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.
Flashing Lights remix
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Flashing lights (lights, lights)
Flashing lights (lights, lights)
Flashing lights (lights, lights)
She don't believe in shootin' stars
But she believe in shoes and cars
Wood floors in the new apartment
You more like "love to start shit"
I'm more of the trips to Florida
Order the hors d'oeuvres, views of the water
Straight from a page of your favorite author
And the weather so breezy
Man, why can't life always be this easy?
She in the mirror dancing so sleazy
I get a call like, "Where are you Yeezy?"
And try to hit you with the ol-wu-wopte
'Til I got flashed by the paparazzi ('razzi)
Damn, these niggas got me
I hate these niggas more than the Nazi
As I recall, I know you love to show off (off)
But I never thought that you would take it this far (far)
What do I know? Flashing lights (lights, lights)
What do I know? Flashing (know) lights (lights, lights)
I know it's been a while, sweetheart
We hardly talk, I was doing my thing
I know I was foul, baby
Ay, babe lately you been all on my brain (brain)
And if somebody would've told me a month ago
Fronting, though, yo, I wouldn't wanna know
If somebody would've told me a year ago
It'll go, get this difficult (difficult)
Feeling like Katrina with no FEMA
Like Martin with no Gina
Like a flight with no Visa
First class with the seat back I still see ya
In my past, you on the other side of the glass
Of my memory's museum
I'm just saying, hey, Mona Lisa
Come home you know you can't Rome without Caesar
As I recall, I know you love to show off (off)
But I never thought that you would take it this far (far)
What do I know? Flashing lights (lights, lights)
What do I know? Flashing (know) lights (lights, lights)
As you recall, you know I love to show off (off)
But you never thought that I would take it this far (far)
What do you know? Flashing lights (lights, lights)
What do you know? Flashing (know) lights (lights, lights)
Flashing lights (lights, lights)
Flashing lights (lights, lights, lights)
Lights, lights, lights, lights
Lights, lights, lights, lights
Lights, lights, lights, lights
Lights, lights, lights, lights
Lights, lights, lights, lights
The song "Flashing Lights" is a memorable track produced by Kanye West featuring vocals from 50 Cent. The song, with its infectious melody and memorable lyrics, speaks about love, fame, and the perils of celebrity life. In the first verse, Kanye talks about a woman who is more interested in material possessions than the idea of chasing after shooting stars. He contrasts her lifestyle with his, where he prefers to take trips and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Kanye then receives a call, interrupting his train of thought, and it is clear that he is dealing with the paparazzi who have "flashed" him.
In the second verse, 50 Cent takes over, and the song takes a more nostalgic turn as he reminisces about an old flame. It is clear from the lyrics that they have not spoken in a while, and there is a tinge of regret in 50 Cent's voice. He mentions how he feels like he is stuck in a natural disaster without the proper support ("like Katrina with no fema"), and mentions how he feels like he is missing a part of himself ("like a flight with no visa"). He ultimately calls out to his old flame, asking her to come home and reminding her that she cannot "Rome without Caesar."
Overall, "Flashing Lights" is a song that deals with the trappings of fame and the struggles that come with love and nostalgia. The song itself is a standout track on Kanye's 2007 album "Graduation" and is a great example of his production and musical style.
Line by Line Meaning
Flashing lights, lights
The repetition of this line sets the mood for the song, signaling that something is about to happen or change.
She don't believe in shootin' stars
The woman in question doesn't believe in the whimsical idea of finding love through luck, but instead prefers material things like shoes and cars.
But she believe in shoes and cars
Material things like shoes and cars hold more value to her than something as unpredictable as love.
Wood floors in the new apartment
The woman has upgraded to a new living space, which is likely larger and more luxurious than her previous one.
Couture from the store's department
The woman wears high-end clothing from the department store to keep up with her luxurious lifestyle.
You more like L'eau de Stardee shit
The singer is comparing the woman's taste to a cheap perfume with a cheesy name.
I'm more of the, trips to Florida
The singer prefers visiting a tropical location like Florida over the woman's more materialistic preferences.
Order the h'orderves, views of the Water
The artist enjoys fine dining with a view of the water, showing that he prefers luxury in a different way than the woman.
Straight from the page of your favorite author
The artist appreciates the finer things in life like reading literature, which is more timeless and classic than material possessions.
And the weather so breezy
The artist is enjoying the pleasant weather, which is symbolic of his stress-free and easy-going lifestyle.
Man why can't life always be this easy
The singer acknowledges his privileged lifestyle and how he wishes it could always be this effortless and enjoyable.
She in the mirror dancing so sleazy
The woman is dancing provocatively in front of the mirror, which is a reflection of her need to show off and her hedonistic tendencies.
I get a call like where are you Yeezy
The singer receives a phone call from someone addressing him by his nickname, which could be a friend, associate, or significant other.
Try to hit you with a 'Oeur de Whopee'
The caller is likely attempting to lure the singer into a hedonistic activity, possibly an affair or partying.
Till I get flashed by the paparazzi
The singer is suddenly caught off-guard by photographers, implying that he's a celebrity and cannot avoid the constant attention and scrutiny that comes with fame.
Damn, these niggas got me
The artist is frustrated by the paparazzi's invasion of his privacy, and how their relentless pursuit causes him stress and anxiety.
I hate these niggas more than the Nazi
The artist despises the paparazzi to such a degree that he's comparing them to one of the most hated groups in history, the Nazis, showing how much they disrupt his life and his peace of mind.
I know it's been a while
The singer acknowledges that he's been distant or disconnected from someone he cares about for some time.
Sweetheart, we hardly talk, I was doing my thing
The singer is explaining why there has been a lack of communication between him and his significant other, perhaps because he's been busy with work, travel, or other priorities.
I know I was foul bay-bay
The artist admits to behaving poorly or unfairly towards his significant other in the past.
A-bay lately you been all on my brain
Despite the artist's past transgressions, he has been thinking about his significant other frequently as of late.
And if somebody would've told me a month ago
The artist is reflecting how quickly things can change in life, as something significant happened recently that caused him to reconsider his priorities and feelings.
Fronting though, yo I wouldn't wanna know
The singer admits that he has been trying to pretend he didn't care about the situation or his significant other, but in reality, he was affected deeply by it.
If somebody would've told me a year ago
The artist is reiterating how much has changed in his life over the past year, indicating significant growth or transformation on his part.
It'd go, get this difficult
The singer knew that he would face difficulties or challenges in his life, but he probably didn't anticipate how much it would impact his emotions or psyche.
Feeling like Katrina with no fema
The singer is comparing his state of mind to the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina disaster in Louisiana, explaining that he feels helpless, alone, and unsupported in his personal struggles.
Like Martin with no Gina
The singer is referencing the lead characters from the sitcom Martin, and how it would be unbearable for one of them to exist without the other, highlighting a sense of loss or incompleteness.
Like a flight with no visa
The artist is using a metaphor to describe his life as feeling trapped or restricted, much like a person trying to board a flight without the proper documentation.
First class with the seat back I still see ya
The artist is reminiscing about past memories with his significant other, even while traveling in luxury, indicating how much he still cares for her.
In my past, you on the other side of the glass
The singer is referring to the verse from earlier in the song where he mentioned his memories being in a museum, but now he is adding the detail that his significant other is also in those memories, just on the other side of the glass or frame.
Of my memory's museum
The singer is reflecting on his past and how it is preserved in his memories, like a museum.
I'm just saying, Hey Mona Lisa
The artist is addressing his significant other, using a metaphorical reference to the painting Mona Lisa, which is often admired for its beauty and mystery.
Come home you know you can't Rome without Caesar
The artist is saying how much he needs his significant other in his life and how much he values her presence, much like how the Roman Empire needed its leader, Caesar, to function properly.
As you recall, you know I love to show off
The artist is reminding his significant other that he enjoys flaunting his own success and lifestyle, much like how she enjoys her material possessions.
But you never thought that I would take it this far
The singer is saying that even though his significant other knows he likes to show off, she never thought he would go to such extreme lengths or possibly cause harm to their relationship in the process.
What do you know? Flashing lights, lights
The artist is expressing his frustration and sense of being misunderstood, using the repeated phrase 'flashing lights' as a metaphor for how people often judge him based on his appearance or success without understanding him fully.
What do you know? Flashing lights, lights
The second time this line is repeated, it's emphasizing the singer's feelings of being misunderstood and judged unfairly.
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kanye West, Eric Hudson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Studio 3
Part 2 with Lil Baby, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne and more https://youtu.be/HhpcdgEZ5lk
Khizar jamil
@Gregory Cook oookippii
Studio 3
Absolutely hmu
D Po
PLEASE LET ME DO VIDEO 4 U BRO
sososomthinelse
The Shheeeeeiiiiot
Lucy Morales
@Gregory Cook My.
NakedTarot
You have to listen to the original song a thousand times to unlock this gem π
Jose Chuc
Haha.i had to endure this. Had no idea this was out here.
Katarina Walter
That's ture
Rodolfo BeltrΓ‘n
Well i did