8 posts tagged “kanye west”

Kanye West has never been one for being modest. Now the hip-hop star says he wants to "have less fans" and eventually pose naked.

I wanna make popular music, but I want less fans," West tells Vibe magazine in its February issue. "I want the freedom of having less fans. It's like the freedom of having less money. If you have less money, you have less responsibility."

West, 31, later clarified that by "less fans" he meant having a core devotees of 20,000 who understand him, rather than a massive group of 100,000 followers who like him because he's the popular singer of the moment.

The outspoken Grammy award winning rapper's desires may disappoint some fans but he says he strives for a low-key career like singer Björk.

It's like Björk. If she wanted to pose naked, you'd be like: 'Oh, that's Björk,'" West said. "But if I wanted to pose naked, people would draw all type of things into it."

Will a striptease be happening any time soon?

"I definitely feel like, in the next however many years, if I work out for two months, that I'll pose naked. I break every rule and mentality of hip-hop, of black culture, of American culture."

I love Kanye West but some things he says and does are more than I can take. Like this time.

West’s love of fashion is not a secret any more as he often gushes fashion is “just my love” and it’s something he would like to do “for the rest” of his life.

He can collaborate with most noted fashion houses and launch his new collections, he’s good at many things but apparently fashion tips for women aren’t among them.

Kanye West’s advice for First-Lady-to-be Michelle Obama is simply the following: he suggests her opting for Marge Simpson’s hair style and Victor & Rolf superhero boots during the Inauguration ball on January 20th, 2009.

Just go hardcore with it,” Kanye said in a statement.

Kanye goes even further saying he could probably design for President elect Barack Obama some day, though his designs would be perfect for club fashion, adding he’s not ready for suits and stuff yet.

 Kanye West caused a stir at the launch party of his new album by inviting 40 naked models to attend.

The rapper unveiled his eagerly-anticipated fourth album '808s and Heartbreak' - due to be released in November - at a lavish bash at Los Angeles' Ace Gallery on Tuesday (14.10.08), but guests were amazed to find the room full of nude beauties wearing masks.

A source said:

After waiting in an area with an open bar and a DJ, we walked up a driveway illuminated by fluorescent lights to a darkened room where we saw 40 nude women. Most of them were wearing strange masks made of wool.

The models stood in the middle of the room - black girls at the front and white girls at the back. Then the entire album played without any introduction or explanation."

Kanye insists the women were "live performance artists" who appeared as part of an arranged art show he masterminded with Italian artist Vanessa Beecroft.

After the playback - in front of 700 fans and industry professionals - had finished, Kanye appeared alongside the model and launched a foul-mouthed tirade against critics who are considering giving the album a negative review.

He said:
 

These are pieces of real life that I'm putting out for people to judge. It's from my heart.

I don't give a f**k if someone rates it 'hot' or 'not.' I'm here to bring positivity that cannot be judged. It's like judging a grandmother's love."

The star also revealed plans to release another full-length album next summer and explained new song 'Cold As Winter' is a tribute to his mother, who died following complications from cosmetic surgery operation late last year. 

Kanye West won't face felony charges for his Sept. 11 arrest involving a tussle with paparazzi, the L.A. County District Attorney's Office announced Friday.

Instead, the L.A. City Attorney's Office is reviewing the case for a possible misdemeanor charge, office spokesman Frank Mateljan said.

The rapper, 31, was arrested on a felony vandalism charge for allegedly damaging a photographer's equipment.

Also arrested was West's road manager, Don Crawley, 32, who's also accused of breaking photographers' equipment.

Both West and Crawley are free on bail.

West's lawyer, Blair Berk, wasn't immediately available for comment

People.com

Alligator Boots,' under consideration for 2009, is described as 'hip-hop meets the Muppets.'

Kanye West is adding yet another title to his already full résumé: puppet master?

Well, kind of. The rapper is teaming up with Comedy Central for a show that The Hollywood Reporter describes as "hip-hop meets the Muppets." A representative for the network confirmed the report to MTV News Tuesday morning (September 23).

The show, tentatively titled "Alligator Boots," is from the same team behind Comedy Central's puppet show "Crank Yankers": Jackhole Prods., which was founded by Jimmy Kimmel, Adam Corolla and Daniel Kellison. A half-hour pilot has already been shot for the show.

Currently under consideration for 2009, the show would feature music by West and Chicago-based rapper and Kanye collaborator Rhymefest, who would also work alongside Kellison as executive producers. Each week the show would have a different celebrity host and employ a format similar to that of "The Muppet Show." West is the host for the pilot.

This isn't West's first foray into television. In August, the MC was reported to be in talks with HBO to star in a single-camera show that would follow him throughout his day-to-day life, both personal and professional. Larry Charles, who executive produces Larry David's show "Curb Your Enthusiasm" (the plot of which is similar to the descriptions of Kanye's show), was linked to the project as well. The big holdup, the reports claimed, was that the team hadn't found a writer.

At the time, an HBO source told MTV News, "Since it's in development, they are just in talks, and we don't generally comment on that because nothing is set," and added that the show was just a few steps away from getting the green light. At press time, no further news had emerged about the HBO show.
 

The Democratic party has announced that it's recruited some big name acts for the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Denver. Kanye West, Wyclef Jean and N.E.R.D. will take to stage to support presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama at the four day event, which kicks off on August 25.

The recently revealed acts may come as a bit of surprise, but this year's election is being geared toward motivating young people to get out and vote for change. A slew of musicians have already rallied behind Obama, including Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, Common, John Legend, Herbie Hancock, Nick Cannon and Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls, who are all featured in the Emmy-award winning collage style "Yes We Can" music video.

Forest Whitaker, Ben Affleck, Scarlett Johansson, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Edward Norton are also set to attend the event.

Rapper Kanye West was jeered by angry fans when he appeared on stage at a music festival in Tennessee.

According to the BBC the singer was an hour-and-a-half late for his performance, promoting fans to chant "Kanye sucks" and throw items, including glow sticks at the empty stage.

Festival spokesman Ken Weins said the delay was caused by having to take apart Pearl Jam's set and loading up Kanye West's equipment.

West had been due to perform in the early hours of Sunday morning but the extended delay resulted in many campers returning to their tents.

The Bonnaroo Music Festival also included performances from The Raconteurs and comedian Chris Rock.

Kanye West brought his Glow in the Dark spectacle in support of his "Graduation" album back to Los Angeles with a clear intention of making damn sure that he is the best.
Problem is, his shtick, his well-publicized raison d'etre, seems to only convince himself that he is the best. Worse, his rants later in the concert came off more as the neglected granny in a corner who complains that her oatmeal isn't warm enough. That's too bad, because the show was quite satisfying.
A unique and innovative setting finds West stranded on a barren planet after a crash landing, his only companion a faceless computer voice known simply as Jane, a direct borrow from "2001: A Space Odyssey."
West opened with "Good Morning," a dazed and confused look on his face as he ponders his predicament. As Jane assesses a status that sinks from bad to worse in several vignettes, West rolled through his impressive repertoire ("Through the Wire," "Diamonds From Sierra Leone") and recent fare ("I Wonder," "Good Life," "Can't Tell Me Nothing").
The setting paints a picture of utter aloneness, as his orchestra and background vocalist were ensconced beneath the set, invisible except from the sides of the stage. The astronaut devolves mentally from the solitude as he moans about a lack of female companionship. "Gold Digger" followed, with images of inflated doll faces on globes hovering over the stage and a gold-sprayed female writhing on three screens.
Just before "Jesus Walks," the computer attempts a blast off from the planet but fails, so West promises "to stop spazzing out at award shows," inciting a few ripples of laughter.
Ironically, West's intention to keep the spotlight solely on himself caused a neglect of any imagery of his late mother during "Hey Mama." A quick snapshot would have been a nice touch.
"Stronger" flowed into "Touch the Sky," where he was, finally, joined by fellow rapper Lupe Fiasco, who opened the evening, followed by N.E.R.D. and Rihanna. West closed with a rant on the media's misrepresenting his "high self-esteem" as braggadocio. He compared himself to John Lennon, Prince, Lenny Kravitz, Madonna and Elvis Presley, boasting "You in the presence of greatness!" Such rants come off as more than a little irritating. If West can manage to release at least 10 great albums, then there may be a basis for respect. However, respect must be bestowed, not commanded.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com