after listening to about 3 of Kanye West's songs [Jesus Walks, Gold digger, Diamonds from Sierra Leone], i've decided i still don't like him much.

there was a lot of hype surrounding his first album, College Dropout - but hearing songs on the radio like 'Through The Wire' just disgusted me. it sounded like the usual rap trash that people remix beyond recognition. recently decided to check him out because i watched his video, Diamonds from Sierra Leone, and it seemed to carry a heavier meaning with it but after reading the lyrics i realize he's far too overrated and not as complex as people give him credit for. that song had a lot of potential to plunge deeper, but in the end it phased out with Jay-Z rapping about 'business' and the general black attitude towards needing to wear bling and not letting the guilt make you give it up. so what are you trying to say? that it's an important issue but you're going to choose appearances over it anyway?

rather disappointed because he looked like a promising artiste i could possibly have liked. the fact that he worked with Jon Brion on his latest album helped too [Jon Brion's talents have already been sufficiently proven by his spectacular work on the Eternal Sunshine OST]. i guess i still prefer Tupac, though he mainly raps about the hood and crime. but it's impactful, there's conviction in his voice. minimal music, plain rap and beats. i think some of these rappers, like Eminem, have taken it too far with their political rants - producing 'mosh' and 'toy soldiers' was a mistake. he has really diluted his message. his generic 'rant about the american government with children's voices in the background to make it poignant' songs have fallen flat and i'm no longer a fan of his.

oh well, at least these rappers make some political statements as compared to the emo bands who just whine all day, right? hmmm. but at least they don't just skim the surface of what they've chosen to sing about.

+ posted by M @ 1:22 PM