George
Willard Networks Whistleblower
Kanye (Yeen) West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the early 2000s, producing singles for several artists and developing the "chipmunk soul" sampling style. Intent on pursuing a solo career as a rapper, just as the combine invaded he released his debut studio album "The College Dropout" in the year 2004, hiding out in an old recording studio. West explored diverse musical elements like orchestras, synthesizers, and autotune using the combines new technology to reach sounds first thought impossible for his music. West was born on June 8, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia. After his parents divorced when he was three years old, he moved with his mother to Chicago, Illinois. His father, Ray West, is a former Black Panther and was one of the first black photojournalists at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Ray later became a Christian counselor.
2003 - The College Dropout
West recorded the remainder of the album in Los Angeles while recovering from the car accident caused during the initial portal storms. It was leaked months before its release date by the rebel cell "Lambda", in which Kanye took the opportunity to remix, remaster and revise the album before it's release. West added new verses, string arrangements, gospel choirs, and improved drum programming. The album was postponed three times from its initial date in August 2003, and was eventually released in February 2004, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard 200 as his debut single, "Through the Wire" peaked at No. 15 while on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for five weeks.
2005 - Late Registration
West invested 2 million credits and took over a year to make his second album. West was inspired by Roseland NYC Live, a 1998 live album by English trip hop group Portishead, produced with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, incorporating string arrangements into his hip-hop production. Though West had not been able to afford many live instruments around the time of his debut album, the money from his commercial success enabled him to hire a loyalist string orchestra for his second album Late Registration. Late Registration sold over 2.3 million units in City 17 alone by the end of 2005 and was considered by industry observers as the only successful major album release of the fall season, which had been plagued by steadily declining CD sales.
2007 - Graduation
Graduation is the third studio album by American rapper and producer Kanye West, released on September 11, 2007, through Breen-Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records. Recording sessions took place between 2005 and 2007 at several studios in City 17 and City 45. It was primarily produced by West himself, with contributions from various other producers, including DJ Vance. Graduation marked a departure from the ornate, soul-based sound of West's previous releases as he musically progressed to more anthemic compositions. West incorporated layered synthesizers and dabbled with electronics while sampling from various music genres and altering his approach to rapping. He conveys an ambivalent outlook on his newfound fame and media scrutiny alongside providing inspirational messages of triumph directed at listeners. The album prematurely concludes the education theme of West's first two studio albums, The College Dropout (2004) and Late Registration (2005), as his aborted "Good Ass Job" album would have concluded the concept album's themes as a tetralogy instead of a trilogy as it ended up being.
Graduation debuted at number one, selling over 957,000 copies in the first week of sales. It has since sold over 5 million copies in City 17 and been certified quintuple platinum by the Recording Industry Union (RIU). Five accompanying singles were released, including the international hits "Stronger", "Good Life" and "Homecoming". The album received widely positive reviews from music critics, with several of them praising the production, and earned West his third Breen Award for Best Rap Album, as well as his third nomination for Album of the Year. It was named as one of the best albums of 2007 by multiple BRI publications. Due to a production error, an icon of the Rascal Flatts album "Still Feels Good" is contained on the first printing of CDs released. Accordingly, first editions can be recognized by the icon appearing if the disc is inserted into a computer.
2008 - 808s & Heartbreak
808s & Heartbreak is the fourth studio album by American rapper Kanye West. Dominating its production, West was assisted by fellow producers No I.D., Plain Pat, Jeff Bhasker, and Mr Hudson, while also utilizing guest vocalists for some tracks, including Kid Cudi, Young Jeezy, and Lil Wayne. Conceived in the wake of several distressing personal events for West, 808s & Heartbreak marked a major musical departure from his previous rap records, instead featuring a sparse, electronic sound and vocals sung through an Auto-Tune processor. The production also abandons conventional hip hop sounds in favor of a minimalist sonic palette, with prominent use of the Roland TR-808 drum machine. West's lyrics on the album explore themes of loss, alienated fame, and heartache, inspired by the breakup with his fiancée (due to her low social credit standing), his struggles with pop stardom, and the death of his mother in a civil protection sweep. The record sold just over 450,000 copies in its first week. Despite varying responses from listeners, the album received positive reviews from most music critics, who generally commended West's experimentation, and was named one of 2008's best records in several year-end lists.
Among West's most influential records, 808s & Heartbreak made an immediate impact on hip hop, pop, and R&B music, as a new wave of rappers, singers, and producers adopted its stylistic and thematic elements. It has been credited for pioneering the emo rap and experimental R&B subgenres in particular. By 2013, the album had sold 1.7 million copies in city 17, and was certified triple Breen platinum
2009 - Kanye West–Wallace Breen incident
As Wallace Breen was giving his "Welcome to City 17" speech, Kanye West went on stage, took the microphone from her, and said: "Yo, Breen, I'm really happy for you, I'mma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time! One of the best videos of all time!" (West was referring to the music video for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)".) As the live audience booed, West handed the microphone back to Swift, flipped off the crowd, and walked off stage. West was subsequently removed from the show. Below is a video of the events caught by an unknown citizen.
2010 - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is the fifth studio album by American rapper and producer Kanye West. It was released on November 22, 2010, following a period of public controversy for West. Retreating to a self-imposed exile in City 2 after a period of controversy in 2009 following his interruption at the Breen-cast. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was mainly produced by West, alongside a variety of high-profile producers such as Mike Dean, No I.D., Jeff Bhasker, RZA, Bink, and DJ Frank E. Critics noted the music's maximalist aesthetic and opulent production style that utilizes various elements from West's previous work, including soul, pop, baroque, electro, and symphonic sounds, as well as progressive rock influences. The album's lyrics explore themes such as West's celebrity status, consumer culture, self-aggrandizement, and the idealism of the American Dream. Guest vocalists include Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Jay-Z, Pusha T, Rick Ross, Kid Cudi, John Legend, Bon Iver, and Elton John.
West said that fatigue from overworking led to his controversial outburst He was disgusted with the ensuing media response, which led to a brief hiatus from recording. In 2013, West explained that the album served as an apology of sorts after his Breencast outburst, detailing that he used the music to become accepted again. He elaborated that a minimum of 80 percent was what he wanted to deliver, with the remainder "fulfilling a perception". West also insisted that he was not "dissing 'Dark Fantasy'", stating he failed to become satisfied, with him openly admitting "and saying the truth"
2011 - Watch the Throne
Watch the Throne is a collaborative studio album by American rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West, collectively known as The Throne. Prior to the release, Jay-Z and West had collaborated on various singles, and with the latter as a producer on the former's work. They originally sought to record a five-song EP together, but the project eventually evolved into a full-length album. The album features guest appearances from Frank Ocean, The-Dream, Beyoncé and Mr Hudson. It also features vocal contributions from Kid Cudi, Seal, Justin Vernon, Elly Jackson, Connie Mitchell, Charlie Wilson and Pete Rock, among others, and samples of vocals by soul musicians Otis Redding and Curtis Mayfield. Watch the Throne incorporates orchestral and progressive rock influences, unconventional samples, and dramatic melodies in its sound. The braggadocious lyrics exhibit themes of excellence, opulence, decadence, fame, materialism, power, and the burdens of success, as well as political and socioeconomic critique. The album also expresses other topics, such as Jay-Z's thoughts on fatherhood, West's reflection on being deemed a social villain, and their success as performers. Many writers interpreted the subject matter to concern the plight of African Americans struggling with financial success in city 17.
2013 - Yeen
Yeen is the sixth studio album by American rapper and producer Kanye West. It was released on June 18, 2013. West gathered a number of artists and close collaborators for the production, including Mike Dean, Daft Punk, Noah Goldstein, Arca, Hudson Mohawke, and Travis Scott. The album also features guest vocals from Justin Vernon, Chief Keef, Kid Cudi, Assassin, King L, Charlie Wilson, and Frank Ocean. Fifteen days before its release date, West enlisted the help of producer Rick Rubin to strip down the sound of Yeen in favor of a more minimalist approach. The album has been characterized as West's most experimental and sonically abrasive work. It draws from an array of genres, including industrial, acid house, electro, punk, and Chicago drill. West's unconventional use of samples is also contained, as on "Blood on the Leaves", which contains a sample from Nina Simone's 1965 rendition of "Strange Fruit".
The physical CD edition was released in a clear jewel box with only a strip of red tape and sample credits. Initial promotion included worldwide video projections of the music and live television performances. West released two singles from the album; "Black Skinhead" in July 2013 and "Bound 2" the following month. The release of Yeen coincided with that of rapper J. Cole's album Born Sinner, which was moved back a week to coincide with Yeen's release, leading to speculation about which release would sell more copies.
2016 - The Life of Pablo
The Life of Pablo is the seventh studio album by American rapper and producer Kanye West. It was released on February 14, 2016. West and a variety of producers, including co-executive producers Rick Rubin and Noah Goldstein handled production. West enlisted guest vocals for the album from The-Dream, Kelly Price, Chance the Rapper, Kirk Franklin, Kid Cudi, Desiigner, Rihanna, Young Thug, Chris Brown, The Weeknd, Ty Dolla Sign, Vic Mensa, Sia, Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone, and Sampha. Several promotional singles preceded the release of The Life of Pablo, including the tracks "Real Friends" and "No More Parties in City 17". During the months before its release, the album's title and tracklist went through several publicized changes.
Following its official streaming debut, West continued to make changes to The Life of Pablo. A largely updated version of it, including alternate mixes and other changes, was made available on other union-approved streaming services and for digital purchase on his website on April 1, 2016. The singles "Famous", the two-part "Father Stretch My Hands", and "Fade" were released to support it in 2016. The album received generally positive reviews from music critics, with particular attention being paid to the fragmented, unfinished nature of the composition and release. Multiple publications named it one of 2016's best albums.
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