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.
We Did It Kid
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feelin' sorry for my mama'nem
Survivor's guilt really get old
Whole gang in the end zone
Not nice, or the meanest
Heaven's Gate when I get home
Color palates lookin' Pantone
'Bout to turn into a phantom
She ain't happy with the other guy
Had a argument the other night
I ain't even get to 'pologize
While I'm in the meetings lookin' disguised
I'ma show face until I get tired
Don't care about event size
Lookin' at you through a fisheye
I'm never nice, or the meanest
I'm tired, I'm tired
I'm tired, I'm tired, I'm tired
We here, you can't deny that we here
We here (woo)
Hands up, me throwin' for my fan (Migo)
God's home, rest in peace to my man (uh, hey)
Hands up, thirty piece for the tan (uh, woo)
Run a 'thon, everything that we planned
Huncho, I shitted big, you did it kid, you did it kid (we did it)
Like a nigga just got potty trained
Hourglass, how her body came (yeah)
Chop 'em down, with the what-it-name (grrah)
Know what I'm sayin'? I'm tellin 'ya
Pushin' P, be a better me? (P)
Bitch ridin' with a felony
See the jealousy
The struggle made me a better me (go)
Why you talkin', is you payin' me?
Lamborghini coated candy (skrrt)
If I fuck her, she gon' have the baby
I'm the plan A, and the Plan B (hey)
Quarter million to the nannies (go)
I'm the head of the family (hey)
My mama had to cry for this
My gang had to slide for this (slide)
Pistol P had to die for this (die)
Doin' time through the wire for this (hey)
Fresh out the bricks to a brick (brick)
We steppin' outside with the shits (outside)
Hannah Montana with grits (Hannah)
That honey bun gon' make 'em blitz (grah)
I'm up, I'm rich, look at my bitch, she fine and rich (look)
Studied the game and I find the glitch
Hustler, I got a mind like Mitch (hey)
He not poppin', he kinda lit
He not wealthy, he kinda rich (kinda)
Nigga ain't trippin', just sign this shit
Hunnid mil', we'll split (split it)
If it's fifty mill', we'll split
If it's two in one, they'll split (split)
Three bitches split a G6
These platinum plaques ain't nothin'
I stand up and take a piss
I stand up and take a shit (hey)
This a hunnid thousand on the wrist (hunnid)
Get the money, never politic
Floor seats, Atlanta versus the Knicks
Young nigga with the birds, Kyle Pitts (brr)
In the 'adium, 'Cedes Benz (yeah)
Kid gon' play with 'em, he got friends
He know Migo dem, knock off limbs
Yeah, we did it kid, to the M's
Ridin' Presidential with the rims (skrrt)
Helpin' Ye find Kim
In the black double M Benz (Maybach)
No new friends
Nobu with my twins (Nobu)
Remember we kicked that door down because they didn't let us in (woo)
Born to win, I committed a sin with a see-through lens (see-through)
I filled up all my pockets, now you get a pocket to pick
Thank God I'm alive and rich (alive)
No lie, I survived the trench
Pay my tithe, livin' marvelous (tithes)
That's the reason I don't talk of this (hey)
Hand-built it like a carpenter did it
Shootin' bullets out the cars for this (grrah)
Tattoos and the scars for this (tats)
'Member when we used to borrow fits (hey)
"We Can Make It Better" by Kanye West ft. Talib Kweli is a song that highlights the social and political issues faced by black people in America. The song begins with Kanye West emphasizing that things may seem bad but they can be fixed. He repeats the phrase "Make it up" to emphasize that people can work together to make the situation better.
In the following verse, Talib Kweli talks about the common stereotypes that people have about Delta and AKA sororities, and how this leads to segregation. He also mentions how black women face discrimination because they date white men. The chorus repeats the theme of people coming together to make things better.
In the next verse, Kweli paints a picture of Brooklyn, a neighborhood plagued with crimes and drugs. He talks about the drug dealer priestess who is faithful to the converter, showing how religion often plays a role in drug dealing. He then mentions the inequity that black people face in America when it comes to reparations for the slavery that their ancestors endured. This injustice is further emphasized by imagining what America would have been like if black people were never enslaved.
The final verse is a call to action, urging people to tell the truth about the problems that black people face, and to fight against discrimination and injustice. The song ends with the repeated chorus, emphasizing the message of hope and unity.
Overall, "We Can Make It Better" is a poignant commentary on the struggles of the black community in America, touching on issues of racism, police brutality, segregation, and lack of opportunities. It encourages people to come together and work towards a better future for everyone.
Line by Line Meaning
(Make it up) we can make it better
Emphasizing the need to take action and improve the current situation.
(Make it up) we can make it better
Reiterating the importance of working together to create positive change.
(Make it up) we can make it better
Encouraging listeners to believe that they have the ability to improve things.
(Make it up) we can make it
Concluding that it is possible to create positive change if people come together and strive for it.
Somebody told me that delta's brownskinned, akas' lightskinned
Referring to the diversity within a sorority and highlighting the issue of colorism.
And they supposed to be bougious, so they got white friends
Pointing out the tendency for some individuals to try to assimilate into whiteness by befriending white people.
First day of school, I'mma take you sight seein'
Offering to show someone new to the area what the community typically does for leisure.
Show you what we do on weekends for a sight, man
Explaining that there are limited options and opportunities for leisure activities in the community.
She said, "i know what you about to say, like your hypeman"
Acknowledging the predictable nature of the conversation and promoting self-awareness.
She let a nigga hit it, and now she only date white men
Revealing the way society often attaches value to white partners and marginalizes Black ones.
And if a nigga even wave at her, it's frightnin' but
Highlighting the fear and hostility that some Black people may face when interacting with non-Black people, particularly white people.
The night fallin' over brooklyn, where they murder for change
Alluding to the poverty and crime that plague many Black neighborhoods.
The converter remains faithful to the drug dealer priestess
Implying the complicity and corruption that can take place within the community, such as religious or political figures being involved in illegal activities.
He in search of the word of fame, you heard of the name
Suggesting that some people are willing to do whatever it takes to become famous, even if it is not honorable or legal.
Kweli the truth, like I'm comin' out the mouth of bass
Introducing the artist by his stage name and referencing his reputation for speaking on social and political issues.
One for it, one for out the grave
Expressing the need to fight for justice and equality both in the present and for future generations.
Niggas want they reparations, how you calculate the amount to be paid
Posing a rhetorical question about the issue of reparations, often demanded for the harms and injustices inflicted on Black people throughout history.
You try to imagine america without the slaves (the slaves)
Reiterating the importance of understanding the impact that slavery has had on American society, culture, and economics.
'Cause you make me feel
Returning to the refrain and emphasizing the power of change through unity.
Her tenament yo, is rat infested
Describing the poor living conditions faced by many Black people in urban areas.
Her heart is like a gold booya cause she wouldn't protest it
Implying that some people may accept their difficult circumstances instead of fighting to change them.
'Cause, her best friends man got popped
Explaining that someone's friend was killed by the police, which contributes to a feeling of hopelessness and despair in the community.
He was sixteen years old, the cop thought his phone was a glock
Sharing an example of police brutality and racism, where a young person was killed because the officer perceived him as a threat based on his race.
In the hood is a everyday happenin'
Highlighting the prevalence of violence and police brutality in many Black neighborhoods.
A friend of the priest say she chose out the captain
Referencing someone in the community choosing to be with a police officer or authority figure, despite the systemic oppression that these figures represent.
She yelled out "why you do this to black men? "
Questioning the police officer's motives and the systemic racism that is often present in police interactions with Black people.
I think of eighty seven ways, to make better days
Suggesting that there are numerous ways to create positive change, if one is committed to finding them.
Whether climb or rhyme, I heard of rebel pays
Describing that there are ways to make a living that may not be conventional, but can still be effective and fulfilling, such as pursuing art or activism.
On the scene, tryin' to get green like everglades
Referencing the desire to make money, like the growth and ubiquity of the Everglades, a seemingly endless resource.
Music, rhymin' good like escalates
Boasting of the author's skills in music and rapping, and comparing them to the quality and popularity of Escalade vehicles.
In the ghetto infested by shade and drama
Describing the particular challenges that people living in impoverished Black neighborhoods face.
And niggas wit' things ain't afraid of karma
Suggesting that some people in the community may resort to violence or crime to get ahead because they believe in taking control of their lives and not relying on luck or chance.
I'm thinking big like lil wayne in the problem set
Comparing the artist's ambitions and skills to those of the popular rapper Lil Wayne.
C'mon, tell people the truth, but never give 'em ya true thoughts
Encouraging the importance of honesty, while also acknowledging that there may be risks or consequences to being completely open.
Terrorism on blacks, they poison our newports
Referring to the negative impact that tobacco products, especially menthol cigarettes like Newport, have had on the Black community, which some may see as a form of terrorism.
Patriot act in effect, make it hard to breathe now
Referring to the Patriot Act, which expanded government surveillance and policing powers, and the impact it has had on the freedom and privacy of individuals, especially marginalized communities.
Johnny cochran dead, who gonna get us free now?
Referring to the late attorney Johnny Cochran, who was known for his successful representation of Black clients in high-profile cases, and questioning who will continue to fight for justice and freedom.
Clinton ain't in office, who gon' give us shit free now?
Suggesting that Black people often rely on politicians or leaders to provide solutions or assistance, and questioning who will step up in the absence of someone recognizable or influential.
Who gon' make it better for the thugs and p's now?
Addressing the specific challenges and obstacles that face young people in the community and questioning who will help them overcome these challenges.
Who gon' make it good for old folks that's senile?
Concerned with the well-being and care of elderly people in the community who may be struggling with memory loss and other health issues.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Kanye Omari West, Hykeem Carter, Kiari Kendrell Cephus, Quavious Keyate Marshall, Nasir Pemberton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@eazygame3
Donda 2 had so much underrated tracks 💔
@kungfukenny8098
I don't know if i'll ever get over Yandhi and Donda 2 not dropping
@AlecBurriss
I never heard it where Kanye wasn’t mumbling his verse this so cool
@tbang1284
America ahh type beat
@duhkwism
😆😆
@chrismarchcoaching
The greatest Kanye track to not be released to date?
It feels even more significant, given Takeoff's passing. Rest in peace.
@howtobreatheplsimnew273
i hope this is on his single album
@chrismarchcoaching
@@howtobreatheplsimnew273 I agree! However, I doubt it is based on past releases.
@howtobreatheplsimnew273
to be fair though its not like donda 2 has disappeared. We did recently get a donda 2 song sci fi on sean leons new album@@chrismarchcoaching
@duhkwism
i think it released on the stem player