A flood of words (IN DEFENSE OF KANYE WEST)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | September 5, 2005 | JIM DEROGATIS POP MUSIC CRITIC

[Republican Wildcat]

http://www.lyrics007.com/Kanye%20West%20Lyrics.html

Take a gander at his lyrics...be forewarned that the content isn't exactly pure - but it further puts the lie to these ridiculous defenses by the press of his remarks.

[SerpentDove]

But those black people looting their own city and shooting at rescue workers trying to save their fellow black people...now THEY care about black people.

I have rarely seen such a brazen display of sheer stupidity as I have seen in the last few days.

[Gunflint]

And another thing, rap is not pop music. Rap is disco revisited.

[PhilipNolan95126]

I am not sure they have any sense - if Kanye is critical of how blacks are portrayed in the main stream media - why on earth is he complaining about Bush? It is amazing how the left leaning main stream media "screws up" and the right gets blamed.

[aspiring.hillbilly]

The inherently evil hip-hop culture that this piece of filth and others of his ilk promote, where crime is glorified, is directly responsible for enabling the roving gangs of thugs raping, looting and murdering their way through flooded NOLA.

[IronJack]

the Irish singer actually was making a complicated critique of the Catholic Church based on the teachings of the Rastafarian religion ...

And Jeffrey Dahmer was simply experimenting with new entrees. She's a skank. Her career is over. 'Nuff said.

the Chicago-born rapper's unscripted comments on live TV were no ill-considered outburst -- and they can't be understood divorced from the context of West's work.

I have no desire to understand the "context of West's work." He's just another in an apparently endless string of hip-hop loudmouth gangsta wannabes. His career is over. 'Nuff said.

[Arcy]

Context is required to understand Kanye West's latest outburst

I think we need a translator. For someone who grew up in a "middle class family" his linguistic skills sound as if they were honed in the back alleys of Brooklyn. His intellectual ability to formulate cogent thought was on grand display. He should have stayed on script. After listening to him, it's obvious why one is necessary.

[newheart]

"...the most striking thing to me is that the people criticizing the federal response are the same ones advocating national healthcare"

At least they are being consistent. They believe that everything about their lives is the total responsibility of the federal government.

[escapefromboston]

I think they meant "man" as a gender neutral term.

[chicagolady]

How many thousands has this guy donated to his fellow black people.

[Arcy]

And another thing, rap is not pop music. Rap is disco revisited.

No, rap is crap without the c.

[ConservativeStatement]

Another jackass speaks. This is part of a Boston Herald concert review from Green Day this past weekend:

Midway through, after singer and guitarist Billie Joe Armstong introduced his bandmates - bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tre Cool - he finally added, ``And my name is George W. Bush. My name is a--hole.''

[Hoof Hearted]

"Kanye West" Who the hell is Kanye West, and why does anybody care what he (she?) might have to say?

To answer your question, pick up last week's issue of Time Magazine - he's the cover story.

[Arcy]

"Kanye West" Who the hell is Kanye West...

I think we should call him Cokayne West. Based on his reasoning I would have to believe he is under the influence of something. We know these "rappers" are all health nuts after all, right?

[dsc]

"I think they meant "man" as a gender neutral term."

That can't be, because

1. Everybody knows the word is a tool of the phallocrats; and

2. That would take all the wind out of my joke.

[MizSterious]

"It seems that these lefty "artists" have a sixth sense in these situations..."

Are you sure that isn't a sick sense? ;)

[dfwgator]

"I hate the way they portray us in the media," West said.

Now on that point, I agree 100%. The media loves to only show the angry black, not the vast majority of blacks that are good, God-fearing people.

[Condor51]

Chief, am I on you're Chicagoland PING list?

If not, please add me.

[Hoof Hearted]

"The inherently evil hip-hop culture that this piece of filth and others of his ilk promote, where crime is glorified, is directly responsible for enabling the roving gangs of thugs raping, looting and murdering their way through flooded NOLA"

Yeah, I know. Not like the good old days in Watts before hip hop came along when the thugs were singin' Soul and RnB, huh?