Kanye West

Watch the Throne Tour Tickets – Jay-Z and Kanye West Hit the Road

Hip-hop fans have been waiting and watching the careers of Jay-Z and Kanye West for a long time. Their success has been intertwined ever since HOV brought ‘Ye on to work as a producer on 2001′s The Blueprint, one of his hit records. It made Kanye a major figure in hip-hop, and eventually allowed him to launch his performing career with 2004′s The College Dropout. Everyone from fans to critics were wondering whether the two of them would ever get together and collaborate on a proper record, however – not just with one of them doing production duties, but sharing writing credits.

That finally happened with the long-anticipated Watch the Throne. The record was released on Aug. 8 and featured a range of major hip-hop figures, including Swizz Beatz, The RZA, 88 Keys and others. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, but earned love equally among fans and critics, who gave it glowing reviews. Unsurprisingly, the two biggest figures in rap have turned out the biggest success of the past year.

Watch the Throne Tour tickets became big sellers in the wake of the album’s release. Who would pass up the chance to see Jay-Z and Kanye on tour together? The Watch the Throne Tour is set to begin Oct. 28, crossing through a number of American and Canadian cities as it winds its way through December.

What should fans expect from the tour? Well, great music, for one thing. In fact, while it might be premature to say so, it’s easy to believe that Watch the Throne will become known as a classic hip-hop record for this period of time. While reviewing the album for The AV Club, critic Nathan Rabin noted that the record doesn’t just show off the talents of these two men – it tells their stories, as well.

“As always, the men are a study in contrasts: the businessman and the bohemian, the faithful husband and the drugged-up playboy, the walking press release and the loose cannon,” Rabin writes. “Jay-Z is tidy. Kanye is nothing but rough edges. On Watch the Throne, exhilarating messiness and go-for-broke spontaneity infect Jay-Z and push him outside his comfort zone and into a realm of intense emotional reflection.”

The tension between these two very different men keeps the music on the album interesting, and is sure to make the tour one of the most anticipated of the fall and winter. Hip-hop fans have been waiting a little while for Jay-Z to jump back into the game, with his last release, The Blueprint 3, having been issued in 2009. Kanye, on the other hand, is an artist who seems unable to stop up his energy. He released a top-charting record, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, in 2010, with a series of collaborative songs being issued on every Friday leading up to the release and beyond, all the way to Christmas.

Needless to say, fans are glad to see the two of them putting out work together. Hopefully, the success of Watch the Throne will ensure we might see more collaborations in the future.

And in a Surprising Twist of Events

Kanye West at the Center of Controversy

by Joi

in Kanye West

Kanye WestKanye West

Kanye West, who’s more familiar than most with controversy, says he feels as though people look at him like Hitler.

West was the headline act at the Big Chill music festival Saturday night. In the middle of his performance, he let loose about being misunderstood and under appreciated.

“I walk through the hotel and I walk down the street, and people look at me like I’m (expletive) insane, like I’m Hitler,” he said. “One day the light will shine through and one day people will understand everything I ever did.”

Apparently, there were a few boos from the crowd in response to his passionate speech.

He also took the opportunity to defend the music video for his song “Monster,” a video that features cannibalism and girls hanging from their necks. I can’t pass judgement one way or another about a video I haven’t seen, so mum’s the word.

“Who saw the video before it got banned, before they took it down and before women’s groups starting saying that a person that lost the most important woman in his life is now against women in some way?” asked West, referring to the 2007 death of his much-loved mother Donda West.

“Michael Jordan changed so much in basketball, he took his power to make a difference. It’s so much (expletive) going on in music right now and somebody has to make a (expletive) difference,” he said.

He closed his show on a positive note, however, by paying tribute to Amy Winehouse.

West said he met the late singer a few years ago during Paris fashion week. He paid tribute to her with snippets of Winehouse’s “Tears Dry On Their Own” and “Back to Black.” He said it was “beautiful” to meet the performer and that she was “amazing.”

As you well know, I am and have always been a fan of Kanye West’s music. As a song writer, the man is a freaking genius.  I also think he’s possibly the best rapper of all time.  He has charisma, style, talent, passion, and is a professing Christian.  He also had big, big love for his mom – all traits that, as a Kanye West fan, I choose to dwell on.  If when he does or says things that I think are out of line, I don’t mind saying so.  A few past fiascos left me speechless!

However, I honestly don’t see the big deal with this most recent comments.  He’s saying how he FEELS – how can that be considered inappropriate. He knows how he feels better than anyone else.

As for the video… most videos are becoming more like movies – it’s the direction in which they’re moving.  Let the person who never goes to see a horror flick or never watches a detective drama cast the first, second, and third stone.

Kanye West is who he is – always has been, always will be. Whether a person likes him or not is their own call – and most people feel passionately about whichever side their on.  But, come on, let the bashing and nitpicking stop.  Look at what he said, he says he feels like people look at him like he’s Hitler.  It’s how he feels.  Don’t get mad at him for how he feels, get mad at the people who cause him to feel this way!

Starshell: Music’s Next Big Name

You Can't Keep Talent Like This a Secret

by Joi

in Kanye West, Music Videos, News, Starshell

Starshell! Click the image for a larger picture.

Starshell, the beautiful artist responsible for penning such notable hits as Kanye West’s “Love Lockdown” and “Closer” for Mary J Blige, has just released a behind the scenes video for her debut single, “Superluva.” “Superluva” will appear on Starshell’s as-yet-untitled debut album which features beat-savvy producers Will.I.Am, Scott Storch, Range, Ne-Yo, Jeff Bhasker and Ron Neffu Feemster. “Superluva” has a vibe that is reminiscent of the 80s and all about having fun. Produced by Fernando Garibay, the feisty electro-pop jam sounds right at home alongside recent #1s by Lady Gaga, Beyoncé and Ke$ha.

Mary J. Blige had the following to say about the up and coming sensation, “Starshell is not someone who wanted to be a star, she always knew she would be. She knew what she wanted then and she knows exactly what she wants now. She has a beautiful spirit, a beautiful heart and so much integrity and intelligence. I admire her will to be positive no matter what things may look like. She knows it’s going to always work out. She’s destined and determined to be the best she can be in everything she does. God bless her.”

Fans and music lovers can check out the making of “Superluva on VEVO.com with the official video premiering on AOL 10/19. To keep up with all things Starshell, visit Starshellworld.com.

Making of Superluva:

Kanye West Joins La Roux on In For the Kill

Because a Little Kanye Makes Everything Better

by Joi

in Audio, Kanye West, News

Kanye West and Elly (Click for a larger version!)

Check out a brand new version of La Roux’s “In For The Kill” featuring Kanye West. Kanye teamed up with the synth-pop sensation in New York City last month to put his own spin on the track with an original verse.

Catch La Roux on a headlining US tour kicking off on November 1st.

She walks like this ’cause she can back it up….. Can. She. Ever. Has anyone ever backed up anything the way Beyonce does?

No.

I am currently in the process of listening to this song all day. Beyonce’s voice is magic and the video is as hot as you’d expect a Beyonce video to be. As for Kanye West at the first – classic Kanye and I love it.

This morning, one of this music blog’s favorite artists, Kanye West, made a list on Twitter of the people he considered to be the “coolest famous creative people”.

The innovative and creative rapper included Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, Lil’ Wayne, M.I.A, Angelina Jolie and Jay-Z.

West listed the names after asking his followers:“Who do you think the coolest famous creative people are?”

Kanye had earlier written a series of tweets during which he said he would like to be defined as either “an inventor or maybe curator”.

He also stated that he hasn’t “delivered anywhere near my best work yet”, and that he had never met a “true artist that wasn’t either a little too cocky or waaaay to bashful”.

West is currently finishing his next studio album… his next, much anticipated studio album. ‘Dark Twisted Fantasy’, is scheduled for a November release, and will be preceded by the single ‘Runaway.”

This would be me on the edge of my seat because this man is incapable of producing bad music. He can’t even do sub-par.

Sorry. Doesn’t know how.

Kanye West Love Lockdown:

Great song. Great video. Nothing but love.

Lil Wayne, Brian Wilson, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg and Celine Dion are among a group of artists who have recorded a new version of the wonderful 1985 song ‘We Are The World’ to aid victims of the recent Haiti earthquake.

Barbra Streisand, Carlos Santana, Usher, Miley Cyrus, Tony Bennett and Enrique Iglesias are also among the 75 singers who contributed, reports BBC News.

The song was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones – who returned to the role for the new version. The new recording took place at Henson Recording Studios in Hollywood, where the original was also put on tape.

The much-anticipated song is set to debut on NBC, February 12. The video is to be put together by director Paul Haggis, who filmed the recording session.

Lil Wayne said, after the recording, “I don’t know how to sing.” He went on to hail the new song but criticized the response to the 2005 disaster in New Orleans, when Hurricane Katrina caused havoc.

“I think it’s amazing what’s been done for Haiti, but I think it’s amazing what hasn’t been done for New Orleans,” he said.

Lil Wayne makes a good point. I think you could add the victims and families post-September 11. A production like this to raise money and show support would have been outstanding for American families after Sept. 11 AND Hurricane Katrina. But if someone doesn’t stand up and make it happen, it won’t happen. Fortunately for Haiti, someone did stand up, and I guess that’s what we should focus on, right?

The Original We Are the World:

Jay-Z

In a recent interview, Jay Z summed up what everyone else has been trying to get their minds around for weeks. When asked in an interview about his friend, Kanye West’s infamous “I’m gonna let you finish…” broo ha ha – Jay Z (who said that Kanye was like a little brother to him) said that it was rude of Kanye to do what he did. He also said that it was Taylor Swift’s moment and he shouldn’t have taken it away from her.

Jay Z pointed out that no one was harmed, no one was killed, so that it’s time to move on… Amen!

I love his quote (below):

“At the end of the day, we’re going to celebrate him for his passion more than vilify him. Because his passion is the same thing that causes him to make Graduation and all these great records… and it’s the thing that causes him to step out of line sometimes.” – Jay Z about Kanye West

Kanye West

On Saturday, July 25, Fuse will air portions of a recent charity concert starring the one and only Kanye West.

The one-hour special Fuse Presents Kanye West: Live From the Chicago Theatre features performance footage from Kanye West’s 2nd annual “Stay in School” Benefit Concert in the Windy City produced by the Kanye West Foundation.

The show also features an exclusive interview with West speaking about his mother and founder of the Kanye West Foundation Dr. Donda West, who passed away in 2007. I can’t wait for this interview. The love Kanye has for his mother is as touching as his music is brilliant.

The foundation was established to help combat the dropout problem we have in our country. It’s a great message and I know it’s getting through to countless young people.

Jay Z

Jay-Z’s much-anticipated new song from his upcoming album “The Blueprint 3″ should be debuted this Friday, July 24. Titled “Run This Town”, Jay Z reportedly teams up with two of our personal favorites, Rihanna and Kanye West.

i say “should” and “reportedly” because Hot 106 reported on their web site: “JUST GOT WORD: New Jay-Z single coming this Friday called Run This Town with Kanye West and Rihanna!”.

Hours later however, the website took down the post without explanation. That leaves you wondering. They either got it very, very wrong or they got it very, very right.

My fingers are crossed for right.

Reportedly in order to avoid Internet leaks, the new album will be delivered personally by Jay Z to his record label, Atlantic Records.  Why hasn’t anyone else ever thought of that?

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