identifying with an audience dealing with the same sense of confusion. The system, at the time of the recession, was falling apart. Schools were closing; prisoners were being released due to overcrowding, yet it appeared as if people were more concerned with him and Swift. At the end of “Power,” West questions in plain voice, “Are you strong enough to let power go?” The incredibly deep and wondrous record revealed a darker side of West that showed his transformation and desire to once more speak for the people and highlight dark, comedic experiences. After “Power,” West released new, free records every Friday via his Twitter and website for two months leading up to the release of MBDTF. On Twitter, West explained that his exile showed him …show more content…
After one listed of the full project, it is clear that Kanye West is explaining his personal struggle between dealing with the responsibilities and challenges that come with being an artist and his personal issues, like the passing of his mother. Once more, he leaves himself to reveal his shortcomings and truth to his audience. Unlike the flamboyant and ostentatious West, most people are familiar with, this new, reformed West authentically attempts to ground himself and return to a human level. Aesthetically, he uses many samples and combines the soul, r&b, and hip-hop type beats of his past with the electronic, super produced mainstream sound of “Graduation” and “808’s and Heartbreak.” On “Gorgeous,” which features Kid Cudi and Raekwon, Kanye rhymes, “Is hip hop just a euphemism for a new religion? The soul music of the slaves that the youth is missing… This is more than just my road to redemption. Malcolm West had the whole nation standing at attention. As long as I’m in Polo smiling, they think they got me, but they would try to crack me if they ever see a Black me. I thought I chose a field where they couldn’t sack me.” One could make a very strong argument addressing guilt and redemption in Kanye’s music, but as he states in the previously listed
Everytime words left her mouth, it would bring her back in time to the day of her mother's death. “Silence was how I coped.” ( Glines 70). West is disrespectful towards everyone around him. He did not care about how his actions affected the people around him. West told his friends that he only dated girls to forget about the pain he experienced daily after his father's diagnosis. West’s self confidence was lowered because he felt the need to replace his father. After his father's passing he felt he was failing and a big disappointment to his father.
Throughout Kanye West’s prolific career, he has possessed an intricate sound that has separated him from his hip-hop counterparts. After the immense praise he received on his breakout album, College Dropout, it was no surprise that Kanye West would perform at the same level on his second album, Late Registration. West presented an innovative and soulful sound to the hip-hop industry, earning individuals’ ears and hearts.With lyrics that discussed themes of poverty, drug abuse, and domestic issues and samples that provided a sense of nostalgia, Kanye West was steadily transforming into a political icon far beyond the means of his hip-hop artistry. With such empowering and sincere lyrics, Kanye West served as the voice of historically marginalized people, whose voices were seemingly unheard before. In the song “Drive Slow,” West’s guidance and empowering message remained evident, as he joined forces with GLC and Paul Wall to create a soulful song that offered assistance on how to overcome barriers in life. Through the use of suggestive details, figurative language, and vivid storytelling, West utilizes the automobile culture to assert how individuals can achieve success of every field of human endeavor through constant efforts in the right direction. In addition, he also attempts to convey that one must “drive slow” in a car in order to appreciate the environment that consists outside of the automobile. West creates a double entendre of the word “drive slow,” expressing that
Kanye Omari West, an icon of hip-hop, pop culture, fashion and music in general. Kanye Omari West, a person belittled against and a person subjected to a life of racism and hate. Born on June 8th, 1977, Donda West, West’s mother, always knew he was destined for greatness, but did she know her son would turn out to be the Kanye West, a man lacking the respect he deserves for transforming a big part of the music we listen to on this very day? West came onto the scene in the late nineties but didn’t release The College Dropout until 2004, an album that took everybody by surprise. Kanye West changed the gangster filled rap genre by releasing his positive, soulful debut album, changing the way rappers
Kanye West also known as "Yeezy" is American rapper, fashion disaster, and also music producer. People may say that Mr. West is our youth of today voice. He has made a tremendous mark in the music and fashion industry. As we all know Mr. West is known for having his moments. It is safe to say that he has the best and top “omg” Moments, such as interrupting Taylor Swift at the VMA’s. Kanye in the begging when he first came on the hip hop scene was this calm, joyful, his music in my eyes was the most different music out at the time, just because he wasn’t rapping about what everyone else was. Kanye was one of those joyful guys, everybody wanted him on his record or produce it. Then a tragic event occurred where his mom died. After then you see
In his spoken word song “I Love Kanye”, West pokes fun at the media’s egotistical perception of himself. He raps, “What if Kanye made a song about Kanye? // Call it ‘Mr. Old Kanye’, man that’d be so Kanye // that’s all it was Kanye, we still love Kanye // and I love you like Kanye loves Kanye…” (I Love 1). This is evidence that Kanye isn’t the blind, egotistical, out of control superstar. Kanye West is just like everyone
Kanye West produced the popular song “All Falls Down” in 2004. He is well known for creating many wonderful tunes but this one stands out above the rest. While his other songs contain bass-heavy instrumentals and contain lyrics about money and women, this one is strays away from the previous structures. “All Falls Down” catches the attention of youth, with its mellow melody, to send a strong message concerning the overemphasis on money and education and how it can be harmful through the lyrics. The issues contained in the message are highly focused on the idea that money and education will not always be there
West is trying to elaborate on how buying their way out of jail, suggests that they are free from any restraints. But they still cannot experience absolute freedom as they continue to face harassment by the police. Throughout the song, West brings forward key issues regarding the "black bling" aesthetic. A recurring motif in many hip hop songs today. West in his song "All Falls Down" points out that Material aspirations and such worldly possession are just another way to heal the inner void within people. This void can take place through insecurities or any form of traumatic experiences. Every person has such a void within themselves Therefore a person will interpret this song from their different standpoint which will come from the listener's background of
West’s song, “New Slaves,” explaining the problems in today society and how people today not woke up the history and just woke up to the nice flashy clothes, cars, and jewelry. The song “New Slaves” discuss the tragedy of today society from people treating each other wrong just on how that person looks, or on their religion. “What you want, a Bentley? Fur coat? A diamond chain? All you blacks want all the same things” (Lines 9-10) West is trying to say all the new generation want is diamonds, fancy cars, and fancy clothes but not focusing on the problems of today society. West also trying to state that people need to wake up and pay attention before someone is a victim of the tragedies in the world. Dunn States, “Ye’s themes of segregation and racism are well-discussed and evidently clear in the first half of the first verse.” Throughout the song “New Slaves” West is explaining how people are start to spread away from each other when each other depends another. "So long, so long, so long, you cannot survive, and I'm not dyin', and I can't lose” (Lines 67-68) West is also trying to say is that if people stand for what they believe in and be a leader and not a follower they will survive this crazy world. If people, follow others than be a leader people will not survive and they will lose the American
Kanye West likely seeks reinforcement and loves attention, negative or positive from individuals he does not know, or is not familiar with because of his constant need for attention. He acts the way he does due to his thought process and erratic personality/ personality disorders.
Kanye West has many heroic traits about him. One of which, is his capability for
In the intro of the music video, there are drill sergeants commanding orders to his troops with. Also, in the beginning of the song drums over power which provides the foundation for a war effect. The beginning of the music video creates an imagery of modern day slavery. It draws attention to the aggressive interrogation methods police forces use against African Americans to confess to crimes they didn’t do. Kanye West wants to make it clear of the evils done to African Americans, “getting chocked by detectives, yeah, yeah, now check the method. They be askin’ us questions, harass and arrest us.”
“Yo Taylor, I’m really happy for you…I’ll let you finish. But Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time!” (West). Most people if they don’t know anything about Kanye West, they know this quote. When anybody hears his name everybody always has an opinion. Some people love him, while a lot of other people hate him, each for a variety of reasons. Though most people only see the arrogant and egotistic side of Kanye, the more important side that people don’t always see is the hardworking musician. In order to fully understand Kanye’s motives and to fully appreciate him, people have to know how he got to the point he is now today.
Every set back has caused a major comeback in his life. When Kanye’s mother, Dona West passed away, that left West as a different man. On top of that he was dealing with the break up of his long term relationship with Alexis Phifer. Kanye overcame this by putting his soul into his music. 808s & Heartbreak was the album he put out after these tragedies and you could feel every emotion in this album.
Kanye West has proven himself over time that he is much more than just a producer. With each new album he releases, he constantly pushes the boundaries of music influencing artist across all genres. Kanye has an ever evolving sound that changes almost year to year. Kanye West’s Yeezus album is an album that takes a much darker and more minimalist turn in his discography. This approach to music makes Yeezus a much harder album to listen through because it is not filled with nice, polished sounds. Having the album made this way makes us look over what the message of a song and the album are. Among many rough songs one the most popular on the album was Blood on the Leaves. Blood on the Leaves samples from another song called Strange Fruit sung by Nina Simone which is a very political song talking about gruesome lynchings that happened before and at the turn of the century. With help from the sample, West uses the pain of lynching and drug abuse to compare with the break ups he goes through.
With twenty-one Grammy’s and fifty-seven nominations, Kanye West is often regarded as one of the most influential and important artists of our time (The GRAMMYs 2). But many believe he is a musical fluke, who seeks attention and controversy. West first broke into the music industry by producing beats under the guidance of famous hip hop producer No I.D. (“The Mentor” 1). After his highly praised groundbreaking album, The College Dropout, was released, Kanye quickly found himself in the spotlight. His second album, Late Registration, was met also met with critical acclaim. With his recent successes and connection to the youth of America, West took an opportunity to help the people affected by Hurricane Katrina by appearing on TV alongside Michael Myers for a Red Cross event.