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.
Love Yourself
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I made it here with love, love
Said I've been and up and down and I've been through it all
Took a while to know my heart
Oh, yes, it did, yeah
Before love like this, you go
Through the fire and valley lows
But if you just hold on
Oh, please hold on, it'll save yah, save yah
Truth can be the sweetest pain
It can mess up everything
It's the only way you know
I'm payin' for it, I'm changin' for it
Oh, oh, and it hurts
But I'll make it work
'Cause I'm no beginner
I'm a winner, paid dues, I know my purpose
Thought they'd put my life on hold
But I knew somethin' they didn't know
I know myself too much to ever fold
Dark clouds are movin' past you
Oh, you gotta love yourself
If you really wanna be with someone else
You gotta feed yourself
Before you feed somebody else
You gotta stay open, and don't be foolish
'Cause everybody don't mean you well
You gotta love yourself
Before you love somebody else
Yeah, gotta love yourself
Uh, you know what I'm sayin'?
I decided not to use my color as a handicap
He a designer, artist, producer, and he rap
Never found virtue from patience
In a dark room just pacin'
Precious time is just wastin'
You do not know what we facin'
I cannot be complacent
In my job, be courageous
Another kid just got shot
They can't find the assailant
Made it out of the basement
Made it out of the underground
From a time where you outta town
They might gun you down, blaow
There goes another round, blaow
There goes another round
Came from the Chi and wow, look what the fuck they found
A young legend, comin' to shut the summer down
You need to talk to me like you don't when your mother 'round
Oh, you gotta love yourself, oh yeah
If you really wanna be with someone else
You gotta feed yourself
Before you feed somebody else
You gotta stay open, and don't be foolish
'Cause everybody don't mean you well
You gotta love yourself (you gotta love yourself)
Before you love somebody else
I don't feel no one's time
Can't get restless in the soul
Hold your heart, the world is cold
Keep singin', don't you stop prayin', woman
Yeah, it will come to pass
Don't worry 'bout nothin'
God knows that you're worth it
You deserve it, can't nothin' else hurt you
Thought they'd put my life on hold
But I knew somethin' they didn't know
I know myself too much to ever fold
Dark clouds are movin' past you
Oh, you gotta love yourself, oh yeah
If you really wanna be with someone else
You gotta feed yourself
Before you feed somebody else
You gotta stay open, and don't be foolish
'Cause everybody don't mean you well
You gotta love yourself (you gotta love yourself)
Before you love somebody else (somebody else)
In the song "Love Yourself," Kanye West and Mary J. Blige delve into the journey of self-love and the importance of prioritizing oneself before entering into any relationships. The lyrics highlight the challenges one may face on the path to self-discovery and acceptance but emphasize the strength and resilience that love can provide.
The opening lines, "It's been a long way, but I made it here with love," reflect a sense of triumph and gratitude for the love that has guided the singer through their struggles. The subsequent lyrics describe the hardships and obstacles they have encountered, symbolized by the fire and valley lows. Despite these difficulties, they encourage the listener to hold on to love, as it has the power to save and uplift.
The line "Truth can be the sweetest pain" suggests that embracing one's true self and facing the reality of one's experiences can be challenging but ultimately rewarding. It hints at the personal growth and transformation that comes from acknowledging and accepting one's flaws, mistakes, and past. The singer acknowledges the sacrifices they have made and expresses a determination to make their journey of self-discovery work, demonstrating a strong sense of self and purpose.
The chorus emphasizes that before loving someone else, one must first love themselves. It emphasizes the need for self-care, self-awareness, and self-acceptance. The lyrics caution against being foolish and trusting everyone, highlighting the importance of setting boundaries and valuing one's well-being.
The verse by Kanye West touches on themes of resilience and overcoming adversity. He rejects the idea of using his race as a handicap and instead embraces his talents as a designer, artist, producer, and rapper. He shares the challenges of being in a dark place, feeling restless and wasting precious time. Despite the hardships he and others face in his community, he vows to be courageous and uncomplacent in his pursuit of success. He asserts his status as a young legend from Chicago, ready to make a significant impact and shut down the summer.
Overall, "Love Yourself" is a song that celebrates the power of self-love and the continuous journey of self-discovery. It highlights the need to prioritize oneself and embrace personal growth and resilience. The lyrics encourage listeners to have faith in their worth, to stay true to themselves, and not to let external circumstances define them.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been a long way, but I made it here with love
Despite the challenges and obstacles I faced, I have reached this point in my life because of the power of love.
I made it here with love, love
Love has been the driving force behind my journey and has brought me to where I am now.
Said I've been and up and down and I've been through it all
I have experienced both highs and lows and have gone through various trials and tribulations in life.
Took a while to know my heart
It took me some time to truly understand and connect with my own emotions and desires.
Oh, yes, it did, yeah
This process of self-discovery and understanding was indeed a significant and impactful one.
Before love like this, you go
Before experiencing a love like this, one must go through certain experiences and challenges.
Through the fire and valley lows
These experiences might include enduring difficult times and facing personal struggles.
But if you just hold on
However, if you remain resilient and refuse to give up,
Please hold on 'cause love is strong, it'll save yah
Love, with its strength and power, will ultimately bring salvation and provide support.
Oh, please hold on, it'll save yah, save yah
So please, hold on tight, as love has the ability to rescue and protect you.
Truth can be the sweetest pain
The truth, despite sometimes being painful, can also be the most enlightening and liberating experience.
It can mess up everything
The truth has the potential to disrupt and change everything.
It's the only way you know
However, it is through embracing and accepting the truth that you can truly understand and comprehend reality.
I'm payin' for it, I'm changin' for it
I am willing to endure the consequences and make necessary transformations for the sake of the truth.
Oh, oh, and it hurts
Although it may be painful, facing the truth is an essential part of personal growth and development.
But I'll make it work
I am determined to make the truth work and use it as a catalyst for positive change.
'Cause I'm no beginner
I am not someone who is new to facing challenges and overcoming obstacles.
I'm a winner, paid dues, I know my purpose
I have achieved success and paid my dues, and I have a clear understanding of my purpose in life.
Thought they'd put my life on hold
Others may have thought that my progress and success would be halted or hindered.
But I knew somethin' they didn't know
However, I had knowledge and insights that they were unaware of.
I know myself too much to ever fold
My self-awareness is so strong that I would never give up or succumb to external pressures.
Dark clouds are movin' past you
Difficult and challenging times are gradually dissipating and moving away from your life.
Oh, you gotta love yourself
It is essential to have self-love and appreciation.
If you really wanna be with someone else
In order to form healthy and fulfilling relationships with others, you must first love yourself.
You gotta feed yourself
Take care of your own needs and nourish your own soul.
Before you feed somebody else
Only then can you truly give and support others in a meaningful way.
You gotta stay open, and don't be foolish
Remain emotionally open and avoid making unwise decisions or choices.
'Cause everybody don't mean you well
Not everyone has your best interests at heart, so be cautious and discerning.
Yeah, gotta love yourself
Yes, it is crucial to prioritize self-love and self-care.
Uh, you know what I'm sayin'?
Do you understand the importance of what I am saying?
I decided not to use my color as a handicap
I have chosen not to perceive my race as a disadvantage or limitation.
He a designer, artist, producer, and he rap
I am a multi-talented individual who excels in various creative fields.
Never found virtue from patience
I have not discovered any benefits or value in being patient.
In a dark room just pacin'
I often find myself restless and pacing in a dimly lit room.
Precious time is just wastin'
I am aware that valuable time is being wasted and not utilized effectively.
You do not know what we facin'
You are unaware or unfamiliar with the challenges and obstacles we are currently facing.
I cannot be complacent
I refuse to be satisfied or content with the current circumstances.
In my job, be courageous
In my profession, it is important to demonstrate courage and bravery.
Another kid just got shot
Tragically, another young person has been shot and killed.
They can't find the assailant
The perpetrator of the crime has not been identified or apprehended.
Made it out of the basement
I have successfully overcome a difficult or challenging situation.
Made it out of the underground
I have emerged from a lesser-known or underappreciated position in my career.
From a time where you outta town
During a period when you were not well-known or recognized.
They might gun you down, blaow
They may act violently or harmfully towards you, resulting in your harm.
There goes another round, blaow
Another instance of violence or conflict has surfaced unexpectedly.
There goes another round
Once again, there is an occurrence of confrontation or aggression.
Came from the Chi and wow, look what the fuck they found
Originating from Chicago, my success and achievements have surpassed all expectations and surprised everyone.
A young legend, comin' to shut the summer down
As a rising star with immense talent, I am determined to dominate and leave a lasting impact in the summer season.
You need to talk to me like you don't when your mother 'round
Speak to me honestly and openly, without any filter or reservation, just like you would do when your mother is not present.
I don't feel no one's time
I do not perceive anyone's time as more valuable or important than mine.
Can't get restless in the soul
I cannot allow myself to become unsettled or anxious internally.
Hold your heart, the world is cold
Protect and guard your emotions, as the world can be unforgiving and harsh.
Keep singin', don't you stop prayin', woman
Continue to sing and express yourself, and do not cease your prayers or spiritual connection, my dear woman.
Yeah, it will come to pass
Yes, eventually everything will come to fruition and be resolved.
Don't worry 'bout nothin'
Do not worry or stress about anything.
God knows that you're worth it
God recognizes and acknowledges your value and significance.
You deserve it, can't nothin' else hurt you
You are deserving of all the good things in life, and nothing else can harm you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kanye Omari West, Darhyl Camper Jr., Mary J Blige, David Debrandon Brown, Charles Alexander
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Young Plug
Kayne really makes every song better
Guilherme Neitzel de Souza
masterpiece
Maccaroy Brown-Samuel
This is MAD 🔥🔥🔥
Waleska Tirado
Yoooo this fireee
Yahwuda
This fake but so cold 🥶
MrPistol Blaster
They should use an AI Boys II Men to remix a new gen r&b song
MengL33
How….