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Kanye West Biography
Review The Artist (41)
Source: by Hartley Goldstein
Editor's Note: Both of these releases can be purchased on eBay, as well as sites devoted to the sale of underground mix-tapes.
Chicago-bred, soul sampling, producer wunderkind, Kanye West's music is inarguably the most exciting thing going on in hip-hop right now. He is the man that helped make Jay-Z's The Blueprint the soul-drenched nostalgic masterpiece that it was. He has produced a consistent array of chart-topping inspirational beats for artists as diverse as Ludacris ("Stand Up"), Scarface ("In Cold Blood"), and Talib Kweli ("Get By"); and, did I mention that the man raps like there's no tomorrow? Given the fact that he has a resume this dazzling, and is seemingly overflowing with potential, when word came that he had decided to put out a solo record, The College Dropout, it evoked little surprise, and a whole lot of anticipation. It also served as an incredibly unorthodox, and taboo-stricken move for a "heralded" producer of his stature, that only seemed to highlight his incredible ambitions and fans' adoration. The only thing is, The College Dropout was supposed to come out months ago; first, in August, then October, then January, and now, the fine folks at Roc-A-Fella are saying February (let's keep our fingers crossed). So, as the collective patience of avid hip-hop aficionados across the globe grows thinner and thinner, anticipation for Kanye's alleged-masterpiece debut is reaching a fever pitch.
In a typically savvy marketing move (like only those folks in hip-hop know how) serving to add only more fuel to the collective fire, a couple of Kanye West mix-tapes have been circulating around that not only showcase a collection of his finest chart-topping production moments from his previous work, but also preview a number of new selections from off of The College Dropout. Now, while in the surprisingly stringent circles of music criticism reviewing a mix-tape greets about the same level of enthusiasm as the release of a Backstreet Boy solo record, the two mix-tapes in question, Get Well Soon (released shortly after Kanye's much-publicized, near-fatal car accident), and I'm Good, prove to be among the best new hip-hop music released in 2003. However, in a level of irony seemingly only reserved for this delightful mess called the music business, since these releases are mix-tapes and not traditional albums (whatever that means these days), don't expect them to be making an appearance on many "best of" lists this year. In light of this fiasco, your trusty review has taken it upon himself to shine some much-deserved light on these enigmatic jewels, because given Roc-A-Fella's inconsistencies these tapes might be the closest we ever get to witnessing Kanye's abundant solo genius.
While both mixes serve as a well-represented document featuring a mish-mash of snippets from Kanye's earlier work, on both Get Well Soon and I'm Good Kanye's new material undoubtedly steals the show. The best of these new tracks is the unrelentingly rousing modern-day hip-hop epic, "2 Words", which features guest appearances from Mos Def, Freeway, and the Harlem Boys' Choir. Over the rolling thump of a thunderous drum kit, harpsichord lines tumble into butter-smooth electric guitar licks, while frenetic soulful wails provide the perfect canvas for Mos', Kanye's, and Freeway's relentless rhymes. However, this is all before Kanye breaks the song down for a stirring a cappela section from the Harlem Boys' Choir, which gives way to a frenzied stutter-step hip-hop hoe-down featuring a turbulent violin solo to close (that's right, I did say violin solo!).
The most amazing aspect of the track, though, is that it marks Kanye's characteristic mastery of balancing an "underground" hip-hop aesthetic, with elements from the mainstream. Kanye has infamously labeled himself the "self-proclaimed first nigga with Benz and a backpack", but it is rightly the consistent merging of these two diametric worlds in Kanye's music, which makes his sound so unabashedly unique. Tracks like "Heavy Hitters", which imparts a bouncing electro-funk bass riff straight out of the Timbaland handbook and joins it with a debonair classical piano motif, and the soulful ode to girl-trouble "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly", which cloaks Consequence's and Kanye's playerific verses in a dusty sample-heavy instrumental, perfectly reconcile Kanye's aesthetic contradictions.
However, while there may be little doubt left in anybody's mind if Kanye's beats are inspired, the real question that these two mix-tapes come to resolve is that if Kanye can handle himself on the mic. Thankfully, the answer is unresoundingly yes. Kanye has always attested to the fact that he was an emcee before he got into producing, and it was only his startling success as a beat-maker that took him away from first love of rhyming. This fact is abundantly clear on these mixes, as Kanye imparts a charmingly laconic vocal delivery, equal parts Mos Def and Snoop Dogg that is brimming with radiant wit, and agile word play. On The College Dropout's alleged first single, "Through the Wire" (an earnest recounting of the emotional toll of his horrific car accident), over a rolling motivational Chaka Kahn sample, Kanye cleverly attests, "In the same hospital where BIG and Tupac died, the Doctor said I had a blood clot, but I ain't Jamaican man, story on MTV, but I ain't trying to make a band." While over the old-school soul of "Home", Kanye personifies his relationship with his hometown of Chicago in the vain of Common's ode to hip-hop "I Used to Love Her", and through a wildly sincere monologue recounts their lengthy turbulent history; Kanye's cleverly rhymes, "I guess that's why last winter she got so cold on me, she said 'Ye keep making that platinum and gold for me."
On the closing track off Get Well Soon, the bitter-sweetly nostalgic, "My Way", a speed up vocal sample reflects, "I've lived a life that's full, I've traveled each and every highway, and what's more than this, I did it my way." The track serves as the perfect summation of every aspect that makes Kanye West such a rarity amongst the excess-laden caricatures that seem to dominate the hip-hop world; over a lush instrumental of sweeping syrupy string melodies, West earnestly recounts his hip-hop typical ambitions of making a dollar. However, when he states, "I'm not a Kennedy, but I'm good rich," it feels like a miracle. Finally a rapper who is equal parts ambitious and humble, aggressive and empathetic, and witty while still being genuine. He's Kanye West, and he's just put out the best hip-hop album of next year... his own way. |
Would you please submit the latest Kanye West biography to me? Thank You.
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Review about Kanye West
di best rapper alive | Reviewer: sadrene | 12/6/08
kanye omari west is the best rapper alive, im not saying everyone else is whack, ive been a kanye west fan from di get go. i love kanye and i buy all his albums, he is di best dere is no compition and i intend tu get married tu kanye west one day, sadrene berry now, in a year imm be 18, and ill be mrs. west if yu nasty. lOl.
Tha King of Hip hop | Reviewer: Kaydosit | 12/2/08
Kanye your tha man your words have sole meaning and poupose in each rime ur rapping .As u came to nz this week i got to see my idile on center stage duing ur god given talant on ur glow in tha dark tour . Thank you , your right dreams du cum true even if magic made .much luf always ..... Katye ..
kanYe, i'm feelin you | Reviewer: _ladY mohawK_ | 10/15/08
alright, imma be straight and say dat i wasn't feeling him at first, but i actually listened to a few songs from his *GRADUATION* album && den i went out and actually bought tha album which is something NEVER do [LOL] but after i bought that album i actually went out && bought all of his other albums, but anyways i love kanYe. he's tha only artist thats creative. i can listen to another song that's produced by him && i can immediately recognize that kanYe produced tha beat cuz he has that certain 'swagger' and everywhere he goes he takes it with him.
he's tha only artist, so far, whose albums i'll buy, i'm lookin forward to buy more of his 'art'
kanYe, if you readin this... i jus wanna say thank you for stayin true to tha rap game && bringin that 'real-ness' to our ears. you're a big brother to all of us. [..much love..]
Momma' Please | Reviewer: Carlos E. | 10/8/08
I am from Chicago, still here and enjoying this wonderful city. I lost my Mother not too long ago and for years during her sickness and my growing up, I was angry and displayed lots of emotion.
I saw Kanye on Ellen today and I felt a shy man that misses his Mother while protecting his privacy in an opened book and doing what he loves.
I wish I still had the youth that he has, foe I would be out there too!
Kanye if you read this, let's discuss MW job!
One of the best rappers. | Reviewer: Platinum B, the first blind rapper | 8/4/08
I am blind so I need a lot of music that will keep me up from all the things I go threw. Kanye's "Stronger" and "Champion" r great songs that I listen 2 when I'm goin threw a lot of things. Keep the great work up Kanye. I look up 2 u like I look up 2 2Pac or Chamillionaire. U r like 1 of my big brothers that cheer me up when I need it. Please keep up the great work Kanye cause I need u.
ilovethisfoo<3 | Reviewer: thebest:]<3 | 7/1/08
omg. kanye west is the best evr<33
he has soo manyy creative songs
that will blow yur mind.
he is noo poser!!!
like the rest of the so called
"rappers".
so im am VERY proud to sayy
kanYe west
is the best lyrical writer
that has messages
in his songs:]]
ily kanYe <33
best rapper alive for rite now or of all time | Reviewer: MRKooL005 | 2/8/08
i dont really have alot to say but kanye west is one of the most creative artist you will ever hear. ppl say lil wayne is the best im sorry to say that he is just in the spot light and soo his light will fade away ino hip hop history. kanye has been on goin sence his 1st album dropped.i hate the way soulja boy and those damn easy raps think there so great it has no mean to it it cant help anyone out except retards that have no mind of there own and are controlled by the media
o ya britney spears is the best rapper alive
:)
a song fo nita | Reviewer: Anonymous | 12/13/07
do u see me go crazy like a lil bitch in heat on yo ass eatin u up like u was a piece a meat i dont need to take yo shit like a toilet wit yo hiv positive urine soakin up da bowl while i watch u shit in it i aint never been da type to insult some lil ho online but ima be blunt bitch you just fuckin crossed the line so how you like it being trashed before the muthafuckin world trashed like yo last infant child u little diarrhea whore. i give kanye credit where its due. u wanna disagree wit me fine but dont insult me just cuz i have a different opinion. kanye is an amazing producer. period.
shut d HELL UP!!!!!!!!!!!! | Reviewer: Nita | 12/10/07
OK kanye is the best rapper of all times!! and he is a gift to everyone.and FOOL shut d hel up and dont talk about his mum like that you heartless idiot!!!! and if you r expecting more from him he will give you more but you can us a favour and make your own song so we can see how pathetic you are.LOOSER!!!!!!!!!!!
mixed feelings | Reviewer: Anonymous | 12/6/07
I will admit that kanye has a lot more talent than today's so called "rappers" (e.g. - T.I., Mims, Lil Jon, and anyone else who thinks two or three words is a good song) and I love the song "Stronger" but as a person he is a poser. He grew up in the suburbs, but claims it was the ghetto, and actually compared himself to Jesus Christ, which is very stupid and ignorant. Keep making music, Kanye, because that's the only way you will get any sort of respect at all.
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Review the Artist Kanye West
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