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.
Heaven
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Men go work and some go stealing
Everyone's got to make a living
No more promos, no more photos
No more logos, no more chokeholds
We on Bezos, we get payrolls
Trips to Lagos, connect like LEGOs
Burn false idols, Jesus' disciples
I can feel your pain now, I done bled my vein out
New level the game now, simulation changed
No more problems, no more argue
No more askin', "Who really are you?"
I know the real you, you know we feel you
You know He hears you, you know we with you
Straight from Beirut, Chicago, Beirut
You cray? We cray too
You pray? We pray too
Never too late for Him to save you
This your movie 'cause no one can play you
Devil, lay down, Devil, lay down
This that level, make devils pray now (Heaven and Hell)
Hold up, no peace, hold up, police
Don't call police, just stay focused (is on Earth)
Pray for new life, pray for new breath
Hey, Lord, make sure it's safe for who's left (Heaven and Hell)
Know you can't find a place to rest
Know the Lord my bulletproof vest (is on Earth)
When we survive, know that we blessed
Save my people through the music
Let it grrat, let it grrat, grrat
Let it grrat, grrat, grrat, grrat, grrat
Grrat, grrat, grrat
Let it grrat, let it grrat, grrat
Let it grrat, grrat, grrat, grrat, grrat
Let it grrat
The lyrics of Kanye West's song "Heaven And Hell" talk about the reality of life in the world, where people have to make a living by doing various things, including work and, unfortunately, even stealing. The verse also highlights the different roles that men and women play in society, with women producing and children growing. However, despite these differences and challenges, we all have to find a way to survive in this world.
The chorus speaks about the desire for a better life, away from the struggles and chaos of the Earth. The artist talks about a world where there are no more problems, promos, logos, or chokeholds. He envisions a world where there are no more false idols but only the disciples of Jesus. He emphasizes that he can feel people's pain and that everyone should connect to know the real person beneath the surface. The artist encourages people to pray since it is never too late for God to save them.
Overall, the song "Heaven And Hell" is a commentary on the world's conditions and the struggles people face. It urges people to think about their existence, their connection with God and pray for a better tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
Children growing, women producing
People are carrying on with their daily lives and responsibilities, including raising children and contributing to society through work and other means.
Men go work and some go stealing
While some men engage in productive activities such as work, others resort to criminal behavior such as stealing in order to make a living.
Everyone's got to make a living
Regardless of their circumstances, everyone is trying to find a way to earn money and survive in the world.
No more promos, no more photos
The artist is distancing himself from the consumer-driven nature of the entertainment industry, which relies heavily on promotions and photo shoots.
No more logos, no more chokeholds
The artist is rejecting the influence of corporate branding, which can sometimes feel suffocating or limiting.
We on Bezos, we get payrolls
Instead of relying on traditional record label deals, the artist is pursuing a more entrepreneurial approach, working directly with companies like Amazon and generating income through various sources.
Trips to Lagos, connect like LEGOs
The artist is building connections across the world, and sees each of these connections as a building block in creating a larger network of collaborators and supporters.
Make this final, make this, my eyes closed
The artist is passionately committed to seeing his artistic vision through to completion, even if it means making difficult decisions or sacrifices.
Burn false idols, Jesus' disciples
The artist is urging listeners to reject the worship of material possessions or superficial pursuits, and instead seek a more meaningful connection to faith and spirituality.
I can feel your pain now, I done bled my vein out
The artist empathizes with the struggles of his listeners, and has put his own emotions and experiences into his music in order to connect with them more deeply.
New level the game now, simulation changed
The artist believes that the rules of the music industry have changed, and that he is ushering in a new era of creativity and innovation.
No more problems, no more argue
The artist is seeking a world where people can live in harmony and cooperation, free from the conflicts and disagreements that often arise in society.
No more askin', "Who really are you?"
The artist is promoting greater authenticity and transparency in relationships, and encouraging people to be their true selves rather than hiding behind false facades or social constructs.
I know the real you, you know we feel you
The artist believes that he understands the true essence of his listeners, and that they in turn understand and relate to his message.
You know He hears you, you know we with you
The artist believes that God is listening to his listeners' prayers and struggles, and that he and his community are there to support them as well.
Straight from Beirut, Chicago, Beirut
The artist is showcasing the diversity and breadth of his influence, drawing inspiration from a range of global locations and cultural traditions.
You cray? We cray too
The artist embraces unconventional or nonconformist behaviors or attitudes, and encourages his listeners to do the same.
You pray? We pray too
The artist advocates for the power of prayer and faith, and believes that these can help people overcome adversity and find strength.
Never too late for Him to save you
The artist believes that no matter how far gone someone may think they are, there is always hope for redemption or salvation through faith and spiritual growth.
This your movie 'cause no one can play you
The artist encourages listeners to see themselves as the heroes of their own lives, with the ability to shape their own destiny and story.
Devil, lay down, Devil, lay down
The artist is calling for the defeat of negative or destructive influences, symbolized here as the devil.
This that level, make devils pray now (Heaven and Hell)
The artist believes that his music has the power to challenge and defeat even the darkest and most sinister forces in the world.
Hold up, no peace, hold up, police
The artist is highlighting the widespread issue of police brutality and the lack of peace and security experienced by many people across the world.
Don't call police, just stay focused (is on Earth)
The artist is urging listeners to maintain their focus and resilience in the face of adversity, rather than relying on a flawed law enforcement system for protection.
Pray for new life, pray for new breath
The artist is emphasizing the power of prayer and faith to bring about transformation and renewal, both on an individual and societal level.
Hey, Lord, make sure it's safe for who's left (Heaven and Hell)
The artist is expressing concern for the safety and well-being of those who will remain on earth after he is gone, and is imploring God to look after them.
Know you can't find a place to rest
The artist is acknowledging the restless, anxious nature of life, and the ongoing struggle to find comfort or security in an uncertain world.
Know the Lord my bulletproof vest (is on Earth)
The artist believes that his faith in God provides him with a sense of protection and inner strength, even when he is faced with danger or adversity.
When we survive, know that we blessed
The artist believes that overcoming hardships and surviving difficult circumstances is a blessing in and of itself, and is a cause for celebration and gratitude.
Save my people through the music
The artist believes that his music has the power to uplift and empower his listeners, and that it can be a force for positive change in society.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andrew Dawson, Billy Walsh, Charles Njapa, Cydel Young, Edgar Panford, Jahmal Gwin, Kanye West, Malik Yusef, Mark Williams, Michael Ian Oliver, Nima Jahanbin, Orlando Wilder, Paimon Jahanbin, Raul Cubina, Tobias Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BigBudde
LYRICS:
[Intro: 20th Century Steel Band]
Children growing, women producing
Men go work and some go stealing
Everyone's got to make a living
[Verse: Kanye West]
No more promos, no more photos
No more logos, no more chokeholds
We on Bezos, we get payrolls
Trips to Lagos, connect like LEGOs
Make this final, make this, my eyes closed
Burn false idols, Jesus' disciples
I can feel your pain now, I done bled my vein out
New level the game now, simulation changed
No more problems, no more argue
No more askin', "Who really arе you?"
I know the real you, you know we feel you
You know Hе hears you, you know we with you
Straight from Beirut, Chicago, Beirut
You cray? We cray, too
You pray? We pray, too
Never too late for Him to save you
This your movie 'cause no one can play you
Devil, lay down, Devil, lay down
This that level, make devils pray now (Heaven and Hell)
Hold up, no peace, hold up, police
Don't call police, just stay focused (Is on Earth)
Pray for new life, pray for new breath
Hey, Lord, make sure it's safe for who's left (Heaven and Hell)
Know you can't find a place to rest
Know the Lord my bulletproof vest (Is on Earth)
When we survive, know that we blessed
Save my people through the music
[Outro: Kanye West]
Let it grrat, let it grrat, grrat
Let it grrat, grrat, grrat, grrat, grrat
Let it grrat, grrat, grrat
Let it grrat, let it grrat, grrat
Let it grrat, grrat, grrat, grrat, grrat
Let it grrat
@ImDavisssGaming
Masterpiece
@The_Capo671
Wavis
@frvrfaithful
davis
@jordanbaca13
Tell Chris to upload
@WrestlingIsReal649
Wavis ye don’t miss 🔥🔥🔥
@shadowszn6316
🌵He mixes ASTRO & VAMP ❗️🌵🧛🏿♂️
https://youtu.be/z5j_5Nh9iYU
its heat.. trust me
@OfentseMwaseFilms
Didn’t know he dropped visuals for this. This is my banger🔥🔥🔥
@humphreycharles2795
Anyone who knows the artist who made the artworks for the final scenes??
@vhuawelomakhuvha
@@humphreycharles2795 say no more.
@teletransporte5
@@humphreycharles2795 directed by Thyago Sainte