Once upon a time record executives mocked and laughed at Kanye West’s early recording of his Grammy-winning song “Jesus Walks.”
The tale is detailed in a new book penned by Jensen Karp, formerly rapper Hot Karl, Kanye West Owes Me $300.
In an excerpt shared with Vulture Hot Karl recalls working with what he describes as a “nerdy” and “cheaper Just Blaze” Kanye while recording at the now defunct Baseline Studios.
One day Kanye played “Jesus Walks” for Hot Karl and a room full of other producers and A&Rs including DJ Clue, Fabolous and Duro years before it landed on Yeezy’s debut album The College Dropout in 2004.
“As the song played, Kanye acted out and mouthed his lyrics, something he always did while his own music played, and I assume still does,” Karp writes. “He acted as if a music video was always being filmed around him, displaying yet another example of the unaware enthusiasm (and egotism) that would make him the butt of almost every joke at Baseline.
“A few people even mocked him, mimicking his rap voice and making fun of his over-the-top zeal. One major producer in the room even asked his assistant to make sure Kanye never performed like that again.”
Kanye shares stories about his start at Baseline on The College Dropout cut “Last Call” when he recalled playing the “Heart of The City” beat, originally reserved for DMX, for Jay Z the first time. He also detailed introducing himself to Dame Dash.
“I remember that Gucci bucket, he took it and like put it over his face and made one of them faces like ‘OOOOOOOOOOH,'” Kanye narrates on “Last Call.” “Two days later I’m in Baseline and I seen Dame. Dame didn’t know who I was and I was like, ‘Yo what’s up I’m Kanye.'”
Read more of Jensen Karp’s tales in his new book Kanye West Owes Me $300, available for purchase here.
I like Kanye, but early Kanye was so siiiiiiiiick.
They laughed bc it was wack, then Rhymefest came in after and re-wrote the song. Kanye is a fool, 1000%. He’s still the laughing stock, even more so since he married Kim K.
Rhymefest iis a monster with the pen.Facts
I wouldn’t mind being a laughing stock married to all that cash and eye candy…
There’s more gem’s in this interiew: “I was also pretty taken aback by what “K. West” looked like. The swagger you see in the megastar now was entirely absent. His Enyce tracksuit jacket and baggy pants were about two sizes bigger than anything a rapper would wear, even in 2001. He was sporting an outfit that a fifty-year-old woman in a wardrobe department would put together if a “rapper” was mentioned in your script. We were more than a decade away from rappers mentioning Tom Ford and Marc Jacobs in songs—or from Kanye debuting his own weirdo high-end clothing line during Fashion Week—but the guy just looked plain goofy. And the gold chains and Jesus piece that would eventually appear around his neck were replaced by the only bling he had at the time: adult braces. I vividly remember saying “This guy looks like Bowfinger” to my manager, who would whisper “Urkel” in my ear over and over.”
Nas’ career is an even bigger laughing stock. Kanye got 21 Grammys, broke ass Nas got 0. Who’s laughing now?
Lol idiot, absolute morron you are. Milli Fucking Vanilli got a Grammy. Grammy don’t mean shit. You stupid, stupid idiot.
Yes, you are stupid. First of all, if you think Nas is broke, you’re tripping: http://thehustle.co/nas-investment-portfolio-is-straight-nasty
It’s the music and skill that matters you fuckin tool, talkin bout how much money Jay got like he gon pay for your shopping cart, yeah Nas is broke whatever you say still richer than your daddy.
Lol that ETHER is still burning Gay-z’s fans. Ether; the shit that makes your soul burn slow
Hahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahaa I actually clicked the link to the book website… this lil nigga wasn’t no rapper, chillin with Fab and Clue hahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahaha nigga look like Seth Rogen, he made up all these fairy tales bout hanging with Kanye
Actually, he was a rapper. I remember the name Hot Karl, he had a song on NBA Live 2003.