Kanye West's Biography

VH1 ^ | August 21, 2005 | VH1

[mikemikemikecubed]

One of the few truly unique hip-hop artists to revel atop the commercial side of the industry during the early 2000s, Kanye West spent most of his time producing flavorful

hits for Jay-Z and other top-tier rappers, yet he eventually seized the opportunity to launch his own rapping career as well. Granted, West himself wasn't a phenomenal rapper, but he had a lot going for him. For one, he was witty, coming up with off-the-wall lyrics like "She's got a light-skinned friend look like Michael Jackson/Got a dark-skinned friend look like Michael Jackson" that were smart and funny at the same time, even if they didn't employ elaborate rhyming schemes à la Rakim or street-prophet motifs à la Nas. Secondly, he had a singsong flow that made him seem like an everyman rapper as if he were your homeboy from down the street (or perhaps you yourself), even though he was, in fact, a seasoned rapper who'd been spitting game since he first heard Run-D.M.C. way back in the day.

[dfwgator]

One aspect of Kanye's rant I actually do agree with. The media does love to show the angry black man and tends to focus on the negative aspects of black Americans. I don't know if that's how he meant it, but just look how they tend to believe that only Jackson and Sharpton speak for the entire community, instead of holding up people like Condi Rice as examples.

[ArrogantBustard]

but it's SOP in the hip hop production milieu to sample music.

Which makes the form itself basically parasitic. 'Way back (in the 1980s), when I first started hearing rap it was basically poetry recitation with minimal (mostly rhythm) music underneath. It hadn't yet become violent, thuggish and crude, and although not my favourite I had a rap station programmed on my car radio. Whatever else may have been said of those early rappers, they were recording original work.

[ArrogantBustard]

The media does love to show the angry black man and tends to focus on the negative aspects of black Americans. I don't know if that's how he meant it, but just look how they tend to believe that only Jackson and Sharpton speak for the entire community, instead of holding up people like Condi Rice as examples.

The media doesn't just show sharpton, jackson, et al ranting; the media shows them ranting in front of audiences and receiving enthusiastic applause. Somebody's out there agreeing with their nonsense. In fairness, Deroy Murdock was on "The Factor" tonight and provided a welcome breath of fresh air.

[ArrogantBustard]

BTW, any comment on the contents of Kanye West's little rant on the NBC fund-raising program?

[Tim Long]

Musically and lyrically very talented

WHAT???!!!....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, because sampling other peoples' music and talking solely about killing people, having sex (and then acting religious), and buying gawdy attire is talented.

[RockinRight]

Actually, according to THIS Prince has at least donated to a Republican in the past.

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=CA&last=nelson&first=prince

[rdb3]

Typical left-wing entertainment nonsense. What else is there to say?

If you want a Google GMail account, FReepmail me.
They're going fast!

[rdb3]

That's the Prince I like. He's still looney, but still.

If you want a Google GMail account, FReepmail me.
They're going fast!

[ArrogantBustard]

That works.