Bob Ezrin has penned a scathing critique of Kanye West.
The music producer and keyboardist, known for his work with Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel and Phish, writes in a post for Bob Lefsetz’s the Lefsetz Letter today (February 22) that West has made some great material, but that he isn’t on the creative level of some other prominent artists.
“Unlike other creators in his genre like Jay-Z, Tupac, Biggie or even M.C. Hammer for that matter, it’s unlikely that we’ll be quoting too many of Kanye’s songs 20 years from now,” Ezrin writes in the newsletter, which has tens of thousands of subscribers. “He didn’t open up new avenues of public discourse like NWA, or introduce the world to a new art form like Grandmaster Flash, or even meaningfully and memorably address social issues through his music like Marshall, Macklemore and Kendrick.”
Ezrin writes that West isn’t on the same producing level as Timbaland and Rick Rubin and that his songwriting “is sophomoric at best.”
West’s most notable achievements aren’t musical, Ezrin writes.
“Instead Kanye’s greatest achievements have been in the form of excessive behavior, egomaniacal tantrums and tasteless grandstanding,” Ezrin writes. “What he is a true artist at is living his life out loud – and shoving it down the throats of the rest of us whether we give a shit or not. He’s like that flasher who interrupts a critical game by running naked across the field. Is that art???”
These comments lead into Ezrin examining blasting the rollout of West’s The Life Of Pablo album, which may or may not be complete, despite it being premiered at the “Yeezy Season 3” fashion show earlier this month and being subsequently released as a stream on TIDAL. Ezrin says he’s yet to listen to the project and puts a qualifier on his self-proclaimed rant against West.
“I lament for a world where being truly, world-shakingly excellent at anything – at least in the field of popular music if not elsewhere – is no longer absolutely necessary,” Ezrin writes. “You can be a star today just by creating a public life that people pay attention to. That’s it. All you have to do is be interesting or likable or shocking enough and you can have your 15 minutes of fame…even if that means that no one will remember you or what you’ve done in just a few years. Line ‘em up. How many “popular artists” have come and gone in just the last decades. In my mind (which is a pretty busy as often too judgmental place, I will admit) real artists make stuff that changes the world and LASTS.
“I haven’t heard it yet,” he adds. “Is that what The Life of Pablo is? If so, then I take it all back.”
REALLY…HE THINKS KANYE’S MUSIC WON’T LAST THE TEST OF TIME? STOP IT LOL
SOMEONE NEEDS TO LET THIS GUY LISTEN TO HIS FIRST 3 ALBUMS AGAIN. HE MIGHT HAVE MISSED THE MESSAGING.
Fuck this ugly ass white nigga, looking like the fish off of Men In Black 3. How dare he talk down on Ye! Fuck this nigga.
Lol this is why Kanye asked white people not to comment on hip hop. Kanye is very culturally relevant and it’s not up to someone outside of the culture to say who’s in or not. Do I like everything about him, no I don’t. However im sure this “critic” has no other opinion outside of media and respectability politics. He blatantly said he hadn’t heard the album. FOH
This fool wont be ALIVE in five years he talking bout 20 years from now.nigga i need shades and advil cus last night was mad real
Bob Ezrin is not the author of the Lefsetz newsletter. Bob Lefsetz is. The post you are referring to was written by Ezrin and posted by Lefsetz. Just wanted to make sure you had all the facts and stuff.
Actually, he is dead right. Kanye is a genius in his own mind. Real artists don’t have to toot their own horns. Name one phenomenal Kanye lyric that we will say 20 years from now and say “Damn!”. Sure, we will remember him as an artist; but someone that changed hip hop (aside from more white acceptance)? I don’t think so. Kanye is a good artist no question. He hasn’t changed the game like Public Enemy, Pac, Jay, Biggie, or NWA. TRUTH.
“Mayonnaise colored Benz I push miracle whips” “this week has been a bad massage I need a happy ending” “step up in this bitch like I’m the one your bitch like” ” I’m about to drive 90 miles like Matt Barnes just to woop a playas ass” “lucky I ain’t have jay drop him from the team” “I wish my dick had go pro so I could play that shit back in slow mo”
“Next time I’m in the club, everybody scream it out / Jesus Walks”
“I don’t like to stress my wealth, but sometimes I gotta American Express myself haha”, “What you think I rap for? to push a fucking rav 4?”, “I made jesus walk I’m never going to hell”, “what you want? a boss or an rnb singer with a six pack?!?”
He’s right. Few years back everyone was saying Wayne was the best rapper alive. Now he’s not mentioned in the top 10…Kanye’s music ain’t what it used to be and his clothing line looks like shit people wouldn’t wear in the matrix.
Kanye trash now. Hasn’t had a quotable since college dropout. TBH he hasn’t produced anything comparable to the real all time greats. This article is on point. And to you litte hoes speaking about white people shouldn’t speak on hip hop…”outside the culture….bitch white people made hip hop what it is and has been for years. We’ll make a switch….y’all quit skateboarding and we’ll quit listening to hip hop. Ignorant ass shit. The rest of the black people on the planet laughs at ignorant ass shit like this and shakes their heads at most of you dumb ass dudes
Just because Kanye is an asshole doesn’t mean his music isn’t on point. The fact is, most rappers lose their appeal after a while. They sound the exact same and only their core fans stay down. Kanye is not that at all. The guy has reinvented himself musically multiple times and is one of the most talked about artists, not just rappers, in music. You might not like the guy but don’t deny the impact he has had on music.
Did he really say Eminem rapped about important social issues? He needs to crawl back into his cave and stop thinking out loud.
Hahahahaha! Word!
Soo you’re saying Eminem never rapped about social issues?
u gotta be kiddin me. u must not have listened to eminem thorougly enough. social issues are a constant theme in his music u jackass. and what the fuck is this xo>>>ovo dude commenting on? a drake stan?? bwaahaa!! as if drake ever made one line concerning social issues. wow
This guy mentioned artists like pac and me Kendrick but what about more slept on artists like young dro? The guy is a genius. “Naw this ain’t a movie but I shot four brothers” is one of the greatest lines of the genre. There’s so much wit and depth in that line alone and don’t get me started on the rest of the verse
I completely agree with you! The way he describes the colors of his cars is comparable to the poems of the renaissance word to the triple kiwi maybach
are u fuxxin serious man??? tell me ur being sarcastic. please
dont waste your time b.As SOON as cuz said young dro you should’ve kept scrolling….
Lmao. Chief Keef has come out with lines more clever than that. That line is not impressive at all.
HAHAHA You sir are the reason arguments in rap exist
bob erzin is a dixkhead and should shut the f u c k up
written by dutchmasterchocolate.
theres my scathing review of bob erzin.
I’ll eat your ass out for money or internet fame . Just putting the offer out there guy’s .
“Instead Kanye’s greatest achievements have been in the form of excessive behavior, egomaniacal tantrums and tasteless grandstanding,” Look musical genius or not, what has Kanye been known for in the past 10+ years? His foolish and outlandish antics, his lyrics, or both? Obama outright called him a jackass and for good reason. He stole Taylor Swift’s thunder on stage and publicly humiliated her, he’s had fights with the paparazzi due to his explosive temper (although to be fair, the paps have a tendency to invade a celebrity’s personal space), he yelled @ his boy Sway Calloway on the radio for no good reason, and he’s always bragging about how much of a genius he is & comparing himself to actual greats. Real geniuses do not possess inflated egos, and therefore, let their bodies of work speak for themselves. In short, Kanye’s faults and quirks will always outweigh his musical talent.
“Real geniuses do not possess inflated egos”
What the fuck does your actual ability have to do with your personality? I could name a couple of other geniuses that had egos too
“Real geniuses do not possess inflated egos, and therefore, let their bodies of work speak for themselves.”
You have an idealistic view of things. Many many many of the top artists have been egotistical divas that did all kind of crazy shit.
I agree that a lot of people look at Kanye and just see his behavior, but for those who know and love hip hop we know he’s much more than that. His ability as a producer alone is tremendous, especially in the days before College Dropout, but when you add the influence his albums and his label have had on hip hop? Kanye is an ass, but he’s also a genius. They’re not mutually exclusive.
How is public ego not a medium for art?
Lmao good one Ezrin…you should do stand up. Kanye does a lot of ignorant shit these days and says a lot ignorant shit as well but when it comes to the art form of music and hip hop and pop he’s made some of the greatest albums of all time. MBDTF alone might be the greatest album of all time. He changed the sound of hip hop music and has set many trends in fashion. Damn near every hypebeast out there is dressing like him not to mention other young men and teenagers.
Goldigger will stand the test of time, play that song anywhere anytime and it will garner a positive response
Kanye hates that song.
Even though that “808s & heartbreak” shaked hip hop? Cant deny it. And MBDTF is a masterpiece. And cds before them got a bunch of songs that will remain in hip hop history. Kanye is a dickhead , ok, but you cant say he will not last in history. Thats what I think.
“Unlike other creators in his genre like Jay-Z, Tupac, Biggie or even M.C. Hammer…” M.C. Hammer?????? FOH.
Hammer had joints bro… quit trippin
Kanye wishes he had half the talent MC Hammer! Can Kanye dance????….Nope. Can Kanye rock a live show????….Nope. Can Kanye flow????….Nope. Is Kanye 2 legit 2 quit????
perfectly said. kanye is the most overrated artist in music history. his lyrics are terrible and don’t rhyme half the time. and his production is all samples. no real talent.
Once again how is winning 21 Grammys overrated
Seriously, even if you’re not a fan of someone, keep your fucking opinions to yourself. This is incredibly disrespectful. To essentially say that you’re a waste of space and that your career is worthless. Fucking prick, this is the time time in a long time that I’ve been disappointed to be Canadian.
> Seriously, even if you’re not a fan of someone, keep your fucking opinions to yourself. This is incredibly disrespectful.
> Fucking prick
AYY LMAO
Pretty sure Kanye does the exact same thing to anyone he feels like, umm let me see, Taylor swift and wiz khalifa… in just the last week. Even though Ye makes some good music he’s also a complete asshole married to a fuckin plague to our species and deserves to be called out for his fuckin bullshit every once and a while. You do realize he has some mental issues right? Anyone with a brain can tell that. Not knocking him for that, it’s just ashame he hasn’t appeared to have gotten much treatment for it
Disrespectful? No. What he wrote is DEAD ON. His words could not ring any truer. I wish everyone would finally wake up and realized that West is the single most over-rated artist in the history of music. Ezrin made me proud to be Canadian today…West is no talent. He’s just an ass with a talent of making people THINK his music is anything other than crap.
You…just like this old guy Bob…have apparently never listened to any Kanye music whatsoever. Please remove yourself from the Internet. Thank you.
21 GRAMMYSSS!!!!!!!! IS THAT OVERRATED??????
I hate to break it to you, but the Grammys are overrated. The music industry “suits” pick the nominees and winners. When these insiders subjectively compare and award art, it’s not exactly proof of the artist’s value or long-term appeal of their work. That decision is purely left to the consumers and time.
This was perfect!!! dead on
lol…these comments remind of of when Kanye’s fans didn’t know who Paul McCartney was. Clown show up in here.
This tells it all. He worked on this previous release…
Taylor Swift: Speak Now World Tour Live (2011) – mixer for both the CD and DVD
This guy just put Macklemore in the same sentence as Kendrick n Eminem and yal actually read the whole paragraph? LMAO did he put MC Hammer as a creator? white people’s analyzation on hip hop is always hilarious
Your comment would have remained relevant without the incredibly racist remark. Inb4 “you can’t be racist against white people”
Well, you can’t.
Well, since he was referring to a socially changing song(s), I’d say he’s spot on. What other rapper made a song that was standing up for gay people? None.
He didn’t say Macklemore is as good as Kendrick or Em, he said he made a socially conscious song that others wouldn’t / didn’t.
Hammer help usher hip hop into the mainstream. Like it or not, it’s a fact.
The word you were looking for is “analysis”. Ebonics is hilarious.
That isn’t Ebonics, that’s not knowing how to spell.
Actually, he’s using the word correctly. I guess we’re the failures.
In reading these comments, I noticed that the people who like “The Kardashian Husband” swear to the high heavens to get their point across. Those that write nice things about Erzin do not. Humm..shows who is more intelligent there. Just saying. Saint West?…Really,….how pathetic is that. But I will say…”The Kardashian Husband” is keeping his name out there, just not in a good way.
And some people try to degrade Kanye by calling him “The Kardashian Husband” to try to get their point across.
What a load of bullshit
Fuck that pussy
So this guy never really listened to Kanye, huh.
Ye’s going in right now
either’d
*ethered
If you separate the art from the artist you can’t deny the impact of each of Kanye’s albums on the music industry post release. All of his albums exemplify this but none more so than 808s and Heartbreak. There aren’t many artists out there that have that kind of effect in the music industry…
i don’t think this guy rlly knows what he is saying like at all
I think his point is that 30 years later, almost EVERYONE knows MC Hammer and “U can’t touch this”. Walk around any street or mall..ask 25 people to name a Kanye song and then sing them “U cant touch this”. Guarantee most if not all, have heard it.
This dude flat out called MC Hammer a great. His opinion is totally irrelevant.
Not true, Kanye West is the rapper with the most Grammys.
……Puffy won a grammy over Biggie (Life After Death) and Wu-Tang (Forever). Explain to me again why the Grammy’s mean a thing in hip hop. I’ll wait….
Exactly! According to the logic of some of these posters, Puffy is better than Biggie and Wu-Tang.
1) This man said he didn’t even listen to T.L.O.P so everything he said is dismissed. How can you judge an artist off his personality rather then his music? Biggie sold crack and rapped about it so he’s a better rapper. I mean I bet if you actually knew the guy he wouldn’t take to kindly to you.
2) If you still need persuasion … this guy said Macklemore has been more influential. “Walked into the store like what up i got a big cock?” Lyrical Genius!
3) Won’t be remembered in 20 years? Kanye West is still remembered for all his albums that changed fashion trends, the music industry, and still to this day are listened to. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy? Watch the Throne? Late Registration? Come on . Acting like he is some newbie.
4) IF I STILL HAVEN’T CONVINCED YOU THIS SHOULD! Twitter is an outlet to speak your mind and everyone rides him for doing that exact thing. He said bush doesn’t like black people. He was called a jackass by Obama. Famously interrupted twiggy swift. He is in your mouth. You are jerking off to pictures of his porn star, with all respect, wife. Who everyone can agree is pretty damn sexy. If you don’t remember Kanye West in 20 years you are living under a rock buddy or you just got Alzheimers.
Your wife only being good as jerk off material for other dudes is NOT a good thing. Is this what guys want in their women in 2016? Glorified hoes?
I agree with your post but def wouldn’t put “watch the throne” up there like it’s some modern masterpiece. i think even to kanye it was a bubblegum throwaway and sounded about half as thought out as his best stuff.
True. I mean it is is album nonetheless and it was real pump up music . Gym music and just good vibes . I’m just stating a point.
Hey, that is just a last resort argument for people who say “he won’t be remembered.” Dirty minded individuals will jerk off to anyone’s wife. Don’t act like this is new news. Angelina Jolie? And she ain’t even a porn star. No it’s not what all guys want … That’s idiotic. However, we live in this beautiful country despite many flaws we are allowed freedoms. Like marrying whoever we want. Let him do his thing he isn’t hurting anybody.
Plz Kanye diss this bitch!
And Kanye granted your wish
White people love to hate on Kanye…
FACTS.
Racist prick
LMFAO u just got bodied
You can hate Kanye all you want. There’s hundreds of reasons to dislike him. Dozens of cases where you can criticize his character. But you can’t deny his music is good. You can’t deny his legacy.
He made beats? Wow. I have no musical talent and create beats on my ipad. So tell me what instruments he has plaid? Directed an orchestra? Really? Show me proof.
Shit for brains, he can’t even play a fucking instrument and needs a team of producers and writers to finish a single fucking song you god damn idiot!
you are literally the biggest idiot ive heard ever. kanye west can play instruments and produce, he was behind the beats of Jay Z and other popular rappers before making his own name.
fuck it, kanye west can direct a fucking ORCHESTRA. you dont know shit, keep your silly ass mouth shut and respect kanye as he is truly talented, whether or not his character is messed up.
First of all, don’t be so hard on yourself. Secondly, I don’t know what you’re saying that just by making beats you are equivalent to Kanye West? I play piano at my house, but my sound and style of piano has not been an influence and presence in rap pop untitled whatever the fuck Kanye’s doing and beyond etc. etc. You and I are talking about Kanye West on a message board (Kanye’s winning when that happens.) To think of West as just a rapper, just a producer, just a celebrity maniac does not appreciate his cultural impact. He’s a musician and a cultural curator and an actor and a human being too :”( your lens is too small. He should NOT have said that Cosby shit though.
what a dumb motherfucker. i don’t even like newer kanye but there’s no denying the man’s influence. even before the media spectacle or solo career, he was known as one of the hottest producers in the game. his lyrics never been super on point, but you wanna bring fucking mc hammer in the equation here, i think that negates that part of the argument. “great artists don’t have great egos” says the white old rock musician; yeah, rock n roll was never egotistical, self indulgent or hedonistic. where the fuck does old dude think “groupies” came from, “sex drugs and rock n roll,” etc. smdh
Graduation came out 9 years ago. I wouldn’t exactly call them new fans.
What has kanye produced….that was great…just curious
early Roc years, pretty much everything he did. prob culminated with the stuff he did on Blueprint.
i even liked some of “MBDTF” but the mastering job sucked/too much clipping. funny enough most of his new fans seem to have only started liking him with “Graduation,” which i thought sucked, and “808s” also sucked.
ya that’s bullshit, kanye did not mix and or master those songs at all… like he didn’t even touch the fuckin EQ on any of em
Secondly, there have been about 8 producers on average on each Kanye album, and Kanye has not solo-produced a single album that he’s done. In fact, he hasn’t even ever written a song by himself. And some of his more famous songs have been ghostwritten for him (like “Jesus Walks”).
He tried to solo produce Yeezy, but ended up showing up at Rick Rubin’s house 3 weeks before release with 30 songs worth of raw, totally undeveloped material asking him to fix it. The “amazing producer” Kanye does not exist. He is a mediocre production talent that has always afforded the best help money can buy in both songwriting and production. He is also a mediocre-at-best rapper.
Very good at marketing himself though.
Lost in the world
He produced half of the Black Album, ‘solo’, he produced Common’s ‘Be’, ‘solo’ (J Dilla was deceased at the time). I think too many people are confused over the term ‘producer’. Hip-hop producers are credited differently then traditional producers. Someone like Kanye or J Dilla or Dj Premier can make a beat for a song and be cited as producer when they’ve no actual production on a track, the production people think of when they think of Rick Rubin. Production in music IS collaboration. Dave Fridmann didn’t WRITE any music for any of MGMT’s or The Flaming Lips music, he contributed with sonic direction. The production Kanye did on all of his albums IS the production all of you are saying he hasn’t done, directing the sonic direction of the piece of music. learn wut u tawk bout 4 u tawk bout it
Kanye West is a talentless hack.
” im 12 and i listen to nirvana and pink floyd, i hate nowadays music “
I’m old and I’m proud of you!
Who gave this dumb ass an article? Every one of Kanye’s albums is classic and put a dent in the genre. He’s downplaying Kanye’s influence on people because he’s an old fart living under a rock. If you want to judge a music artist’s influence on the people, you do so based on what it’s done for the youth. The youth and young adults define what’s in and what’s legendary.
lol at not knowing who Bob Ezrin is
wrong. “what’s in” and “what’s legendary” are two entirely different things, in fact they’re often contradictory terms. youth defines the “what’s in”; time defines “what’s legendary”. and by time i don’t mean just a couple of years or even a decade. whether or not he’s right about kanye, he’s not wrong about contemporary pop culture.
I love Yeezy. 808s and MBTDF are up there with some of the best music nay art created in the last 30 years. I love how he creates his own mthology and perpetuates it with his antics and behavior. He’s like the PT Barnum of hip hop: the greatest show on earth. But, with that being said, he will not be let off the hook so easy because he has made one of the most boring records of 2016. I understand artists grow, as do their vision, frame of reference, etc but how relatable he is now as an emcee? I mean beat wise, snoozapooliza. Lyrics: meh. We get it RJ fucked your girl. You’re rich. You’re gonna fuck a model. Blah. Blah. Blah. Lyrically he has always reminded me of a kid who may not have been so cool and was suddenly granted access to the cool lunch table and he’s trying to over compensate. All Day was a brilliant track!! TLOP sounds incomplete and lazy. Yeezus drove the game forward and TLOP puts that shit in reverse and drove it back eight spaces.
Ezrin, right or wrong, has a discography that is like whoa. Google it. I did. Granted, it’s mostly rock but still rather impressive. If Kanye gets butt hurt because someone who isn’t his peer or influential in the hip hop community says something not so nice then he needs to develop some thick ass skin. It’s rough out there and he’s put himself into a position to be criticized by anyone with a keyboard. I’m sorry but no one becomes a musician because they want to go into the witness relocation program. You’re exposed and a target for people. It’s part of the job description. You work at McDonald’s you ask if you want fries with that. You rap and or produce and you suddenly become the topic of national dialog. Again: job description.
Rappers have a shorter shelf life than most others genres except maybe pop. And I’m sure Kanye is well aware of that. One need only to compare the charts from year to the next. Study it as it can serve as a cautionary tale to those working in that part of the game. And while kanye’s bi-polar like tantrums keep him in the public eye, in the end it’s what you create that keeps people’s heads nodding. Life is a tale told by fool, full of sound and fury signifying nothing and Kanye is acting the fool, waving, shouting but it’s not adding up to anything except wordy posts on message boards.
We live in an age where everyone reviews everything all of the time. The Bob Ezrin like opinions – which has no bearing on fans – will come by the hundreds and they will go but to truly stay on top Kanye has to keep trying to stay relevant. Make something that matters to the people it matters to.
You googled Bob, be fair and Google Kanye to, the guy also has a discovery ‘like wow’. Bob acted like Kanye did towards Beck, commented on his music without even listening to it, and Kanye was criticised for it. Do the same for Bob, the guy commented on Kanye’s music without even listening to it. He just wanted to rant( and he said it) about Kanye’s antics and not his music. I agree Kanye has issues with his behaviours but don’t take away from his music. Common, I mean be fair look at both sides don’t judge based on the past.
Bravo Bob Ezrin! I agree with every word you write. Kanye’s response on his twitter only proves you right.
People are reading the article wrong … he’s not saying MC Hammer is a better rapper than Kanye he’s saying that MC Hammer changed the rap game, creating a dance to go along with the song. Lots of other rappers have followed this trend but were mostly one hit wonders (most recently the whip + nae nae). All the other rappers he named also brought a change into rap. Now, arguably people say that 808’s & Heartbreaks was his influence in the game, but we all know that T-Pain did it first. Every time I hear someone talking about over-using auto tune they say “I want that T-Pain effect” not “I want that Kanye West effect”.
Umm, Actually, Cher’s 1998 hit Believe was the first recording to use Auto-Tune in a distinctive way, now known as the “Cher effect. Good Day.
The media shoves it down our throat. Kanye’s playing the game and winning
There is nothing worse than excusing a person’s behavior just because you like their “art”. Kanye West is remembered more for his ego-driven tantrums than his music. People who aren’t fans of the Beatles can name a few of their songs, the same can’t be said for Kanye West. His ego and his tantrums diminish his artistic output. Bottom line, he needs to grow a pair and take any and all criticisms with a grain of salt and move on because the criticisms are part of the business
Well John Lennon admitted to beating women on more than one occasion, and Kanye West interrupts award shows. I think you kind of need to be able to separate an artist’s personal life from their body of work. And if Kanye’s biggest crime against humanity is being egotistical, I think he could be doing a lot worse.
Your first statement is absolutely right, that Kanye’s behavior should be excused because we like his music. However, if you want to make that argument it has to go the other way: you can’t diminish a person’s artistic talent just because you don’t like the way they act (as long as its not a danger to anybody, which Kanye’s twitter rants and douchey attitude certainly aren’t). Kanye is a hip hop legend and people have no reason to stop supporting his art as long as they know how to separate the man and his music.
…who exactly is mad? Kanye has always caused a division. Don’t see what this has to do with black racists. You okay? Miserable person…
So many white people in these comments gagging on Bob rn.
Kanye was huge before he ever met any of the Kardashian’s. College Dropout is one of the best hip hop albums to date, and one of the most influential.
Come on, white people who don’t think hiphop is music, and white people who still think Eminem is the best rapper alive, when will you get that you’re in the minority? Your opinion does not matter here.
T.
There is a reason that the slang for condom is wrapper (rapper)
Yes, because it wraps your dick up…nothing more
Are you suggesting that ‘wrapper’, as a slang for a condom, is a deliberate attempt to belittle rap artists?
Do you wrap your dick with up with rappers?
People will be talking about Eminems art long after hip-hops dead and gone. Transcending: word of the day. He also happens to be the Muhammad Ali of lyricists, Rakims words, not mine…and your minority comment is fuckin laughable. There are more white hip-hop fans then any other race. Any hip-hop artist that has any success, literally 3/4 of their music sold is bought by white kids…facts my man, you don’t gotta acknowledge them, but that doesn’t stop them from being real. We matter bro, and we don’t need anyone to validate our parking…well macklemore does, but thats his bitchass problem.
It is unfortunate that you confuse the issue with ignorant, biggotted comments. Music is for everyone, sound has no colour. This said I have never heard a Kanye song, so I cannot offer opinion on his so called ” music” His only claim to fame in my life is being ignorant, self important, egomaniacal person who treats others poorly.
Kanye and his whole group including Bruce and the Kardasians should be shipped to a island with no communication with the outside world. The world would be a better place!!
Bob –
All you have to listen to is “I Love Kanye” from the album. Kanye without auto tune sucking at his worst.
The guy is 100% right…nothing kanye does matters a year later. It’s all instant gratification built on celebrity fame whoring nonsense… A real genius, a truly brilliant artist will NEVER feel the need to announce it because others will announce it for them! Kanye isn’t a great song writer…he’s a manufactured popstar with no depth…
Shut the fuck up! Except from kanye’s last album everything kanye has dropped has been exceptional, how can you say he is not a great song writer?! Did you even listen to anything he did in the past? Ps. Jay z called him a genius way way before all his fame. Get your facts right, that’s how you keep it real.
Kanye has an army of songwriters, producers, designers, stylists, and more doing all the work for him. He just picks what he likes, puts his name on it, and he’s suddenly a genius.
Dog kanye has some of the simplest lyrics you will ever see…he also uses writers…he doesn’t have one song that’s next level shit. It’s just my opinion but be clear, it is an informed opinion.
I disagree completely. The man has work ethic and he’s got some great material. If you choose to get caught up in his weird nonsense that’s your call. I like the music a hell of a lot more after ignoring the bullsh*t he brings with it. Take a breath and try to enjoy something that he and a lot of other people worked very very hard to put out. You’ll be better for it.
And speaking to his music being disposable, I can’t tell you the number of times Jesus Walks, Gold Digger, Flashing Lights, Stronger, Monster, All of the Lights, etc etc… have been stuck in my head. That’s solid writing.
you sound like a high school girl. haha. you really think his music is exceptional?
So his 21 GRAMMY’s don’t have anything to do with why he’s famous? People are commenting on a subject that they know nothing about including Ezrin!
BAHA Men have 1 also so what
The stage that online platforms are giving people from different cultures and perspectives to talk with each other is amazing! Lord knows that we need the practice!
Kanye is a fucking rapper! Audacity he possess is an insult to real musical artists out there! Fuck that loud mouth biatch
everyone loves the “flasher”
I like ‘body suit man”
Always kanye’s fan!!!
Man shut the fuck up, you clearly never listened to any of his music and couldn’t name one song off each album without googling it. his first album dropped 12 years ago and is still relevant. when was the last time MC Hammer did anything relevant ? shut your ignorant ass up, you’re embarassing yourself
His first album twelve years ago was nothing but overrated crap and he has just gotten worse through the years. The man has yet to record ANYTHING worth listening to. His ONLY talent is making the masses thing his crap is anything but. West is, indeed, the single most over-rated “artist” in history and the world would be a better place if he disappeared…and took every last shred of evidence that he existed with him.
He took hip hop out of the “gangster rap era”. You obviously haven’t listened to on Kanye song if you think his first album is “overrated crap”. You’re obviously some old hag who needs to get off the internet. What the fuck are you doing on hiphop ex to begin with?
You’re an idiot. Kanye single-handedly brought singing as a respected form of hip-hop with 808s and heartbreak. Was instrumental to making more personal and emotional rap mainstream (where gangster rap ruled for YEARS before that). Was a HUGE avenue of bringing sampling and soul to the mainstream. Was one of the first to take electronic avenues with hip-hop when making “stronger” and MUCH MUCH more. If you think Kanye isn’t important to music, you should look up the 50+ artists who have claimed him to be a genius and one of the most important musical figures today.
Kanye is just a loud mouth with no memorable songs. He survives through only being arrogant,no true artist.
LOL at Kanye being instrumental to singing, emotional rap, and sampling/soul. Wait you mentioned electronic too? Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha. Dude, all of those have been in rap/hip-hop for decades! not even just years. You’ve obviously got to be very young because you apparently haven’t listened to any rap from the 80’s or 90’s.
From someone who has been forced to listen to Kanye live at charity gigs with massive line ups–the guy’s a joke. He really is. A truly genius comedian.
At one of these gigs, he simply had his sound and bass up so loud you couldn’t even hear what he was doing. And I like loud, but this was just cacophony.
Ezrin seems like a pretty smart guy. For him not to be able to separate the artist from the person is hard to believe. Say what you want about Kanye’s public persona, but I challenge Bob, to go back and listen to College Dropout. Skip the singles. Listen to Two Words, Never Let Me Down. Open up Late Registration and listen to Roses, Major, and Hey Mama. I challenge anyone who has/had an awesome mother not to shed a tear taking in that production. Like him or not, his music will outlast his public persona
To KeepitReal
You hit it on the head. True artists don’t need to tell how great they are. Maybe is a product of mass media.
He must not know Kanye produced one of Jay’s best albums. So, by rapping Jay in 20 years, you may be rapping to Kanye too.
He sure likes uber-mainstream rappers doesn’t he? Big surprise there. Why not throw Lil Wayne in there while your’re at it? Yep, we’re still putting Tupac and Biggie side by side.
This reminds of that time when, after people compared him to Kanye, Quincy Jones claimed that Kanye’s “just a rapper” and stated that he doesn’t incorporate symphony orchestra into his music. While I also didn’t agree with the comparison, I couldn’t help but think: So I guess he’s never taken the time to listen to Late Registration. No social issues? Really? Facts first folks. Ezrin did make some very good, thoughtful points though, even if he’s got a serious case of the foot-in-mouth disease.
Honestly, coming from a guy of Bob Ezrin’s stature in the music industry, Kanye should have been grateful he even took the time to acknowledge him
You know what you’re talking about. Cheers
@life of pablo When Kanye starts producing albums that go 20+ platinum like Ezrin has, then he’ll be worthy of the word “exceptional.”
Yah, but not 21 and are you saying the Baha Men don’t do deserve an Oscar?
*Grammy 🙁
Comments definitely better then the article.
Lol. FOH with that propaganda. Lying a–!!