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.
Can't Tell Me Nothing Version )
kanye west Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wait 'til I get my money right
I had a dream I could buy my way to heaven
When I awoke, I spent that on a necklace
I told God I'd be back in a second
Man, it's so hard not to act reckless
To whom much is given, much is tested
I feel the pressure, under more scrutiny
And what'd I do? Act more stupidly
Bought more jewelry, more Louis V
My mama couldn't get through to me
The drama, people suing me
I'm on TV talking like it's just you and me
I'm just sayin' how I feel, man
I ain't one of the Cosby's, I ain't go to Hillman
I guess the money should've changed him
I guess I should've forgot where I came from
La, la, la-la
Wait 'til I get my money right
La, la, la-la
Then you can't tell me nothin' right?
Excuse me, was you sayin' somethin'?
Uh-uh, you can't tell me nothin'
(Ha-ha) you can't tell me nothin'
Uh, uh, you can't tell me nothin'
Let up the suicide doors
This is my life homie, you decide yours
I know that Jesus died for us
But I couldn't tell you who decide wars
So I parallel double-parked that motherfucker sideways
Old folks talking 'bout, "Back in my day"
But homie, this is my day
Class started two hours ago, oh, am I late?
No, I already graduated
And you can live through anything if Magic made it
They say I talk with so much emphasis
Ooh, they so sensitive
Don't ever fix your lips like collagen
Then say something when you gon' end up apologin'
Let me know if it's a problem then
Aight man, holla then
La, la, la-la
Wait 'til I get my money right
La, la, la-la
Then you can't tell me nothin' right?
Excuse me, was you sayin' somethin'?
Uh-uh, you can't tell me nothin'
(Ha-ha) you can't tell me nothin'
Uh, uh, you can't tell me nothin'
Let the champagne splash
Let that man get cash, let that man get past
He don't even stop to get gas
If he can move through the rumors, he can drive off of fumes 'cause
How he move in a room full of no's?
How he stay faithful in a room full of hoes?
Must be the pharaohs, he in tune with his soul
So when he buried in a tomb full of gold
Treasure, what's your pleasure?
Life is a, uh, depending how you dress her
So if the Devil wear Prada, Adam Eve wear nada
I'm in between but way more fresher
With way less effort
'Cause when you try hard, that's when you die hard
Your homies lookin' like, "Why God"
When they reminisce over you, my God
La, la, la-la
Wait 'til I get my money right
La, la, la-la
Then you can't tell me nothin' right?
Excuse me, was you sayin' somethin'?
Uh-uh, you can't tell me nothin'
(Ha-ha) you can't tell me nothin'
Uh, uh, you can't tell me nothin'
La, la, la-la
Wait 'til I get my money right
La, la, la-la
Then you can't tell me nothin' right?
(I'm serious, nigga)
(Ayy)
(Yeah)
(Ha-ha)
(Yeah, yeah)
(You know I'm serious, nigga)
(I got money)
In “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” Kanye West reflects on the pressure that comes with being a successful rapper, and the struggles he faced in his hometown of Chicago. The song opens with the line “La, la, la-la, wait 'til I get my money right,” which serves as a sort of mantra for West to focus on his material successes and ignore those who would try to bring him down.
The second verse is particularly introspective, with Kanye reflecting on the choices he’s made in the past and the consequences that come with them. He expresses regret that he disregarded his mother’s advice and got caught up in materialism and drama. Though he acknowledges his own mistakes, he also rejects the idea that he should be ashamed of becoming successful, saying “I guess the money should've changed him / I guess I should've forgot where I came from” and “Let the champagne splash / Let that man get cash, let that man get past.”
The chorus repeats the “La, la, la-la, wait 'til I get my money right” line, emphasizing the central theme of the song — that for Kanye, financial success is a means of empowerment and self-actualization.
Line by Line Meaning
La, la, la-la
The singer starts humming because he knows he can't be told anything.
Wait 'til I get my money right
The singer is waiting until he has enough money to feel secure in his life.
I had a dream I could buy my way to heaven
The singer wishes he could use money to achieve an ideal life.
When I awoke, I spent that on a necklace
The artist quickly spends his money on superficial things instead of using it wisely.
I told God I'd be back in a second
The artist feels guilty and promises to come back to his religious beliefs soon.
Man, it's so hard not to act reckless
The singer admits to struggling with impulsivity and recklessness despite knowing it's not in his best interest.
To whom much is given, much is tested
The more advantages one has, the more they are challenged and tested in life.
Get arrested, guess until he get the message
The artist explains that sometimes getting in trouble is what it takes to learn a lesson.
I feel the pressure, under more scrutiny
The artist is feeling increased pressure and criticism as his celebrity status grows.
And what'd I do? Act more stupidly
Despite feeling pressure, the artist admits to making foolish decisions in response.
Bought more jewelry, more Louis V
Instead of investing in something meaningful, the singer continues to spend money on material items.
My mama couldn't get through to me
The artist's mother was unable to persuade him to make better choices.
The drama, people suing me
The singer is caught up in personal drama and legal disputes.
I'm on TV talking like it's just you and me
The singer doesn't feel like a celebrity and speaks as if he's just talking to a friend.
I'm just sayin' how I feel, man
The singer is being honest and authentic with his emotions.
I ain't one of the Cosby's, I ain't go to Hillman
The artist identifies himself as an outsider in the entertainment industry and didn't go to a prestigious college like others in his field.
I guess the money should've changed him
Others expected the artist to change with fame and fortune, but he hasn't.
I guess I should've forgot where I came from
People assume that the singer should forget his roots and past in order to succeed.
Let up the suicide doors
The singer wants to live life carefree and without fear of consequences.
This is my life homie, you decide yours
The artist is letting others know that they are free to define their own lives, regardless of his actions.
I know that Jesus died for us
The artist has a religious belief that Jesus died for humanity.
But I couldn't tell you who decide wars
The artist doesn't have all the answers and doesn't understand why wars happen.
So I parallel double-parked that motherfucker sideways
The singer parks his car recklessly to reflect his carefree attitude.
Old folks talkin' 'bout, 'Back in my day'
The artist hears criticism from older generations about how things were different in the past.
But homie, this is my day
The singer asserts that he is living in the present and things have changed.
Class started two hours ago, oh, am I late?
The singer is late for class or doesn't care about attending in the first place.
No, I already graduated
The singer has moved beyond the traditional education system.
And you can live through anything if Magic made it
The artist is showing admiration for Magic Johnson's ability to live with HIV and still live a full life.
They say I talk with so much emphasis
The artist is aware that people criticize his communication style.
Ooh, they so sensitive
The singer thinks people are too easily offended.
Don't ever fix your lips like collagen
The singer advises not to speak untruths or empty promises.
Then say something when you gon' end up apologin'
The artist warns that if someone doesn't follow through on their words, they will have to apologize for it.
Let me know if it's a problem then
The artist invites others to communicate openly with him about any issues or problems.
Aight man, holla then
The artist dismisses the conversation and is ready to move on.
Let the champagne splash
The singer celebrates their success with champagne.
Let that man get cash, let that man get past
The artist believes in letting people succeed and move forward without interference from others.
He don't even stop to get gas
The singer is demonstrating how his success has given him the ability to ignore everyday problems like getting gas.
If he can move through the rumors, he can drive off of fumes
The singer compares overcoming rumors to driving on fumes--if you can do one, you can do the other.
'Cause when you try hard, that's when you die hard
The singer advises not to try too hard or else it will lead to failure and exhaustion.
Your homies lookin' like, 'Why God'
The artist's friends might not understand or agree with their choices.
When they reminisce over you, my God
The artist is aware that even when he is gone or forgotten, he will still be remembered and talked about.
I'm serious, nigga
The singer wants others to know he is serious about his words and actions.
(Ayy)
(Yeah)
(Ha-ha)
(Yeah, yeah)
(You know I'm serious, nigga)
(I got money)
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, WARREN MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Aldrin Davis, Kanye Omari West, Connie Thembi Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@solenzo2006
Welcome to this world YE
Who all things are under control
All the media all the theatre all the banks
Zionist is everywhere since a long time
Keep it real bro
You are à legend who speak with your heart
FREEDOM
@MOEMTEE
THIS MAN IS STILL LIVING UP TO EVERY LINE IN THIS SONG.
@alphachyna7219
😂😂 true
@hotcakesjubaby7300
You right!
@vuyophandle1903
LMAO! absolute legend!
@kamaljay1
@Jase Jase i just thought about this song this morning on my way to work and this line made me think he was talking about these fucking jews,i guess this nigga ain't crazy after all, we are the ones who's been lied to
@seansullivan4823
He needs prayers. He's by himself.
@WJAYY
This is the song you play when you move out of your parents house.
@mopedi3252
😂😂😂Saying you can't tell me nothing to your parents right?
@Bima971220
You a bad kid
@Bima971220
You a bad kid