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.
million freestyle
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I freestyle battle niggas for (a million)
How many niggas bit the soul? 'Bout
(a million)
How many hoes did I bone? 'Bout (a million)
Uh uh, uh uh, it's (a million) , uh uh
There's (a million) ways to die, choose one
Look, lot of people askin' 'bout
The money I made, me and Just Blaze
How are they for real
Is them niggas really paid?
Rappers I met or dealt with direct
Is it true he won't send a beat
Tape until he get a check?
What's the position you hold?
Can you really match the Neptunes
Check by check if "H to the Izzo" is the
Only single that went gold?
If Roc-a-Fella shit fold and you
Move back to the 'Go
Is it back to ghost producer for
D dot on the low?
For the millionth time askin' me
Questions like Toni Braxton, harassing me
Like, "You don't care about
My son's feelings?" can I get a minute
You wack bitch? I ain't gotta jack shit
You heard "Takeover"
Who running this rap shit?
Ugh, fake tit's, shut up and make hit's
Can't we all just get along
Spread love like Take 6?
What, you doin' beats in LA
For Eminem and Dr dre?
Them niggas sold ten mill
I'm trying to get paid
We do this shit for entertainment
Bring guns to the arraignment
While the judge in the chamber
Let one up out the chamber, BLAOW!
How many years did I wait? About (a million)
How many niggas tryin' to hate? About
(a million)
But when a nigga count his cake, it's 'bout
(a million) yeah
'04, College Dropout
I make the game different
I don't know what the hell
Y'all niggas been sniffin'
'Ye still flicking, hoes is my addiction
Five days out the week
You'll find me in the kitchen
Smashing the game, nigga, unlike you
'Cause these beats change the game
And the hook's right too
I'm a crook like you
Cats back in the Chi was
Buying tracks for dirt cheap
Man, what could I do?
Knowing I'm supposed to style
I'm the fly-boy poster child
'Bout to be on Oprah now
It's ironic and whatnot how I put
No ice in the Bulgari watch
Just to make it hot
Now you see me on stages
My hit résumés is two pages
For them niggas who played us
Feet just raises, booming like Masta Ace's
"Stand Up", number one
And there's more to come
All I got for hoes is hard dick and bubblegum
While y'all brick like Fred
Barney Rubble and them
Chi Town in this bitch
What's fucking with them?
Not a damn thing, nigga, we
Doing our damn thing, bLAOW!
(A million) yeah
(A million)
The lyrics to Kanye West's "Million Freestyle" are a boastful reflection on his success and fame in the music industry. He starts off by mentioning that he freestyle battles for a million dollars, highlighting his skill and talent. He then talks about the many people who have copied his style or borrowed from his soulful music, emphasizing that there are countless imitators.
The song also touches on the topic of money and success. Kanye addresses rumors about his wealth and whether he and producer Just Blaze are truly paid as they claim to be. He questions the motives of other rappers he has encountered, wondering if they only care about money and if they would still work with him without a paycheck. He brings up his affiliation with Roc-a-Fella and speculates about his future if the record label were to fold. Kanye expresses his frustration with those who criticize him and question his dedication to his craft.
In the second verse, Kanye continues to assert his dominance in the music industry. He talks about his debut album, "College Dropout," and how it changed the game. He mentions his addiction to women and his commitment to making music, spending long hours in the studio. Kanye believes that his beats are game-changers and his hooks are always right. He declares himself a crook, alluding to being a clever and innovative artist.
The song concludes with Kanye celebrating his success and dismissing any competition. He references his rise to stardom, appearing on stages and accumulating hits. Kanye boasts about his impact on the industry while delivering a humorous line about what he can offer to women. He proudly represents his hometown of Chicago and asserts that nobody can compare to him and his crew.
Overall, "Million Freestyle" showcases Kanye West's confidence and self-assuredness as he reflects on his achievements and addresses his critics in the music industry.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah it's (a million)
This is a significant amount, emphasizing the abundance or magnitude of something.
I freestyle battle niggas for (a million)
I engage in intense rap battles for a significant reward or recognition.
How many niggas bit the soul? 'Bout (a million)
Numerous artists have imitated or copied my unique style or sound.
How many hoes did I bone? 'Bout (a million)
I have been involved with a large number of women.
Uh uh, uh uh, it's (a million) , uh uh
Repeatedly emphasizing the large quantity or extent of something.
There's (a million) ways to die, choose one
There are countless possibilities or paths that may lead to downfall or negative consequences.
(A million)
Reiterating the existence of a vast quantity or number.
Look, lot of people askin' 'bout
Many individuals inquire about
The money I made, me and Just Blaze
The significant earnings achieved by myself and Just Blaze
How are they for real
Are they genuinely successful or sincere
Is them niggas really paid?
Are those individuals truly wealthy or financially stable?
Rappers I met or dealt with direct
The rappers I have encountered or collaborated with personally
Is it true he won't send a beat
Is it accurate that he refuses to provide a musical composition
Tape until he get a check?
Until he receives payment or compensation?
What's the position you hold?
What role or status do you possess?
Can you really match the Neptunes
Are you truly comparable to the musical duo The Neptunes?
Check by check if "H to the Izzo" is the
Payment after payment, considering if the song "H to the Izzo" was the
Only single that went gold?
Sole track that achieved a gold sales certification?
If Roc-a-Fella shit fold and you
In the event that Roc-a-Fella record label fails and you
Move back to the 'Go
Return to the Chicago area
Is it back to ghost producer for
Will you resort to being an uncredited producer for
D dot on the low?
Damion Butler secretly?
For the millionth time askin' me
Once again, repeatedly questioning me
Questions like Toni Braxton, harassing me
Inquiring persistently like Toni Braxton, causing annoyance or distress
Like, "You don't care about
Suggesting that I lack concern for
My son's feelings?" can I get a minute
The emotions of my child? Can I have a moment?
You wack bitch? I ain't gotta jack shit
You untalented woman? I do not need to steal or copy anything
You heard "Takeover"
You listened to the song "Takeover"
Who running this rap shit?
Who is dominating or in control of the rap industry?
Ugh, fake tit's, shut up and make hit's
Annoying individuals with artificial breasts, be quiet and create successful songs
Can't we all just get along
Why can't we cooperate and live harmoniously?
Spread love like Take 6?
Promote love and harmony like the a cappella group Take 6
What, you doin' beats in LA
Are you producing music in Los Angeles?
For Eminem and Dr dre?
Working with Eminem and Dr. Dre?
Them niggas sold ten mill
Those individuals achieved sales of ten million
I'm trying to get paid
I am endeavoring to receive monetary compensation
We do this shit for entertainment
We engage in this activity for the purpose of amusement or enjoyment
Bring guns to the arraignment
Carry firearms when attending the legal proceeding
While the judge in the chamber
As the judge sits in the courtroom
Let one up out the chamber, BLAOW!
Fire a shot from the gun aggressively, emphasizing power or assertion
How many years did I wait? About (a million)
I patiently waited for an extensive period of time
How many niggas tryin' to hate? About
There is a large number of individuals attempting to express hatred or animosity
(a million)
Emphasizing the abundance or magnitude of something
But when a nigga count his cake, it's 'bout
However, when a person calculates their financial success or wealth, it is approximately
(a million) yeah
Justifying the existence of a considerable quantity or number
'04, College Dropout
Referring to the year 2004 and the album 'College Dropout'
I make the game different
I revolutionize or transform the field I am in
I don't know what the hell
I have no idea what on earth
Y'all niggas been sniffin'
You all have been inhaling or using drugs
'Ye still flicking, hoes is my addiction
I am still actively attracting or pursuing women, as it has become an addiction
Five days out the week
The majority of the week, specifically five days
You'll find me in the kitchen
I am typically located in the kitchen during this time
Smashing the game, nigga, unlike you
Dominating or excelling in the industry, unlike yourself
'Cause these beats change the game
Because my musical compositions alter or revolutionize the industry
And the hook's right too
Additionally, the chorus or hook is also excellent or accurate
I'm a crook like you
Similar to you, I am a deceptive or dishonest person
Cats back in the Chi was
Individuals in Chicago were
Buying tracks for dirt cheap
Purchasing musical compositions at a significantly low price
Man, what could I do?
In that situation, what options did I have?
Knowing I'm supposed to style
Being aware that I am expected to perform exceptionally
I'm the fly-boy poster child
I am the epitome or representation of a fashionable and successful individual
'Bout to be on Oprah now
Soon to make an appearance on Oprah's show
It's ironic and whatnot how I put
Ironically, it is interesting or amusing how I placed
No ice in the Bulgari watch
No diamonds or precious stones in the Bulgari timepiece
Just to make it hot
Merely to make it appealing or impressive
Now you see me on stages
Currently, you witness my performances on various stages
My hit résumés is two pages
My successful portfolio consists of an extensive list, spanning two pages
For them niggas who played us
For those individuals who underestimated or mistreated us
Feet just raises, booming like Masta Ace's
Our reputation and influence increase rapidly, comparable to Masta Ace
"Stand Up", number one
The song "Stand Up" achieved the top spot
And there's more to come
Furthermore, there are additional projects or successes on the horizon
All I got for hoes is hard dick and bubblegum
All I have to offer women is sexual pleasure and trivial entertainment
While y'all brick like Fred
While all of you fail miserably or disappoint, similar to Fred from 'The Flintstones'
Barney Rubble and them
Including Barney Rubble and his associates
Chi Town in this bitch
Chicago is prominently present in this current situation
What's fucking with them?
What or who can compete or contend with them?
Not a damn thing, nigga, we
Absolutely nothing can rival them, as they
Doing our damn thing, bLAOW!
Successfully and passionately pursuing their goals, with force or impact
(A million) yeah
Continuing to emphasize the magnitude or abundance of something
(A million)
Again, highlighting the existence of a vast quantity or number
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
rey real
I pray to God the real ones make it
Kowin
I feel like this is going to blow up
Amras Culnamo
I can flow like kanye yeah i can baby i am the best there is i bring the biz im a whiz and i wizz on wizzy i get dizzy love a girl thats sleazy so i know she easy yeah! LOOK AT MY FLOW I AM THE NEXT KANYE WEST REMEMBER MY NAME!
prod. KNOT
fr
Lautaro Quirino
Gold.
Andrey Medina
How many views should this have?
Sundreas
A MILLION
Jordan Walls
ITS ANOTHER VERSION TO THIS SONG I USED TO LISTEN TO THIS ON MYSPACE LOL..
ON THE OTHER VERSION HE SAYS "WHAT YOU DOING IN LA WITH 50 CENT & DR DRE ? , THEM N****S SOLD TEN MILL , IM TRYNNA GET PAID"..
BrickTamland125
Jay z vibes
riosheep
PReemo