Author Topic: Kanye West officially fell off (Read 1945 times)

Phoenix Dark · « **on:** October 16, 2008, 10:46:33 PM »

Quote

Kanye West knows one way to make guests pay attention at an album listening party: a room full of live nude women, standing and posing in silhouette against a wall of bright colored light in a performance designed by artist Vanessa Beecroft. That was the scene in a Los Angeles loft Tuesday night, as West unveiled his brooding, emotional 808s & Heartbreak album, set for release November 25.

More than 700 invited guests watched and listened as Beecroft’s 40 models slowly changed position with each song, some of them wearing fuzzy wigs that covered their faces. Just as provocative were West’s new tracks, including the singles “Love Lockdown” and “Heartless,” mostly obsessed with romantic pain and loss. All vocals were sung and treated with the electro “auto-tune” effect. But there was no rapping or overt sampling, just emotional waves of electronic sound, beats and occasional strings.

“You want to tell your friends you’re leaving me,” Wests sings on one stormy, lovesick track. “You’ll never find nobody better than me.” Later, his voice is wounded as he surrenders, “Goodbye, my friend. Will I ever love again?”

When the album was over, West grabbed a microphone and stood beside Beecroft’s models and called 808s & Heartbreak a very personal project. “These are pieces of real life that I’m putting out for people to judge,” West said, and then ridiculed how it might be rated by critics. “It’s from my heart. I don’t give a fuck if someone rates it ‘hot’ or ‘not.’ I’m here to bring positivity that cannot be judged. It’s like judging a grandmother’s love, and someone says ‘Your grandmother gets two and a half mics.’ Or, ‘You grandmother didn’t sell a million the first week.’”

West, who said he has another album coming in June, noted that the closing song, “Cold As Winter,” was written for his mother, who died at age 58 last year following complications from cosmetic surgery. “The irony for me, someone who has talked about so many labels — Louis Vuitton this, Benz that, this girl look good, I’m not going out with you if you don’t look good — the irony, for me to lose the most important person to Hollywood. And now it’s time to deliver ideas in the most naked form possible.”

He put his arm around Beecroft, who created the living art installation on short notice. “When he contacted me a month ago, he caught me off-guard,” she told the crowd. “But when I heard the album, I heard things that touched my own life.”

Among the guests was Jimmy Kimmel, who arrived after West performed two songs on his show earlier that afternoon. “I’m sure it’s beautiful art, and many people can appreciate it on a much deeper level than I can,” Kimmel said of Beecroft’s work. “But I look out there and see a lot of good-looking naked girls and it makes me happy.”

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/10/15/kanye-wests-listening-party-lights-heartbreak-nudity/

If West had any musical talent something like this could be intriguing. Instead he's hiding this with auto-tune, which can make anybody sound talented

[youtube=425,350]Fpu6C70WROM[/youtube]

and the laughably bad first single/video
[youtube=425,350]JXUzuk_wd0k[/youtube]
"...somewhere far from home, in the danger zone!"

Kanye West gained my respect for being the Anti Rapper: a vulnerable character comfortable with admitting his short comings, self-consciousness, and doubts. He didn't do this as well as others such as Tupac and Eminem but I loved it regardless. His second album felt even more personal than the first, despite being over-produced and bloated. But Graduation was a giant disappointment, an average at best hip hop album released in a year full of amazing hip hop albums. Looks like this new album is going to be considerably worse; I like badmouthing Graduation but at least it had some good tracks.

Shame shame. It sounds like this is his St. Anger, a therapy album quite personal to the artist but simply not worth the plastic it's lasered on, and as someone on SOHH said:
http://forums.projectcovo.com/showpost.php?p=1062169221&postcount=3

SMH

Cormacaroni · « **Reply #1 on:** October 16, 2008, 10:51:36 PM »

I must know more about his mother dying from cosmetic surgery complications.

Human Snorenado · « **Reply #2 on:** October 16, 2008, 10:55:13 PM »

Quote from: Cormacaroni on October 16, 2008, 10:51:36 PM

I must know more about his mother dying from cosmetic surgery complications.

That's what he gets for going with a black doctor. Everyone knows you want a jewish doctor!

TVC15 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 16, 2008, 10:56:01 PM »

Quote from: The Card Cheat on October 16, 2008, 10:55:13 PM

Quote from: Cormacaroni on October 16, 2008, 10:51:36 PM
I must know more about his mother dying from cosmetic surgery complications.

That's what he gets for going with a black doctor. Everyone knows you want a jewish doctor!

Kanye can't go to a jewish doctor. I hear he's an arab, and that his wife is an atheist.

Trent Dole · « **Reply #4 on:** October 16, 2008, 11:05:11 PM »

Eh, this is just a public whining at/about his ex. I'm not counting it as the follow up do Graduation, which was good save a few tracks.

Drunk and Hot Girls

Cormacaroni · « **Reply #5 on:** October 16, 2008, 11:05:46 PM »

Quote from: TVC 15 on October 16, 2008, 10:56:01 PM

Quote from: The Card Cheat on October 16, 2008, 10:55:13 PM
Quote from: Cormacaroni on October 16, 2008, 10:51:36 PM
I must know more about his mother dying from cosmetic surgery complications.

That's what he gets for going with a black doctor. Everyone knows you want a jewish doctor!

Kanye can't go to a jewish doctor. I hear he's an arab, and that his wife is an atheist.

that one? you betcha!

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #6 on:** October 16, 2008, 11:14:25 PM »

Drunk and Hot Girls could have been awesome; the sample is very cool. I think it's more tolerable now than the first time I heard it...but it's still

ch1nchilla · « **Reply #7 on:** October 16, 2008, 11:45:31 PM »

I'm kind of disappointed to hear that the ENTIRE album will be in auto-tune, but if it's good, it's good. I like Love Lockdown and Heartless, but the rest of the songs need to be better if it's going to be a good album.

But let's get serious... we all know that the REAL release of November is the new Clipse album.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #8 on:** October 16, 2008, 11:51:47 PM »

Mark me up as one of those guys who doesn't "get" the Clipse love among hip hop heads. I'll give Hell Hath No Fury another try. It's not like I don't like "coke rap" - Ghostface is probably my favorite rapper (who's still active).

"I'm so obnoxious, I don't fear Tubbs and Crocket"

Brehvolution · « **Reply #9 on:** October 16, 2008, 11:53:01 PM »

Who?

ch1nchilla · « **Reply #10 on:** October 16, 2008, 11:56:34 PM »

Quote from: Thanks But No Thanks on October 16, 2008, 11:51:47 PM

Mark me up as one of those guys who doesn't "get" the Clipse love among hip hop heads. I'll give Hell Hath No Fury another try. It's not like I don't like "coke rap" - Ghostface is probably my favorite rapper (who's still active).

"I'm so obnoxious, I don't fear Tubbs and Crocket"

Way to quote the worst song on the album.

Definitely re-listen, especially to "Keys Open Doors" and "Ride Around Shinin".

Amazing.

Reb · « **Reply #11 on:** October 17, 2008, 10:24:31 AM »

I love Cher!

Oh wait, it's Kanye West?

Barry Egan · « **Reply #12 on:** October 17, 2008, 10:44:53 AM »

I dislike the song, and despite auto-tune, but I absolutely love the video for Love Lockdown.

Himu · « **Reply #13 on:** October 17, 2008, 01:24:32 PM »

smh

fuck hip hop

Himu · « **Reply #14 on:** October 17, 2008, 01:38:19 PM »

I don't even feel like listening to these tracks.

Lemme know when a GOOD hip hop album drops because hip hop is DEAD.

Himu · « **Reply #15 on:** October 17, 2008, 01:53:55 PM »

Sounds more interesting than the typical shit they talk about in hip hop, which has gotten stale as fuck, even amongst the underground cats.

Don't forget to put a skit every other track. It'll be a real hip hop album then.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #16 on:** October 18, 2008, 03:18:25 PM »

Quote from: Himuro on October 17, 2008, 01:38:19 PM

I don't even feel like listening to these tracks.

Lemme know when a GOOD hip hop album drops because hip hop is DEAD.

SMH

Y Society - Travel At Your Own Pace
Blu and Exile - Beneath the Heavens
Pharoahe Monch - Desire
Ghostface Killah - Big Doe Rehab
Jazz Liberatorz - Clin d'Oeil
Raashan Ahmad - Push

Those are all albums that have come out in the last couple years. Y Society's album is a modern classic as far as I'm concerned, and Blu and Exile's debut is awesome.

Himu · « **Reply #17 on:** October 18, 2008, 03:44:02 PM »

what do they talk about

or is their subject matter as boring and rehashed as all the other underground cats

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #18 on:** October 18, 2008, 03:50:15 PM »

I'm tired of your hipster wanna-be act. Radiohead and the other bands you (and I) like aren't doing or saying anything new either, yet you apply a double standard exclusively for hip hop; many people do that and it pisses me off.

You fluctuate from one obsession to another because you clearly don't know who you are and therefore attempt to define yourself based on movements or religion (same thing really). Yet no matter where the wind blows you next you'll never find true peace. And that's some real talk because I love you.

TVC15 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 18, 2008, 04:09:14 PM »

Quote from: Thanks But No Thanks on October 18, 2008, 03:50:15 PM

I'm tired of your hipster wanna-be act. Radiohead and the other bands you (and I) like aren't doing or saying anything new either, yet you apply a double standard exclusively for hip hop; many people do that and it pisses me off.

You fluctuate from one obsession to another because you clearly don't know who you are and therefore attempt to define yourself based on movements or religion (same thing really). Yet no matter where the wind blows you next you'll never find true peace. And that's some real talk because I love you.

While I agree with your second statement, I'm not so sure I do the first. Whereas in most other types of music you can overlook lacking areas in a song if the other parts are sufficiently good, that's really difficult to do in most hip hop since the lyrics are 100% the focus. I love Rage Against the Machine, although the lyrics are completely distinguished mentally-challenged, for example.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #20 on:** October 18, 2008, 04:15:20 PM »

True, lyrics can still be good even if you've heard similar content before. There are billions of love songs, billions of break up songs, etc. Yet today there are still many that may sound cliche and many that manage to sound fresh or relevant to you personally. A great lyricist can take any subject and tackle it inventively

With hip hop there are so many different angles the lyrics can go - self conscious, socially conscious, gangsta, story telling, shit talking, etc etc etc. Yet even today these avenues are still being used with wit and freshness by various artists.

I could understand someone not feeling free associative lyrics today, for instance - I have nothing against that type of writing but I prefer more structured stuff. One of the reasons I love the Y Society album is because lyrically it encompasses everything hip hop is about

permutated · « **Reply #21 on:** October 20, 2008, 02:14:31 AM »

I fucking hate autotune.

To everyone asking what it is or what it's called: it's called pitch-shifting, the effect they use is Antares Auto Tune, it's an application that analyzes audio input and shifts it to predetermined scales/pitches. It can be used as horribly as in the Kanye video, or as blended as any of the pop tracks you morons listen to on a daily basis.

It's in there, trust me.

Fresh Prince · « **Reply #22 on:** October 20, 2008, 02:33:48 AM »

Name a rapper who hasn't fallen off.

Quote from: Thanks But No Thanks on October 18, 2008, 03:50:15 PM

And that's some real talk because I love you.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #23 on:** October 20, 2008, 03:18:51 PM »

Ghostface!

disclaimer: he's been re-making the same album over and over to diminishing returns but he still brings the heat imo

ch1nchilla · « **Reply #24 on:** October 20, 2008, 06:06:15 PM »

Clipse, if you don't count the Re-Up Gang's miserable, miserable debut major label album. I have faith that 'Til the Casket Drops will make up for it, though.

lordmaji · « **Reply #25 on:** October 21, 2008, 11:14:49 AM »

Quote from: permutated on October 20, 2008, 02:14:31 AM

I fucking hate autotune.

To everyone asking what it is or what it's called: it's called pitch-shifting, the effect they use is Antares Auto Tune, it's an application that analyzes audio input and shifts it to predetermined scales/pitches. It can be used as horribly as in the Kanye video, or as blended as any of the pop tracks you morons listen to on a daily basis.

It's in there, trust me.

(Image removed from quote.)

tehe, I used that on the last two songs I did.

It's the new trend, bitches love it.

Himu · « **Reply #26 on:** October 21, 2008, 12:34:41 PM »

Quote from: Thanks But No Thanks on October 18, 2008, 03:50:15 PM

I'm tired of your hipster wanna-be act. Radiohead and the other bands you (and I) like aren't doing or saying anything new either, yet you apply a double standard exclusively for hip hop; many people do that and it pisses me off.

What are you TALKING about. Radiohead's lyrics are awesome and different and what the fuck. I love that about Radiohead. And unlike with hip hop, lyrics aren't such a big presence in those bands. With hip hop, almost all of those cats are rapping about something we've heard 1000 times. Even the underground ones. It seems almost all of these rappers talk about the same thing, mainstream or other wise, and I've basically gotten tired of it.

If these albums you listed above are so interesting then tell me what the subject matter revolves around.

Quote from: Thanks But No Thanks on October 18, 2008, 03:50:15 PM

You fluctuate from one obsession to another because you clearly don't know who you are and therefore attempt to define yourself based on movements or religion (same thing really). Yet no matter where the wind blows you next you'll never find true peace. And that's some real talk because I love you.

You don't know me at all. What does hip hop sucking have to do with this in the least? If anything, that's you. I know who *I* am, do you? It seems you do all these things like get heavy into politics or get heavy into movies and act like an expert on all of them just because you think people will think you're some smart ass negro. I do what I want because it interests me. You bring up religion when it has been an interest of mine for years. Have you read the Ramayana, the Muhabarata, studied various religions out of pure interest? I have been doing that for years.

I've always liked hip hop, but I've never been obsessed with it either, so don't act like you know me.

And this is real talk, because I love you.

Next thing you know, you'll be in some gaming thread hating on some game when you don't know what the fuck you're talking about, and you want to accuse me of riding on flavor of the week shit. Amber Lambchops, then No But No Thanks. Then this nicca has the audacity to say I swing from one obsession from the next, as if he knows me.

TVC15 · « **Reply #27 on:** October 21, 2008, 12:53:08 PM »

Himu got sonned.

Himu · « **Reply #28 on:** October 21, 2008, 01:03:40 PM »

Whatever.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #29 on:** October 21, 2008, 01:26:04 PM »

Radiohead has different lyrics? Every band does different things lyrically but the majority of Radiohead lyrics - like every other fucking band - have been done before one way or another. My point is that there's nothing wrong with that considering GOOD bands like Radiohead manage to put a fresh spin on things. With hip hop I'm not a big fan of modern "gangsta" rap because it was done so much better in the 90s. But if an artist tackles the genre with wit and clever rhymes I have no problem. If it's just "rap game sorta like the crack game" type shit than I'm not interested.

Ok, lets talk about the Y Society album for instance. Every song touches on a different subject with witty lyrics and throw back beats.

[youtube=425,350]bHiEjoz-LBE[/youtube]
(smh @ the poor audio quality. Buy or download the album)

Or check out
[youtube=425,350]UC2G3iQqPo0[/youtube]

Video is kinda annoying but the song is dope

Himu · « **Reply #30 on:** October 21, 2008, 01:27:42 PM »

kid a's lyrics are totally minimalist, and that was strangely appealing, so yes. their lyrics are different.

also, ok computer's lyrics are so fucking dark and awesome. I love it.

Sorry I lashed out, but you actually managed to hurt my feelings, which is hard to do.

I will check out those songs.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #31 on:** October 21, 2008, 01:59:41 PM »

I didn't mean to make you mad, I just felt like calling you out. I'm sure TVC could point out many similar artists to radiohead with similar lyrics.

Himu · « **Reply #32 on:** October 21, 2008, 02:06:00 PM »

hottest avatar

of

all time

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Author Topic: Kanye West officially fell off (Read 1945 times)