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.
This Way
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turn it uup, turn it up (little louder)
Now turn it up (can't live my, I, I can't live my)
(I can't live my, I, I can't live my)
Now turn it up, turn it up
(Yeah) Yo, I can't live my I, I can't live my
Life this way, continuously get high
It's a new day gotta do it big just to get right
Show no respect can't live that way
You hold my check can't live that way
Without my chick on deck, can't live that way
They say what they like, but I've been that way
Our moves calculated through the lens, almost here
Success will be the best revenge
Man, from Clint East' to Kanye West (whut up, whut up!)
The sun can't chill but everyday it sets (everyday!)
This time I made up my mind
This time I'm back on my prime
I know there's things in my life
That I'ma let go startin' tonight
(I can't live my, I, I can't live my)
(I can't live my, I, I can't live my)
I can't live my, I, I can't live my
I can't live my life this way (can't live my, I, I can't live my)
This way (I can't live my, I, I can't live my)
This way, I can't live my, I, I can't live my
I can't live my life this way
My favorite girl wanna leave me just because I got a girlfriend
My freak girl told me now, she a christian
My white girl wanna move back to Michigan
I'm pullin' girls off the bench like a sixth man
I'm in the club doin' the same ol' two step
While Omegas doin' the same ol' "Q" step
I have my money on my mind I was thinkin' green
She a pledge A.K.A. She was pink and green
I wanna a good girl she want a gentleman
We sayin' the same thing like a synonym
I wasn't really spittin' game I was scrimmaging
My penmanship's so hard it needs censorship
I'ma Chicagoan till Chicago ends
Till we blow like Chicago wind
I don't know what's better, gettin' laid or gettin' paid
I just know when I'm gettin one, the other's gettin' away
This way
This time I made up my mind
This time I'm back on my prime
I know there's things in my life
That I'ma let go startin' tonight
(I can't live my, I, I can't live my)
(I can't live my, I, I can't live my)
I can't live my, I, I can't live my
I can't live my life this way (can't live my, I, I can't live my)
This way (I can't live my, I, I can't live my)
This way, I can't live my, I, I can't live my
I can't live my life this way
Go 'head, flip a coin so the game don't stop
Believe I know the drama, kid name the part
I learnt before the hot flame came the spark
It's like before the pop fame came the park
But this industry'll play with yo' life man
They playin with yo' rent, food, water and lights man (yeah)
That's why Rakaa brings it like that ol' "Tidy T" jam
The battleram, then I'm off to Amsterdam
To rest up for strength to deal with this weight
To deal with these deals to deal with this hate
I dedicate this Jam Master Jay
Run-D.M.C. Showed me how to walk, this way
This time I made up my mind
This time I'm back on my prime
I know there's things in my life
That I'ma let go startin' tonight
(I can't live my, I, I can't live my)
(I can't live my, I, I can't live my)
I can't live my, I, I can't live my
I can't live my life this way (can't live my, I, I can't live my)
This way (I can't live my, I, I can't live my)
This way, I can't live my, I, I can't live my
I can't live my life this way
This way
This way
This way, ay
This way
This way
This way
This way, ay
The lyrics of Kanye West's song This Way are about the search for happiness or fulfillment in life. The repetition of the phrase "I can't live my life this way" emphasizes the theme of dissatisfaction with the current state of life. Kanye talks about prioritizing his needs and wants, and making intentional decisions about who he surrounds himself with. He wants to let go of things that are holding him back and move forward with a clear mind. The reference to Jam Master Jay and Run-D.M.C. is a nod to the old-school hip-hop and the influence of these artists on Kanye's own music.
The chorus of the song is catchy and memorable, with a simple melody and rhythmic repetition. The verses are more wordy and contain numerous clever rhymes and metaphors, showing off Kanye's skilled wordplay. The use of different characters - the favorite girl, freak girl, and white girl - adds a layer of complexity to the song, as Kanye explores his relationships and desires.
Overall, This Way is a reflective and introspective song that encourages listeners to evaluate their own lives and make changes to find happiness and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Now turn it up, turn it up (a little louder)
Increase the volume (please)
(Yeah) Yo, I can't live my I, I can't live my
I cannot continue to exist in my current lifestyle
Life this way, continuously get high
I am constantly getting intoxicated and it's not sustainable
Instead of runnin 'round, lock one bird down
I should settle down with one woman rather than fooling around
It's a new day gotta do it big just to get right
I need to achieve great success to be happy
Show no respect can't live that way
I cannot tolerate disrespect from others
You hold my check can't live that way
I cannot let others control my finances
Without my chick on deck, can't live that way
I depend on my significant other for support in life
They say what they like, but I've been that way
People can say whatever they want, but I am who I am
Our moves calculated through the lens, almost here
Our decisions are being intelligently scrutinized and we are close to achieving our objectives
Success will be the best revenge
I will show my detractors by achieving success
Man, from Clint East' to Kanye West (whut up, whut up!)
My name is on par with that of legendary actor Clint Eastwood
The sun can't chill but everyday it sets (everyday!)
The sun is constantly busy and productive, but it still sets every day
My favorite girl wanna leave me just because I got a girlfriend
My lover wants to leave me because I have another girlfriend
My freak girl told me now, she a christian
My unconventional girlfriend is now devoted to her faith
My white girl wanna move back to Michigan
My Caucasian girlfriend wants to return to Michigan
I'm pullin' girls off the bench like a sixth man
I have many women at my disposal and can easily attract more
I have my money on my mind I was thinkin' green
I am focused on financial success and wealth
She a pledge A.K.A. She was pink and green
My girlfriend is a member of a sorority with pink and green colors
I wanna a good girl she want a gentleman
I seek a virtuous partner while she wants a chivalrous man
We sayin' the same thing like a synonym
We are expressing identical ideas like synonyms
I wasn't really spittin' game I was scrimmaging
I was practicing my flirting skills rather than actually trying to seduce someone
My penmanship's so hard it needs censorship
My writing is explicit and needs to be censored
I'ma Chicagoan till Chicago ends
I am loyal to my hometown until the end of time
Till we blow like Chicago wind
Until we achieve massive success like a Chicago windstorm
I don't know what's better, gettin' laid or gettin' paid
I cannot decide whether sex or money is more satisfying
I just know when I'm gettin one, the other's gettin' away
When I am successful in one aspect of life, I tend to neglect the other
Go 'head, flip a coin so the game don't stop
Go ahead and make a decision so we can move forward
Believe I know the drama, kid name the part
I am experienced in dealing with drama and can identify different roles
It's like before the pop fame came the park
Before achieving widespread fame, I had humble beginnings in a park
But this industry'll play with yo' life man
The entertainment industry can have a negative impact on a person's life
They playin with yo' rent, food, water and lights man (yeah)
The industry can manipulate a person's financial stability, basic needs, and sanity
That's why Rakaa brings it like that ol' "Tidy T" jam
That's why Rakaa delivers his music with the same passion as Tidy T's hit song.
The battleram, then I'm off to Amsterdam
After putting in hard work, I'm going to Amsterdam to relax
To rest up for strength to deal with this weight
I need to rest and prepare myself to deal with the pressure and responsibility of my career
To deal with these deals to deal with this hate
I need to navigate the industry's deals and negativity with resilience
I dedicate this Jam Master Jay
This song is dedicated to the late Jam Master Jay of Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C. Showed me how to walk, this way
I was inspired by Run-D.M.C.'s music and learned from their example
This time I made up my mind
I have finally made a decision
This time I'm back on my prime
I am in my prime again
I know there's things in my life
I am aware there are areas of my life that need improvement
That I'ma let go startin' tonight
I am making a commitment to let go of those areas starting tonight
This way
I want to live my life differently
This way, ay
I am emphasizing the significance of my intended changes
Lyrics © THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMIE CAMERON, VELLA CAMERON, MICHAEL PERRETTA, RAKAA TAYLOR, KANYE WEST, CHRISTOPHER OROC, RAKAA W TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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The Fight Gods Show
Such a freaking classic. This track still hits hard in 2021.
Westbound Promo
Use to be on BET all the fkn time #classic vibes
Cg 2much
This is an old school hit 👍🏿
Dave Vargas
This song helped me get through a rough patch...much love fellas see you April 15 on my Bday!
Sirineu Antonio
Love this joint good memories when music was helping my mum giving me good advices.... Dilated Peoples drop another album please!...
BLAQK !
Straight CLASSIC.
Jim R
Wow...all these years later and I never knew it was John Legend on this track. Such a classic.
Alexander Agadzhanov
This is a masterpiece 🔥😭
Bergy TC24
Kanye always been ahead of his time