EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW W/ KANYE WEST
KANYE CL SHOUT OUT & INTERVIEW SNIPPET
Whether you hate him or you love him, it’s safe to say that Kanye West has this thing we call ‘Mass Appeal’. From the highly publicized album competition with 50 Cent, to his cross-over status, the producer and rapper is definitely on top of the world right about now.
His 3rd studio album, Graduation is receiving critical acclaim, not to mention commercial success and yet he still tries to keep it real with the fans. It was a real honor to get a chance to speak with one of my favorite artists and get his take on his craft. Make sure you check out this exclusive in-depth interview, Concrete Loop style. Raw & basically unedited.
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KANYE SPEAKS ON 50 CENT & MTV |
Angel: What’s up Kanye?
Kanye: What’s good?
Angel: This is Angel from Concrete Loop, thank you for sitting with us.
Kanye: Aww no problem.
Angel: So I just wanted to know how did you find out about the site?
Kanye: I don’t know I think maybe my assistant Ivan or my road manager Don, or my A&R Pat, I don’t remember who but we sit in the studio, like we just in the studio all day so we don’t have anything to do. And they be on their computers, like our crew I think we got the most laptops out of any crew. And we just get on the blogs and start looking at stuff.
Angel: Okay. Well thank you for the shout outs because they really helped out a lot. [laughs] So, I really appreciate that.
Kanye: Yeah, no problem. Gotta get those advertising dollars up.
Angel: Yep!
Kanye & Fiddy at the VMAs (wireimage)
Angel: Okay, the first question everybody wants to know is have you talked to 50 [Cent] ever since you got the number one spot?
Kanye: Naaaw, like I haven’t talked to him but if I could I would just like to thank him. Just for this time that we had to promote the album. All the crazy stuff he said and all the crazy stuff I said, I mean at the end of the day it just sold us more records. Like people ask me, “Was this just a marketing strategy?” I’m like, Yeah! [both of laugh] I mean obviously that’s what it was, it was a marketing strategy and it worked because it got people hyped up. And it wasn’t anything like we were trying to create a beef, I think the press just tried to make it seem like it was a beef, but I really thought it would spark conversation. Like, “what artist do you like better” “Fifty sold more, do you remember when the first album came out.” Like a lot of barbershop talk, you know?
Angel: So what did you do when you found out that you sold like almost a million records [in the first week] I mean right now, it’s 2007 that’s crazy. Nobody is selling that much right now.
Kanye: I knooow. I told the people at the label that I was going to sell a million records and people were looking at me like I was crazy, like always whenever I stunt. I told them, I said, “If I only sell 800 [thousand] I’ll apologize, but if I sell a million, I just gotta thank god for that.” And when we came in like over 9, like 957 [thousand] it just felt overwhelmingly good. It feels the same way I felt when I look at “Stronger” at the number one spot.
Angel: Yeah
Kanye: Because a lot of people didn’t believe in that record when I first dropped it. Or “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” now is like the people’s anthem and radio didn’t want to play it. It’s like a video game or something, it’s no fun if you get the code and it’s easy to beat the game. But when it’s challenging and it’s something that you have to work at, it’s just that much more fulfilling at the end.
Angel: What about this MTV thing. I know you talked about it in numerous interviews, but do you plan on ever making up with them or going back on MTV in the future?
Kanye: Well, I’ve actually spoken to the heads of MTV and some of the people who work in the press room at MTV and you know, everybody has different opinions about the whole situation. For me, you know, I wish I was perfect. Who doesn’t wish they were perfect? You know at that time a lot of the emotions built up not just from particularly that year, but from the previous year. Like “Gold Digger” not even getting nominated and Panic At The Disco! Won for video of the year. And like “Gold Digger” lost to “My Humps” for rap video of the year. And if you look at the pictures from the blogs last year, it saw me just sitting there just looking at them like..
Angel: Yeah that’s true.
Kanye: And for the [MTV] European Awards they told me, you are going to win Video of the year.
Angel: Yeah I read that in another interview. See we don’t know the behind the scenes stuff, so I can see why you jumped on stage like that.
Kanye: I went on stage because, I wasn’t even mad. Like I was mad this year, but I wasn’t even mad I was just joking around if you really look at the clip. I was like, “Aww Hell Naw! I spent a million dollars for this.” Of course, I had a little 50/50 [Barcardi] but I still wasn’t taking it that seriously. And the vibe of the show was real laid back, like if you look at the whole show, Justin [Timberlake] was cursing and then they came to me and was like “Aww the profanity, written tirade” and all these different things. And with the awards, at the end of the day, the awards are just a façade and it’s like a sporting event. You know what I’m saying? I feel like my sport, my championship is the award show. And when I spaz out, I’m just screaming at the refs. I’m not trying to scream at the fans or nothing, I’m just saying the refs. And this year, not only did I not get a chance to really make history, because that’s my thing. I try to make memorable award show performances. And I spent a lot of time coming up with the band for “Gold Digger” at the Grammy’s and the wings with “Jesus Walks” or me and Jamie [Foxx] coming up, you know to “We Major” for “Gold Digger”. And that [MTV] suite, I felt like I wasn’t given the opportunity, they gave Britney the opportunity to make history, they gave all these different people. But I’m like, I got the number one record in the country, so if you listen to the actual spaz, everything I said was accurate. It was just the way I said it that was so offensive to people. And people were saying, well you should have just told MTV that. That’s what I was doing! Somebody had a sneaky camera.
Kanye spazzing backstage at the VMAs
Angel: Yeah!
Kanye: Yeah, so that means y’all just got to see some of the behind the scenes that goes on in the business all the time when situations like that happen. I composed myself, I didn’t do anything like walk on stage, you know? I like Rihanna a lot, she is a friend of mine so I wouldn’t want to do anything to disrespect her or take away from her moment. So if you listen to the spaz, I’m saying, “Tell them I said it.” Like I’m telling MTV, but I’m not trying to tell the world. I was talking to MTV execs backstage and someone put a camera on it and caught it.
Angel: Yeah I feel you, I feel you.
Kanye: For me & MTV, I’ve talked to the people. I guess I made up with them, it probably will never be the same. You know, they don’t play my videos, and they talk about me on the website.
Angel: I was just about to say that, they took you out of rotation.
Kanye: So, it is what it is now, you know?
Angel: What can you do right? They don’t play videos that much anyway, so what’s new.
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KANYE TALKS ABOUT GRADUATION |
Angel: Okay, Graduation the album man, that’s a great album. People say I’m jocking you on the site, whatever the album is good. So I don’t care you deserve props, the album is good. So what was your inspiration when you were making it and recording the tracks?
Kanye: I don’t really even listen to rap music like that, all I listen to is like Rock & Roll and I listen to some of Lil Wayne’s stuff. Being that I have my own career, I don’t have them time to listen to all the stuff that Wayne puts out.
Angel: Un huh
Kanye at a CD signing last month (Splash News)
Kanye: Because he puts out so much stuff. So I don’t have time to listen to every single Lil Wayne thing, but the fact that he’s doing all that and when I would hear the raps, the caliber of the raps would inspire me go in more. Like I got in the studio with Wayne and we started working on the Carter III and I was like, “Do you ever go on vacation?” And he was like naw, this is what I do. So I looked at this project more seriously, like this is what I do. So I went, I’m hopping on planes to promote and premiere the “Stronger” video in Germany and then hopping on another plane to go to the Europe GQ Man of the year awards and then come back and go to Atlanta and do club. I’m not gonna put in work, by just doing a verse and putting it on a mixtape everyday. But everyday I’m going to be doing something to try to push and promote this album. So, Wayne was a big inspiration for that. Musically? The Thom Yorke album. Thom Yorke is the lead singer of Radio Head. Eraser [name of the album] there was a track on there that Lupe [Fiasco] put me on to. I listened to the whole album and the vibe and the type of instruments he was using just took me into a certain zone. And after I did “Stronger” Hype Williams heard it and said, “Yoo, I want to shoot this video in the future.” And then I went back to songs like “Champion” and “Good Life” and put these type of chords on them that sounded similar to the type of sense that I put on “Stronger”. That’s why “Flashing Lights”, “Champion” all of them have that certain synthesizer, a real 80s synthesizer type of sound. But I mixed It with my original sample sound, so it didn’t get too far from what people knew me for, but like created a new form of music in rap. And also, I wanted my drums to bang harder in stadiums. One of my inspirations was, I went on tour with U2 and Bono [lead singer of U2] told me that, “No one from your community has ever figured this out.” And if you think about it, nobody from the black community can really sell out stadiums, like 30,000 seaters, there’s not one artist you can think of. I can think of four, you know, white artists. Coldplay, U2, Rolling Stones and Jack Johnson.
Angel: That’s right.
Kanye: This type of record I think connect with people more. A lot of time, I hear records that are super hot for two months, but the records won’t last in people’s minds. I set out not to just make records that could hop off the radio instantly, but stuff that will speak to people. People still bring up “Spaceships” to me. And people compare “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” to “Spaceships” saying that’s a song that inspires them when they going to work. But the chords itself, is like a Led Zepplin, rock melody. [he starts to sing/rap “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” and then I finish the chorus]
Angel: That’s my jam man. [laughs] I blast that song!
Kanye: Yeah, you thinking it’s made for the car and you thinking it’s made for the club, and it works in the arena because DJ Toomp did the drums and all that, but the actual melody is made to rock 50,000 people. That’s why it’s so simple, and I simplified all the lyrics on the album. Because I’ll be performing, like opening up for Mick Jagger and they’ll be a 50 year-old white lady looking at me like, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Angel: [laughs]
Kanye: And I’m rapping “Diamonds” and stuff like that trying to over rap, and I was like you know what? I don’t need to over rap and that’s how you get a song like “I Wonder”. [Kanye starts to rap some of “I Wonder”] Like no rappers would really, you know, put it out like that, because people are trying to prove themselves all the time. The thing is, like on this album, I just accepted who I was and stopped tryin to prove myself all the time. Like that’s why I said, “When You Try Hard, That’s when you Die Hard” [sentence from his song “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”]. Really I was referring to the Grammy outfit when I said that line.
Kanye at the ‘06 Grammy Awards
Angel: [laughs] You was wrong for that outfit. You know you was wrong for that outfit though.
Kanye: [laughs] Yeah, but hey “You Try Hard, You Die Hard.”
Angel: That’s true.
Kanye: Like on this one, I didn’t even try I just zoned out, I’d go into the studio and vibe to the beat and just [he starts to rap some of “Flashing Lights”] and it came and God gave me the words.
Angel: And what about “I Wonder” and “Flashing Lights” like what inspired those songs. And “Everything I Am” [I quote a part of “Everything I Am”] that’s my jam too. So, what inspires those songs?
Kanye: Well “Everything I’m Not, Made Me Everything I Am” I had an interview with Wendy Williams and it really touched me that, like when she even said the title of the song she started crying. Just saying that that song just touched her in that way. And I really thought about the lyrics and what I was saying and it really would relate to her. [he starts rapping parts of “Everything I Am”] You know, I was picturing, my muse for the song was kinda like, a little girl in High School or in grammar school getting picked on. Like she gets picked on for being too skinny or something and she grows up to be a model. Or she is getting picked on for being too big and grows up to be Oprah Winfrey or a journalist or something like that. So just saying like, all these things that made you not cool when you was growing up, it’s almost like having a handicap. You know what I’m saying? You know if someone is blind, you can end up being Stevie Wonder because your ears are that much better.
Angel: Yeah, that’s true.
143 Comments
COMMENT PAGES: « 1 [2] Show All
76.
Goodas Fi Dem
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
Oh and P.S…”I Wonder” good look, “Good Life” “Everything I am” and “The Glory” are my fav tracks. “Flashing Lights” should be the next single.
As for acceptance issues…you have confidence in the beauty of doing what you do. So as long as you can accept yourself, your family and loved ones accept you anyone who does not accept you is irrelevant. (It’s obvious with the amount of sales you had that fans or lovers of music accepted your music.) So relax some times and just continue to do you.
77.
TY
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
angel i love this site, and kanye, thats my nigga, keep doing it with the major interviews, and the questions niggas wouldnt normally ask.
78.
sheneice
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
ANGEL U DID THE THE DAMN THING GREAT JOB….I LOVE KANYE HE IS SO REAL AND HE DOESN’T TRY AND SUGAR CODE ANYTHING HE JUST KEEP IT REAL I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ALBUM
79.
mrmuzik562
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
kanye!!! FLASHING LIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thats all i gotta say!
80.
Karen
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
i wish he talked more in depth about “I Wonder.” it’s my fav track on his album
81.
Da HotTeSt cHiC iN da GaME
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
Great Job CL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i love it
82.
mrmuzik562
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
and that album is one of the only i can play non stop….. track 4 track… but theres 1 mistake in that interview…. they mixed up the lyrics for i wonder and flashing lights… but cant be perfect riiiight? lol… sorry angel…. yall doin the damn thang tho… let me join this site… ill add another element to this… holla!
83.
The REAL Bre
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
I have a whole new respect for this man. i always have loved his music regardless of his personality. just be sure to hit up ST.LOUIS when you come around man. I’ll be there looking fly as ever with my jeremy scott glasses (if i luck up on them) rockin to ‘i wonder’ cause that song was made for me.
84.
dubya
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
what an amazing interview! Thanks CL! But, let me say this Justin Timberlake is NOOO competition. Are you serious Kayne, you blow him out of the water. Timberlake is one of those artists you mention that will be irrelevant in 10 years.
85.
tina4rmN.Oeast
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
THIS INTERVIEW WAS REALLY GREAT….SHOT OUT TO ANGEL!!!! man kanye personality is the BEST never dry and always fun!!! thanks CL you have provided me with an interview of my favorite Two artist in one week. This is the only place where i can get a current and primary source interview from kanye and teedra.
86.
teedot
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
This was a gooood interview!
I like interviews like this that really bring you closer to an artist, and not ask obvious questions everyone is asking. Its apparent that Kanye takes his music so seriously and is so involved in it as an art form, as a career and it seeps into every aspect of his life, thats how you know hes a real artist.
Its like when ur at school and you study ur ass off and someone else who aint study gets the same grade as you…thats how kanye must feel sometimes lol
87.
Shawn
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
Dopest interview ever…just stop saying “true…true, thats true” lol
88.
Clarke1914
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
kanye is a beast….CL is right behind him
89.
MsMissy
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
Its amazing that Kanye gave that much time where others artist be on some diva ish and wanna hand out 5 minute interviews.
Kanye keep doing ya thing! and I’ve always believed If you dont believe in yourself who else will. So keep believing and keep backing that ish up!!
90.
GHITA!!!!!!!!!iLOVE WEEZY,JEEZY, & of course YE'ZZY
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
BOMB. BEAUTFUL.. I LOVE THIS AND TREY SONGZ INTERVIEW.
I LIL “SAD FACE” THAT MY Q’S WASNT ANSWERED BUT LIKE KANYE SAID–U
CANT PLEASE EVERY SINGLE PERSON!!!!!!!!! BUT OTHER QUESTION WERE ASKED N ANSWERED PERFECTLY. GO ANGEL GO CONCRETELOOP GO KANYE.
U GOTTA
LOVE IT
91.
GHITA!!!!!!!!!iLOVE WEEZY,JEEZY, & of course YE'ZZY
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
WHAT INTERVIEW ARE U GONNA CONQUER NEXT/……………
50 CENT
KEYSHIA COLE
ASHANTI
USHER
—->KARRINE STEFFANS.
L8TRZ
92.
Lexie
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
Kanye is my favorite hip hop artist!!! …Well him and Common lol!! He’s so talented and I respect the craft that he puts out there. He doesn’t conform like the rest of the rappers out here. He is what has been missing from hip hop and I don’t want him to go anywhere. MTV is WACK. They should be embarrassed and for them to stop playing his videos and to write negatively about him is so low. F*$@ them. That’s their loss and OUR GAIN!!! This is the only cd I can play from start to finish and I appreciate his passion. He is serious about what he does and it reflects in his genius masterpieces. Of course he’s not perfect but no one is. I love Flashing Lights, I Wonder, Homecoming, & Big Brother…they are my top favorites but I love the whole dag on cd so much lol.
93.
ahsatar
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
Kayne even though you continue to wear those scarfs :-)…I love the album. I cannot stop listening to it. Good job restoring my faith back into hip hop. You should come out with “Flashing Lights”!
CL awesome job with the interview (yes I used the word awesome), you asked a lot of good questions and you help change my opinion of Kayne. I see now that he is a creative person who just wants respect for his art and for that I can’t be mad at him.
94.
Lexie
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
And oh yeah thank you for your great videos Kanye. I’m tired of those wack @$% videos that other black artists whether in rap or R&B put out. I’m tired of seeing a bunch of naked girls shaking their butts, lots and lots of jewelry, and just REAL STUPID lyrics talking only about bling, cars, and hoes. You’re a real dude. You are a real artist and i hope the wanna-be-real-artists are listening up because they’re not special. It’s time for them to try something else. Which is why I’m so happy God put you here and I hope you keep growing as a person and an artist. Your fans are listening and we suppport you. Great album and keep coming up with these creative videos too :o) You got that real talent and you can’t be denied…not by haters, black or white, not by mtv, not by award shows, or nay-sayers. LOVE YOU KANYE!!!
95.
Nakia
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
i love his music, I love “everything i am” too , im in HS right now and im still finding myself , hes my favorite Male artist, and my fave Female is Christina Aguilera.they’re both misunderstood but their music just speaks to my heart.I hope someday they work together.
96.
.:Famously Infamous:.
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
I love this interview I’ve always been a Kanye fan and I have so much respect for him.
97.
Islandchick_Bri
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
GREAT Interview, I love Ye’
98.
Islandchick_Bri
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
And Graduation is tha biz! Go CL!
99.
mi
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
nice interview!!
luv kanye….hes too funni!
100.
J-juslivinhislife
Friday, October 5, 2007 /
Yo this interview was really good. To me, it sounds like he keeps it real ALL the time. I bought his album the day it came out! Im a big fan, I jus don’t announce it all the time like a lot of people do. But yea “Flashing Lights” is a dope song…so is “I wonder”. Another joint off his previous album that was HOTT was “Bring Me Down” with Brandy. They should work together in the future for real.
All in all, I respect Kanye, he should keep doin because he is breakin new ground with everything he does.
PEACE yall
J
101.
chillin in ny
Saturday, October 6, 2007 /
APPLAUSE for Angel!
That was a great interview. Right up their with the T.I. interview. Your doing great things w/ this site. Keep up the good work sis.
BTW “Flashing Lights” is that SHIT!!!!
102.
Dante Compton
Saturday, October 6, 2007 /
You know Kanye has to say everything so that he can in someway relate to everyone!
And Don C needs to let me know what he thought of my Demo CD.
STAY CLASSIC CONCRETE LOOP!
OHH YEAH GO TO [http://www.myspace.com/straptown] (I dont know who these guys are, but I’ve been listening to there music over and over again. Straptown! )
PEACE!
103.
Hip Hop is my baby mama
Saturday, October 6, 2007 /
Album - After 957,000 (or whatever the amount was) people bought the album..I was one of the 4.1 million people that actually burned a copy. :0) … Why pay X amount, when you can get it for free.
Interview - Good interview.. it would have been nice to see more questions.. That dude is a talker..(blah blah blah…let me get off on a tangent and get back on the subject..blah blah blah) .
104.
BrittanyBeauty
Saturday, October 6, 2007 /
Bout time yall get a interview with Kanye I wasnt feeling the WORD UP magazine questions other then that yall straight
105.
Diabolical
Saturday, October 6, 2007 /
I’m just glad that you guys got to interview someone … AND AND IMPORTANT SOMEONE … Who didnt seem like you were wasting their time. Like he wanted to talk to you, he wanted to answer the questions and he wasnt trying to rush you off. Good interview man. Love Kanye … LOVE BLACK PEOPLE!
106.
KALHU
Saturday, October 6, 2007 /
Wow..what an interesting artist
I’m from South Africa and I never really liked Kanye maybe because I dont listen to hip hop a lot..and because of what I’ve read
BUt this interview has given me a total different and honest picture of this guy
What I like most is that Angel didnt ask lots of questions but HE opened up more that she asked..(Angel were you not surprised at his honesty) I know he talks a lot naturally, but I think the media focuses on one side that they want to use to weaken you and he’s not about to be swayed…and he admits that he’s not perfect and He’s a very intelligent individual and there are very few other hiphop artist who fits his caliber e.g Nas Common, Mos Def, so I think I might just give his music a chance, because he’s not only committed to his art but he’s aware of his shortcomings and his “issues” which he sounds like he’s constantly working on…..definitely someone I wold want to have dinner with
as for his comment on beyonce I think it should also tell some of you who always think Beyonce is daft/or cant speak in public…maybe her reason is to make sure that the media doesn’t pick up stuff that they can sway to the negative….so she doesnt take chances like him…but maybe an in depth interview like this she might just open up and you might see a different side of her
107.
aulelia
Saturday, October 6, 2007 /
good on you angel esp 4 mentioning kidulthood. thats a cult classic!
108.
Taz
Saturday, October 6, 2007 /
I always wondered what Common thought about his “spazzing” out. I am glad he made the shout out to Alexis the way he did, props. I am from Chicago and respect what he has done for Chi artist. I talk about Ye and will continue if he keeps spazzin, but at the end of the day you will respect some of the things he does.
109.
|momo|
Saturday, October 6, 2007 /
wow. kanye just seems like a real cool dude.
i definitely see how kanye could say that some stuff he said in the interview could be seen as cocky or inspirational. i personally don’t see kanye as cocky. i see him hard working and passionate. i also feel that it’s easier these days for the press to take something kayne says and over exaggerate it especially because kanye has that outspoken personality… they’d just make it so people could be like “there he goes with those rants again”, you know??
i think it was cool for kanye to talk about his acceptance issues, too. it really makes it easier to see where kanye’s coming from when he does some of the things he does.
110.
che
Saturday, October 6, 2007 /
i try so hard but i can’t stand him he’s so annoyin and full of himself i wish he would jus vanish. kayne sucks. & he b bitchin cryin lik a lil girl
111.
MystroJDM
Saturday, October 6, 2007 /
That was the BEST interview EVER!!! Kanye is the most powerful artist of our day and you guys made history and prevailed for the underdog to document history with the biggest artist since Jay-Z. Good Look Concrete!!!
112.
REESE
Saturday, October 6, 2007 /
LOVED IT. IT WAS DEFTINITELY WORTH ALL MY TIME TO LISTEN TO THAT THREE PAGE LONG INTERVIEW. LOL GREAT JOB ANGEL. BEST INTERVIEW YET!!!!!!
113.
Santana Caress
Saturday, October 6, 2007 /
I have honestly loved Kanye from the get go. His ‘arrogance’ never bothered me. I mean, when you are that clever with your music and putting out shit that nobody else is, you have to know you are damn good. And he is…I will always buy Kanye’s music…it always exceeds my expectations. Not too many artists, other than Radiohead, Bjork or Common are doing that for me. I Love this dude!
114.
Zion
Saturday, October 6, 2007 /
KANYE FOR PRESIDENT!
115.
KSH
Saturday, October 6, 2007 /
Angel you be soooooo on top of your job! Love the interview!
You can’t tell Kanye grew up with a Black woman cause this dude can talk his ass off! LOL I went to the Touch the Sky tour with KeyCole and Fantasia and Ye was the shit! I must say that I RARELY go see an artist twice but I would def check out his new tour! I like dude even more now. Especially after he said he feels like Ricky Bobby…this dude is hilarious!
116.
msz.exclusive
Saturday, October 6, 2007 /
as a junior in high school, kanye && his music has truly become an inspiration to my life. like i support that man in everything he does. ‘i wonder’ hasnt come off my myspace since 3 days since the cd came out. its not even the fact of me being a fan because im a fan of a lot of people but kanye is different. i live in the suburbs, i cant relate to every song about the hood, i just cant. kanye’s music goes past the ears && touches me. everything i am made me accept that fact that no i cant be perfect && i shouldnt have to be. after listening to that song all the time people told me they have seen a change in me. now im doin me REGARDLESS && im happy about it because i no longer feel like i have such an identity crisis. i wonder is it for me tho. it got me through a summer love thing i thought wouldnt go away but that song sealed the lid for me =]. im STILL playin dropout && late registration. the material may have come out awhile ago but its soo relevant to my life even now. his music puts me in a zone that i cant even describe. everyone can call him conceited but that is a man that is about HIS music && you cant knock that. when he said he doesnt even listen to rap like that i was like ‘yo thats my dude now.’ lol. like other then my few favorites, rap has fallin off to me because its all dancing && all my friends call me white for that but im not about booty shakin all the time DAMNN. so when i do actually promote a hip hop cd/artist that means they really do something for me other than tell me how much money they make. i just wanna thank angel so much for such a beautiful interview where i can really start to relate && see the man behind these beautiful hits. && kanye man, if you do ever take the time to read this rant, i wanna thank you for your truth && your art. you are seriously a constant inspiration && i just hope God continues to bless you, your career, and your coming marriage.
117.
BRIAN
Saturday, October 6, 2007 /
angel, this interview is perfect. I love it.
118.
Nitra
Saturday, October 6, 2007 /
By far one of THE best interviews yet!
119.
Brnsugar75
Saturday, October 6, 2007 /
I must admit I do not usually buy rap music. I am a R&B girl. I base my rap selections on lyrical skills and cuteness,lol. I will buy your music if you are cute despite your lyrical skills.If I like what you have to say and you look like a horror movie I will still buy your music. I am born and raised in Miami and we usually support home team here. But I got to say I love me some Kanye. He is one of the few rappers in my collection. I have all his cd’s but that was simply because I think he is cute. It was not until “Late Registration” that I actually started listening to his lyrics. I love his play on words being an English major in college.
I was not sure I was going to buy “Graduation” because I have been on a downloading high. The trash that a lot of these rappers have been putting out is not even worth my gas to go to the store and buy it. So I just download it. To be honest what made want to buy “Graduation” was actually the performance on the VMA’s. “Good Life” is my joint and has been on my myspace since like forever. As long as Kanye keep putting out good music I am on his team. I
120.
Queen
Sunday, October 7, 2007 /
Kanye is amazing! But seriously, I’ve been believing in this fool for awhile. He acts like he has no sense at time but he’s human. And like he said “he’s not picture perfect Beyonce!”
121.
DC WALK
Sunday, October 7, 2007 /
Yeah Kanye, when you talkin about what you done in your life and what you’re doing, you remind me of me that’s serious man, keep shining my dog, can’t wait to buy your album (i’m livieng in the french west indies: guadeloupe), it’s taking to much time to coming in….
Whatever, great work on your album, keep doing your thing….
“And I Wonder….If U Know….What It Means…To Find Your Dreams…”
PEACE.
122.
keishe
Sunday, October 7, 2007 /
I love ya Kanye. You sexy lil basturd you. lol. Anyways the interview was great and showed alot of insight to why he wrote the songs he wrote on “Graduation”. Very interesting. I also still listen to “Spaceships” because it keeps me going strong in college, so I can get that law degree, I want so so bad. Because I was too sexy to be managing at Burger King. lol
123.
Sonya Blade
Monday, October 8, 2007 /
I hope New Orleans is one of the stops on the tour…I’m sick of the little House of Blues & 20 min club shows we’ve been getting around here since Katrina.
124.
v8splash
Tuesday, October 9, 2007 /
OK can people let up off Kanye he is cool and I guess i’m gone be respectful and quit going n all these gossip sites professing my love for him I’m happy for him and Alexis hell might as well be my husband is starting to trip
125.
Bouga
Tuesday, October 9, 2007 /
I enjoyed the interview. Nice work Angel. Keep it up. You go ‘Ye, I’m enjoying Graduation
126.
Young Hova
Tuesday, October 9, 2007 /
Well I’ll Say K.West be that Next Best Thing He Solid just like ROC…
127.
crys
Wednesday, October 10, 2007 /
angel- great interview. keep doing it big.
kanye-PLEASE do a concert in newark nj!
128.
kunle
Wednesday, October 10, 2007 /
kanye is the best thing to happen to hiphop rap soulgenre.
i remembered the first time i heard through the wire(i cried) cos it was to gud to be thru, then i was like finally someone is comin out wit that sound i craved for( THE PHILLY SOUL SOUND MADE POPULAR BY THOM BELL, LEON HUFF AND KENNETH GAMBLE which produced groups like the delphonics, the stylistics spinnners etc).
then about dat time too, i heard his production on alicia keys”u dnt knw my name”, brandy, his album etc
his is the best producer afterquincy jones, his the thom bell of our time
i love u mennnnn..
129.
Victor
Wednesday, October 10, 2007 /
Great interview of Kanye.
It was good to hear Kanye’s inspiration on “I wonder”
Kanye’s mixture of sounds from rock, dancehall, classical , elctronica, soul shows how artists can push boundaries.
Great job Angel
130.
Courtney
Wednesday, October 10, 2007 /
I really like kanye west….REALLY he is s real and so honest with himself and the world. He doesnt sugercoat and he doesnt have to, everyone already knows that hes the truth and people need the truth. I M THE HUGESST FAN!!!! I KNOW EVERY SONG AND EVERY LYRIC!
I LOVE U KANYE!!!!!!!
131.
Josie
Thursday, October 11, 2007 /
hey ye
u kw what, i m a chinese girl and i m not really a big fan of rap
but Graduation is so different and fresh that really touches me
“Everythin I Am” is my fave
damn, here we go again. … Let me know if you feel it man Cause everything I’m not, made me everything I am
luv it luv it
keep making music and rocking my world
luv ye
132.
Capial G
Thursday, October 11, 2007 /
Damn, y’all really interviewed Kanye the person. LOVED IT!!!! I waited unitl I had time to listen to the whole interview and I think he is a great person. He is just like everybody else. The album is a solid hit and he deserves all the glory he gets from it. God watches his children and does everything in his time. So, Kanyeeeezy, ya time is now!!!
Y’all need a magazine!!! So articles like this can take over!! This was a great interview for him and CL. Shouting out to both of y’all!!
133.
FlyyassToni
Friday, October 12, 2007 /
All I want to know is…..When is 50 retireing?
134.
soulguru
Saturday, October 13, 2007 /
KanYe needs to go ahead and drop that damn instrumental version of Graduation online. WTF is he waiting for?
135.
DRAKEYB00
Sunday, October 14, 2007 /
ii AGREEE
FLASHiiN LiiGHTS, CHAMPii0N, ii W0NDER && H0MEC0MiiN ARE THE BEST
HE SH0ULD C0ME 0UT WiiT FLASHiiN LiiGHTS NEXT
THEN H0MEC0MiiN
THEN ii W0NDER
THEN CHAMPii0N
SHiiT…HE MiiGHT AS WELL RELEASE THE WH0LE ALBUM L0L
136.
terrena
Saturday, October 20, 2007 /
wow…i find myself liking kanye even more + more…
♥terrena
137.
Royan
Monday, October 22, 2007 /
These are the kinds of things that you love to read. It’s great that the audio was there too. So many things that come out of Kanye’s mouth get taken out of context if you don’t directly hear him say ‘em. It happens all the time on instant messenger services, so letting people hear the context in which Kanye was saying things makes a big difference in the way people recieve him.
I’ve been a fan of his work since before his first album dropped, by boy is from Soho, so he used to get alot of underground work that ‘Ye produced for local artist. It’s just great to see people are starting to realize that Kanye is like alot of us. Some people try to act as if they are perfect in public, while saying cliche’s like “…I don’t wanna be perfect,” while others like Kanye admits he’s no Beyonce in public, but he wishes he could be perfect.
I really hope this interview gets out to more places than just CL (big up), cause far too many blogspaces out there are trashin’ Mr. West in reference to things they’ve heard, rumors they’ve come across, or lack of understanding. This interview would definately change some minds. Great Interview Angel.
138.
Wil May
Wednesday, October 24, 2007 /
Kudos to Concrete and Kanye for a hot and informative interveiw….his crib is crazy btw
139.
Adrian Tostado
Monday, November 26, 2007 /
hey what up this adrian originally hamlin park west side now livin in the burbs good interview backs up some of your lyrical stories come back home man to chill and hit the studio cuz im doin pretty good far as geniuses go (3)
140.
Geo23
Tuesday, December 4, 2007 /
Yo Kanye, I know you think on Diamonds, you think you over rapped but I got freinds that think thats your most lyrical song and one of their favorites. Its one of my favorites too but, I think your next album should be simular to the first two(lyrics wise). Graduation was a great album to me, and it deserved to sell 957k but, I think it would be great if you go back to writing rhymes now that you got the whole world’s attention.
141.
LELE
Friday, May 2, 2008 /
NICE!
142.
Malcolm Little
Monday, September 1, 2008 /
Oh, yeah, Kanye out sold 50. I will add that I didn’t buy either album but I got respect for both of them. Both of them give a good show and get club jumping when their singles come on.
143.
Billy Wilder
Thursday, December 4, 2008 /
It was pretty cool what Kanye said about Lil Wayne inspiring him to promote harder. Though it surprised me a little, as I have always thought of Kanye as a hardworker. His videos are great. His beats are outstanding. The videos and beats are not just your average everyday hip hop videos and beats. They are well thought out, complicated and consistent in their excellence. He brings a lot of originality and style to hip hop. I like him and this interview by Angel makes me like him more.
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