While others seem to viewing this with skepticism, I find the absurdity of it all is amusingly appealing, at least in a 70-second clip. Kanye doesn't interact much with the puppets, but it's nice to hear Rhymefest get a starring role, even if its doll form.
Another week, another Kanye West headline. The Hollywood Reporter had the news this morning that West is developing a show described as "hip-hop meets the Muppets" for Comedy Central. This isn't completely new territory for the uptown rapper, as Stereogrum reminds us that Kanye has already gotten the puppet treatment via his video for "Champion," for which a screenshot is below.
Whether the news that West has shot a half-hour pilot interests you will likely depend on A) your interest in Kanye (he's good), or B) your thoughts on Jackhole Productions, the Jimmy Kimmel-associated company that was behind Comedy Central's "Crank Yankers" (a show that was bad). But credit West for looking for fresh ways to expand his own brand, and thankfully avoiding the bad action-movie route that befell fellow Chi-Town rapper Common.
But beyond seeing a puppet-tized version of Kanye, perhaps the real reason to tune in will be one of West's collaborators in the series, yet another Midwest-bred rapper in Rhymefest. Billed as an exec producer on the show, the working-class musician released one of the stronger albums of 2008, and it doesn't cost a dime. His collaboration with celeb producer Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse) for the Michael Jackson tribute "Man in the Mirror" is a free download away, and humanizes Jackson while struggling to manage one's own aspirations in a fame-obsessed culture. Any more exposure for Rhymefest is welcome.
Tentatively titled "Alligator Boots," the project is reported to be under consideration for airing in 2009.
A little more than a week after debuting his new single, "Love Lockdown," on the MTV Video Music Awards,Kanye West has posted on his blog that a new version of the song has been recorded. The paparazzi-battling West wrote, "Your prayers have been answered!! There's a new version of Love Lockdown coming. We used new taiko drums and I re-sung it."
Hmmmm? Perhaps West didn't like some of the criticism the song received?
As noted earlier, a few prominent publications took West to task, questioning his more straight-forward vocal approach in the relatively spare and moody song. But whether or not you like the song (and I'm a big fan of the tune), what's most intriguing about this development is the idea of West turning his upcoming "808's and Heartbreak" into a sort of work in progress and offering the public a glimpse at the process. It's the mix-tape on a much grander scale, with an artist perhaps re-recording a song after it received a giant shrug from the public.
"Love Lockdown" version 2.0 isn't all that much different. The rhythms are a little more amped-up in the chorus, West's vocals seem to get a bit more enhanced and the song is graced with a bit more of an electronic buzz. West's readers appear to be pleased, with multiple readers praising the new version for being more "powerful."
My one criticism of the song hasn't changed, and it's that West "goes a little overboard on the vocal manipulation." But West wrote in an earlier post (now replaced, but quoted on Pitchfork), that the effect is here to stay: "Sidebar ... if you don't like autotune ... too bad cause I love it and have been using it since The College Dropout!!!"
After debuting his new song at the MTV Video Music Awards this Sunday, signs are pointing to a winter release for Kanye West's new album, which, according to retailersAmazon.com and Target.com, is titled "808's & Heartbreak."
But there's a slight mystery here, as the album is listed as being released by a Pendulum Records. Pendulum Records? Kanye is signed to Roc-A-Fella/Island, and Pendulumis in the midst of working the debut gospel album from Regina Belle.
The officialRoc-A-Fellasite has no mention of the album, Kanye hasn't respondedvia his blog, and we've requested some confirmation/denial from a Kanye spokeperson, which we have yet to receive. Kanye, has however, made "Love Lockdown" available as a free download on his site, and you should go grab it, as it's a terrific song.
Retailers are listing the new album with a Dec. 16 street, meaning it would be eligible to lose a Grammy for album of the year in 2010.
"Love Lockdown" saw West again going in a new direction. It's arguably West's sparsest, spookiest song to date, built around a stalking bass, a menacing, jazz-like piano and a haunting rhythmic march. West, singing "I ain't loving you, the way I wanted to," is putting his electronically enhanced vocals front and center. He's half singing, half lecturing, and his gradual build matches the torment and tension of the music.
But the vocal approach West takes in "Love Lockdown" isn't all that different from some of his past works (see "Drunk and Hot Girls"), and it sounds even more damning on the single version than it did live (although I do think West goes a little overboard on the vocal manipulation). But it again proves West to be the rarest of superstars -- an artist unafraid to challenge himself, and to trust his instincts enough that he'll perform a new song on such a staged and safe event as the MTV Video Music Awards, where a comedian with some scripted and amateurish political jokes passes as rebellion.
Rap superstar Kanye West is set to close out the 2008 edition of the MTV Video Music Awards, according to MTV's site, to be held Sunday night at the Paramount Pictures lot in Los Angeles. West, who's not one to shy away from an award show billing, is apparently back on good terms with VMA producers. The far-from-shy rapper vowed to never again perform at the VMAs just one year ago, according to MTV.com.
Last year's VMAs, held in Las Vegas, had West performing off the mainstage, and shut out in all five categories he was nominated in. The Chicago-bred star also lashed out at the network for having Britney Spears open the show in what has become known as one of the more awkward live performances in television history.
After last year's telecast, West was quoted as saying MTV "exploited Britney in helping to end her career," and that he felt as if he "got betrayed" by MTV by having to appear on a secondary stage.
But West and award shows appear to have a love/hate relationship. He lashed out at American Music Awards in 2004, and the following year, he said "I'm gonna really have a problem" if he didn't win a Grammy for album of the year. He didn't win. Then in 2006, West declared: "If I don’t win, the awards show loses credibility,” after failing to win the best video prize at MTV Europe Awards.
But all this back-stage drama has happened while West has delivered some of the strongest award show performances in recent memory. His glow-in-the-dark appearance with Daft Punk may have been a table-setter for his tour, but it was the liveliest moment of last year's Grammys (revisit it below). Likewise, his 2006 take on "Golddigger" was an all-out pep-rally.
West brings a bit more star power to this year's VMAs, which also features performances from Spears, tween stars the Jonas Brothers, newcomers the Ting Tings, rapper of the moment Lil Wayne, and pop stars Rihanna and Pink, among others.
Thanks to a post over on the Playlist, I was able to track down the Spike Jonze-directed video for "Flashing Lights," which will premiere today on BET.
The famed director (Weezer, Sonic Youth, Bjork, etc), gives "Flashing Lights" a torturous undercurrent -- albeit one with a scantily clad woman. The slow-mo feel and muted, retro colors of the clip suit the laid-back groove of the loss-of-innocence song just fine, even if seeing the superstar get pummeled with a shovel is a bit jarring.
Kanye West is set for the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, and Amy Winehouse has been confirmed to appear via satellite from London. Yesterday, it was reported that Winehouse's visa application had been denied by the U.S. Embassy, and speculation soon began that she would appear via satellite.
On Friday afternoon, Winehouse's U.S. publicist sent out a statement saying the artist had now been granted a visa, but she would still be appearing via satellite.
Reads the statement: "Following further discussions involving the U.S. Embassy in London and officials in the United States, Amy Winehouse has been granted a visa to enter the United States of America. Unfortunately, due to the logistics involved and timing complications, Amy will not be coming to the US this weekend to perform at the Grammys in Los Angeles, however she will still be performing via satellite broadcast from London as previously announced this morning."
Winehouse, who is up for six awards, will perform in a London studio. The singer entered a drug rehabilitation center in late January, and a daily Winehouse/Grammy watch ensued.
There's no information contained in the Recording Academy press release as to what West's performance may contain or if he'll be teaming up with other artists. This year's Grammys are ultra-heavy on star pairings (Rihanna and the Time, Beyonce and Tina Turner, Fergie and John Legend, and on and on and on).
Days after announcing a summer tour on his blog, Grammy album of the year nominee Kanye West has offered up three pages from his upcoming book for preview. First announced late last year, West's collaboration with designer/author J. Sakiya Sandifer, "Thank You and You're Welcome," is due to ship in February, and available for pre-order on West's site.
Here's a sample screenshot from West's page:
It's described as a compilation of "Kanye-isms," and judging by the above page, in which West warns against accepting favors for free (FYI - he won't rap on your album just because you rap on his), it's a light-hearted glimpse into the mind of a mega-star artist.
Other such advice offered up for preview: "If you can't be used, you're useless," and "when you're so focused on what you don't have ... you won't have." No word on if there's a "Kanye-ism" that could be applied to any of his post-award show rants, but I believe this is the first rapper to author an adorable coffee table/bathroom book, unless I am mistaken.
