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.
Take Me To The Light
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every time
And the stars will align (every time)
You ain't lyin' (ooh)
You ain't lyin'
You ain't lyin'
You gon' take me to the light (every time)
Every time
Every time
Ooh, the fifth dimension
You can see the time
It don't look aligned
Ain't no other side
Tree ain't gotta listen (listen)
Tree ain't got a eye (eye)
It can feel the vibe (vibe)
It can touch the sky
What a sense of balance (balance)
Trees catching fire (he'll be the last)
What a way to die
And you still take me to the light (every time) (ooh)
You still take me to the light (every time)
It seem like our stars align (every time)
You ain't lyin' (ooh)
You ain't lyin'
You ain't lyin'
You gon' take me to the light (every time)
Every time
Every time
Every time
You ain't lyin', Heaven is a ride
I just wanna ride, I just wanna try
Something new tonight, Heaven is a flight
Don't leave me outside, take me every time
Every time
It's a giant water slide, don't you hang me out to dry
Ooh, the first dimension ('mension)
You ain't gotta eye (eye)
Ain't no left to right (he'll be the last)
Too fast from the line
And you still take me to the light (every time) (ooh)
You still take me to the light (every time)
It seem like our stars align (every time)
You ain't lyin' (ooh)
You ain't lyin'
You ain't lyin'
You gon' take me to the light (every time)
Every time
Take me every time
Take me, time
Darlin' in the first dimension
You ain't gotta lie
You don't have to worry
Darlin' ain't nobody decidin'
If you can sense the distance
Keep it personal
Then you can be a star
Keep 'em guessin'
And the stars be aligned
Keep 'em guessin'
He'll be the last
You take me to the (he'll be the last)
And you still take me to the light (every time) (ooh)
You still take me to the light (every time)
It seem like our stars align (every time)
You ain't lyin' (ooh) (you ain't lyin')
You ain't lyin' (you ain't lyin')
You ain't lyin'
You gon' take me to the light (every time)
Every time
Every time
Every time
The lyrics of Take Me to the Light by Kanye West, Chance The Rapper, Bon Iver, and Francis and the Lights convey a sense of hope, trust, and surrender to a higher power or force that will guide them through life. The repeated phrase, "You gon' take me to the light," reflects the desire for guidance and the belief that the stars will align and lead them to their destination.
The reference to the fifth dimension indicates a heavenly or spiritual realm beyond the physical world, where time and space are transcended. The tree imagery reminds us of the connection between humanity and nature, and how nature can teach us balance and harmony. The line, "Trees catching fire (he'll be the last)/What a way to die," can be interpreted as both a warning about the consequences of neglecting the environment and a metaphor for the destructive power of passion and desire.
The theme of surrender to a greater power is reinforced in the second verse, with references to riding, flying, and sliding, all of which imply a loss of control and a willingness to let go. The repetition of "Take me every time" and "You still take me to the light" suggest a deep trust and reliance on a higher force or a loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time (ooh)
No matter what happens, every time the following events occur.
Every time
Repeated for emphasis, these events happen without fail.
And the stars will align (every time)
These events only happen when the stars align and everything falls into place.
You ain't lyin' (ooh)
Assurance that everything being said is truthful and honest.
You ain't lyin'
Repeated for emphasis, the artist is certain that what is being said is true and trustworthy.
You ain't lyin'
Nothing being said is false or a lie.
You gon' take me to the light (every time)
The listener will lead the singer to a metaphorical or literal 'light' that brings positivity and enlightenment every time.
Ooh, the fifth dimension
A reference to a higher plane of existence beyond the typical three dimensions of space and one of time.
You can see the time
In this dimension, time is a visible and tangible aspect of the environment.
It don't look aligned
Despite the visibility of time, it is not perfectly aligned and can be chaotic or unpredictable.
Ain't no other side
There is no opposite or contrasting side to this dimension.
Tree ain't gotta listen (listen)
A metaphor to convey that trees do not have the biological ability to listen but instead react to their environment in a more intuitive way.
Tree ain't got a eye (eye)
Another metaphor to suggest that trees do not have the ability to visually perceive, but instead can sense the world around them in a more discerning way.
It can feel the vibe (vibe)
A continuation of the metaphor that trees can sense changes in the environment that suggest something is happening or about to happen.
It can touch the sky
Trees are often very tall and may reach up to touch the sky, further emphasizing their connection to the world around them.
What a sense of balance (balance)
Trees showcase an incredible sense of balance, even when confronted with adverse environmental factors like strong winds or heavy snowfall.
Trees catchin' fire (he'll be the last)
A more metaphorical interpretation, suggesting that even when confronted with chaos or negative energy, the 'tree' or individual referenced here will be the last to become enveloped by it.
What a way to die
A commentary on the tragedy of being consumed by negativity or lost in chaos, contrasting with the balance and intuitive sense of trees.
You ain't lyin', Heaven is a ride
Reiterating the truthfulness of what is being said, likening the metaphorical 'light' of previous lines to a journey towards something heavenly and blissful.
I just wanna ride, I just wanna try
An expression of eagerness to embark on this journey and explore new possibilities.
Something new tonight, Heaven is a flight
Suggesting that the journey towards enlightenment is a fresh and exciting experience, one that could be compared to flying towards heaven.
Don't leave me outside, take me every time
A plea to not be excluded from this journey or be left behind during this trek towards a better place. Confidence in the person leading the way is expressed.
It's a giant water slide, don't you hang me out to dry
Continuing the metaphorical description of the journey, likening it to a fun and exhilarating ride. The line also expresses the desire to avoid being left alone or stranded while trying to progress.
Ooh, the first dimension ('mension)
An apparent return to the concept of different dimensions, this time with a reference to the first dimension as opposed to the fifth.
You ain't gotta eye (eye)
A possible reference to the concept of a dimension where only one dimension exists, meaning that seeing or perceiving isn't possible.
Ain't no left to right (he'll be the last)
Further expanding on the first dimension metaphor, it signifies that in this dimension there is no second direction, emphasizing the limitation of perception and dimension.
Too fast from the line
Referring again to the inability to perceive more than one direction or path and thus holding a potential risk for getting lost or falling behind the 'line'.
Darlin' in the first dimension
Addressing someone intimately, in this case, someone presumably leading the way or guiding the artist.
You ain't gotta lie
Reiteration that honesty is preferred, especially when leading or guiding someone.
You don't have to worry
Under various expectations and uncertainties, the singer or follower is asked to follow amid reassurance from the leader.
Darlin' ain't nobody decidin'
The person leading is assuring the listener that they are in control of their own journey and their own decisions, as well as indicating a level of trust and intimacy between the two.
If you can sense the distance
As with earlier analogies regarding trees and their intuitive senses, the listener is asked to sense the distance, to look to their inner compass for direction.
Keep it personal
An encouragement to make the journey towards the metaphorical 'light' personal for the listener, keeping true to their own expectations and priorities.
Then you can be a star
If the listener can synthesize the concepts of personal preference with guidance, they can succeed in reaching their goals and potentially attain a high status, or become a 'star.'
Keep 'em guessin'
Urging the listener to avoid becoming predictable and mundane, suggesting that they should maintain an aura of mystery to those around them.
And the stars be aligned
A repetition of earlier ideas regarding the need for the stars to align in order for the artist to be led towards enlightenment or new horizons.
He'll be the last
Again with the existential nature of the lyrics, the emphasis is on the individual's steadfastness and ability to remain connected in the face of adversity. Only after all others have failed, will this individual falter.
You take me to the (he'll be the last)
The one leading the charge during the journey towards enlightenment is asked to be a guide and protect the singer along the way in a way that ensures strength and resolute growth.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Benjamin Joseph Levin, BJ Burton, Caroline Adelaide Shaw, Francis Farewell Starlite, Jeffrey Nath Bhasker, Justin Deyarmond Edison Vernon, Kanye Omari West, Magnus Hoiberg, Noah D. Goldstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@_Wakaz_
It's late 2019, Kanye is on top of the world, and his two closest musical companions, Francis and Justin by his side, and the Light with them. You just heard this song for the first time - life is good.
@richiedehaan
I gave the Spotify version a try, I really did, but this one just warms my heart way more
@malachihoward-cassidy3805
Every time.
@erickmazariegos5778
Is exactly the same thing isnt it?
@mer-ka-ba-
@Erick Mazariegos nah there was a version released that got pulled. Now the “official” version is different from the original
@erickmazariegos5778
@@mer-ka-ba2905 yeah, the spotify version vs this youtube version. Sounds exactly the same to me. Maybe minor mix changes but nothing more.
@mer-ka-ba-
@Erick Mazariegos I’m no music engineer :) I just know the first song I liked is no longer playable in Spotify so something somewhere changed
@partyatmyfuneral1
Goes to show that music has a life of it’s own once created. And despite the artists intentions, this more raw, less polished version is the one that resonates the most!
@pilcrow1546
Thank goodness this version still exists here on YouTube!
@_Wakaz_
The fact these three guys came together to make this is unbelievable. Such a wonderful collaborative feat.