Kanye West has reached an odd place in his career. While anything he does becomes immediate blog fodder and is afforded the requisite social media swirlywoo, I can't say that I'm amped for a Kanye project at this point. Sure I miss his music. But I actually only miss the Kanye that showed up for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. In fact, the only person I actually know that liked Yeezus is the other half of the ownership end of this site and I'm not completely convinced he isn't trolling the Black community with his Yeezus standom. And yes, some of you will say you like Yeezus. I don't believe you.
I realize that loving abstract non-sense is definitely that shit that bougie black people like, however, some art is just meant to be appreciated for its existence and nothing else.
Marrying Kim K definitely put him at oversaturation, but they got a cute little kid out of the deal. Once lil Nori learns that its okay to smile the world will truly be a better place. Then again, if Kanye and Kim were my parents, there's a pretty good chance that my visage would be fixed in a permanent side-eye. I can't even imagine the conversations that happen in that household. I'm sure lots of talk about fabrics, hi-hats, and depth. Maybe Kim talks on occasion. I'm sure there's tons of fashion talk especially since Kanye seems to be willing to spend a lot of money to look like he didn't spend shit. His entire clothing line looks like a Joe Boxer at K-Mart special. And somehow, I'd be willing to bet its gon' run the GDP of some small counties to get a grey hoodie. That's been cut. Two hunnid dollar white tees are not whats hot in the streets. I get pissed when the price for my pack of Fruit of the Loom white tshirts keeps going up.
I've lost my point.
Over the weekend/New Year, Kanye dropped a song that lots of people think is great called "Only One" possibly borne of the once rumored (rumors no more) musical sessions to have occurred between Paul McCartney and The Louis Vuitton Don. It features Sir Paul playing the keys and Kanye singing with a little help from Auto-tune (okay, a lot of help from Auto-tune). As Kanye stated, it's a message from Kanye's mother thru him to his daughter. It's actually pretty sweet. Also, Ty Dolla $ign is working with Kanye on his new album. You need to know this because this is important. The only person missing from all of Ty's most popular songs of the last year was Kanye. Kanye West on "Paranoid" or "Loyal" might have ended world hunger.
Of course, as the internets go, many folks sarcastically joked that they had no clue who Paul McCartney is which sent many individuals with not one ounce of chill into their feels. Now, is it entirely possible that some young kid who is a Kanye fan has no clue who Paul McCartney is? It's POSSIBLE. But I also think that the kind of person who is a Kanye fan would likely know who the fucking Beatles are. I think most fans of Kanye tend to view themselves are more music people than say a fan of, Gucci Mane. Not that they're mutually exclusive, but if you only listen to Gucci, Brick Squad, or Waka Flocka Flame, you really ain't listening to Kanye anyway. Hell, I'm a Kanye fan and I'm on the fence with curiosity about his next musical offering. Sometimes, your own ambition is a bridge too far. Kanye is one of the few who can make his vision equal his ambition, but after Yeezus I wonder if he even likes life.
Back to social media and Paul McCartney, I find it hilarious that people would get their undies in a bunch. Let's say that some souls didn't know who Paul was, but then went to Google to find out and found out that this dude is musical royalty. I'm not the biggest Beatles fan though I fully respect what they did musically. Their history is cement. And they have songs that I will always love. But I didn't even know he was still putting out albums. He had an album released in 2013. I had no clue and I'd wager that many others didn't either. My most vivid memories of Sir Paul include the 80s and then his divorce settlement. Point is, there are artists who have laid the foundation for music I know and love that I had no clue were the source material for a lot of music I listen to. And I could be called a music snob (at one point, not so much anymore). Point is, until niggas know, they don't know. When they do learn, then all is right with the world. Thanks to hip hop producers I've learned about more jazz artists than I can shake a stick at. It's like I have a swimming pool full of liquor, then I dove in. Hell, I didn't even realize that John Legend's "Save Room" was a "Stormy" sample until yesterday. And I love Reuben Wilson's version of "Stormy". And I'm a music head.
Obviously, this is less of a thing than I'm making it out to be. There are probably some folks who didn't know who he was - seriously - and now they know. Most who joked obviously do. And the folks who lost their marbles were going to lost their marbles about something. We're talking the fringe here. But it is similar reaction to many folks who pride themselves on their knowledge of something. "i CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DON'T KNOW WHO XYZ IS?!!!!!!!!!"
Dude. Chill. We all don't know. At some point you didn't either. Now you do. Now I do. And then you shoot your cousin.
But until then, let's hope this Kanye guy makes the most of those sessions with that Paul guy. I've never really heard of either but I like music and I just heard this great album by some guy named Michael Jackson so I'm open to anything.