Kanye West: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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==Musical style==

West's musical career has been defined by frequent stylistic shifts, and has seen him develop and explore a variety of different musical approaches and genres. When asked about his early musical inspirations, he has named artists such as [[A Tribe Called Quest]], [[Stevie Wonder]], [[Michael Jackson]], [[George Michael]], [[LL Cool J]], [[Phil Collins]] and [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]].<ref>[http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/kanye-west-interviewed "Kanye West Interviewed.] ''[[Clash Music]]''. 12 April 2008.</ref> Other music figures West has invoked as inspirations include [[Puff Daddy]],<ref>Heisler, Yoni. [http://bgr.com/2016/02/15/kanye-west-twitter-rant/ "Kanye West is on another epic Twitter rant, says his album will 'never be on Apple'"]. ''BGR''. 15 February 2016.</ref> [[David Bowie]],<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35279642 | title= David Bowie: Friends and stars pay tribute | work=BBC News | date=January 11, 2016 | accessdate=February 13, 2016}}</ref> [[Miles Davis]], and [[Gil-Scott Heron]],.<ref name="nmeref">{{cite web|last1=Staff|title=Every Preposterous Comparison Kanye West Has Made Between Himself And These Cultural Icons|url=http://www.nme.com/photos/every-preposterous-comparison-kanye-west-has-made-between-himself-and-these-cultural-icons/389460#/photo/21|website=[[New Musical Express|NME|accessdate=16 August 2016}}</ref> West was formatively mentored by Chicago producer [[No I.D.]], who introduced him to [[hip hop production]] in the early 1990s, allowing a teenage West to sit in on recording sessions.<ref name="billboardnoid">{{cite web|last1=Weiss|first1=Jeff|title=Kanye West Mentor No I.D. Reflects on the Rapper's Hammer Pants-Wearing Days|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/6745313/kanye-mentor-no-id-on-early-days-mc-hammer-pants|website=[[Billboard Magazine]]|accessdate=7 March 2016}}</ref> Early in his career, West pioneered a style of production dubbed "chipmunk soul"<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-100-greatest-debut-albums-of-all-time-20130322/the-college-dropout-19691231 ''Rolling Stone'']</ref><ref>Bailey, Julius. ''The Cultural Impact of Kanye West''.</ref> which utilized [[Pitch (music)|pitched-up]] vocal [[music sample|samples]], usually from [[soul music|soul]] and [[R&B]] songs, along with his own drums and instrumentation.<ref name="king">{{cite news|accessdate=April 26, 2008|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/kanye-west-king-of-rap-403127.html|title=Kanye West: King of rap|work=The Independent|location=UK |date=September 22, 2007|author=Burrell, Ian }}</ref> His first major release featuring his trademark soulful vocal sampling style was "This Can't Be Life", a track from Jay-Z's ''[[The Dynasty: Roc La Familia]]''. West has noted [[Wu-Tang Clan]] producer [[RZA]] as an influence on his style.<ref name="cant ignore" /><ref name="KWstBio2">{{cite web|url=http://www.gale.com/free_resources/bhm/bio/west_k.htm |title=Black History&nbsp;— Biographies&nbsp;— Kanye West |accessdate=August 7, 2006 |publisher=[[Gale (publisher)|Thomson Gale]] |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20060615083612/http://www.gale.com:80/free_resources/bhm/bio/west_k.htm |archivedate=June 15, 2006 }}</ref> He further developed his style on his 2004 debut album, ''[[The College Dropout]]''. After a rough version was leaked, West meticulously refined the production, adding [[String section|string arrangements]], [[gospel choir]]s, and improved drum programming.<ref name=Road1>{{Cite news |last=Reid |first=Shaheem |title= Road To The Grammys: The Making Of Kanye West's College Dropout |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1496766/road-grammys-kanye-west.jhtml|publisher=[[MTV]] |date=February 9, 2005|accessdate=January 4, 2009}}</ref> The album saw West diverge from the then-dominant [[gangsta rap|gangster persona]] in hip hop in favor of more diverse, topical lyrical subjects<ref name=ebony>Davis, Kimberly. [http://books.google.com/books?id=J9kDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA93 "The Many Faces of Kanye West"] (June 2004) ''[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]''.</ref> including [[higher education]], materialism, [[self-consciousness]], [[minimum-wage]] labor, [[Institutional racism|institutional prejudice]], family, sexuality, and his personal struggles in the music industry.<ref name="Love">Love, Josh. [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/kanye-west/the-college-dropout.htm Review: ''The College Dropout'']. [[Stylus Magazine]]. Retrieved on July 23, 2009.</ref><ref name="Cinquemani"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.courier-journal.com/article/2009912270315 |title=Music of the decade |date=December 27, 2009 |last=James |first=Jim |newspaper=[[The Courier-Journal]] |archiveurl=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courier_journal/access/1928558221.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+27%2C+2009&author=&pub=Courier+-+Journal&edition=&startpage=I.3&desc=Music+of+the+decade |archivedate=June 17, 2011 |accessdate=June 17, 2011}}</ref>

[[File:West performing.jpg|thumb|270px|right|West performing backed by an orchestral section in 2007.]]