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.
What Would Jesus Do
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How do you respond?
I'm top five and all of them Dylan
I am the hope, the dope dealers won
Price and the quote, the dope dealers want
Feds takin' pictures like it's GQ (GQ)
This Avianne collarbone is see-through
Devil on the other, "What would Meek do?"
Pop a wheelie, tell the judge to Akinyele
Middle fingers out the Ghost, screamin' "Makaveli" (come with me)
Hail Mary, the scale fairy
Two sides to every coin, so we bail ready (bail ready)
How do you respond?
I let the monies and the fools talk
I let the jewels and the hues talk
Watch face came with a fuse box (fuse box)
Chanel's on ya bitch
The coupe is 320, the roof's hit or miss
Murder on the highway, the news is at six
See I did it my way, the proof's in the bricks (woo)
Yeugh, smell it through the Tupperware (Tupperware)
Two can get you four like a double dare
I'm the king of the oven-ware (oven-ware)
You can piece the whole puzzle here
Niggas talkin' shit, Ye
How do you respond?
Poop, scoop
Whoop, whoopty-whoop
Am I too complex for ComplexCon?
Everything Ye say cause a new debate
"You see, he been out of touch, he cannot relate
His hallway too long, bitch too bad
Gotta surrogate his kid, get two dads"
I be thinkin', what would 2Pac do?
You be thinkin' what New Kids on the Block do
If you ain't drivin' while Black, do they stop you?
Will MAGA hats let me slide like a drive-thru?
That phone call from Ricky still hazy
When heaven got an angel named Avery
You gotta watch who you callin' crazy
Yeezy, the newest billion-dollar baby
It won't feel right 'til I feel like Phil Knight
Goin' for six rings like what Phil told Mike
Seven pill nights, who know what that feel like?
No more hidin' the scars, I show 'em like Seal, right?
How do you respond?
In the song "What A FRANCHISE Do?" by Kanye West and Travis Scott, the lyrics delve into their responses to the criticism and chatter surrounding them. The opening lines address the haters, particularly Pusha T, who are talking negatively about them. Kanye asserts his position as one of the top five artists in the industry, comparing himself to Bob Dylan, a legendary figure in music history. He also emphasizes his influence and success in the drug-dealing world, with references to the price and demand for his product.
The lyrics mention the attention they receive from law enforcement, likening it to a photoshoot for GQ magazine. Kanye's Avianne collarbone, possibly a diamond necklace, is described as see-through, highlighting its lavishness. The angel and devil metaphor represents the constant battle between good and evil in Kanye's mind. He questions his actions, pondering what the morally upstanding Meek Mill would do and contrasting it with his own reckless behavior.
In Travis Scott's verse, he discusses his response to criticism. He allows his wealth and material possessions, represented by money and jewelry, to do the talking for him. The reference to a Chanel brand suggests luxury and exuberance. The line about the "co
Line by Line Meaning
Niggas talkin' shit, Push
People are spreading negative rumors and talking negatively about me, Pusha T
How do you respond?
How should I react or counter these negative comments?
I'm top five and all of them Dylan
I am one of the top five greatest artists of all time, just like Bob Dylan
I am the hope, the dope dealers won
I am a symbol of hope and success for drug dealers and criminals
Price and the quote, the dope dealers want
My presence and influence is highly desired by drug dealers
Feds takin' pictures like it's GQ (GQ)
Law enforcement agencies are constantly monitoring and observing my activities
This Avianne collarbone is see-through
The jewelry I wear, particularly the necklace by Avianne, is so expensive and impressive that it appears transparent
Angel on my shoulder, 'What should we do?'
I have a guiding force representing goodness and righteousness influencing my decisions
Devil on the other, 'What would Meek do?'
There is another influence, representing evil and temptation, questioning what Meek Mill would do in this situation
Pop a wheelie, tell the judge to Akinyele
Performing a stunt on a motorcycle and disrespectfully addressing the judge, similar to how Akinyele, a rapper, would
Middle fingers out the Ghost, screamin' 'Makaveli'
Extending my middle fingers out of the Rolls-Royce Ghost car while shouting the name of the late rapper Tupac Shakur, also known as Makaveli
Hail Mary, the scale fairy
Referring to the Hail Mary prayer and the concept of a scale fairy, who is associated with the drug trade and helps with measuring and weighing narcotics
Two sides to every coin, so we bail ready (bail ready)
In every situation, there are two perspectives or options, and I am prepared to bail out or escape if necessary
I let the monies and the fools talk
I ignore the noise and chatter from people with money and those who are foolish
I let the jewels and the hues talk
I let my expensive jewelry and colorful attire speak for me
Watch face came with a fuse box (fuse box)
My watch has various complicated features and functions, as if it came with a fuse box
Chanel's on ya bitch
Your woman is wearing Chanel, a luxury brand, indicating her high status and wealth
The coupe is 320, the roof's hit or miss
My car, a coupe model, is worth $320,000, and its roof can be removable or unpredictable
Murder on the highway, the news is at six
There has been a violent incident or crime on the highway, and the news will report it at 6 PM
See I did it my way, the proof's in the bricks (woo)
I have achieved success and accomplished things in my own unique way, and the evidence and validation are seen in my wealth and accomplishments
Yeugh, smell it through the Tupperware (Tupperware)
I can smell the strong scent of drugs, likely cocaine, even through a sealed container like Tupperware
Two can get you four like a double dare
A small amount of drugs, such as two units, can yield a larger quantity, like four units, just like accepting a risky challenge in the game 'Truth or Dare'
I'm the king of the oven-ware (oven-ware)
I am the dominant figure in the drug trade, specifically referring to cocaine, which is often heated or cooked using kitchenware
You can piece the whole puzzle here
By connecting the various elements and clues, you can fully understand and comprehend the entire situation
Niggas talkin' shit, Ye
People are spreading negative rumors and talking negatively about me, Kanye West
How do you respond?
How should I react or counter these negative comments?
Poop, scoop
Indicating that some statements or actions may seem nonsensical or trivial, like scooping up feces
Whoop, whoopty-whoop
Expressing excitement or enthusiasm, as these words are often associated with energetic performances or celebrations
Am I too complex for ComplexCon?
Am I too complicated or intellectually advanced to fit in or be understood at ComplexCon, a convention focused on pop culture and entertainment?
Everything Ye say cause a new debate
Whenever I, Kanye West, express my opinions or ideas, it sparks a fresh round of discussions and arguments
'You see, he been out of touch, he cannot relate
Critics claim that I, Kanye West, have lost touch with reality and can no longer understand or connect with regular people
His hallway too long, bitch too bad
People criticize the length and size of my house's hallway, suggesting it is excessive, just like their negative opinion on my current girlfriend, who they see as undesirable
Gotta surrogate his kid, get two dads'
To have a child via a surrogate mother and consequently have two male parents, as I currently do
I be thinkin', what would 2Pac do?
I often contemplate and consider what actions 2Pac, the late rapper and influential figure, would take in certain situations
You be thinkin' what New Kids on the Block do
In contrast, you think and are influenced by the decision-making of the boy band New Kids on the Block, which is seen as less significant
If you ain't drivin' while Black, do they stop you?
If you are not black and driving a vehicle, are you still subjected to unnecessary stops and profiling by law enforcement?
Will MAGA hats let me slide like a drive-thru?
Referring to supporters of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement and their willingness to overlook or forgive my controversial actions like ordering fast food through a drive-thru
That phone call from Ricky still hazy
The details and memory of a phone call I received from someone named Ricky are still unclear and foggy
When heaven got an angel named Avery
At a time when heaven gained an angel named Avery, likely referring to the loss of a loved one named Avery
You gotta watch who you callin' crazy
You need to be careful and cautious about labeling someone as crazy or mentally unstable
Yeezy, the newest billion-dollar baby
As Yeezy, my brand, continues to grow, it becomes the latest billion-dollar venture
It won't feel right 'til I feel like Phil Knight
I will not be satisfied or content until I reach the level of success and influence achieved by Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike
Goin' for six rings like what Phil told Mike
Similar to what Phil Jackson, a prominent basketball coach, advised Michael Jordan, I am striving to achieve six major accomplishments or victories
Seven pill nights, who know what that feel like?
Experiencing nights filled with taking multiple pills, no one truly understands the sensation unless they have been through it
No more hidin' the scars, I show 'em like Seal, right?
I am done concealing my emotional and physical scars, just like the singer Seal, who proudly displays his facial scars
How do you respond?
How should I react or counter these negative comments?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Terrence Thornton, William Bruford, Kanye Omari West, Christopher Squire, Jon Anderson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@blessingbless1606
He returned his soul to God! Powerful
@boznsjbruhstudios6383
Kanye is a devil worshipper
@olakolade6656
@@lewisrich3515ofc you can. God is more powerful than the devil. No one truly sells their soul to the devil, but they think they do bcs it’s a lie from satan. If they repent, they can always come to Christ and He will welcome them with open arms
@HITMAN-Gang
@@lewisrich3515exactly
@edwin-hernandez-
@@lewisrich3515you cant sell your soul in the first place. Its not your right. You are not God you do not have the power to sell or give away souls just because you said so. And Lucifer will never have power over God. So there is no way your soul can be anywhere but with God.
@marvinwelch7056
Dude calls him self YE that’s a literal representation from the Name Yah aka ye jesus true name this dude evil just like the rest
@zainjaved18
May God Protect Kanye
@slyfox0274
Amen
@ericewing6545
Amen and Amen
@tashena-oc3qi
He Will.