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.
Work It Out
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't lie to you, I can't lie to you
I never lied to you I can't
Can't lie y'all, he disrespected y'all
No matter how times I've tried to you
I can't lie to you, I can't lie to you, I can't
Uh, just like a nigga, go figure
Mo' figures, more hating ass niggas
Mo' commas, more hating ass problems
No matter how much I've tried
No matter how much I try
Can't lie to you, I can't lie to you, uh
No matter how many times I've
No matter how many rhymes I've
I got it all in my mind
I got it all in my mind, and
I can't lie to you
(No matter how many times I've tried)
I can't, I can't lie to you
I can't, I can't lie to you
Coming from the back block, posted like a backdrop
Rags to the riches, got rich and bought the rack top
Lot of homies died here, look at what the grind did
Put me in the same shoes, still do what Shyne did
More bitches, more bitches, more riches
They don't want no broke niggas
But don't call them gold diggers
I don't know, I don't know, why I ain't get the picture?
Why Cosby slipped her?
Why I fucked 'em both when they said they sisters?
Why Eazy ain't have the Magic?
Why AI never won a 'ship?
And why God took Max and Chinx
And he ain't take me when I got hit?
No matter how much I've tried
No matter how much I try
Can't lie to you, I can't lie to you, uh
No matter how many times I've
No matter how many rhymes I've
I got it all in my mind
I got it all in my mind, and
I can't lie to you
(No matter how many times I've tried)
I can't, I can't lie to you
I can't, I can't lie to you
Beyond Pérignon, the fame, the money
The Baccarat crystal that's hanging from the ceilings above me
Hearing people whisper, screaming I'm lucky but trust me
Nothing come free, shawty tried to keep my son from me
Or I could be delirious to take life serious
Remain single forever, can't wife nothing, period
I'm a G, I need privacy, media's never kind to me
Niggas beefing on small time things, we on a dying spree
He disrespected y'all
Just like a nigga, go figure
He talking reckless, yo
I can't accept it, yo
No matter how much I've tried
For the love of my people, I guess I'll let it go
I can't figure it out
No matter how much I try
Can't lie to you, I can't lie to you, uh
No matter how many times I've
No matter how many rhymes I've
I got it all in my mind
I got it all in my mind, and
I can't lie to you
(No matter how many times I've tried)
I can't, I can't lie to you
I can't, I can't lie to you
In Kanye West's song "Work It Out," the artist reflects on his struggles in life and relationships. He acknowledges that no matter how hard he tries, he can't seem to be truthful with the people around him. He admits to never lying to them before, but now he feels like he can't lie to them anymore. He explains how he's always been real with them and can't compromise his values by lying.
In the second verse, Kanye reflects on his past experiences and controversial figures and events. He questions why famous people like Bill Cosby, Eazy-E, and Allen Iverson faced scandals or misfortunes in their lives, while he has been lucky so far. He also admits to having slept with two women who claimed to be sisters. Kanye concludes the song by saying he can't figure out why some people talk and behave the way they do, but he's going to let things go for the sake of his people.
Overall, "Work It Out" is a reflective and introspective song about Kanye West's personal struggles with relationships and his past experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
No matter how many times I've tried to you
I've tried to be honest with you, but I keep failing
I can't lie to you, I can't lie to you
I can't fake the truth, I can't deceive you
I never lied to you I can't
I'm not a liar, I can't pretend to be someone I'm not
Can't lie y'all, he disrespected y'all
I can't lie to you guys, he insulted you
Uh, just like a nigga, go figure
Typical behavior of a man, no surprise there
Some shit they said they might never figure
Something that they claim they cannot understand forever
Mo' figures, more hating ass niggas
The more money you have, the more people will hate you for it
Mo' commas, more hating ass problems
The more wealth you accumulate, the more challenges you will face
Coming from the back block, posted like a backdrop
I am from a humble neighborhood and my background shapes my identity
Rags to the riches, got rich and bought the rack top
I came from poverty and worked hard to achieve success and buy a luxury car
Lot of homies died here, look at what the grind did
Many of my friends died in this neighborhood, and it shows the harsh reality of working hard
Put me in the same shoes, still do what Shyne did
If I were in a similar situation, I would do what the rapper Shyne did
More bitches, more bitches, more riches
The more women you have, the more wealth you can accumulate
They don't want no broke niggas
Women don't want to date men who have no money
But don't call them gold diggers
However, do not insult them by saying they only care about money
I don't know, I don't know, why I ain't get the picture?
I don't understand why I didn't realize something earlier
Why Cosby slipped her?
Why did Bill Cosby sexually assault her?
Why I fucked 'em both when they said they sisters?
Why did I have sex with two women who claimed to be siblings?
Why Eazy ain't have the Magic?
Why didn't Eazy-E get cured of AIDS like Magic Johnson?
Why AI never won a 'ship?
Why didn't Allen Iverson win a championship with his team?
And why God took Max and Chinx
Why did God let rappers Max and Chinx die?
And he ain't take me when I got hit?
And why didn't God take me when I was shot?
Beyond Pérignon, the fame, the money
Beyond the luxury champagne, the fame and wealth
The Baccarat crystal that's hanging from the ceilings above me
The high-end crystal glassware that decorates my home
Hearing people whisper, screaming I'm lucky but trust me
People gossip about my success and think it's just luck, but it's more than that
Nothing come free, shawty tried to keep my son from me
There's always a price to pay, even in relationships with family members
Or I could be delirious to take life serious
Maybe I'm crazy for taking life too seriously
Remain single forever, can't wife nothing, period
I prefer to stay single and can't commit to any woman
I'm a G, I need privacy, media's never kind to me
I'm a gangsta and require privacy, because the media always paints a negative picture of me
Niggas beefing on small time things, we on a dying spree
People are fighting over insignificant matters, while our community is facing bigger problems
He disrespected y'all
He insulted all of you
Just like a nigga, go figure
Typical male behavior, no surprise there
He talking reckless, yo
He's speaking out of line and without respect
I can't accept it, yo
I cannot tolerate this behavior
For the love of my people, I guess I'll let it go
To protect my community, I will forgive and move on
I can't figure it out
I cannot understand this situation
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Karim Kharbouch, Nasir Jones, Kanye Omari West
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@philjustyn
0:00 Prelude - "Wassup girllls. I got a new workout plan"
0:46 Start Promo- "Girl you know I'ma video ho-fessional"
1:45 Training room
2:53 Interlude by Fonzworth Bentley
3:27 Back to the promo
3:34 GUEST : Miri Ben Ari (Violonist)
3:37 GUEST : The Consequences, John Legend, GLC
3:48 Gill "Former 3rd Wheel / Tight and Right"
4:03 Lasandra "Former Booster / Now videohoefeshinal"
4:20 Fifi le Boeuff "Fille visuelle"
5:03 Tracee Ellis Ross "One very rich shorty"
5:43 Ella-May (Anna Nicole Smith) - "Former trailer trash / Ultimate trophy girl"
5:59 Thanks to Kanye's workout plan, I'm the envy of all my friends
7:12
That's right, put in work
Move your **s, go berserk
Eat your salad, no dessert
Get that man you deserve (stop!)...
Don't forget Your solution at : 1-800-cash-me-out!!
@benvillanobv
"At least a dude with a car" lol
@SpecsJigglypuff
Lol
@randommf3549
S@@SpecsJigglypuff
@user-be8mz9if8p
Berlin + Kanye West =
Germanye West
@dzamburger
why is the humor in this so modern
kanye always ahead of his time
@gimsix
Very true
@CHerbo773
or maybe, this is just humor in general lmao
@alphalax7747
No
@maulcs
I think you're just really young.
@moonhyper7607
reminds me of gta sa humor lol