Since The Grammys were going on against a Carolina game and The Wire, I’m just watching it now. In fact, I’m not really watching it. I just heard Kanye cut up, and you can’t miss a good Kanye cut up.
Well, he didn’t cut up. He just punked the Grammys in a way never done. He actually got them to cut the music off. Never mind that he rambled about other stuff that it’s his own fault they cut the music on. Then he started talking about his mother. Yeah, Kanye, that’s on you.
But calmly saying “it would be in good taste to stop the music” did the trick. Nice and gangster, my man.
I gotta say this for Kanye–if I were him, I’d probably behave the same way. I can’t think of another rap superstar that’s more of a self-made phenomenon. None ever. I mean, this image he’s got is carefuly crafted according to a template never seen before. He’s not a pretty boy. He’s not an absolute beast on the mic. He’s just off on something else, and he’s pushed it so hard that it’s irrepressible. Oh, and he’s a musical genius. That certainly helps.
But he only got here by demanding attention. Even though he no longer has to do that, I can understand how he’s stuck in that groove. I should hate him, and he gets on my nerves. But if I said I had anything less than the utmost respect for the way he’s made his career, I’d be lying.
Also–Kanye said that he did Graduation as a way to cross genres and show that hip hop still has that fire. While I, like eauhellzgnaw, don’t like the notion that you have to “transcend” hip hop to really show people you’re talented, I do think hip hop has gotten to into itself. Chuck D makes the point that rap is the only music made from music, constructed from what’s already been out there. Not inspired by it, but literally constructed from it.
But in the post-sampling, keyboard/computer era, cats are making more stuff up themselves. That’s cool, but their influences are more narrow. Early producers didn’t grow up with hip hop because there was no hip hop. They had broader frames of reference. Now? Not so much.
Just something worth thinking about.
Wire recap later today. Yes, actually on a Monday!
5 thoughts on “Kanye West Continues to Confuse Me”
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
All of his solo CDs are definitely tight, but I still wait a whil before I’ll call him a musical genius. He has the sensibility to create hit pop (hip hop) music but so does will.i.am.
I thought performance was cool, but like you I wonder if he can deliver an acceptance (or not deliver one) and make it quick and concise. We get it already, we’re supposed to bow to his greatness. Fine, but it would be cool if would stop acting like a spoiled brat who needs to have it way.
Well at least he acknowledged Mark Ronson after taking a friendly jab at his often collaborator Common. So you can’t be mad at Vince Gill nor Usher.
Bo,
Loved your page 2 stuff, its actually what got me to this site. But since you’ve left and now are doing freelance stuff I can’t find much of your writing, really all you do here are blurbs and quick thoughts… when are you gonna get back to features/columns like you used to write?
Let him grieve in his own way. Life hasn’t been a bowl of cherries for him.
Bomani wrote: “I can’t think of another rap superstar that’s more of a self-made phenomenon. None ever. I mean, this image he’s got is carefuly crafted according to a template never seen before. He’s not a pretty boy. He’s not an absolute beast on the mic. He’s just off on something else, and he’s pushed it so hard that it’s irrepressible.”
—
Yo G… Let us not forget Puff Daddy.
been meaning to post this for a while, but i think your analysis of kanye is spot on.
for my money, kanye’s insecurity makes him that much more fun to listen too. it’s such a huge part of his artwork and i, as a regular joe, can relate to it. to some extent, how artists deal with that insecurity is what makes them worth listening too. whether it’s jay z’s over the top confidence or kanye’s constant need for approval, their insecurity is what i relate to. it’s what makes the music cathartic.
and we gotta get you writing about music more, period.