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.
EAZY
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My life was never (Eazy)
My life was never (Eazy)
Started in my Cutlass clutchin' heat like it's an open oven
Puffin' chronic, Puff and Biggie out the window, speaker subbin'
Run into the Crips, it ain't no discussion
Bullet wounds drenched in Hennessy and teaspoons of Robitussin
Compton's amazed, Dr. Dre percussion
God, please grant my nigga eternal life, we need the beats
Aftermath where you fall asleep, you do not eat
And my belly is full, gorilla ridin' the bull
Banana clips in the pool, swan dive in Clase Azul
The opps, I'm on they ass, Grandmama whoopings in school
This Wilmington and Brazil where niggas die in they jewels
Too many Problems, too many YGs
So many ties to dollar signs, easy to end up on E
I got shot up like Columbine, the Crips descended on me
Sign my name on the dotted line, that was vengeance on beats
This is the way
(He was once a thug from around the way)
My life was never (Eazy)
My life was never (Eazy)
There it is, there it was
Don't interrupt just because it's no love
Shoulder shrug
How I ain't bring nothin' to the table, when I'm the table?
I'ma turn up the music, wake up the neighbors
I'ma get that "Thug Life" tatted 'cross the navel
This is how I am in real life, not just on cable
"Mr. Narcissist," tell me 'bout my arrogance
No more counselin', I don't negotiate with therapists
God, Ye, wanna let God in?
But tonight, I guess I'll let my pride win
Cousin Dre sent me scriptures, helped me see life better
Nigga, we havin' the best divorce ever
If we go to court, we'll go to court together
Matter of fact, pick up your sis, we'll go to Kourt's together
I watched four kids for like five hours today
I wear these Yeezy boots everywhere, even in the shower today
I got love for the nannies, but real family is better
The cameras watch the kids, y'all stop takin' the credit
Noncustodial dad, I bought the house next door
What you think the point of really bein' rich for?
When you give 'em everything they only want more
Boujee and unruly, y'all need to do some chores
Rich-ass kids, this ain't yo' mama's house
Climb on your brother's shoulders, get that Top Ramen out
God saved me from that crash
Just so I can beat Pete Davidson's ass (who?)
And my new bitch bad, I know Illuminati mad
This that New-minati, bitch
This that two Bugatti rich
This that "God did this"
Only God did this
There it is, there it was
Don't interrupt, just because
Ain't no love, shoulder shrug
Won't he do it? Yes, he does
Won't he do it? Yes, he does
Won't he do it?
My life was never (Eazy)
This next one gon' be (Eazy)
(He was once a thug from around the way)
(He was once a thug from around the way, Eazy)
(He was, he was)
(He was, he was)
(He was once-a-a)
(Thug from- from a- from a-round the way)
In these lyrics, Kanye West is reflecting on his past as a tough, street-oriented individual. He acknowledges that his life has never been easy, suggesting that he has faced many challenges and obstacles. The opening lines describe his early days, driving a Cutlass and carrying a weapon while smoking marijuana and listening to artists like Puff Daddy and The Notorious B.I.G.
He mentions encountering the Crips, a notorious gang, and emphasizes that there is no room for negotiation or discussion when faced with them. He references getting injured and suffering concussions, but also highlights the influence of Dr. Dre and the impact of his beats. Kanye expresses a desire for eternal life for his friend, perhaps wishing for his music to live on even after death.
The lyrics also touch on the struggles of living in tough neighborhoods, where violence and crime are prevalent. In particular, Kanye mentions Wilmington and Brazil, places where individuals lose their lives over material possessions like jewelry. He references the dangers of associating with gangs and monetary greed, drawing a parallel between the risks he faced and the infamous Columbine school shooting.
The second part of the song delves into Kanye's self-perception and his relationships. He asserts that he brings value to the table and is not an empty presence. He highlights his fame and the attention he receives, acknowledging his narcissism but also expressing a desire to let God into his life. Kanye mentions his cousin Dre guiding him with scriptures and how their positive influence has helped him see life in a better light.
The lyrics then take a more personal turn, referencing Kanye's divorce from Kim Kardashian and his role as a father. He mentions spending time with his children, wearing his own Yeezy boots even in the shower. He criticizes the nannies for taking credit and highlights his commitment as a father by buying the house next door to ensure his presence in their lives. Kanye questions the purpose of wealth, noting that it can breed entitlement and a desire for more.
In the final lines, Kanye boasts about his new relationship and implies that it has caused controversy, suggesting that the "Illuminati" may be upset with his success. He celebrates his wealth and attributes it to God's work, mentioning the luxury of owning two Bugatti cars. The lyrics conclude with acknowledgment that Kanye's life has never been easy, but there is hope for a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
My life was never (Eazy)
My life was never easy or straightforward
Started in my Cutlass clutchin' heat like it's an open oven
I began my journey in a Cutlass car, holding onto weapons tightly as if they were hot like an open oven
Puffin' chronic, Puff and Biggie out the window, speaker subbin'
Smoking marijuana, playing the music of artists like Puff Daddy and The Notorious B.I.G. loudly from my car
Run into the Crips, it ain't no discussion
Encountering the Crips gang, there is no room for negotiation or conversation
Bullet wounds drenched in Hennessy and teaspoons of Robitussin
Being injured by bullets, soaked in Hennessy alcohol and consuming small amounts of Robitussin cough syrup
Head up faze, got a few concussion, yeah
Engaging in confrontations, resulting in multiple concussions
Compton's amazed, Dr. Dre percussion
The city of Compton is in awe of the beats produced by Dr. Dre
God, please grant my nigga eternal life, we need the beats
Requesting God to bestow everlasting life upon my friend because we still require his musical talents
Aftermath where you fall asleep, you do not eat
In the aftermath of success, artists often prioritize their work over their basic needs like sleep and food
And my belly is full, gorilla ridin' the bull
Despite feeling satisfied and content, I am still ready for any challenges that come my way
Banana clips in the pool, swan dive in Clase Azul
Having high-capacity ammunition magazines near the swimming pool and taking a graceful dive in expensive Clase Azul tequila
The opps, I'm on they ass, Grandmama whoopings in school
Focusing my attention on my adversaries, just like the way my grandmother disciplined me in school
This Wilmington and Brazil where niggas die in they jewels
In Wilmington and Brazil, people lose their lives due to violence over valuable possessions
Too many Problems, too many YGs
There are too many issues and conflicts to deal with, involving several young gangsters
So many ties to dollar signs, easy to end up on E
With numerous connections to money and materialism, it's simple to fall into a state of extreme exhaustion or drug addiction
I got shot up like Columbine, the Crips descended on me
I was brutally attacked and injured, similar to the tragic events of the Columbine shooting, by the Crips gang
Sign my name on the dotted line, that was vengeance on beats
Affirming my commitment to a record deal, which is poetic justice or revenge in the form of my musical creations
There it is, there it was
That is the reality, the situation as it is
Don't interrupt just because it's no love
Don't interfere or disrupt simply because there is a lack of affection or support
Shoulder shrug
I respond with a nonchalant shrug of my shoulders
How I ain't bring nothin' to the table, when I'm the table?
How can it be claimed that I contribute nothing when, in fact, I am the foundation or essence of everything?
I'ma turn up the music, wake up the neighbors
I will increase the volume of the music, intentionally causing a disturbance and arousing the attention of the neighbors
I'ma get that "Thug Life" tatted 'cross the navel
I will permanently ink "Thug Life" across my midsection, symbolizing my commitment to a rebellious and tough lifestyle
This is how I am in real life, not just on cable
This is my genuine personality and behavior, not merely a façade for entertainment purposes
"Mr. Narcissist," tell me 'bout my arrogance
Addressing me as the self-absorbed individual I can be, prompting a discussion about my ego and pride
No more counselin', I don't negotiate with therapists
I refuse to engage in therapy sessions or seek counseling, as I have no desire to compromise or bargain with mental health professionals
God, Ye, wanna let God in?
God, Kanye, are you willing to allow God to enter your life and guide you?
But tonight, I guess I'll let my pride win
However, for now, I suppose I will allow my ego and arrogance to prevail
Cousin Dre sent me scriptures, helped me see life better
My cousin Dre shared religious texts with me, assisting me in gaining a clearer perspective on life
Nigga, we havin' the best divorce ever
My ex-spouse and I are experiencing the most amicable and favorable divorce imaginable
If we go to court, we'll go to court together
Even if a legal battle arises, we will handle it as a united front
Matter of fact, pick up your sis, we'll go to Kourt's together
In fact, let's also pick up your sister and go to Kourtney Kardashian's house as a collective group
I watched four kids for like five hours today
I assumed the responsibility of caring for four children for an extended period of approximately five hours
I wear these Yeezy boots everywhere, even in the shower today
I wear my Yeezy boots everywhere, including the shower, as a symbol of my fashion and personal brand
I got love for the nannies, but real family is better
While I appreciate the nannies and their assistance, nothing compares to the bond and connection of biological family
The cameras watch the kids, y'all stop takin' the credit
The presence of cameras may monitor the children, but individuals should cease claiming undue credit or recognition
Noncustodial dad, I bought the house next door
As a noncustodial father, I purchased a residence in close proximity to the children's home
What you think the point of really bein' rich for?
What do you believe the purpose of extreme wealth truly is?
When you give 'em everything they only want more
When you provide them with everything, they inevitably desire even greater abundance
Boujee and unruly, y'all need to do some chores
Living extravagantly and misbehaving, it is essential for you all to engage in some household tasks
Rich-ass kids, this ain't yo' mama's house
Affluent children, remember that this is not your mother's home
Climb on your brother's shoulders, get that Top Ramen out
Stand on your brother's shoulders to reach the Top Ramen noodles and bring them down
God saved me from that crash
God protected me and saved me from a potentially fatal accident
Just so I can beat Pete Davidson's ass (who?)
With divine intervention, I survived the accident solely for the purpose of physically assaulting Pete Davidson (a reference to a personal conflict)
And my new bitch bad, I know Illuminati mad
My attractive new partner angers secret societies like the Illuminati
This that New-minati, bitch
This represents the New Illuminati, emphasizing a powerful and influential status
This that two Bugatti rich
This refers to having extreme wealth, even being able to afford two Bugatti luxury cars
This that "God did this"
I attribute my success to divine intervention, proclaiming that God orchestrated it
There it is, there it was
That is the reality, the situation as it is
Don't interrupt, just because
Do not disrupt or interfere simply due to personal reasons or emotions
Ain't no love, shoulder shrug
There is a lack of love and affection, prompting me to respond with a nonchalant shrug of my shoulders
Won't he do it? Yes, he does
Won't God take care of everything? Yes, He always does
Won't he do it? Yes, he does
Won't God take care of everything? Yes, He always does
Won't he do it?
Won't God take care of everything?
My life was never (Eazy)
My life was never easy or straightforward
This next one gon' be (Eazy)
The upcoming phase or chapter will be more manageable or less complicated
(He was once a thug from around the way)
He used to be a street tough from the local area
(He was once a thug from around the way, Eazy)
He was previously a tough and rebellious individual from the neighborhood, embodying a similar attitude to Eazy-E
(He was, he was)
He truly was, he genuinely embodied that persona
(He was, he was)
He truly was, he genuinely embodied that persona
(He was once-a-a)
He used to be, he formerly was
(Thug from- from a- from a-round the way)
A tough individual from the local area, reflecting the upbringing and influences of that environment
Lyrics © KINGS REPUBLIC ENTERPRISES, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Michael G. Dean, Chauncey Alexander Hollis, Drew Anthony Gavin, Jayceon Terrell Taylor, Kanye Omari West
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ashutoshbatish
Who’s here after Kendrick’s new song
@Riko_AB
You mean after new Metro and Future album bruh. Kendrick was a feat on that track
@Fernando-bq3cv
No its his song now bruh@@Riko_AB
@mikaelcontreras4191
fr” fuck the big 3 it’s just big me “
@julianowens3847
Ayo 😂😂😂😂
@keshawnnelson3858
Me too wtf
@sofialarramendia7985
bruh i just know this shit gonna show up in court one day
@r.i.pyoutube6881
oops, everyone is gonna eat their words
@laya6774
Yup.
@kylalopz1199
skete