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.
Wouldn
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Been around hoes that fucked Biggie and 'Pac
Like Vida Guerra, ass took her to the top
She'll give you some brain, you let her throw up the Roc
Let her put on your chain, she'll throw you some cot
Picture that, like Meagan Good and Jamie Foxx
Hype said it's a wrap, she still on the set
Puttin' oil on her legs like she Gloria Velez
Hopped off the page and on a skateboard with Pharrell
I knew she wouldn't get far cause five hundred dollars
Can't get you that far, how you get that far
And all these new video bitches tryin to be Melyssa Ford
But they don't know Melyssa Ford drive a Honda Accord
She a video vixen, but behind closed doors
She do whatever it take to get to the Grammy Awards, ha ha
You wouldn't get far, fuckin' them rap stars
You know who you are, put your hands up ladies
You wouldn't get far, if you kept your legs closed
It would be just a waste of time
But you know, you wouldn't get far, fuckin' them rap stars
You know who you are, I wrote this song for you
For you baby, I'd find you, for you and you, for all y'all
Pop quiz, how many topless, black foxes
Did I have under my belt, like boxers
Not to brag but, if it add up
One, two, nigga that's mad nuts
Game you mad nuts, how you gon' call out all these
Bitches knowin' damn well they gon' call me
The only dream, of that ghetto prom queen
Was to make it to the screen, maybe get seen
Maybe get chose by a nigga from my team
Head so good he don't ask for a pre---nup
Now ask yourself this question, umm
Would you be with Jay-Z if he wasn't C-E-O
Would you be with F-A-B-O if he drove a Neo
Would you ride with Ne-Yo, if he was in a Geo
Well why the hell you think these bitches comin' at me fo'
But since they all fall in my Palm, I take a trio, yo
You wouldn't get far, fuckin' them rap stars
You know who you are, put your hands up ladies
You wouldn't get far, if you kept your legs closed
It would be just a waste of time
But you know, you wouldn't get far, fuckin' them rap stars
You know who you are, I wrote this song for you
For you baby, I'd find you, for you and you, for all y'all
I done had my share of bitches with long hair
Short do like Kelis or Halle in Boomerang, yeah
I been around the block in the Bentley drop top
In Miami Beach when Lil' Kim was fuckin with Scott
I got the scoop on Hoops, whatever the case
She'll let you spray in her face long as she Bathing Apes
And ain't nobody tryin' to take Beyonce from Jay
But I know a bitch named Superhead he fucked back in the day
The things niggas do when pussy sittin' on they face
Stabbed Un in the stomach
She must have had a pussy like Wonder Woman, on that superhero shit
Fly as Gabrielle Union in the back of my six, fo'
Impala, forget the double D's
I put 'em right in your face like that model bitch Toccara
And she ain't win the show but she ridin' in that Gallardo
That's why I fuck 'em today and forget 'em tomorrow
You wouldn't get far, fuckin' them rap stars
You know who you are, put your hands up ladies
You wouldn't get far, if you kept your legs closed
It would be just a waste of time
But you know, you wouldn't get far, fuckin' them rap stars
You know who you are, I wrote this song for you
For you baby, I'd find you, for you and you, for all y'all
God damn, you know what I'm sayin'
I'm sittin' back watchin' Kanye video
And I see the same bitch that was in the homeboy Busta Rhymes video
Then I flip the muh'fuckin channel
Checkin' out my uncle Snoop Dogg video
And I see the same bitch, that was in my video
You know what I'm sayin'
And then y'knahmsayin, to make that even mo' fucked up
I'm watchin Oprah cover Hurricane Katrina
I see the same bitch on Oprah, floatin away on the hood of a Camry
That was in the nigga Lil Weezy video
I mean damn, everywhere I look
Everywhere I go, I see the same hoes
Don't get mad, I'm only bein' real, yeah
Kanye West's song "Wouldn't Get Far" is a commentary on the ups and downs of fame and fortune in the music industry, particularly for video vixens who use their bodies to gain attention and success. In the first verse, Kanye talks about his experiences with video models who try to use him for his connections, referring to various famous models like Vida Guerra and Melyssa Ford. He critiques the idea that these women can use their sex appeal to rise to fame, and expresses doubts about their true intentions behind their actions. He also notes that despite their fame and attention, many of these women are still struggling financially.
In the second verse, Kanye questions why these women are so easily influenced by the rap stars they try to seduce. He notes that many of the women would not be interested in these men if they didn't have money or fame. He also talks about his own experiences with women and refers to the infamous video vixen Karrine Steffans, also known as "Superhead", who wrote a book about her sexual exploits with famous rappers. Kanye ends the song by emphasizing that he's not trying to disrespect these women, but rather call attention to the flawed system that allows them to use their bodies for success in the industry.
Overall, "Wouldn't Get Far" is a commentary on the objectification of women in the music industry and the dangers of using sex to gain fame and power.
Line by Line Meaning
I done been around the world, been around the block
I have traveled extensively and experienced different environments and communities.
Been around hoes that fucked Biggie and 'Pac
I have been acquainted with women who have been intimate with influential figures in the rap industry.
Like Vida Guerra, ass took her to the top
Similar to how Vida Guerra's physical attributes elevated her popularity and opportunities, this woman's behind propelled her success.
She'll give you some brain, you let her throw up the Roc
If you allow her to perform oral sex on you, she will proudly represent your record label (Roc-A-Fella) or brand.
Let her put on your chain, she'll throw you some cot
If you allow her to wear your expensive jewelry, she will offer you sexual favors in return.
Picture that, like Meagan Good and Jamie Foxx
Imagine a scenario similar to the romantic relationship between Meagan Good and Jamie Foxx.
Hype said it's a wrap, she still on the set
Despite the hype claiming that her time in the spotlight is over, she is still actively working and present on the set.
Puttin' oil on her legs like she Gloria Velez
She applies oil to her legs like the model Gloria Velez, enhancing their appearance.
She was Eye Candy in the XXL
She was featured as an attractive woman in the magazine XXL, known for showcasing eye-catching models.
Hopped off the page and on a skateboard with Pharrell
She transitioned from being a model featured in a magazine to actively engaging in a cool and trendy activity with Pharrell, such as skateboarding.
I knew she wouldn't get far cause five hundred dollars
I predicted she wouldn't achieve lasting success because having only five hundred dollars doesn't provide enough resources and opportunities.
Can't get you that far, how you get that far
Having such a limited amount of money cannot propel you to great achievements, so it's surprising that she has achieved as much as she has.
And all these new video bitches tryin to be Melyssa Ford
Many aspiring video models are attempting to emulate the success and appeal of Melyssa Ford.
But they don't know Melyssa Ford drive a Honda Accord
However, they are unaware that Melyssa Ford, despite her fame, drives a modest Honda Accord.
She a video vixen, but behind closed doors
She is commonly known as a video model, but her true actions and behavior are kept hidden from the public eye.
She do whatever it take to get to the Grammy Awards, ha ha
She is willing to go to extreme lengths to attend and be recognized at prestigious events like the Grammy Awards.
You wouldn't get far, fuckin' them rap stars
Engaging in sexual relationships with famous rappers will not lead to long-term success or fulfillment.
You know who you are, put your hands up ladies
Women who can relate to this situation should identify themselves.
You wouldn't get far, if you kept your legs closed
If you refrain from engaging in sexual activities, you would not achieve the perceived benefits and opportunities associated with rappers.
It would be just a waste of time
Abstaining from intimate relationships with rappers would simply be an unproductive and futile endeavor.
But you know, you wouldn't get far, fuckin' them rap stars
Deep down, you are aware that pursuing relationships with rappers will not lead to substantial success or fulfillment.
I wrote this song for you
This song was specifically composed with you in mind.
For you baby, I'd find you, for you and you, for all y'all
I would go to great lengths to locate and reach out to each and every one of you, as well as all the women in similar situations.
Pop quiz, how many topless, black foxes
Here's a spontaneous test: how many attractive, black women have posed topless?
Did I have under my belt, like boxers
How many of these women have I been involved with, similar to the number of boxing victories a boxer has recorded?
Not to brag but, if it add up
I don't want to boast, but if you tally up the total count.
One, two, nigga that's mad nuts
The number of women I've been involved with is astonishing, crazy even.
Game you mad nuts, how you gon' call out all these
You're extremely bold, criticizing me for being involved with multiple women.
Bitches knowin' damn well they gon' call me
These women are fully aware and conscious that they will eventually reach out to me.
The only dream, of that ghetto prom queen
The sole aspiration for the prom queen from the ghetto was to make it in the entertainment industry.
Was to make it to the screen, maybe get seen
Her biggest hope was to appear on television or in movies, to gain some recognition and visibility.
Maybe get chose by a nigga from my team
Perhaps she hoped to be selected or picked by one of the men associated with me and my crew.
Head so good he don't ask for a pre---nup
Her sexual skills are so exceptional that her partner doesn't even think about requesting a prenuptial agreement.
Now ask yourself this question, umm
Take a moment to reflect and consider this thought-provoking question.
Would you be with Jay-Z if he wasn't C-E-O
If Jay-Z was not the CEO of his own company, would you still choose to be in a relationship with him?
Would you be with F-A-B-O if he drove a Neo
If Fabolous didn't have a flashy car and instead drove a more modest vehicle like a Hyundai Neo, would you still be attracted to him?
Would you ride with Ne-Yo, if he was in a Geo
If Ne-Yo was driving a Geo, a less prestigious car model, would you still be willing to accompany him?
Well why the hell you think these bitches comin' at me fo'
So, why do you believe these women are pursuing me?
But since they all fall in my Palm, I take a trio, yo
However, since they all succumb to my charm and attention, I engage in relationships with three of them at once.
God damn, you know what I'm sayin'
Damn, do you understand the point I'm trying to make here?
I'm sittin' back watchin' Kanye video
I'm casually sitting and observing a music video featuring Kanye West.
And I see the same bitch that was in the homeboy Busta Rhymes video
To my surprise, I notice that the same woman who appeared in a Busta Rhymes video is also present in this Kanye West video.
Then I flip the muh'fuckin channel
Feeling intrigued, I proceed to change the TV channel.
Checkin' out my uncle Snoop Dogg video
I'm now watching a music video featuring Snoop Dogg, who happens to be my uncle.
And I see the same bitch, that was in my video
To my astonishment, the very same woman who appeared in my music video is also prominently featured in this Snoop Dogg video.
You know what I'm sayin'
Do you understand the absurdity of this situation?
And then y'knahmsayin, to make that even mo' fucked up
To make matters worse and even more messed up,
I'm watchin Oprah cover Hurricane Katrina
I switch to watching Oprah Winfrey's coverage of Hurricane Katrina.
I see the same bitch on Oprah, floatin away on the hood of a Camry
To my disbelief, I witness the same woman floating on the roof of a Camry in Oprah's footage of the hurricane.
That was in the nigga Lil Weezy video
I realize that this is the very same woman who appeared in Lil Wayne's music video.
I mean damn, everywhere I look
Goodness gracious, no matter where I direct my gaze,
Everywhere I go, I see the same hoes
I encounter the exact same women.
Don't get mad, I'm only bein' real, yeah
Please don't get angry or offended; I'm merely stating the truth.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAYCEON TAYLOR, PAM SAWYER, MARILYN MCLEOD, KANYE WEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stellar1252
The production, the chorus, the bars... take me back man.
@syazrulhardi828
That 06 ye flowww😭. Crazzzyyy my fav flow ever that shit was so animated and hard at the same time
@AlexCastro1
life was good during this era
@jlcannady
I was 11 years old when I kept listening to this song.Now I’m back listening to it cause I heard this in a restaurant 2 days ago😆😆
@deeeznvtzzz
@@jlcannady whoever in charge of that playlist there know whats up
@LG-ro5le
@@AlexCastro1 way better than todays world
@xavierrainey8747
This beat and sample still gives me chills to this day
@NorthPhilly-zr7xc
07 summer anthem
@sophoniempela1224
This song 🎵 samples the original song 🎵 from the late 1970s I'd Find You Anywhere by an R&B group called The Creative Source.
@PHILLL94
Are we listening to the same song?