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.
Junya Watanabe
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Junya Watanabe on my mmh, mmh, mmh
Back strippers, mmh, mmh, throw killers, mmh
Did I mmh, I gon’ tell ‘em, mmh
Put, what the mmh, like a mmh
I don’t fumble, mmh, mmh, like a mmh
Throw a mmh, throw a, mmh, mmh
I put mmh, mmh (Wri') mmh, mmh, mmh
Junya Watanabe on my wri'
I got 4, 5, lock keys on a wri'
I got on a mmh, mmh, mmh
Back killers, back, back, back
Throw it back, they don’t, mmh, stack
Mmh, mmh, spit it, mmh, fit it, mmh, fit it
Mmh, hold up, buy out the store in hours
Junya Watanabe on my wri’
Boolies on my couch, stays on a wri’
Mike Amiri, did he miss? (Wri’)
Boolies on my couch, stays on a wri’
Then you put the house on the wrist
I can’t really see, what did I miss?
I’m just tryna see, what did I miss?
Junya Watanabe on my mmh
I’m just tryna find out where I miss
For the kid, mmh this, mmh
I could like a cig, mmh, mmh
I don’t yeah i got fewer mmh, mmh
I could mmh
Throw it like the summer, mmh, mmh
All summer, mmh, mmh
Four, five gunners, mmh, mmh
Bow like gunnеrs, mmh, mmh
Throw out, mmh, mmh mmh, mmh
Like we planned it, mmh, mmh
Run thе planet, mmh, mmh mmh, mmh
Please don’t panic, mmh, mmh, mmh, mmh, mmh
(Wri’)
Junya Watanabe on my mmh, mmh, mmh
Back strippers, mmh, mmh, throw killers, mmh
Did I mmh, I gon’ tell ‘em, mmh
Put, what the mmh, like a mmh
I don’t fumble, mmh (Wri’)
The chorus of the song "Junya Watanabe" by Kanye West feat. Playboi Carti mentions the designer Junya Watanabe on their wrists suggesting that they are sporting his watches or bracelets. The first verse of the song is quite explicit with the use of slang and introduces the topic of backstrippers and throw killers but it is not clear what the reference behind those terms is. The rapper also mentions that he doesn't fumble during his performances and has everything under control. In the second verse, Kanye talks about some brands like Mike Amiri and again mentions the backstrippers and throwers, as well as guns using the code name "four, five gunners." They also mention not panicking as they run the planet.
Overall, the lyrics of the song "Junya Watanabe" by Kanye West feat. Playboi Carti are very cryptic and inscrutable. They suggest that the rappers are living a luxurious life, have money, and are able to buy expensive items. The mention of strippers, killers, and guns gives it a dangerous undertone, but what exactly they are referring to is hard to understand.
Line by Line Meaning
Junya Watanabe on my wri'
I am wearing a bracelet from Junya Watanabe on my wrist
Junya Watanabe on my mmh, mmh, mmh
I am emphasizing that the Junya Watanabe bracelet is prestigious and valuable
Back strippers, mmh, mmh, throw killers, mmh
I am surrounded by strippers and killers, who are ready to throw down
Did I mmh, I gon’ tell ‘em, mmh
If anyone asks, I will confidently tell them the truth
Put, what the mmh, like a mmh
Just like placing something with precision, I place my words and rhymes with accuracy
I don’t fumble, mmh, mmh, like a mmh
I never make mistakes when it comes to music, just like an athlete never fumbles with the ball
Throw a mmh, throw a, mmh, mmh
I am urging others to throw it down hard, just like I do
Like a mmh, I got mmh, mmh
I am the best in the game, and everyone knows it
I put mmh, mmh (Wri') mmh, mmh, mmh
I am creating music that is revolutionary and will stand the test of time
I got 4, 5, lock keys on a wri'
My bracelet is so precious that it requires four or five keys just to unlock it
Back killers, back, back, back
I have a crew of killers who always have my back, no matter what happens
Throw it back, they don’t, mmh, stack
I am encouraging others to throw down and perform to their best ability, because we will always bring our best
Mmh, mmh, spit it, mmh, fit it, mmh, fit it
I am confident in my ability to perform and freestyle, and I am always beating my personal records
Mmh, hold up, buy out the store in hours
I can afford to buy anything I want, at any time, because of my success in the music industry
Boolies on my couch, stays on a wri’
My team is always with me, no matter where I am, and we are always plotting our next moves
Mike Amiri, did he miss? (Wri’)
I am naming Mike Amiri, a fashion designer, and wondering if he has designed anything that can top the precious bracelet on my wrist
Then you put the house on the wrist
The bracelet on my wrist is so valuable, it is as if I have put my entire house on my wrist
I can’t really see, what did I miss?
I am questioning whether there is anything I have missed in life or in the music industry
I’m just tryna see, what did I miss?
I am curious and constantly seeking new opportunities and experiences
For the kid, mmh this, mmh
I am doing this for the culture and for my fans, and I am always finding new ways to keep things fresh and exciting
I could like a cig, mmh, mmh
I could care less about people who don't appreciate me or my music
I don’t yeah i got fewer mmh, mmh
I don't care about people who don't support me, because I have fewer and more valuable fans
I could mmh
I could care less about anything that doesn't pertain to me or my music
Throw it like the summer, mmh, mmh
I am unstoppable, like the sun in the summer, and I am destined for greatness
All summer, mmh, mmh
I have been working hard all summer to perfect my craft and create new music for my fans
Four, five gunners, mmh, mmh
I have a team of skilled and aggressive people, ready to fight and defend me
Bow like gunnеrs, mmh, mmh
My team and I are so successful and powerful, that when we walk into a room, people bow down and show us respect
Throw out, mmh, mmh mmh, mmh
I am expressing my confidence and telling others to throw down and give it their all
Like we planned it, mmh, mmh
Everything we do is calculated and strategic, and we never make a move without proper planning and execution
Run thе planet, mmh, mmh mmh, mmh
My team and I are so successful and powerful, we feel like we are running the entire planet and taking the world by storm
Please don’t panic, mmh, mmh, mmh, mmh, mmh
I want my fans to stay calm and focus on the positive, regardless of any setbacks or obstacles they may face
I don’t fumble, mmh (Wri’)
Just like my music, I am a master at never making mistakes or second-guessing myself
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@omomorohmon2860
Chorus: Kanye West]
Junya Watanabe on my wri', wri'
Junya Watanabe on my wri', wri'
Tell 'em this, did he miss?
Junya Watanabe on my, mmh
I can't really see, where did I miss? (Mmh, mmh)
[Verse 1: Kanye West]
Ex-strippers (Mmh, mmh)
New killers (Mmh, mmh), Chi' ** tell 'em (Mmh, mmh)
This on Donda (Mmh, mmh), on my mama (Mmh, mmh)
Made a promise (Mmh)
[Chorus: Kanye West]
Junya Watanabe on my wri'
Junya Watanabe on my wri'
Tell 'em this, did he miss? (Wri')
Junya Watanabe on my, mmh
I can't really see, where did I miss? (Mmh)
Junya Watanabe on my wri' (Mmh, mmh)
Junya Watanabe on my—
[Verse 2: Kanye West]
All summer (Mmh, mmh), all summer (Mmh, mmh)
.45 gunners (Mmh, mmh), in pajamas (Mmh, mmh)
They piranhas (Mmh, mmh)
Buy out the store in hours like we planned itChorus: Kanye West]
Junya Watanabe on my wri'
Junya Watanabe on my wri'
Tell 'em this, did he miss?
Junya Watanabe on my, mmh
I can't really see, where did I miss? (Mmh)
Junya Watanabe on my wri'
[Verse 3: Playboi Carti & Kanye West]
For five summers, hold up, uh
For five summers, hold up
For five summers, hold up, uh
For five summers, hold up, uh
We took over, hold up, uh
We took over, hold up
We took over, hold up
We took over, hold up
Born in Atlanta (Mmh, mmh)
Not Montana (Mmh, mmh)
'Scuse my manners (Mmh, mmh)
I got standards
Uh, yeah, 'scuse my manners (Mmh, mmh)
I got standards (Mmh, mmh)
I got status (Mmh, mmh)
You don't want static (Mmh, mmh)Verse 4: Kanye West & Playboi Carti]
See more comments (Mmh, mmh)
Than I see commas (Mmh, mmh)
They going dummy (Mmh, mmh)
We going Donda (Mmh, mmh)
Let me be honest (Mmh, mmh)
Let me be honest (Mmh, mmh)
I won with the bucks, boy
Let me Giannis (Mmh, mmh)
I won with the bucks, boy (Mm, mm)
The spirit is on us (Mmh, mmh)
The spirit of Donda
God's time can't fit on a wrist
Junya wanna have me on my— ( Wri', wri', wri')
Move out of the way of my release (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
Tryna get me off my Qs and Ps (Yeah, yeah, yeah, watch it)
Why can't losers never lose in peace? (Yeah, yeah, watch it)
Ain't nobody 'round me losing sleep
Better find God 'fore He find me
Tell the Devil good night, go to sleep
@tot3mpted
“why can’t losers never lose in peace” is my fav line
@jeremiahedwards2962
The last few bars of the song are aimed at Drake and I love them
@staigenerator2949
DRAKE 💀💀🥱
@angeldustfairy
I run with the bucks boy let me Giannis
@ryanbarney254
Ain't nobody 'round me losin' sleep.
@ryanbarney254
@@jeremiahedwards2962 better find God 'fore he find me.
@PatoNani18
Actually the most underappreciated song of the album already. Shit sounds simple but it goes hard af. It deserves a fire ass music video.
@devent7098
this song gets skipped before 10 secs everytime
@brazilianbastard3992
Jail too
@lebolebonana7222
I wanna see Kanye dancing😩