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.
Promised Land
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On what we been on as of late
See I was reading a late notice on the date that I wrote this, you hear
Time flies in the Leer
And you wonder where the day went
See I'm a leader in my field, but I'm behind on my truck payments
So this is something that could help you raise your head like hello
See this is not brown red or yellow
This is a prayer to a guardian angel
To protect our fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, sons and daughters
Until we bring our troops back home
'Cause it feel like we all in the same platoon
And we'll all be extinct soon
If we continue to suffer from other people's crimes
I think we well overdo for change
This time
And I know they don't wanna see me cooped up in a Benz
They'd rather see me cooped up these pens
Therefore I release the ink that's cooped up in these pens
And let my art-ticulate
People are so slow to love, but so quick to hate
Now some things finna change because we say so
Lets stop looking at how bad things are
And focus on how well they may go
And this is a declaration
That we'll be fair again
Especially to those Americans
Who were Americans, before there were Americans
This is to a small young family that's booming out of space
There's room in outer space
This is to my people
The human race
I need you to take us to the promised land
Don't just make us promises
It's too late to let go of our hand
They say we need a prophet that can touch on the topics
And make it hot as the tropics
Well you got it (you got it)
Take us to the promise land
Don't just make us promises
It's too late to let go of our hand
Everybody saying please don't let go
I hear it over and over and over like a echo
I see it in my dreams, I feel the effect though
People drowning in debt
Somebody to the rescue
Everybody's saying we need something special
Nah man, we need something extra terrestrial
Outta this world, speak for us
Be the vessel
Outta the box, reach for it through the threshold
Uh, through all of the stress though
What's best of all, people screaming like a festival
Just applaud, this moment is special y'all
I need you to
And I need you to
And I need you to
I need you to
I need you to
The lyrics of "Promised Land" by Kanye West and Malik Yusef are a reflection of the various issues plaguing society, and the need for change. The artists begin by discussing the passage of time and the urgency of making progress. They speak to the idea that they are leaders in their field, but are still struggling to make ends meet, just like regular people. This is an acknowledgment that despite success, there are still real-world problems that need to be addressed.
The song also addresses issues related to the military and the ongoing war efforts that have caused worldwide unrest. The artists call for bringing the troops back home and for all parties to work together towards change. The song ultimately becomes a declaration for a call to action, one that emphasizes the need for everyone to work together to create a better future.
Additionally, the lyrics to "Promised Land" speak to the power of words and the role of art in catalyzing social progress. The song highlights the importance of creating solutions that speak to the inherent human decency in all of us, and the need to embrace and care for those who are vulnerable or marginalized. Overall, Kanye West and Malik Yusef's "Promised Land" promotes a message of hope, unity, and change, emphasizing the need for all people to work together towards a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
Now what y'all finna hear is an update
I am about to share with you the latest information about what we have been working on recently.
On what we been on as of late
I am going to give you an update on what we have been doing lately.
See I was reading a late notice on the date that I wrote this, you hear
At the time of writing this song, I noticed that time seems to fly by quickly.
Time flies in the Leer
Time passes very quickly.
And you wonder where the day went
It is easy to lose track of time and not realize how quickly the day has passed.
See I'm a leader in my field, but I'm behind on my truck payments
Although I am successful in my career, I am still struggling with financial issues.
So this is something that could help you raise your head like hello
Through this song, I hope to inspire and encourage you to look up and overcome your hardships.
See this is not brown red or yellow
This is not about race or skin color.
Not a white or black poem
This poem is not specifically about white or black people either.
This is a prayer to a guardian angel
This is a plea and a hope for protection from a higher power.
To protect our fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, sons and daughters
To safeguard our loved ones and family members from harm and danger.
Until we bring our troops back home
I hope that our soldiers will return home safely and that we will end all conflicts in the world.
'Cause it feel like we all in the same platoon
We all feel like we are fighting the same battle against the struggles of life.
And we'll all be extinct soon
If we do not address the issues facing our world, we will all suffer the consequences and perish.
If we continue to suffer from other people's crimes
If we do not hold people accountable for their actions, we will continue to bear the consequences of their wrongdoing.
I think we well overdo for change
It is high time for us to make a change and work towards a better future.
This time
Now is the time to take action and create positive change.
And I know they don't wanna see me cooped up in a Benz
People do not want to see me trapped in a luxurious car but separated from the rest of society.
They'd rather see me cooped up these pens
People would much prefer to see me using my talent and voice to make a difference.
Therefore I release the ink that's cooped up in these pens
I am using my writing talents to speak out and raise awareness about pressing social issues.
And let my art-ticulate
I am letting my poetry and art speak for itself and convey my message.
People are so slow to love, but so quick to hate
It is unfortunate that people are often hesitant to show love and understanding while being quick to judge and hate others.
Now some things finna change because we say so
Through our voices and actions, we can bring about positive changes and create a better future for ourselves and others.
Lets stop looking at how bad things are
Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of life, we should shift our attention towards what is possible and how things can get better.
And focus on how well they may go
We should be optimistic and hopeful about the future, and focus our energy towards creating positive change.
And this is a declaration
This is a statement and a call to action.
That we'll be fair again
We will work towards restoring equality and fairness for all individuals.
Especially to those Americans
This applies in particular to those in the United States.
Who were Americans, before there were Americans
This is a reference to Native Americans and their status as the original inhabitants of North America.
This is to a small young family that's booming out of space
This is dedicated to the growing community of humans who are venturing into space and exploring beyond our planet.
There's room in outer space
There is a vast and infinite amount of space beyond Earth that can be explored and utilized for the betterment of humanity.
This is to my people
This message is directed towards all people, regardless of race, gender, or nationality.
The human race
This is a reminder that we are all members of the same species and should work together towards a common goal.
I need you to take us to the promised land
I am asking for someone to lead us towards a better future and create positive change.
Don't just make us promises
I am tired of empty promises and want to see concrete actions and results.
It's too late to let go of our hand
We are in this together and cannot afford to abandon each other or our goal of creating a better future.
They say we need a prophet that can touch on the topics
People are looking for someone who can accurately and effectively address the issues facing society.
And make it hot as the tropics
This prophet should be dynamic and passionate in their delivery and approach.
Well you got it (you got it)
I believe that I am the one who can fulfill this prophetic role and make a meaningful impact.
Everybody saying please don't let go
We all need each other and cannot afford to lose hope or give up.
I hear it over and over and over like a echo
This message is being repeated because it is important and needs to be heard.
I see it in my dreams, I feel the effect though
This message resonates deeply with me and affects me on a personal level.
People drowning in debt
Many individuals and families are struggling with financial difficulties and debt.
Somebody to the rescue
They need help and support to overcome their challenges.
Everybody's saying we need something special
People recognize that we need something extraordinary to make a difference and create a better future.
Nah man, we need something extra terrestrial
We need something beyond the ordinary and usual to create lasting change and make a significant impact.
Outta this world, speak for us
We need a voice that is powerful and unique, something that stands out and is different from the norm to convey our message.
Be the vessel
Be the means through which our message and aspirations are conveyed and realized.
Outta the box, reach for it through the threshold
We need to think creatively and outside of established norms and boundaries to achieve our goals.
Uh, through all of the stress though
Despite the challenges and difficulties we face, we must persevere and push forward with determination.
What's best of all, people screaming like a festival
When we achieve our goals and create positive change, it will feel like a celebration and bring people together in joy and happiness.
Just applaud, this moment is special y'all
We should take a moment to recognize and celebrate when we achieve our goals and create meaningful change for the betterment of all.
I need you to
I am asking for your help and support.
And I need you to
I cannot achieve this alone and need your participation.
And I need you to
Together, we can make a meaningful impact and create a better future.
I need you to
This call to action is directed towards everyone, regardless of identity or affiliation.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MALIK YUSEF EL SHABBAZ JONES, STEVE MCKEEVER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Agos Damiani
Every song sounds well with Adam's voice. <3
M4TT
for anyone wanting to know this song is on itunes under the album name Yes We Can: Voices of Grass Roots Movement by Malik Yusef, Adam Levine & Kanye West
DaftPunk201
The way i see it kanye is one of the few ppl when rapper does not live up to him hes far above it he not only is telling a stroy he makes hits which is more then i can say for most of these lames making stuff now Hes actually made it to the top
jaketohack
OMG!! I love this , but this dope track is too short btw. Adam always make the dope collaboration and I like Kanye West!
tim northern
Perfect rythem!!!!!!
MrBurgundy76
Yea glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks so. Other than that though I liked every song on graduation. I do like late registration the best though.
movingforwardcarefully
This is a beautiful song!
Brandon Duff
guys, shush this is like music for the soul avoiding the word amazing but its so strong and still able to mix with Adam Levines voice gah id love to do this stuff
TheOneWhoKnocks92
dis sent chillz down my spine. and no fuckin auto tune! kanye for da luv of god stop singing!!! this is fire!!! do shit like dis!! RAP!! lmfao
Nastyy .Juice
I love it <3333