auto

First, let me preface this post by saying that if you don't like the artist Kanye West, for any reason (and there are many), please don't use this thread to express that. If you don't like hip hop, also not the thread for you. This thread is to discuss West's new album, out Nov. 22nd.

First, the album cover (could be considered NSFW):



Def Jam is reportedly trying to get him to change it.

Track Listing:

1. "Dark Fantasy"
2. "Gorgeous" (featuring Kid Cudi & Raekwon)
3. "Power"
4. "All of the Lights"
5. "Monster" (featuring Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj & Bon Iver)
6. "So Appalled" (featuring Jay-Z, Pusha T, Prynce Cy Hi, Swizz Beatz & RZA)
7. "Devil in a New Dress"
8. "Runaway" (featuring Pusha T)
9. "Hell of a Life"
10. "Blame Game" (featuring John Legend & Pusha T)
11. "Lost in the World"
12. "See Me Now"


Secondly, if you hadn't heard, West has been doing something awesome over the last few months by releasing a free track every Friday on twitter as part of his G.O.O.D. Friday series. Regardless of how you feel about the guy, he has given out nearly an album worth of free music. To me, that is all kinds of cool. All the tracks are available for download on his website for the cost of an e-mail address.

Album is due November 2nd but the tracklist has not been finalized. Some of the G.O.O.D. Friday songs will probably make the cut.

I'm a fan of all four of his prior albums. 808s & Heartbreak was a stretch but even that record really grew on me. If nothing else, this dude is following his muse.

kstublen

I've been a fan of Kanye since day one, before he started rapping even and was just producing and providing background vocals on Roc-A-Fella Albums. I remember the first time I heard him rap and was shocked that this was the guy providing the beats as well; I was very impressed and checked out those first mixtapes he released around the time his album was being worked on and he had the car accident. His first three albums are classics. 808s & Heartbreak, I loved the first half of the album, but really wasn't a fan of the second half.

I sort of wish he had stuck with Good Ass Job as the title of this album though, as I sort of liked the theme he was doing for his albums, but it's a minor point. I haven't really been following the Good Friday thing he was doing, but was aware of it and think it's pretty cool. I expect this album to deliver. As much as Kanye the person is self-centered and obnoxious, Kanye the artist is a enormously talented individual.

That cover art is something else. I definitely wouldn't be surprised if DefJam tries to get him to change it, but at the end of the day they sort of should just let him do whatever he wants. This album will sell like hotcakes. People are going to get it because of Kanye; the cover being really creepy probably won't change anyone's mind on getting the album.

---

On another semi-related note...Kid Cudi's sophomore album can't come soon enough.

Throwing Copper

Well, I guess Wal-Mart won't be selling this record with that cover art.


I like him as a producer and think he makes good music. He should take a lesson from Dr. Dre and have others do the majority of the rapping though.

mhg83

Auto please use nsfw tags on that album cover.

auto

Donezo

My Other Self

Definitely one of my most anticipated albums this year. Kanye has yet to disappoint in any album. Don't like the dude as a person but his music is still some of the best. Can't wait.

bootsy

Disagree, Kanye is a pretty good rapper. Listen to College Dropout and Late Registration to see many examples that he has as they say 'skillz'

auto

I agree. I think his lyrics and delivery are pretty impressive. I like the goofball lyrics he throws in.

Great example of someone who doesn't sound very well spoken while speaking but is incredibly gifted with words while performing.

Jacoby Ellsbury

his rhymes have improved over the years. Better producer/entertainer than an emcee though. I didnt like college dropout because of all the skits in between songs, good songs on the album, but the skits made it unlistenable for me. Big fan though, love that VMA song even though it was all distorted at the vma. Been looking forward to this album for months now.

Chrisedge

I saw him open for U2 in 2005, and thought he was terrific. Not a huge fan, but respect him musically ever since I saw him.

Jam Master Jay

So is this the album that's "Power" is going to be on? I am really digging that song.

auto

Yep. Per Wikipedia, these are the confirmed tracks (but who knows):

* "Power" (featuring Dwele) (produced by Kanye West and S1)
* "Lost in the World" (featuring Justin Vernon of Bon Iver) (produced by Kanye West, Jon Brion, and Justin Vernon)
* "Chain Heavy"
* "Mama's Boyfriend"
* "All of the Lights" (featuring Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Elton John, Fergie, John Legend, The-Dream, Kid Cudi, Charlie Wilson, Ryan Leslie, Elly Jackson & Tony Williams)
* "Devil in a New Dress" (produced by Bink)
* "Blame Game" (featuring John Legend) (produced by Kanye West)
* "Runaway" (featuring Pusha T) (produced by Kanye West)
* "Dark Fantasy" (produced by RZA, Kanye West, and No I.D.)
* "See Me Now" (featuring Beyoncé & Charlie Wilson) (produced by Kanye West, No I.D., and Lex)
* "Monster" (featuring Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Bon Iver & Nicki Minaj) (produced by Kanye West)

It's a guarantee "Power" will be on there though.

JZ1276

is runaway the song he did on the MTV awards? good song.

kstublen

So apparently Kanye West either had his bottom front teeth pulled out and replace by gold/diamond false teeth or he had gold/diamonds permanently drilled into his bottom front teeth. There are no words.



LINK

Boba Fett

And the Rappers that paved the way for this clown are either facepalming or rolling in their graves.

ScissorPuppy

Hey Ye how the hell do ya chew?
" I don't, I have my bitches chew for me"

kstublen

I'm a big fan of old school hip hop and there aren't too many new people coming out that I'm interested in. The only people recently (as in just coming out the last few years) that I've really liked are Kid Cudi and B.o.B and that's because I feel they're both bringing something different to the table and pushing the boundaries of the genre.

I felt that way about Kanye West too when he first came out and still do. I think he is one of the best examples of a modern day artist embracing what made classic hip hop classic. He "digs in the crates" and samples the obscure, he is cocky on the mic, he doesn't talk about violence and crime to an extreme, etc. He seems like a real idiot in his personal life and this teeth thing is just another on a long list of examples of his obscene vanity, but his music is great and I think he's done a lot for hip hop. I imagine some of the earlier rappers wouldn't necessarily condone some of his behaviour, but I imagine they'd approve of his output and artistry.

My Other Self

All of his lower teeth were fake anyway from the car accident he was in years ago (the song Through the Wire is about that).

kstublen

Yeah, I know what "Through The Wire" is about, lol. I even mentioned the accident earlier. Didn't realize he mentioned in the song having false teeth as a result of the accident though.

Jacoby Ellsbury

Who, the ones with the fat rope chains or the four finger rings?

auto

Per the OPs request, let's just keep this thread a discussion of the new Kanye West album. Thanks.

Daryl

Hip Hop Nation and Shade45 on XM/Sirius are both heavy into "Runaway" these days, which has helped it grow on me. I got in trouble with the wife twice yesterday for singing the chorus within earshot of the kids.

Anyway Kanye is pretty much "can't miss" for me, a rare category that not too many hip hop artists can stay in for too long. Sure, dude is everything people say he is, but he lays down incredible tracks as a producer and can more than hold his own lyrically. First day buy.


auto - where are you "East of Ypsi" - Belleville? Redford? Canton/Westland?

auto

Just moved from Ypsi to Canton. Grew up in Ypsilanti, home to the winner of the world's most phallic building contest.

Daryl

That's what's up! Right down the street from the best doughnuts in the world (Dom's). I grew up all over AA/Ypsi. Lived in Canton as well as an adult before moving out of state.

Anyway, good lookin' out on the link, I had forgot all about it - just got finished downloading them all.

auto

Dom's.

My dad has stopped there every morning for coffee for probably 20 years.