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 Can’t Be Life, a track from Jay-Z’s The Dynasty: Roc La Familia. West said he sped up the drum beat of Dr. Dre’s Xxplosive to use as a replacement for his drums on This Can’t 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 Ol’ Dirty Bastard were some of his all-time favorites. Said Kanye West: “Wu-Tang? Me and my friends talk about this all the time… 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.”
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 Beyoncé 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 Beyoncé 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. Kanye’s 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 Kanye’s 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 Grav’s 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, Cam’ron, Paul Wall, Common, Mobb Deep, Jermaine Dupri, Scarface, The Game, Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson and John Legend among others. He also “ghost-produced” for his once mentor Deric Angelettie according to his song Last Call and the credits of Nas’ 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 partnerships—including his collaborations with Adidas, Gap, and Balenciaga—after making antisemitic statements.
Burn Everything
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, burn everything like gasoline
Oh, like gasoline
Wife got Celine
That's not my thing
We got those tings
Oh, I just can't change
Burn everything
Storm it look like lightning when I shine (legend, legend)
They gon' know my name before I die (legend, legend, legendary)
Glory in my eyes, this is the story of my life
And you'll be sorry that you tried me
You'll be sorry that you lied, yeah, you'll be sorry
I pour up 40 for the guys, this for my brodies in the skies
And not these phonies in disguise, they tellin' stories
Yeah, they tellin' stories, tellin' lies
'Cause the fact is I'm right, so the facts they don't lie
Uh, they tellin' stories, tellin' lies
Tryna censor my light but I'm blessed, I'm alright
Storm it look like lightning when I shine (legend, legend)
They gon' know my name before I die (legend, legend, legendary)
Storm it look like lightning when I shine (legend, legend)
They gon' know my name before I die (legend, legend, legendary)
Legend (legend)
Yeah, ayy, I'm a legend when I step in
Ego trippin', ego deathin'
This is destined, this is God flow
This is Heaven, this that 777
This that flow from my transgressions
Second guessin' every second
Each and every session feel like sex in armageddon
This my new obsession, 'cause this bitch in my possession
What's in my direction, just these mills in my expression
Baby, I'm your best friend, not your boyfriend, that's a dead end
Didn't you learn your lesson from your last man? Shit depressing
Didn't I tell you last time, I'm a motherfuckin'
Legend
(They gon' know my name before I die) burn everything
(Storm it look like lightning when I shine) legend, like gasoline
(They gon' know my name before I die) burn everything
(Storm it look like lightning when I shine) oh, burn everything
I just can't change
Burn everything
Burn everything
The lyrics to Kanye West's "Burn Everything" reflect themes of self-confidence, defiance, and perseverance in the face of adversity. The repeated line "burn everything like gasoline" suggests a desire to eliminate and destroy anything that stands in the way of success and personal growth.
In the first paragraph, Kanye mentions his wife owning Celine, which represents material possessions that he doesn't value as much. He mentions "ting," a slang term for beautiful women, suggesting that he has attractive companionship. However, he acknowledges that despite external changes and success, he can't change who he truly is. This line implies a sense of self-awareness and the notion that material possessions don't define him.
The second paragraph emphasizes Kanye's legendary status and how he wants to leave an impact on the world. He believes that his actions and achievements will make his name known before he eventually passes away. The use of the word "lightning" emphasizes the explosive nature of his impact and the quick recognition he garners.
Moving onto the third paragraph, Kanye embraces his own glory and asserts that those who have wronged him or doubted him will ultimately regret their actions. He references pouring a drink (40) in honor of his fallen friends, indicating a somber recognition of their absence. He contrasts genuine connections with those who pretend to be friends but are actually deceitful, telling stories and lies. Kanye maintains that the truth is on his side and that attempts to suppress his success will ultimately fail.
The final paragraph highlights Kanye's confidence and perceived greatness. He proclaims his legendary status, asserting that his presence alone makes him a legend. He mentions ego tripping and ego death, indicating a constant struggle between self-assuredness and a desire for personal growth and humility. Kanye portrays his artistic expression as a form of salvation and redemption, almost equating it to divine inspiration. He expresses his obsession with his craft and the fulfilling power it holds over him. As the song concludes, Kanye reaffirms his refusal to change and his determination to burn anything that obstructs his path.
Overall, "Burn Everything" is a powerful and introspective track that illustrates Kanye West's unwavering self-belief, his desire for recognition, and his unwillingness to be held back by external forces.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, burn everything like gasoline
Expressing the desire to completely destroy and eliminate everything, just like fire fueled by gasoline.
Wife got Celine, that's not my thing
My wife owns luxury brand Celine, but it's not something I personally value or care about.
We got those tings
We possess those things that are desired and valued.
Oh, I just can't change
I am unable to transform or alter my fundamental nature and attitudes.
Storm it look like lightning when I shine (legend, legend)
When I achieve greatness and exhibit my true brilliance, it appears as a powerful storm illuminated by lightning.
They gon' know my name before I die (legend, legend, legendary)
My legacy and reputation will be widely recognized and celebrated even before I pass away.
Glory in my eyes, this is the story of my life
I see tremendous honor and significance in my existence; this is the narrative that defines my journey.
And you'll be sorry that you tried me
If you dare to challenge or provoke me, you will deeply regret your decision.
You'll be sorry that you lied, yeah, you'll be sorry
Lying to me will result in great remorse and consequences; you will come to regret your deceit.
I pour up 40 for the guys, this for my brodies in the skies
In honor of my close friends who have passed away, I raise a 40-ounce drink as a tribute.
And not these phonies in disguise, they tellin' stories
Referring to fake individuals pretending to be someone they're not, who fabricate tales and narratives.
'Cause the fact is I'm right, so the facts they don't lie
Because the truth is on my side, the evidence and reality cannot deceive.
Uh, they tellin' stories, tellin' lies
They persist in spreading untrue accounts and falsehoods.
Tryna censor my light but I'm blessed, I'm alright
Even though some attempt to suppress or hinder my brilliance, I am fortunate and content.
Yeah, ayy, I'm a legend when I step in
As soon as I enter a space or situation, I am instantly recognized and regarded as a legendary figure.
Ego trippin', ego deathin'
Engaging in excessive self-importance and narcissism while simultaneously experiencing a transformative process of shedding one's ego.
This is destined, this is God flow
This path and style of expression has been predetermined and ordained by a higher power.
This is Heaven, this that 777
This is an experience of bliss and perfection, symbolized by the number 777 often associated with divine luck and spiritual fulfillment.
This that flow from my transgressions
The creativity and artistic expression that arises from my past mistakes and wrongdoings.
Second guessin' every second
Doubting and questioning myself with each passing moment.
Each and every session feel like sex in armageddon
Every creative or intimate experience feels intense and exhilarating, as if it is a combination of ecstasy and the end of the world.
This my new obsession, 'cause this bitch in my possession
Referring to a newfound passion and fixation, driven by the control and ownership I have over a certain valuable entity.
What's in my direction, just these mills in my expression
My path and focus are solely dedicated to accumulating wealth and expressing myself artistically rather than concerning myself with other distractions.
Baby, I'm your best friend, not your boyfriend, that's a dead end
I am a loyal companion and confidant, but I am not interested in pursuing a romantic relationship as it would lead nowhere.
Didn't you learn your lesson from your last man? Shit depressing
Haven't you gained insight and experienced disappointment from your previous partner? It's a depressing situation.
Didn't I tell you last time, I'm a motherfuckin'
Haven't I already made it clear in the past that I am a fearless and assertive individual?
They gon' know my name before I die
My name and reputation will become widely known and recognized even before my demise.
Burn everything
Destroy and eliminate everything in existence.
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Sean Leon, Kanye West, Bijan Amirkhani, John Cunningham
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@aevin.
[Verse 1: Kanye West]
Oh! Burn everything...
Light gasoline
Oh! Burn everything, oh!
Light gasoline, light gasoline
Wife got Céline
That's not my thing
We got those tings
I just can’t change
Burn everything, oh!
Burn everything...
[Chorus: Sean Leon]
Storm look like lightning when I shine (Legend, legend)
They gon' know my name before I die (Legend, legend, legendary...)
Storm look like lightning when I shine (Legend, legend)
They gon' know my name before I die (Legend, legend, legendary...)
[Verse 2: Sean Leon]
Glory in my eyes, this is the story of my life
And you’ll be sorry that you tried me
You'll be sorry that you lied and you'll be sorry
I pour up 40 for the guys, this for my brodies in the skies
And not these phonies in disguise, they tellin' stories
Yeah, they tellin' stories, tellin' lies
'Cause the fact is I'm right so the facts they don’t like
Ugh, they tellin’ stories, tellin' lies
Tryna censor my light but I’m blessed, I'm alright
[Chorus: Sean Leon]
Storm look like lightning when I shine (Legend, legend)
They gon' know my name before I die (Legend, legend, legendary...)
Storm look like lightning when I shine (Legend, legend)
They gon' know my name before I die (Legend, legend, legendary...)
Storm look like lightning when I shine (Legend, legend)
[Verse 3: Sean Leon]
i’m a legend when i step in ego trippin’, ego deathin’
this is destined, this is god flow
this is heaven, this that 7 7 7
this that flow from my transgressions
second guessin’ every second
each and every session feel like s+x and armageddon
what’s my new obsession? just this b+tch in my possession
what’s in my direction? just these meals from my expression
baby i’m your best friend, not your boyfriend, that’s a dead end
didn’t you lеarn your lesson from your last man, sh+t depressin’
didn’t i tеll you last time i’m a motherf+ckin’—
legend
[Kanye West]
Burn everything...
Light gasoline
Burn everything
Oh! Burn everything
I just can't change
Burn everything
@paragjyotideka1246
Awesome Video. Multiple cool references.
1. The train: V for vendetta.
2. The burning church: He said he wanted to do that a decade ago on his first album
3. No child left behind: We all know ye is very vocal about Anti Abortion
4. The eyes written as IX XI: 911 reference (?)
5. Burning city landscape view : Similar to Fight club last scene
6. YZY Store QR code: Inspired by Coinbase ad in Super Bowl
7. Burning Theatre scene: Inglorious Bastards Hitler Death scene
@neondazer9599
It was a honor for me to work on this video 🙏💥
@RyanHeinz
Killed it
@63anton
@Patrick he's literally credited in the video
@AngelGraz
Ye
@danielclarke785
Amazing work. Ye is my hero. Sean is an amazing artist. The video perfectly represents the zeitgeist, spirit of the times
@mariastavrinos7024
It was an honour for us to have watch something as creative as this created by talented people like you !
@jwick1215
I'm proud of Ye, standing up for righteousness may The Almighty God protect and keep him and pour favor on him. Love you brother!!!!
@Onlythefacts
Kanye is satanic wtf are you talking about??? He wants to burn everything to rebuild the NWO
@Karl671
Amen
@maxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
wtf he being a nazi is real? you wake up... literally said he liked hitler like WTF