Music Review: Kanye West - Stronger
Published July 05, 2007
Kanye West has a new CD due out late August. The CD continues his school theme, and is entitled Graduation. So far Kanye has released two videos, "Stronger" and "Can't Tell Me Nothing". While both will surly be commercial success, I am starting to question Kanye's skillz', as both a rapper and producer. The Album (so far) is a pile of un-organized crap (the version I have sucks), that is lacking that special Kanye flare.
Kanye even says so (sort of): "I can’t say I’m halfway done. I look at music as a gift. So I’mma just keep everything under wraps until it’s time.” said Ye, “You remember, you didn’t find out about the Nas joint (We Major) until real late? I waited till the last listening session a couple of weeks before the album came out. There are a few rappers I really love and I would love to work with, but I’mma figure out what I’mma do for my album."
"Stronger" is a remix of a remix of a sample (or something like that). Kanye took the song from a Daft Punk song called "harder, better, faster, stronger", which was taken from Edwind Birdsong. The Daft Punk version of the song (listen) is pretty good, but I think Kanyes version is crap. "Stronger" just reminds me of "Workout Plan" with its exercise overtones. I still think Kanye is a very talented producer and rapper, but I do not think this is his best work. I would have liked to here some more innovative (or more catchy) beat, with some more substantial rapping. The lyrics, and the bravado are not inspiring. In fact, they are lack luster. I really like the synth of the beat, but you can't attribute that to Kanye, it was Daft Punk. Although the song sucks, the video is interesting, and kinda cool. The vid took three months to complete, and it is a re-make of Akira, an Anime type film.The vid has some sweet cinematography stuff, and some funky shades!
While "Stronger" was not very good, Kanye's other single "Can't Tell Me Nothing" is a lot better. Although it is no "The Corner" (well that's technically Common, but hey), "Can't Tell Me Nothing" is still a lot better than "Stronger". The song has a good beat. The song progresses, and it is not used or old. Of course, in keeping with hip-hop tradition, the beat includes a distorted repeating voice going in a repetitious ascending pattern. While I am not usually a fan of the chipmunk like voice, this one isn't bad. The song has a very gritty feel, and Kanye’s singing (which sort of sucks), make you focus on the lyrics, which is a good thing for this song. The song talks about the spoils of fame and money, and how tempting and evil they can be. It really shows that Kanye isn't all about the ho's and benjamins (well, in Kanye's case bro's).
All in all the album is not very good, SO FAR! Kanye is known for sucking it up until the last minute, so hopefully he can get some guest rappers (common, talib?) so he can focus on what he does best, producing.
PREVIEW THE SINGLES!
Kanye West - Can't Tell Me Nothing: Download
Kanye West - Stronger: Download
- Music Review: Kanye West - Stronger
- Published: July 05, 2007
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Writer: Dillon Doyle
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Comments on this articleComments
I couldn't have said it any better, "k".
leave the reviews to the pros lad
As for K:
Way more than two tracks have been leaked. The mixtape was NOT a leak, it was "leaked" by Kanye in order to gain hype. I get my albums off of a private tracker for music type people.
Okay, the quote is very old, I'll give you that!
As far as no guest rappers? The first two released singles have guests on them!! (Daft Punk on Stronger, Chris Martin on homecoming, not to mention the slew of guest producers and writers).
And I apologize on your behalf for writing an un-educated comment!
the can't tell me nothing mixtape is nothing to do with graduation except for promotion and marketing opportunities, do you have no idea? there are a maximum of 2 singles from the mixtape that will be on graduation. these are the definite - stronger, and the the probable - can't tell me nothing. so what are the the other tracks that have been leaked?
"As far as no guest rappers? The first two released singles have guests on them!! (Daft Punk on Stronger, Chris Martin on homecoming, not to mention the slew of guest producers and writers)." Yet again you have made a fool of yourself, since when have daft punk (sampled not guests anyway) and chris martin been classified as rappers?
to quote kanye west himself, "I don't have any rappers on my album...Not just because I'm trying to make a statement of being an MC -- I want people to get into my album and zone out. You never asked Marvin Gaye, 'You have such and such doing a background track?' I do have an ad-lib from [Young] Jeezy. That's because he has that line, 'Hey Snowman, can I get an ad-lib?' So I asked for an ad-lib. Where the rappers do appear is on the remixes." so now you're executive producer of the album?
i think you may find it's better to back up an argument with facts rather than opinions and fabrications.
k:
Okay, publicly it has been made known that "The Homecoming" will be on the album. And since you want sources, check the footnotes.
Okay guest rappers? WTF your calling me on semantics? Daft Punk not only was sampled, they appear, and they are in the video!
And no, I am not executive producer of the album, nor did I ever claim to be!
haha i couldnt agree with Dillon anymore, you really dont have any idea what you are talking about. Your backing up of your ignorant guest rapper comment was classic (daft punk and chris martin haha). Its too bad your post appears in the first page of google, its such a waste of a read.
Dillon: As far as no guest rappers? The first two released singles have guests on them!! (Daft Punk on Stronger, Chris Martin on homecoming, not to mention the slew of guest producers and writers).
Chris martin and daft punk aren't rappers..
1) How is the album an unorganized pile of crap if you've only heard two songs?
2) Just because you download something on the internet doesn't mean it is going to be on the album
3) What other songs have been leaked besides the two singles? And, why did you not choose to review them?
4) Mixtapes are not leaked...they are distributed as promotional tools
5) Do you know anything about hip-hop music?
6) This is the worst review I've ever read
7) Since when is wikipedia a credible source?
8) Young Jeezy and Daft Punk are NOT guest spots...they are samples and adlibs
9) To quote Kanye himself: "I don't have any rappers on my album," West said. "Not just because I'm trying to make a statement of being an MC -- I want people to get into my album and zone out...Where the rappers do appear is on the remixes."
10) Check the footnotes... MTV
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/66100)
how can you say "The Album (so far) is a pile of un-organized crap (the version I have sucks)" when only two tracks have leaked? there has not been a leak of the album therefore you probably have an old mixtape.
secondly you quote kanye as saying "I can't say I'm halfway done. I look at music as a gift. So I'mma just keep everything under wraps until it's time." meanwhile ignoring the fact that this quote is many months old and has since stated on a number of occasions that the album really only took direction after 'stronger' was produced, with a futuristic feeling and it is nearly completed.
finally if you researched your articles you would realise that there will be no guest rappers on graduation.
i apologise on your behalf for wasting your time writing the article.