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.
You Can't Be
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can you be? (way up)
Can you be? (way up)
Can you be? (way up)
Can you be? (way up)
Will you be? (way up)
Can you be? (way up)
Can you be? (way up)
I got that gold stuff stuck on my back
I got that now I can't get that back
I got that gold stuff stuck on my back
I got that now I can't get that back
¿Cómo eres? Subale
Come on in I'm super paid
Song for song I'm due by day
Just got off now I'm suitless
Watch how you talk to me
Now I need y'all to hear this
I need a 100 racks
That's just my talking fee
Just playin'
I'm just sayin' a lotta niggas
Ain't been lost as me
Can you be? (way up)
Can you be? (way up)
Can you be? (way up)
Can you be? (way up)
Can you be? (way up)
Will you be? (way up)
Can you be? (way up)
Can you be? (way up)
I got that gold stuff stuck on my back
I got that now I can't get that back
I got that gold stuff stuck on my back
I got that now I can't get that back
I caught a wave
Caught more air than Super Dave
Call Aaliyah, I'm super paid
Jet lag, and tryna recuperate
Just got off the flight from Budapest
Don't need Khaled, just say "you the best!"
You the type of nigga to shop at Uniqlo
Just found out my father-in-law unisex
Running out of money, running into debt
Running from bill collectors, I ain't pay them yet
Shit you did, with no matter how rich you get
And even more, depending on the bitch you get
I be getting worried for my niggas getting married, seriously
Can you be? (way up)
Can you be? (way up)
Can you be? (way up)
Can you be? (way up)
Can you be? (way up)
Will you be? (way up)
Can you be? (way up)
Can you be? (way up)
I got that gold stuff stuck on my back
I got that now I can't get that back
In Kanye West's song "Can U Be", he starts by questioning if the listener can be "way up", which can be interpreted as being successful or elevated in some way. He repeats this line throughout the song, almost as if it's a mantra or a reminder to aim higher. He then talks about having "gold stuff stuck on his back" and how he can't go back to a time before he had that success. This can be seen as a commentary on the pressures and responsibilities that come with success and how it can be difficult to maintain it once it's achieved.
Kanye also mentions his status as a successful artist, mentioning that he is "super paid" and has a high speaking fee. He talks about how he's been through struggles and hardships that other artists may not have experienced, which can create a sense of isolation and disconnect from others in the industry. The lyrics also touch on Kanye's personal life, including his marriage to Kim Kardashian and his relationship with his father-in-law, Caitlyn Jenner. He mentions how he worries about his friends getting married and settling down, perhaps reflecting a fear of losing the bonds and connections he has with those around him.
Overall, "Can U Be" is a song that reflects on Kanye's success, both in his career and personal life, and the complexities and challenges that come with it. It's a reminder to continue striving for more, even when you've achieved success, and to not lose sight of what's truly important in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you be? (way up)
Asking if someone is capable of reaching the same level of success or fame that Kanye has achieved.
Will you be? (way up)
Asking if someone has the drive and ambition to reach the same level of success or fame that Kanye has achieved.
I got that gold stuff stuck on my back
Referring to the weight of fame and success that Kanye carries with him, which can be both a blessing and a burden.
I got that now I can't get that back
Acknowledging that once someone has achieved a certain level of success or fame, they can never truly go back to their old life or way of living.
Come on in I'm super paid
Boasting about his wealth and success, and inviting others to join him in his riches.
Song for song I'm due by day
Asserting that he is deserving of the fame and success he has achieved through his musical talents.
Just got off now I'm suitless
Having just arrived from a flight or performance, now feeling relaxed and not dressed in formal attire.
Watch how you talk to me
Warning others to be respectful when addressing him, as he is a successful and famous figure.
Now I need y'all to hear this
Expressing a desire for his message or opinions to be heard and taken seriously by others.
I need a 100 racks
Referring to a large sum of money that he requires for whatever purchase or service he desires.
Just playin'
Indicating that the previous line was made in jest or not meant to be taken seriously.
I'm just sayin' a lotta niggas
Suggesting that many other people in his industry or social circle have not achieved the same level of success or fame as he has.
Ain't been lost as me
Asserting that he has experienced a unique journey to the top, and that others have not faced the same challenges or obstacles.
I caught a wave
Describing his current state of momentum or success, which he is riding like a wave.
Caught more air than Super Dave
A reference to the stunt performer Super Dave Osborne, indicating that Kanye has achieved more acclaim or attention than even this famous figure.
Call Aaliyah, I'm super paid
A reference to the late singer Aaliyah, suggesting that even she would be impressed by his wealth and success.
Jet lag, and tryna recuperate
Describing the physical toll that travel and performance can take on a person, and the need to rest or recover.
Just got off the flight from Budapest
Describing his recent travels and perhaps suggesting that he has performed in different countries or continents recently.
Don't need Khaled, just say 'you the best!'
Referencing DJ Khaled's catchphrase 'We the best!', but asserting that he doesn't need anyone else to say that he is the best, as he already knows it.
You the type of nigga to shop at Uniqlo
Insulting someone for their fashion sense, suggesting that they shop at a cheaper or less fashionable store like Uniqlo.
Just found out my father-in-law unisex
Revealing a personal detail about his family life, suggesting that his father-in-law is gender non-conforming or perhaps owning a unisex business or product.
Running out of money, running into debt
Acknowledging that even someone as successful as he is can have financial struggles or shortcomings.
Running from bill collectors, I ain't pay them yet
Suggesting that even with his wealth and success, he has still failed to pay certain bills or debts, perhaps due to carelessness or negligence.
Shit you did, with no matter how rich you get
Suggesting that past mistakes or regrets can continue to haunt someone, even if they have achieved a great deal of success or wealth.
And even more, depending on the bitch you get
Insinuating that the women someone chooses to associate with can have a major impact on their success or trajectory in life.
I be getting worried for my niggas getting married, seriously
Expressing concern for his friends or associates who are getting married, perhaps reflecting on the challenges or stresses that come with marriage and commitment.
Can you be? (way up)
Reiterating the central theme of the song: asking if someone can keep up with his level of fame and success.
Will you be? (way up)
Asking if someone has the drive and ambition to attain the same level of success or fame that he has achieved.
I got that gold stuff stuck on my back
Restating the metaphor of fame and success as a heavy burden that he must carry with him at all times.
I got that now I can't get that back
Reflecting on the irreversibility of fame and success once it has been achieved, and the impossibility of returning to a simpler, more ordinary life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Kanye West, Scott Mescudi, Aubrey Graham, Jacques Webster
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MidgetMan.445
Lyrics
[Kanye West]
{mumbling}
oh {mumbling}
You know it, and I know {mumbling}
I can't {mumbling} and i know {mumbling}
And I oh
{mumbling}
oh ohh {mumbling}
Don't let me go
You never let me go
You never let me go
You never let me go
You never let me go
You never let me go
You never let me go
You never let me go
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Will you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?
[Travis Scott]
Stone hearted, my love is cold, mindless
Before we go, I got one question
Stone hearted, my love is cold, mindless
[Kanye West]
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Will you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Will you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
I caught a wave
Caught more air than Super Dave
Call Aaliyah, I'm super paid
Jet-laggin', tryna recuperate-rate
Just got off the flight from Budapest
Don't need Khaled to say "you the best!"
You the type of nigga to shop at Uniqlo
Just found out my father-in-law unisex
Running out of money, running into debt
Running from bill collectors, I ain't paid them yet
Shit you deal with no matter how rich you get
And even more, depending on the bitch you get
I be getting worried for my niggas getting married, seriously
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Will you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Will you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
[Travis Scott]
Stone hearted, my love is cold, mindless
Before we go, I got one question
[Kanye West]
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Will you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Will you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Will you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
Can you be?, Will you be?
Can you be?, Can you be?
[Travis Scott]
Stone hearted, my love is cold, mindless
Before we go, I got one question
Stone hearted, my love is cold, mindless
[Kanye West]
Will you be? Can you be?
[Travis Scott]
Before we go, I got one question
Stone hearted, my love is cold, mindless
Before we go, I got one question
mumbling
@andreyX
kanye in the studio be like:
"yeah this sounds like the future of music"
"delete it"
@Umidahh_
Too good to be heard by humankind
@huntersole68
kanyes verse is just mumbling
@alien_x_cool
@@huntersole68 he could have finished it though
@rickEbrickE
@@huntersole68I low-key fuck with the mumbling when Ye does it since it's Melodic, to me its like "fuck lyrics imma just pour my heart out".
@FrancoisDeutschmann
@@huntersole68 It's a placeholder.
@BlueSpiceSpace
"yeah this song would change the world"
"don't drop it"
@gatorfm7872
"Yeah this comment is unoriginal and on every unreleased Kanye song"
"Post it"
@baldname4191
@@gatorfm7872 why was that hella smart
@BlueSpiceSpace
@@gatorfm7872 shh