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.
Mula
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cause ain't no real niggas out here
Ye what these niggas start hummin' out their mouth with?
Bunch of bullshit, weak ass albums
Bunch of lil' niggas tryna copy our style
When we originated this, whole mothafuckin' album had hits
That's why we up in the Ritz
Get you killed pronto, wearin' red now, El Segundo
Bail long as Alonzo Mourning
Kill a nigga in his Monte Carlo like Alonzo
Sold records, sold crack, nigga, recognize
For the record, I've been wreckin' shit since '05
No lie, J's on
Take these mothafuckas off and throw the Ye's on
Rewind, J's on
Take these mothafuckas off and throw the Ye's on
Yeezy, tell these niggas that they is slaves
Master want you on red carpet like yesterday
You a house nigga, I'ma get away though
Come back kill master ass like Django
Most you niggas just rapping for the fame though
I start rapping to get the fuck out this durango
What goes around comes around how that saying go?
Documentary 2, no 50 keep the change hoe
Feelin' lonely
Let me know if you're feelin' crazy
I guess all that stuff they told me
In my life was extra shady
I should've kept 'em waitin'
Say hello to the mula
I'm on top, no lie
Say hello to the mula
I'm on top, good night
Back like I never left, nigga I'm on my second breath
And I got another track from Yeezy
How'd you do that? Like Eric Wright said Eazy
Pull up in my cool whip, I don't give a fuck about it
Leave it at the valet, I ain't fucked up about it
I'll call an Uber, nigga, I'll fuckin' shoot a nigga
I got a white bitch that blow like a tuba, nigga
I just got a new crib, I just got a new Wraith
I just got cooler than LL Cool J
I just got a new gun, squeeze it like some toothpaste
I, I
Spit in the face of a coward
Shit on anybody ever try to take ours
Ye why that nigga's face so sour?
Cause that slick mouth got him wet up like a shower
Now what you know about power?
What you know about dreams?
What you know about freestylin' versus
Shelter outside of Nike Town without a dollar in your jeans
Feelin' lonely
Let me know if you're feelin' crazy
I guess all that stuff they told me
In my life was extra shady
I should've kept 'em waitin'
Say hello to the mula
I'm on top, no lie
Say hello to the mula
I'm on top, good night
Feelin' lonely
In the song "Mula" by Kanye West, the lyrics speak to Kanye's confidence and assertiveness in the rap game. He begins by calling out those who claim to be real niggas but are actually spouting weak lyrics and releasing subpar albums. He asserts that his own album is filled with hits, explaining why he is able to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle, symbolized by being up in the Ritz and being involved with someone's romantic partner. He sees himself as a leader, a head honcho who can have others killed with ease. The mention of El Segundo and Alonzo Mourning adds to the bravado, comparing his impact and ability to take out his enemies to these well-known figures.
Kanye continues with his braggadocious lyrics, stating that he has sold both records and crack, highlighting his versatility and success in multiple realms. He emphasizes that he has been wrecking the rap game since 2005, asserting his longevity and influence. The line about J's (Jordan sneakers) signifies his style and stature within the industry. He suggests taking off other rappers' shoes and putting on his own, symbolizing his superiority and authenticity.
In the next verse, Kanye takes shots at fellow rappers who he considers slaves to the industry, specifically calling out the hypocrisy of being controlled by the industry while seeking fame and success. He declares his own rebelliousness and determination to break free from these constraints, using Django from the movie "Django Unchained" as a metaphorical figure to demonstrate his plan to overthrow those who hold power over him. He implies that most rappers are rapping for fame rather than for a genuine desire to express themselves through music, contrasting his own motivations.
The chorus of the song reflects on feelings of loneliness and craziness. It suggests that Kanye may have been misled or deceived in his life, but he also acknowledges that he should have kept others waiting, implying that he should have stayed true to himself and not allowed external influences to compromise his authenticity. He introduces the concept of "mula," which is a slang term for money, and proclaims his success and dominance in the industry. The phrase "I'm on top" represents his elevated status and confidence, while "good night" closes the song, perhaps indicating that he is ending the competition or asserting his final say in the matter.
Overall, the lyrics of "Mula" showcase Kanye West's self-assuredness, his rejection of conformity, and his determination to rise above the industry's control and achieve lasting success. It also touches on themes of authenticity, fame, and the pursuit of power.
Line by Line Meaning
Cause ain't no real niggas out here
Because there are no authentic individuals in this environment
Ye what these niggas start hummin' out their mouth with?
Kanye, what nonsense are these individuals speaking about?
Bunch of bullshit, weak ass albums
A collection of subpar albums filled with nonsense
Bunch of lil' niggas tryna copy our style
Several young individuals attempting to imitate our unique manner
When we originated this, whole mothafuckin' album had hits
We were the pioneers of this style, and our entire album was filled with successful tracks
That's why we up in the Ritz
This is the reason why we are staying in a luxurious place like the Ritz
That's why I'm up in your bitch, head honcho
That's why I'm with your girl, asserting my dominance
Get you killed pronto, wearin' red now, El Segundo
I will have you eliminated immediately, now representing my affiliation with the Bloods gang in El Segundo
Bail long as Alonzo Mourning
My bail money is extensive, similar to that of Alonzo Mourning
Kill a nigga in his Monte Carlo like Alonzo
Committing murder in a Monte Carlo car just like Alonzo Mourning
Sold records, sold crack, nigga, recognize
I have been successful in both the music industry and the illegal drug trade, acknowledge it
For the record, I've been wreckin' shit since '05
Just to clarify, I have been causing havoc and dominating since 2005
No lie, J's on
I'm being honest, I am wearing Jordan shoes
Take these mothafuckas off and throw the Ye's on
Remove those Jordan shoes and put on my own Yeezy brand shoes
Rewind, J's on
Let's go back a bit, I'm still wearing Jordan shoes
Take these mothafuckas off and throw the Ye's on
Remove those Jordan shoes and put on my own Yeezy brand shoes
Yeezy, tell these niggas that they is slaves
Kanye, inform these individuals that they are enslaved and controlled
Master want you on red carpet like yesterday
The master desires your presence on the red carpet immediately
You a house nigga, I'ma get away though
You are subservient to the master, but I will escape and be free
Come back kill master ass like Django
Return and murder the master similar to Django in the movie
Most you niggas just rapping for the fame though
Many of you individuals are only rapping for the sake of gaining popularity
I start rapping to get the fuck out this durango
I began rapping with the intention of escaping poverty and difficult circumstances
What goes around comes around how that saying go?
How does the saying go? What you do to others will eventually happen to you
Documentary 2, no 50 keep the change hoe
This album is like a documentary, not influenced or changed by 50 Cent
Let me know if you're feelin' lonely
Inform me if you are experiencing loneliness
Let me know if you're feelin' crazy
Tell me if you are feeling mentally unstable
I guess all that stuff they told me
I suppose all the information and advice I received
In my life was extra shady
In my life turned out to be deceitful and untrustworthy
I should've kept 'em waitin'
I should have made them wait longer
Say hello to the mula
Greet the money, the symbol of wealth and success
I'm on top, no lie
I am at the highest point, this is the truth
I'm on top, good night
I am at the pinnacle, it's time to rest
Back like I never left, nigga I'm on my second breath
I have returned as if I never went away, rejuvenated for a new phase
And I got another track from Yeezy
I have another song produced by Kanye West
How'd you do that? Like Eric Wright said Eazy
How did you accomplish that? In a way similar to what Eric Wright, known as Eazy-E, once said
Pull up in my cool whip, I don't give a fuck about it
Arrive in my stylish car, I couldn't care less about it
Leave it at the valet, I ain't fucked up about it
Leave it with the valet, I have no worries or concerns about it
I'll call an Uber, nigga, I'll fuckin' shoot a nigga
I'll request an Uber, and if necessary, I will shoot someone
I got a white bitch that blow like a tuba, nigga
I have a white woman who performs oral sex with great skill
I just got a new crib, I just got a new Wraith
I recently acquired a new mansion and a new Rolls-Royce Wraith
I just got cooler than LL Cool J
I have become cooler and more popular than LL Cool J
I just got a new gun, squeeze it like some toothpaste
I just obtained a new firearm, and I handle it as casually as squeezing toothpaste
Spit in the face of a coward
Showing complete disrespect towards a weak and fearful individual
Shit on anybody ever try to take ours
I mock and degrade anyone who attempts to take what belongs to us
Ye why that nigga's face so sour?
Kanye, why does that person's expression display such bitterness and resentment?
Cause that slick mouth got him wet up like a shower
That person's smooth talking resulted in them being fully soaked, just like in a shower
Now what you know about power?
Do you truly understand what power is?
What you know about dreams?
Do you possess knowledge about aspirations and ambitions?
What you know about freestylin' versus
What do you understand about improvisational rap battles?
Shelter outside of Nike Town without a dollar in your jeans
Finding refuge outside Nike Town despite having no money in your pockets
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BARBARA MASON, CASH JONES, JAYCEON TERRELL TAYLOR, JOSHUA MICHAEL CARTER, KANYE OMARI WEST, MARCUS ANTWANN MOODY, MATTHEW JEHU SAMUELS, SARAH DEMAREST BARTHEL, STANLEY BERNARD BENTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SabrinaOnlineFan96
on I Am a God (feat. God)
HURRY UP WITH MY DAMN CROISSANTS!
Peter
on Stronger
Killer mix
Lauri Des Marais
on Stronger
PoP
Lauri Des Marais
on Stronger
LdM Classical Technology BMI
Lauri Des Marais
on New Slaves
LdM Classical Technology BMI
Lauri Des Marais
on I Wonder
JJUSTICE
anna
on Gold Digger
can you hear it
emall
on Hurricane
lolollo
0806357559
on Jail
✳️#me
Ridwaan Ahmed
on Black Skinhead
Www.SongsPKFull.In