West began making beats and rapping in the early 90s in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois, when he formed the rap group Go Getters with Chicago natives GLC and Really Doe. He later gained nationwide popularity through his work in New York, where he began producing tracks for artists such as Jay-Z, Twista, Mase, Talib Kweli and Alicia Keys.
West's style of production often utilizes pitched-up vocal samples, usually from soul songs, with his drums and instruments. The first major label song he produced was The Truth by Beanie Sigel, and his first major release featuring his trademark vocal sampling style was This Canβt Be Life, a track from Jay-Zβs The Dynasty: Roc La Familia. West said he sped up the drum beat of Dr. Dreβs Xxplosive to use as a replacement for his drums on This Canβt Be Life.
West has said that Wu-Tang Clan producer RZA influenced him in his style, and has said on numerous occasions that Wu-Tang rappers Ghostface Killah and Olβ Dirty Bastard were some of his all-time favorites. Said Kanye West: βWu-Tang? Me and my friends talk about this all the timeβ¦ We think Wu-Tang had one of the biggest impacts as far as a movement. From slang to style of dress, skits, the samples. Similar to the [production] style I use, RZA has been doing that.β
In 2004 (after being pushed aside by many record companies who felt he wasn't a marketable hip-hop artist), he managed to release his debut solo album, The College Dropout on Roc-A-Fella Records. The album received critical acclaim, including 10 Grammy nominations and the awards for Album of the Year and Best Rap Album, as well as defining the style for which West would become known: "wordplay" and heavy sampling of the 70s soul and RnB tracks.
Not content to rest on his laurels, West invested two million dollars and hired a string orchestra to help with his latest effort, Late Registration (2005). West collaborated with Jon Brion to help develop the sound of the album, despite his lack of experience in hip hop production. The album received widespread acclaim like its predecessor and again claimed the Best Rap Album award at the Grammys.
West was no stranger to controversy, such as storming out at the 2004 American Music Awards after not receiving Best New Artist, but just days after the release of his second studio album, West began embroiled in a major controversy after going off-script during Hurricane Katrina broadcast, proclaiming "George Bush doesn't care about black people", which Bush claimed was "one the most disgusting moments of my presidency". In January 2006, West posed on the cover of Rolling Stone wearing a crown of thorns, once again attracting controversy.
For his third release, West was keen to produce songs that could be used more effectively when performing in arenas. For Graduation, the third and ultimately final entry into his 'Dropout Bear' series, West drew musical inspiration from The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. In the lead up to the album he became involved in a friendly rivalry with 50 Cent over which of the two artists' upcoming albums would sell more, as they were both released on the same day. West ultimately sold 957,000 copies in the first week of release, outselling Curtis by a large margin. The albums lead single "Stronger" sampled Daft Punk, and was West's third number one on Billboard 200. Many proclaim West's 'victory' over 50 Cent to be the 'death' of gangster rap as the dominant hip hop subgenre.
Following the death of his mother, Donda West, and the end of his engagement to long term partner Alexis Phifer, West abandoned his initial plan to release a fourth album entitled Good Ass Job, and shocked his fans by releasing 808s and Heartbreak, which was full of autotune singing, extensive use of the TR-808 drum machine, themes of love, loss and loneliness and very little rapping. It received slightly more mixed reviews than his previous efforts, but many critics cite 808s and Heartbreak as the catalyst for a new wave of rappers, most prominently Drake, due to its themes which were uncommon in mainstream hip-hop.
West's grief seemed to lead to a spiral out of control which culminated in him storming on stage at the 2009 VMAs to interrupt Taylor Swift's award acceptance speech to proclaim that BeyoncΓ© deserved the award instead, in a move that is infamous in pop culture and was vilified by the entire world in the aftermath. West disappeared from the public eye following this, and his upcoming tour with Lady Gaga was cancelled. The disgraced West, who was described as a 'jackass' by President Obama, seemed to have much work to do to return to the his former glory, but he was about to embark on what some critics consider to be the best run of his career.
West holed up in Hawaii for a few months and worked tirelessly to produce what many consider to be his magnum opus. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, West's fifth studio album, was released in November 2010 to rave reviews from critics, which solidified his comeback. In stark contrast to his previous effort, which featured a minimalist sound, Dark Fantasy adopts a maximalist philosophy and deals with themes of celebrity and excess. The record included the international hit All of the Lights, and Billboard hits Power, Monster, and Runaway, the latter of which accompanied a 35-minute film of the same name. During this time, West initiated the free music program G.O.O.D. Fridays through his website, offering a free download of previously unreleased songs each Friday of the week, a portion of which were included on the album. Dark Fantasy went on to go platinum in the United States, but its omission as a contender for Album of the Year at the 54th Grammy Awards was viewed as a "snub" by several media outlets.
Following a headlining set at Coachella 2011 that was described by The Hollywood Reporter as "one of greatest hip-hop sets of all time," West released the collaborative album Watch the Throne with Jay-Z. By employing a sales strategy that released the album digitally weeks before its physical counterpart, Watch the Throne became one of the few major label albums in the Internet age to avoid a leak. Niggas in Paris became the record's highest charting single, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2012, West released the compilation album Cruel Summer, a collection of tracks by artists from West's record label GOOD Music. Cruel Summer produced four singles, two of which charted within the top twenty of the Hot 100: Mercy and Clique. West also directed a film of the same name that premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival in custom pyramid-shaped screening pavilion featuring seven screens.
Sessions for West's sixth solo effort begin to take shape in early 2013 in his own personal loft's living room at a Paris hotel. Determined to "undermine the commercial," he once again brought together close collaborators and attempted to incorporate Chicago drill, dancehall, acid house, and industrial music. Primarily inspired by architecture, West's perfectionist tendencies led him to contact producer Rick Rubin fifteen days shy of its due date to strip down the record's sound in favor of a more minimalist approach. Initial promotion of his sixth album included worldwide video projections of the album's music and live television performances.
Yeezus, West's sixth album, was released June 18, 2013 to rave reviews from critics. It became the rapper's sixth consecutive number one debut. Def Jam issued "Black Skinhead" to radio in July 2013 as the album's lead single. On September 6, 2013, Kanye West announced he would be headlining his first solo tour in five years, to support Yeezus, with fellow American rapper Kendrick Lamar, accompanying him along the way.
In November 2013, West stated that he was working on and recording his next studio album. The album was to be produced by Rick Rubin and Q-Tip.. Kanye released a single entitled "Only One", on December 31, 2014 featuring Paul McCartney, as well as collaborating with McCartney on the Rihanna track " FourFiveSeconds", released in January 2015. West appeared on the SNL 40th Anniversary Special on February 15th 2015 to debut a new song Wolves, featuring Sia Furler and Vic Mensa. Another single, entitled "All Day" was released on March 2, 2015, again featuring McCartney as well as Theophilus London, Allan Kingdom. In June of the same year, Kanye headlined the Glastonbury Festival in the UK, which garnered much outrage including a petition with 135,000 signatures against his appearance, leading to West declaring he was "the greatest living rock star on the planet" towards the end of his set, and the performance receiving a mixed reaction among fans and critics, due to its controversy. In September 2015, West performed {album artist kanye west]808s and Heartbreak in its entirety at the Hollywood Bowl over two nights, which received rave reviews a featured a 60 person orchestra, guests such as Kid Cudi and Mr Hudson, and over 70 dancers. West released "Facts" at the turn of the new year.
West had originally stated that his upcoming album would be called 'So Help Me God' before changing the title to 'SWISH' and announcing that it would be released on February 11th. In January 2016 he released "Real Friends" and "No More Parties in LA", featuring Kendrick Lamar. As well as renaming the album once again to "Waves", West became involved in several twitter controversies in the lead up to the album, including with rapper Wiz Khalifa after he suggested that West had stolen the idea of the wave from other artists and seemingly dissed Kim Kardashian, which later turned out to be a misunderstanding over the use of "KK". West again changed the name of the album just days before it's release, this time to "{album artist=kanye west]The Life of Pablo", and debuted it at Madison Square Garden on February 11, but delayed it's release for a few days. On February 14, West released the album are a performance on SNL. West initially claimed the album was to be a Tidal exclusive, but it was later released on other streaming platforms, although it is yet to receive a physical release. West continued to tinker with the mixing and production of the album even after it was released, and it was updated several times, including the final song "Saint Pablo" in June 2016. West had also made public his plans to release an album in the summer of 2016, entitled "Turbo Grafx 16", based on the 1990s games console, which never surfaced, although he did release a single thought to be from the upcoming G.O.O.D. Music album "Cruel Winter", called Champions. In the same month, a video for "Famous" was released, including nude wax figures of celebrities such as West, Kim Kardashian, Taylor Swift, Donald Trump, Chris Brown, Rihanna, Bill Cosby and George W. Bush.
In August 2016, West embarked on the ambitious Saint Pablo Tour, which included a mobile stage suspended from the ceiling. After the violent robbery of Kim's jewellery in Paris in October, West had to end a show early and postpone shows following it. In the following performances, West cancelled shows early and went on long winded rants against fellow artists such as Jay Z and BeyoncΓ© among others, as well as making controversial political statements including implying his support for Donald Trump. On November 21st 2016, West cancelled the rest of the tour and was hospitalised due to sleep deprivation and extreme dehydration. Following this, West disappeared from social media, and only resurfaced 11 months later with a series of tweets which included many philosophical thoughts and the announcements two albums in June 2018, a solo album which would include 7 tracks on June 1, and a collaboration with Kid Cudi to be released on June 8.
On August 29th, 2021, Kanye released his 10th highly anticipated studio release Donda via GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings after a series of three listening parties.
Personal life:
West was born in Atlanta, Georgia. When he was three years old (as mentioned in Hey Mama) his parents divorced, and he moved with his mother to Chicago, Illinois. His father, Ray West, was a former Black Panther; one of the first black photojournalists at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution; and is now a Christian counselor. Kanyeβs late mother, Dr. Donda West, worked as a Professor of English at Clark Atlanta University, and the Chair of the English Department at Chicago State University before retiring to serve as Kanyeβs manager. He was later raised in an upper middle class background, attending Polaris High School in suburban Oak Lawn, Illinois after living in Chicago.
After attending The American Academy of Art, a Chicago art school, West attended Chicago State University but eventually dropped out due to poor grades and to continue working on his music career. While attending school, West produced for local artists, including on rapper Gravβs debut album Down to Earth. He later gained fame by producing hit singles for major hip hop/R&B artists, including Jay-Z, Talib Kweli, Camβron, Paul Wall, Common, Mobb Deep, Jermaine Dupri, Scarface, The Game, Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson and John Legend among others. He also βghost-producedβ for his once mentor Deric Angelettie according to his song Last Call and the credits of Nasβ Poppa Was a Playa.
West was married to Kim Kardashian. Together they had four children: daughters named North (*2013) and Chicago (*2018); and sons named Saint (*2015) and Psalm (*2019). In 2021, Kardashian filed for divorce.
In 2020, West launched an unsuccessful independent presidential campaign that primarily advocated for a consistent life ethic. In 2022, he faced backlash and lost a number of sponsors and partnershipsβincluding his collaborations with Adidas, Gap, and Balenciagaβafter making antisemitic statements.
All Of The Lights
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Lights, lights) All of the lights
Turn up the lights in here, baby
Extra bright, I want y'all to see this
Turn up the lights in here, baby
You know what I need, want you to see everything
Want you to see all of the lights
Fast cars, shooting stars
All of the lights, all of the lights
Until it's Vegas everywhere we are (all of the lights)
If you want it, you can get it for the rest of your life
If you want it, you can get it for the rest of your life
Somethin' wrong, I hold my head
MJ gone, our nigga dead
I slapped my girl, she called the feds
I did that time and spent that bread
I'm heading home, I'm almost there
I'm on my way, headed up the stairs
To my surprise, a nigga replacing me
I had to take him to that ghetto university
(All of the lights) Lights
Cop lights, flashlights, spotlights
Strobe lights, street lights
(All of the lights, all of the lights)
Fast life, drug life, thug life
Rock life every night (all of the lights)
Turn up the lights in here, baby
Extra bright, I want y'all to see this
Turn up the lights in here, baby
You know what I need, want you to see everything
Want you to see all of the lights
Restraining order, can't see my daughter
Her mother, brother, grandmother hate me in that order
Public visitation, we met at Borders
Told her she take me back, I'll be more supportive
I made mistakes, I bumped my head
Them courts sucked me dry, I spent that bread
She need her daddy, baby, please
Can't let her grow up in that ghetto university
(All of the lights) Lights
Cop lights, flashlights, spotlights
Strobe lights, street lights
(All of the lights, all of the lights)
Fast life, drug life, thug life
Rock life every night (all of the lights)
Turn up the lights in here, baby
Extra bright, I want y'all to see this
Turn up the lights in here, baby
You know what I need, want you to see everything
Want you to see all of the lights
I'm gettin' mine, baby
Gotta let these niggas know, yeah
Gettin' right, babe
You should go and get your own
I'm gettin' mine, baby
Gotta let these niggas know, yeah
Gettin' right, babe
You should go and get your own
Unemployment line, credit card declined
Did I not mention I was about to lose my mind? (My mind, my mind, my mind)
And also was about to do that line (line, line, line)
'Kay, okay, you know we going all the way this time (time)
We going all the way this time
We going all the way this time
We going all the way this time
We going all the way this time
Turn up the lights in here, baby
Extra bright, I want y'all to see this
Turn up the lights in here, baby
You know what I need, want you to see everything
Want you to see all of the lights
Whoa, whoa, oh
(I tried to tell you, but all I could say was, oh)
Whoa, whoa, oh
(I tried to tell you, but all I could say was, oh)
Whoa, whoa, oh
(I tried to tell you, but all I could say was, oh)
Whoa, whoa, oh
(I tried to tell you, but all I could say)
"All of the Lights" by Kanye West is a high-energy anthem that deals with themes of struggle, redemption, and fame. The song begins with Kanye calling for the lights to be turned up so that everyone can see what he has to show them. He wants to be seen for who he is, flaws and all. Kanye references Michael Jackson's death and his own personal struggles with the law and his relationships. He admits to making mistakes and spending all of his money, but he still wants to be there for his daughter. The song also touches on the fast-paced, glamorous lifestyle of fame and how it can be both thrilling and dangerous.
The chorus of the song, "All of the lights," is repeated throughout, and it refers to the different types of lights that can be seen in the world. Cop lights, flashlights, strobe lights, and street lights are all mentioned, as well as the lights that represent the good and bad of life. The song also features a vocal performance by Rihanna, who sings the refrain "turn up the lights in here, baby" repeatedly, creating a sense of urgency and excitement.
Overall, "All of the Lights" is a song that celebrates the highs and lows of life, fame, and redemption. It is an energetic and powerful composition that showcases Kanye's unique style and his ability to bring multiple artists and themes together into a cohesive narrative.
Line by Line Meaning
All of the lights (all of the lights)
The lights are symbolic of fame and success, and the singer wants everyone to see and recognize his accomplishments.
(Lights, lights) All of the lights
The repetition of 'lights' emphasizes their importance and how they are everywhere the singer goes.
Turn up the lights in here, baby
The singer wants the lights to be even brighter to increase his visibility and showcase his success.
Extra bright, I want y'all to see this
The artist wants everyone to fully understand and appreciate his success and wealth.
You know what I need, want you to see everything
The artist wants validation and attention from others to feel secure in his accomplishments.
Want you to see all of the lights
The singer wants everyone to recognize and appreciate the full extent of his success, not just a few key aspects.
Fast cars, shooting stars
The singer is experiencing the high life associated with fame and success, with fast cars and extravagant experiences.
All of the lights, all of the lights
The repetition of 'all of the lights' emphasizes that the artist is surrounded by the trappings of fame and success everywhere he goes.
Until it's Vegas everywhere we are (all of the lights)
The artist feels like he is living in a constant state of excess, as if the entire world is a Las Vegas-style neon experience.
If you want it, you can get it for the rest of your life
The artist believes that fame and success are easy to attain, and that anyone with enough ambition can have them for a lifetime.
Somethin' wrong, I hold my head
The singer is feeling overwhelmed by the stresses and pressures of fame and success, and is holding his head in despair.
MJ gone, our nigga dead
The artist is lamenting the loss of Michael Jackson and other influential figures who have passed away.
I slapped my girl, she called the feds
The singer has acted violently towards his partner, which resulted in police involvement.
I did that time and spent that bread
The singer faced legal consequences for his violent actions and was forced to spend money on legal fees and fines.
I'm heading home, I'm almost there
The singer is returning home after a difficult period and is looking forward to being in a place of comfort and safety.
I'm on my way, headed up the stairs
The artist is returning to his home and is climbing the steps to his apartment or house.
To my surprise, a nigga replacing me
The artist is shocked to find someone new and unfamiliar in his home, possibly an intruder or an unexpected guest.
I had to take him to that ghetto university
The singer had to use force or violence to remove the intruder or unwanted guest from his home.
(All of the lights) Lights
The lights mentioned previously are still present, emphasizing the singer's success and fame.
Cop lights, flashlights, spotlights
The variety of lights mentioned symbolize different kinds of attention, including police scrutiny, the media, and personal recognition.
Strobe lights, street lights
The artist is present in a space where there are strobe and street lights, suggesting a party or nightclub setting.
(All of the lights, all of the lights)
The repetition of 'all of the lights' emphasizes the immersive and overwhelming nature of the artist's surroundings.
Fast life, drug life, thug life
The glamorous and dangerous aspects of fame and success are present in the singer's life, including drugs and criminal activity.
Rock life every night (all of the lights)
The artist is living a rock star lifestyle, with all its glitz and glamour, and wants everyone to recognize and appreciate his success.
Restraining order, can't see my daughter
The singer is legally prohibited from seeing his child due to a restraining order.
Her mother, brother, grandmother hate me in that order
The singer's former partner's family is hostile towards him, with the mother being the most aggressive.
Public visitation, we met at Borders
The singer is only allowed to see his child in public spaces, and in this case, they met up at a bookstore.
Told her she take me back, I'll be more supportive
The artist is trying to convince his former partner to take him back by promising to be more helpful and supportive in their relationship.
I made mistakes, I bumped my head
The artist acknowledges that he has made errors in his life and has suffered the consequences of those mistakes.
Them courts sucked me dry, I spent that bread
The legal system has financially drained the singer due to his past mistakes.
She need her daddy, baby, please
The singer is pleading with his former partner to allow him to see their child, emphasizing the importance of parental involvement.
Can't let her grow up in that ghetto university
The artist wants to provide a better life for his child and does not want their upbringing to be associated with violence or hardship.
I'm gettin' mine, baby
The artist is focused on achieving his own success and is determined to do so at all costs.
Gotta let these niggas know, yeah
The artist feels like he needs to prove himself to others in order to gain respect and recognition.
Gettin' right, babe
The singer is working towards achieving his goals and becoming successful.
You should go and get your own
The artist is encouraging others to pursue their own success and not rely on his fame or wealth for their accomplishments.
Unemployment line, credit card declined
The singer is experiencing financial hardship, with no job and credit cards that have been declined.
Did I not mention I was about to lose my mind? (My mind, my mind, my mind)
The singer feels like he is on the brink of insanity due to the stress and pressure of his life.
And also was about to do that line (line, line, line)
The singer is on the verge of using drugs as a way to cope with his problems.
'Kay, okay, you know we going all the way this time (time)
The artist is determined to achieve success, no matter what it takes.
We going all the way this time
The repetition of this line emphasizes the artist's confidence and determination to succeed.
Whoa, whoa, oh
The singer is expressing intense emotions, possibly frustration or excitement.
(I tried to tell you, but all I could say was, oh)
The singer is struggling to communicate his feelings, and the word 'oh' is an expression of that struggle.
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O DistroKid, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jeff Bhasker, Stacy Ferguson, Kanye West, Malik Yusef Jones, Scott Mescudi, Warren Trotter, Terius Nash
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@indigo7301
The ending was meant to finish off any living epileptics that survived the video
@donkeykong2858
There is no other explanation
@sugediddy2439
CyanRabbit π€£π€£π€£
@brunolance2551
Lol
@shivaandevraj8600
Lmfao Fukn Hell Exce!!!!
@rainie9948
π€£π€£π€£
@PPhaus
We need more of this type of music. This is what defined my childhood. It deeply saddens me to see this energy fade away in the industry.
@mctrapster
donda Friday π
@zgubYouTube
This takes epic to a whole new level
@chuyozuna2398
@@mctrapster lets hope