. i believe kanye west is right, and if you look beyond the carefully worded statements of politicians it is obvious to see the predjudice, racism and corruption that exists. “george bush doesnt care about black people” or anyone else who doesnt have money or power
My family lives in Mississippi and they are fighting mad at everyones comments including Kanye’s about Bush being racist, which is a bunch of bull crap. The south is devastated and they could not move to help Louisianna for they were trying to survive themselves. Everyone is saying they didn’t, they didn’t. Who is they? They are you and me. We didn’t do anything but sit in front of our TV’s and say look nobody is helping those people, where are they? THEY IS US!!! My family is trying to survive, yes in better conditions than New Orleans but they still don’t have means for food and electricity and they live in the middle of the state. The people that could of helped Louisianna first were destitute themselves. If YOU didn’t go down to help those people then you need to shut up, for you are THEY!!!! Especially you, Kanye
Praise God, Bush and the military and the Red Cross and the Salvation Army and all the wonderful people that knew they were THEY!!!!
I didn’t go, did YOU! Please send money to the organizations if you can’t go. God Bless.
WOW….I was following this chatboard yesterday when Stereogum originally posted it. There were hundreds of good threads debating both sides of Kanye’s comments….which had to do with…uhmm…oh yeah, NEW ORLEANS! Now I wake up and see that more than half the posts on this board are regarding Kanye’s music, and how good/bad he is as a rapper.
Give me a break people, this is EXACTLY what Kanye wanted. Kanye only made those comments to have his name smeared all over the media. He was on the front page of Yahoo all day yesterday, and his asinine, uneducated comments were shown on every news channel on TV. Any press is good press, right? Its really ironic that this all blew up right before his album dropped…how coincidental. Kanye west doesn’t care about the black people of New Orleans either….he’s a publicity whore, and only cares about himself and his record sales.
Do me a favor people…quit playing into what this idiot wants, and get back to the real topic at hand: complete devistation in Loisiana/Miss. Instead of wasting your $13.00 on Kanye’s new album, send it to the American Red Cross. Make a difference.
You can bet that Kanye West will be sleeping on his 1000 thread count sheets a month from now…while the tens of thousands of people of the South will still have NOTHING.
They is the government. Bush was not devastated he was on vacation when that hurricane hit and I did vlounteer my time so get it straight. I don’t blame the local govenrment but if you believe that racism does not stil exist why are they still voting about my civil rights in Congress every few years. If you don’t believe that read the paper. I volunteered my time and my money and I’m not going to argue but I am black and this notion that Bush is a saint burns me up. Walk in my shoes before you put this man on a pedestal or anyone else making policy.
Mark I agree with you totally and you’re correct but I just wonder if maybe someone else had made the comment on TV would we debate the source or the issue.
Mark, excellent comment. Angie, I for one don’t put Bush or any politican on a pedistal because the majority of them only are interested in power and not the best interests of this country. And the ones who are trying to get airtime and pose for a photo op should be voted out of office. If they are all so concerned about the situation, why dont they drive their pampered rear ends down to the devastation and lend a hand? They can still do business via teleconference. But they too busy trying to get money from the various lobbyests that infest the capital like a plague.
This situation has raised a lot of questions, but these need to be answered AFTER all of the folks who are having to suffer through this nightmare are taken care of. I was at ground zero for three of the four hurricanes that hit Florida last year, and I know what its like to be living with no lights, no air conditioning, and being tolds help is on its way, and hang in there. Our folks down here pooled what we could together and helped each other out. Luckily, we didn’t have to endure the horrid conditions like the folks in New Orleans did, but it was still bad. Even after we made it to a shelter with power after finally abandoning our home, it took me a while to get used to having hot food, lights, and running water after going without it for eight days, and not having to play a shell game with my small group of batteries I bought before the storms to keep my flashlights working. And worrying about the safety of my family everyday until we got help. No sooner than we were relocated than we had to endure two more storms. Luckily, we made it through and now we are still picking up the pieces of our lives.
So some of us do know what’s it like.
I found this site as a result of “googleing”
Kayne West Fan Club—see I am trying to find a an address to where I can send both of this opportunists CD’s in order that he may shove them straight up his ass–for a young man who is with such background and afforded such a great upbringing by his parents (per TIME article)his is one ignorant self absorbed dare say lost soul. Join me will you and send your CD’s and or other Kayne items back just so he can know he was in fact heard.