Even with all the convenience the digital age has brought to the fan’s music consumption diet, chalking up the days of producers digging for infectious samples and thumbing through an album booklet to check out the credits as a relic of yesterday is a harsh reality to face. These days, record labels are coming for 200% of their interpolated work and digital booklets are used more for their illustrations than info. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s an undeniably morbid thought to consider the exact song I want played at my funeral. I’m 21 and a college junior, so I don’t think I’ll be kicking the bucket any time soon (knocks hard on wood desk). However, with the inevitable occasion in mind, there’s only one track that I want blaring right before the priest reads my last rights: Read the rest of this entry »

Artistry is derived from it’s vessel’s drive. Much more than some social media status or community college course requirement, artistry is the passion to see a vision through from spark to flame and the will to conquer any and all adversaries that try to stop you along the way. At one point or another during their lives, most people attempt to be artists, yet their engines lack the horsepower to allow their goals to see the beautiful light of day. Simply put, some people have what it takes while others don’t. Read the rest of this entry »

“So I don’t listen to the suits behind the desk no more…You can’t say s#@t to Kanye West no more, I just rocked Amsterdam when I was out on tour.”

Emerging from the depths of 2004, here’s a video of Kanye’s full set at an Amsterdam show. This is pure ‘Ye the musician, with neither the elaborate props and lighting nor outlandish antics that often make themselves hindrances. Throughout, he’s accompanied by John Legend on the keys and Dame playing the supporting role, along with brief guest spots from GLC and Miri Ben-Ari. Read the rest of this entry »

Kanye West can be an asshole at times. We all know that. His legend, however, is permanently etched in Hip-Hop. 2004 ranks as a noteworthy time in my near 24 year existence on Earth. I graduated from high school and matriculated to college a week later. Things were changing fast and at that time, I wasn’t sure what I wanted out of life. I wasn’t even sure college was the right move. With so many things running through my head, I turned to music for solace, answers and retreat. The College Dropout provided this and is an album I can honestly say changed my life. Read the rest of this entry »

As of yesterday, I’ve officially been a resident of the DC area for slightly over a month and a half. Whether on the train, bus or walking the streets of ‘The District,’ you can find me with a set earphones zoning out to whatever my shuffle playlist deems necessary. Barack’s new place of residence has always been a personal favorite of mine since the days of the late ’90s when I would visit my uncle for seemingly weeks at a time. However, after his death in 1999 due to colon cancer, my visits to this place became rare…sometimes years in between. Life has a weird way of taking you full circle and I’d be lying if I said I don’t think about him every time I walk through his city. None more so than the other day. Read the rest of this entry »

First “Two Words.” Now this. Read the rest of this entry »

“Lost my momma, lost my mind…”

Looks like Kanye’s unreleased video will eventually see the light of day or Read the rest of this entry »

Five long years later and this song ignites mega goosebumps like the first time you’ve heard it on the original leaked College Dropout. And this previously unreleased forgotten clip manages to capture the ambiance and essence of the track magnificently.

I’m no resident of Chicago but anyone whose been, knows the city’s history bleeds through the buildings — whether new or old — to fully embody your experience whether you’re in Hyde Park or out in the Far North somewhere. Such a shame label complacency put a lid on this from blasting on MTV four times and day. As Kanye recounts: Read the rest of this entry »

I consider myself quite ingenious, but there’s no way I can create this type of tomfoolery. Found in the inbox… Read the rest of this entry »

Now, his every move is chronicled. Every outburst amplified. The victories & the stakes much higher. His presence looming.

But do you remember when we didn’t know Kanye? Read the rest of this entry »