I don't like Kanye West. He has always came off as pretentious and everyone claiming he changed the rap game once he got his big break through just didn't seem deserved. Hes always been a decent producer and an alright rapper.

His new album, however, I do enjoy. I can't say I like it in its entirety but he does seem to actually push some tracks in new directions with beat work. Pitchfork said it best when they described Kanye as drawing influence from Europe. I think this is a great step for a rap producer as house music has capitalized on a global level but never really got its spot in the limelight in the states (its not house music entirely but hes sampling daft punk and using synths for chrissake).

One thing is agreeable and the 50 cent vs. Kanye marketing ploy makes it the most apparent, commercial rap needs a change. The same tired themes and beats won't sell and that trend is on its way out. Kanye isn't the savior but at least hes looking around.

Anyone else given it a try?

I've enjoyed it this album. I can play "Drunk and Hot Girls" has anthem all over it. "Flashing Lights" and "I Wonder" are great musically and lyrically. I also liked the concept of "Big Brother" better than the actual song.


I wish the "Barry Bonds" song had come out better because I think a Lil Wayne + Kanye song deserves better. All in all Kanye is that god-send for hip-hop.


I would think that Kanye was above working with 50 Cent to compete on sales.


Oh... and who's (or what's a ) 50 Cent again?

Considering how they are both on the Universal label, it was a pretty obvious marketing ploy.

Flashing Lights is a favorite of mine.

I do agree with what your saying about little wayne. I only became a fan of him recently (I respect him to as far as what he is doing for rap since hes given away a ton of mixtapes through the net) and expected a lot better; Kanye easily has the better verse on Barry Bonds.

Okay, the album in itself if miles ahead of any other popular rap coming out. Sampling Daft Punk will def give him some cred with non-kanye fans. The thing that angered me about the album was 'drunken hot girls' when he completely ripped off the melody of Can's 'sing swan song'. It wasnt even a sample he just ganked their flow.

Weezy is hard for me categorize. On one hand I think he has a great flow, delivery so on. He's almost unique without being unique... or more of a come up story in his own click. If Memphis Bleek had progressed past Jay Z (like he should have).

On another hand I have to listen to a bunch of songs I don't want to to hear his greatest lines because they're all on other peoples tracks. I understand that his albums don't sell the way they ought and it's kind of sad to see him become a dial-a-rapper.

But if your the best dial-a-rapper out right now than there's really no shame right? Or is he just a songless (homeless) rapping whino?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snvMcGJUV8A

Truth about kanye...
lol

I really can't stand Kanye West. He's just so irritating in and outside his music. His lyrics are corny, his tracks are derivative, and he's so pretentious.

Drunk and Hot Girls is one of the most annoying pieces of music I've heard lately, mostly because of how he bastardized the Can song. Probably my favorite Can song too.

Kayne the producer is way ahead of Kayne the rapper. I think that that track he did with Cam'ron 'down and out' sums it up. He just sounds... unnatural, graceless, whereas Cam'ron by contrast sounds organic. I like hearing other rappers use his beats (Kayne's) but his rapping irritates me.

And while I'll agree that its nice to see a rapper willing to toy around with something slightly out of the box (Daft Punk) they are definitely the safest choice he could have made, and the song he picked is pretty dated. The spirit was in it, but the end product came out off.