Kayne West says that Wu-Tang Klan producer RZA was his influence and the reason his for his style in music and producing. West has said before that he likes to listen to rock music over rap when he is outside of work, and that the Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Killer are some of his favorite. West also got inspiration from rock bands such as U2, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin.
Kanye had been engaged to Alexis Phifer a designer for 18 months. In 2008 they broke it off. Alexis said that there was way to much strain which had been put on due to Kanye putting to much time into his concert tour. On November 18, 2008 Kanye's mother passed away due to complication from cosmetic surgery involving abdominoplasty and breast augmentation. Kanye told reports, "It was like losing an arm and a leg and trying to walk through that,". In honor of her death, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger passed the "Donda West Law," which makes it mandatory for patients to get medical clearance for elective cosmetic surgery. Kanye dedicated a performance of "Hey Mama", as well as a cover of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin", to his mother, and did the same on all other dates of his Glow in the Dark tour.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Kanye West- Career continued
West announced in September of 2005 that he would release his Pastelle Clothing Line. He released his third album Graduation on September 11th, 2007. Like his debut and sophomore albums it also brought more success to Kanye. For his Graduation album he won four Grammy's including Best Rap Album for Graduation and Best Rap Solo Performance for "Stronger" from the Graduation album.
West performed at the American Music Awards ceremony on November 23, 2008. That same night he won two AMA awards, including Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album for his album Graduation and Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Male Artist. He released his fourth album November 24th, 2008 entitled 808's and Heartbreak.
Kanye is currently working on his fifth studio album. He recently performed at the MTV music awards, where he for the second year in a row had the ending performance in the show. He showed that he is still pushing forward and changing hip-hop like always.
West performed at the American Music Awards ceremony on November 23, 2008. That same night he won two AMA awards, including Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album for his album Graduation and Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Male Artist. He released his fourth album November 24th, 2008 entitled 808's and Heartbreak.
Kanye is currently working on his fifth studio album. He recently performed at the MTV music awards, where he for the second year in a row had the ending performance in the show. He showed that he is still pushing forward and changing hip-hop like always.
Kanye West-Career
West was involved in a near fatal car crash on October 23, 2002,while driving home from the recording studio. The crash gave inspiration for West's first single, Through the Wire, West's faith is shown in many of his songs, such as Jesus Walks.
West's debut album, The College Dropout, was released by Roc-A-Fella Records in February 2004 went on to receive critical acclaim. The album also showed the style for which West would become known for, like his wordplay and sampling. The album went on to be certified triple platinum.Kanye's second album Late Registration was released August 30, 2005. Like his first album it went on to have great success earning eight grammy nominations.
On August 22, 2005, the MTV special "All Eyes On Kanye" West aired, where West spoke out against homophobia in hip-hop. He said that hip-hop has always been about "speaking your mind and breaking down barriers, but everyone in hip-hop discriminates against gay people.
West's debut album, The College Dropout, was released by Roc-A-Fella Records in February 2004 went on to receive critical acclaim. The album also showed the style for which West would become known for, like his wordplay and sampling. The album went on to be certified triple platinum.Kanye's second album Late Registration was released August 30, 2005. Like his first album it went on to have great success earning eight grammy nominations.
On August 22, 2005, the MTV special "All Eyes On Kanye" West aired, where West spoke out against homophobia in hip-hop. He said that hip-hop has always been about "speaking your mind and breaking down barriers, but everyone in hip-hop discriminates against gay people.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Kanye West- early career
West's first career productions came on Chicago rapper Grav's 1996 debut album. West produced eight tracks on the album. Though the album didn't attract much attention, West would be producing for higher profile artists in the near future. Kanye started getting more and more recognition, during 1998 and 1999 he was producing for some well known artists such as Foxy Brown, Jermaine Dupri, Goodie Mob, and also the group Harlem World.
Kanye finally got his big break in early 2000. He started producing for Roc-A-Fella records. He produced the well received Jay-Z song "This Can't Be Life" off of the album The Dynasty: Roc La Familia. After producing for Jay-Z prior, West’s sound was featured heavily on Jay-Z's critically acclaimed album The Blueprint released on September 11, 2001. His work was on the lead single "Izzo", also on "Heart of the City" and a diss track against Nas and Mobb Deep named "Takeover".
After receiving commercial success for his work on Jay Z's album The Blueprint, he became the producer that everyone was trying to get to produce for them. In the years 2002-2003 he produced for artists Mos Def, Scarface, Talib Kweli, Nas, T.I., DMX, and Ludacris. He continued producing for Roc-a-Fella Records artists and contributed four tracks to Jay-Z's follow up album The Blueprint 2. After great success being a producer, West wanted to pursue a career as a rapper and solo-artist. Kanye struggled finding a record deal, because everyone saw him as a producer and didn't think he portrayed the "street image" prominent in hip-hop culture. Beginning his rap career Kanye rapped a verse on Jay Z's track The Gift and the Curse, in which he produced. He was later signed to Roc-A-Fella as a rapper.
Kanye finally got his big break in early 2000. He started producing for Roc-A-Fella records. He produced the well received Jay-Z song "This Can't Be Life" off of the album The Dynasty: Roc La Familia. After producing for Jay-Z prior, West’s sound was featured heavily on Jay-Z's critically acclaimed album The Blueprint released on September 11, 2001. His work was on the lead single "Izzo", also on "Heart of the City" and a diss track against Nas and Mobb Deep named "Takeover".
After receiving commercial success for his work on Jay Z's album The Blueprint, he became the producer that everyone was trying to get to produce for them. In the years 2002-2003 he produced for artists Mos Def, Scarface, Talib Kweli, Nas, T.I., DMX, and Ludacris. He continued producing for Roc-a-Fella Records artists and contributed four tracks to Jay-Z's follow up album The Blueprint 2. After great success being a producer, West wanted to pursue a career as a rapper and solo-artist. Kanye struggled finding a record deal, because everyone saw him as a producer and didn't think he portrayed the "street image" prominent in hip-hop culture. Beginning his rap career Kanye rapped a verse on Jay Z's track The Gift and the Curse, in which he produced. He was later signed to Roc-A-Fella as a rapper.
Kanye West
This week on my blogging adventures I'll be looking into the life of singer, record producer Kanye West.
Kanye West was born in Atlanta, Georgia, where he lived with his parents. At the age of three years, his parents divorced, resulting in his mother and him to move to Chicago, Illinois. His father Ray West was a former Black Panther and one of the first black photojournalists in Atlanta. His mother, Dr. Donda West was a Professor of English at Clark Atlanta University, and Chair of the English Department at Chicago State University before retiring to serve as West's manager.
Kanye was raised in a middle-class background, attending Polaris High School in suburban Oak Lawn, Illinois after living in Chicago. West says his feminine nature to being raised by his mother. West attended art classes at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, he was also enrolled at Chicago State University, but decided to drop out to focus on his music career. While going to school, West produced for many local artists to get some recognition. He finally hit fame and got recognition by producing hits for major hip hop/R&B artists, like Cam'ron, Jay-Z, Paul Wall, Janet Jackson, Common, Jermaine Dupri, The Game, Scarface, Alicia Keys, Talib Kweli, Mobb Deep, and John Legend.
Kanye West was born in Atlanta, Georgia, where he lived with his parents. At the age of three years, his parents divorced, resulting in his mother and him to move to Chicago, Illinois. His father Ray West was a former Black Panther and one of the first black photojournalists in Atlanta. His mother, Dr. Donda West was a Professor of English at Clark Atlanta University, and Chair of the English Department at Chicago State University before retiring to serve as West's manager.
Kanye was raised in a middle-class background, attending Polaris High School in suburban Oak Lawn, Illinois after living in Chicago. West says his feminine nature to being raised by his mother. West attended art classes at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, he was also enrolled at Chicago State University, but decided to drop out to focus on his music career. While going to school, West produced for many local artists to get some recognition. He finally hit fame and got recognition by producing hits for major hip hop/R&B artists, like Cam'ron, Jay-Z, Paul Wall, Janet Jackson, Common, Jermaine Dupri, The Game, Scarface, Alicia Keys, Talib Kweli, Mobb Deep, and John Legend.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Lady Gaga- continued 3
The last few years have been very successful for Gaga, she has been hired to write songs for big names like Britany Spears, New Kids on The Block, Fergie, and the Pussy Cat Dolls. While writing for Interscope for a while she met up with famous singer Akon, he was intrigued by her vocal skills so much he signed her jointly to his record label. He called her his "franchise" player.
After signed with Akon she went another week working on some of her biggest hits such as "Just Dance", and "Poker Face". Gaga continued recording until her album was complete. She entitled it "The Fame". The album went on to reach platinum status.
After signed with Akon she went another week working on some of her biggest hits such as "Just Dance", and "Poker Face". Gaga continued recording until her album was complete. She entitled it "The Fame". The album went on to reach platinum status.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Lady Gaga- continued 2
Toward the beginning of her career Lady Gaga started performing with Lady Starlight, who has helped create her crazy onstage outfits. The pair began playing together at downtown clubs like the Mercury Lounge, The Bitter End, and the Rockwood Music Hall, with their live performance art piece known as "Lady Gaga and the Starlight Revue". The two did so well together they were invited to play at the 2007 Lallapalooza.
After being focused on electronic dance music, Gaga found her musical niche when she began to incorporate pop music and the glam rock of David Bowie and Queen into her music.
Fusari sent the songs he helped produced with Gaga to his friend and record executive Vincent Herbert. Herbert quickly signed her to his label Streamline Records. She credited Herbert as the man who discovered her.
After being focused on electronic dance music, Gaga found her musical niche when she began to incorporate pop music and the glam rock of David Bowie and Queen into her music.
Fusari sent the songs he helped produced with Gaga to his friend and record executive Vincent Herbert. Herbert quickly signed her to his label Streamline Records. She credited Herbert as the man who discovered her.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Lady Gaga- continued
Lady GaGa officially signed with Def Jam record at the age of 19, but was dropped 3 months later. Shortly after, her former management company brought songwriter and producer RedOne and GaGa together. Her first song she produced was with RedOne entitled "Boys Boys Boys".
She later moved into an apartment on the Lower East Side wher she recorded a couple of songs with hip-hop singer Grandmaster Melle Mel for an audio book for the children's book The Portal in the Park by Cricket Casey .
She also started the Stefani Germanotta Band with some friends from NYU. They recorded an EP of ballads at a studio underneath a liquor store in New Jersey. They became a local hit at the downtown Lower East Side club scene. She began experimenting with drugs soon after. Her father did not understand the reason behind her drug addiction and would not look at her for several months.
Music producer, Rob Fusari, helped her write some of her earlier songs. He compared some of her vocal harmonies to that of Freddie Mercury. Fusari helped create Lady Gaga, after the Queen song "Radio Ga Ga". GaGa was trying to come up with a stage name when she received a text message from Fusari that read "Lady Gaga". From that moment on she has gone by "Lady GaGa".
She later moved into an apartment on the Lower East Side wher she recorded a couple of songs with hip-hop singer Grandmaster Melle Mel for an audio book for the children's book The Portal in the Park by Cricket Casey .
She also started the Stefani Germanotta Band with some friends from NYU. They recorded an EP of ballads at a studio underneath a liquor store in New Jersey. They became a local hit at the downtown Lower East Side club scene. She began experimenting with drugs soon after. Her father did not understand the reason behind her drug addiction and would not look at her for several months.
Music producer, Rob Fusari, helped her write some of her earlier songs. He compared some of her vocal harmonies to that of Freddie Mercury. Fusari helped create Lady Gaga, after the Queen song "Radio Ga Ga". GaGa was trying to come up with a stage name when she received a text message from Fusari that read "Lady Gaga". From that moment on she has gone by "Lady GaGa".
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Lady Gaga- Early life
This week I'll be taking on the task of learning more about one of the biggest musical artist of today, Lady Gaga.
Stefani Germanotta bettter known as her stage name Lady Gaga, was born in New York City on March 28, 1986, to an Italian-American family, the eldest child of Joseph Germanotta, internet entrepreneur and Cynthia Bissett Germanotta. She learned to play piano at the age of four, at the age of 11, Germanotta attended Convent of the Sacred Heart, a private Roman Catholic school on Manhattan's Upper East side, she has stressed many times that she doesn't come from a wealthy background, saying that her parents came from lower-class families. "We've worked for everything." "My mother worked eight to eight in telecommunications, and my father." She wrote her first piano ballad at 13 and began performing at open mike nights by age 14.
At age 17, Gaga gained early admission to the New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and lived in a NYU dorm. There she studied music and improved her songwriting skills. Gaga felt that she was more creative than some of her classmates. By the second semester of her sophomore year, she dropped out of school to focus on her musical career.
Stefani Germanotta bettter known as her stage name Lady Gaga, was born in New York City on March 28, 1986, to an Italian-American family, the eldest child of Joseph Germanotta, internet entrepreneur and Cynthia Bissett Germanotta. She learned to play piano at the age of four, at the age of 11, Germanotta attended Convent of the Sacred Heart, a private Roman Catholic school on Manhattan's Upper East side, she has stressed many times that she doesn't come from a wealthy background, saying that her parents came from lower-class families. "We've worked for everything." "My mother worked eight to eight in telecommunications, and my father." She wrote her first piano ballad at 13 and began performing at open mike nights by age 14.
At age 17, Gaga gained early admission to the New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and lived in a NYU dorm. There she studied music and improved her songwriting skills. Gaga felt that she was more creative than some of her classmates. By the second semester of her sophomore year, she dropped out of school to focus on her musical career.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Lil Wayne inspiration and personal life
Lil Wayne had many inspirations growing up. One of his biggest that he has talked bout was Nirvana, he grew up loving their music and it really got him wanting to be a musician.
Lil Wayne has four children. Daughter Reginae, his first child, was born when he was 15, to his high school sweetheart Antonia "Toya" Carter. They married on Valentine's Day 2004 and divorced in 2006. His second child, Dwayne III, was then born on October 22, 2008 at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. His third child, Lennox Samuel Ari, was born to actress Lauren London on September 9, 2009. He had his fourth child, Neal, on November 30, 2009 with singer Nivea.
Lil Wayne is said to spend as much time with his children as he can. Although he is always busy on the road and recording constantly he still loves and care for them unconditionally.
Throughout this first week I learned alot about the notorious rapper. It brought me to know Wayne better, and to understand his lyrics and where he's coming from in his music.
Lil Wayne has four children. Daughter Reginae, his first child, was born when he was 15, to his high school sweetheart Antonia "Toya" Carter. They married on Valentine's Day 2004 and divorced in 2006. His second child, Dwayne III, was then born on October 22, 2008 at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. His third child, Lennox Samuel Ari, was born to actress Lauren London on September 9, 2009. He had his fourth child, Neal, on November 30, 2009 with singer Nivea.
Lil Wayne is said to spend as much time with his children as he can. Although he is always busy on the road and recording constantly he still loves and care for them unconditionally.
Throughout this first week I learned alot about the notorious rapper. It brought me to know Wayne better, and to understand his lyrics and where he's coming from in his music.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Lil Wayne pt. 2
Today I did more searching into to Lil Wayne's life. I went more into his career.
In 1997 he joined the Hot Boyz at the age of fifth teen. During the same year came out their first album entitled Get It How U Live! After a couple years of being in the group Wayne decided to go solo at age seventeen. His debut album The Block is Hot went 2x platinum peaking at number three on the billboard top albums.
His next two albums Lights Out, and 500 Degreez didn't reach the status of what his debut accomplished. His fourth album Tha Carter would be what I consider his best. Tha Carter really brought Wayne up a step in the rap game and really set off his career to get him where he's at today. After Tha Carter 2 was released Lil Wayne was named president of his recording label and founded his own label Young Money Entertainment.
One thing Wayne has become popular for are his mixtapes. Some might say that some of his best songs come from his mixtapes. Just in case you didn't know mixtapes are commonly used by labels and new artists as a promotional tool, and as a way of generating hype or to promote a future studio album. One of his most recent and arguably his best mixtapes is No Ceilings which had many hits songs such as Swag Surfing, Wasted, and Watch My Shoes.
Wayne's most recent album was released on his birthday September 27th, entitled I Am Not A Human Being. So far has had decent reviews and has sold over 110,000 copies. He has also talked about the work in progress album Tha Carter 4, which is one of the most anticipated albums in music today.
In 1997 he joined the Hot Boyz at the age of fifth teen. During the same year came out their first album entitled Get It How U Live! After a couple years of being in the group Wayne decided to go solo at age seventeen. His debut album The Block is Hot went 2x platinum peaking at number three on the billboard top albums.
His next two albums Lights Out, and 500 Degreez didn't reach the status of what his debut accomplished. His fourth album Tha Carter would be what I consider his best. Tha Carter really brought Wayne up a step in the rap game and really set off his career to get him where he's at today. After Tha Carter 2 was released Lil Wayne was named president of his recording label and founded his own label Young Money Entertainment.
One thing Wayne has become popular for are his mixtapes. Some might say that some of his best songs come from his mixtapes. Just in case you didn't know mixtapes are commonly used by labels and new artists as a promotional tool, and as a way of generating hype or to promote a future studio album. One of his most recent and arguably his best mixtapes is No Ceilings which had many hits songs such as Swag Surfing, Wasted, and Watch My Shoes.
Wayne's most recent album was released on his birthday September 27th, entitled I Am Not A Human Being. So far has had decent reviews and has sold over 110,000 copies. He has also talked about the work in progress album Tha Carter 4, which is one of the most anticipated albums in music today.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Lil Wayne: Childhood
Wow, today I started out on my quest and it being the first day I am happy with my choice of qeust. The first Artist I choose was Lil Wayne. I started of by looking into his life using wikipedia. One thing I would like to say about Lil Wayne is that he is very unique.
As I read on about the early life and childhood of the notorious rapper, I couldn't help but realize how outrageous it was. He had many high and low points as a child. His parents divorced when he was two, leaving him to grow up fatherless. He grew up in one of the roughest neighborhood in New Orleans. Age the age of eleven he got introduced to the man that would make everything happen for him, Bryan Williams who mentored him through everything. At age 13 he was fooling around with a .44 caliber pistol and shot himself.
Lil Wayne's childhood to say the least has been pretty rough. Through all the rough times of his childhood I see that he has found ways to turn a negative into a positive. Growing up fatherless and in such a bad neighborhood, to becoming a rapper is definately just one of the many milestones Lil Wayne has accomplished.
As I read on about the early life and childhood of the notorious rapper, I couldn't help but realize how outrageous it was. He had many high and low points as a child. His parents divorced when he was two, leaving him to grow up fatherless. He grew up in one of the roughest neighborhood in New Orleans. Age the age of eleven he got introduced to the man that would make everything happen for him, Bryan Williams who mentored him through everything. At age 13 he was fooling around with a .44 caliber pistol and shot himself.
Lil Wayne's childhood to say the least has been pretty rough. Through all the rough times of his childhood I see that he has found ways to turn a negative into a positive. Growing up fatherless and in such a bad neighborhood, to becoming a rapper is definately just one of the many milestones Lil Wayne has accomplished.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Quest Proposal
Musician- a person who writes, performs, or makes music. Have you ever wondered what life’s like for a musician? Not just the glam and glory of being famous and being rich, but how they got to where they are today, everything they had to go through or give up to get where they are today. I have, and do all the time. So I am going to choose a different musician every week through out the quest and learn more about the behind the music.
Through out the quest I am going to pick a famous musician (one per week) and learn about them. I am going to learn about their lives from the when they were children all the way up to where they are in the present. I would like to explore more deeply into musicians lives. The big reason I am doing this is because I love music with a passion, especially rap music. I really love learning about how various musicians came up from living poor and being limited to just surviving in everyday life to living life to the fullest. I want to see where their big break cam, and who was the one that gave them that break, whether it be a famous record producer, or their own mom.
I want to discover things that most people wouldn’t know about them. So over are quest I plan on going deeper into a musician life and discover things me, you, or a lot of others don’t know. That is my quest I have chosen to go through, and I hope I can bring everybody to learn some more interesting things about different famous musicians.
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