Should the citizens of Wisconsin recall Governor Scott Walker?
- Candice Accola Is a Sucker for Love
- A Date with Tomorrow's Somebodies
- Transgender Teen Claims McDonald's Denied her a Job
- Pharrell Speaks to the Kidults
- What's That Ye?
- Racial Tension Leads to 19 Arrests at NC School Board Meeting
- Nicki Minaj's Asian Persuasion! (It's Pretty Enticing, too!)
- Lucky Number 7?
- Shantel VanSanten Is Picture Perfect
- Kevin McHale Tells "Newsweek" to Kiss His Wheelchair
- Why I got my tattoo
- Simon Cowell Axes Multiple "X Factor" Co-Stars
- Mitt Romney Confident After Florida Win
- "Soul Train" Creator Don Cornelius Shocks World with Suicide
- #Occupy The Mind of Rights
- Tampa on Sundays
- Berkeley Close To Providing Speech For The Speechless
- The Women of "The Help" Look to Win Big at the Oscars
- ACTA Sparks Anti-Censorship Activity in Europe
- Preview Miike Snow and Lykke Li's New Track "Black Tin Box"
In Defense of 808's
Ian Servantes is a recent high school graduate from Colorado (or Ballerado as he likes to call it). He's a kid who doesn't let obstacles get in his way. His history teacher once said of him, "Servantes wouldn't be affected by gravity if he didn't want to be." In high school he developed a passion for journalism that led him to interview hometown heroes Carmelo Anthony, and 3OH!3, and eventually to becoming the editor of his school newspaper, The Eagle's Cry. His passion for journalism has driven him to enroll at the University of Missouri, where he hopes to advance as a writer. Keep up on this blog as Ian discusses his eclectic interests (and his accompanying strong opinions) that include, but are not limited to, hip-hop, zombie movies, and sports.
@ian_servantes
In Defense of 808's
rap-up.com
By now, I’m sure you’ve read Liam’s piece on Kanye West, and his recent return to the spotlight. It was a great post, but when it comes to the analysis of 808’s, I just don’t agree. So I’d like to share my opinion on the fourth, and most impressive album by ‘Ye.
I say it’s the most impressive because it was the biggest stretch. I wouldn’t say that making a rap album is easy, but to Kanye it’s his bread and butter. 808’s and Heartbreak was a challenge for him, a new realm of music for him to dive into. His first three albums were classics, but this represented his greatest single leap as an artist.
As he set aside rapping in favor of singing, his biggest detractor was that it came with Auto-Tune - the voice modifier mis, and overused by many mainstream artists. But 808’s did Auto-Tune the right way. West didn’t use the program as a crutch like T-Pain. He’s already shown that he can actually sing (listen to Spaceship, or Hey Mama).
In typical Kanye West fashion, he simply used the tool because he liked the way it sounds, regardless of the criticism. The artist compared it to when he was a child, and the criticism that came with him liking pink. He went on to describe how society can rob people of their self-esteem and self-confidence. [1]
The album was just another example of him doing what he likes, despite the status quo. This is the man who rocked a polo instead of a jersey, rapped about his lord, and savior, Jesus Christ instead of the almighty dollar, and who crashed an award show (or two) when he saw a trophy awarded incorrectly.
Power isn’t Kanye coming back, because he never went anywhere (musically, at least). 808’s is as true to West’s character as the gaudy chain he wore while performing his latest single.
I’m just as excited, if not more, than Liam about his reemergence. But to me, it’s not a return to himself. It’s a return from an agonizing eight months sans Yeezy (other than the snippet of I’m So Appaled). So whether it comes with Auto-Tune, or combative raps, I simply welcome back more music from the icon.
I did't like 808s and hearbreak at first.. especially "Heartless" after watching the south park episode.. It seemed kind of like cheating because he used the auto-tune. But, the album definitely grew on me after listening to the lyrics and emotion.
Great album from mr west
OMG. I listened to this album yesterday. 0_o
I see Auto tune as a device used for non-talented rappers. I was so surprised when I heard Kanye was going to use it because he has so much talent. Although I thought the album would be awkward, it was actually likable. His message was still strong but not as strong as it's been in his previous albums. I never judged him for creating such an album because everyone's allowed to experiment with something once. I think Kanye was proud of his result but has decided to go back to what he does best. Rapping like the man I've supported since College Dropout.
i strongly agree with this piece, when i was bumping 808s, everyone was just like turn that noise down, but the pain and raw emotion portrayed in the songs was well done and moving. just becase auto-tune was played out at the time and such artists as t-pain use it all the time shouldnt take away from the greatness of that album as a whole. but for his new album, i would want to hear just strictly rap, because i've been deprived of kanyes witty, explicit, and humorous verses.
Hey.
Just quickly wanted to say, I think many people are confusing Kanye West for who he is. At the end of the day he is an artist. So it doesn't matter if he sings or raps. With every album he makes a huge impact. Kanye West is an artist.
I never said using auto-tune made him a bad singer.
And even if you use the bumpers for fun, they are still there so you can't hit a gutterball.
Well yeah. But say you go bowling, and you decide using bumpers would be fun. That doesn't mean you're a bad bowler.
Of course he used it because he liked it, but regardless of why you're using it, the purpose of auto-tune to correct your voice.
But he didn't really use it to correct his voice, he used it just because he liked it. Listen to the songs I named in the blog, he can sing.
I understand that rappers change their style as they as a person evolves and changes but when Jay-Z stopped rapping about dealing and the streets, he didn't start using a robot to "correct" his voice, he started writing songs about how you shouldn't do that.
Saying that though, 808's and the Blueprint 3 are very similar albums in the sense that they are both based primarily on success and the fame/status both artists have reached. I am a huge fan of both artists and even both albums and I agree that changes are a gift and a curse when it comes to music.
Post new comment