Best Ever Albums

Re: Can You Still call Kanye west a mainstream singer?

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 19:58:32 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 07/11/2013 23:58

Yeezus seems to get an "experimental" tag thrown at it from a lot of people (e.g. RYM lists it as solely being "experimental hip hop", while MBDTF is listed as being "hip hop" and "pop rap"). I fail to see where the experiments are to be found. If there's something experimental about Kanye's rapping and lyrics that doesn't fit into mainstream music, I'd like to know. Sounds like his usual stuff to me

As for the beats, they are more distorted than on his previous stuff, but ain't that exactly a mainstream thing right now? I think his beats has a brostep influence, which is definitely a mainstream thing currently. I saw a Rihanna concert last week at a festival, and there were lots of passages with hard and distorted beats. And Chase & Status, who probably gathered the festival's biggest crowd, essentially plays pop music with distorted beats (at least they did live, don't really know their recorded stuff). Many mainstream artists seems to incorporate these kinds of beats into their music right now, and Kanye West follows this mainstream trend (Kanye's beats aren't downright brostep, but I definitely hear the influence). Most of the songs off Yeezus also has conventional pop structures and catchy hooks. To me, Yeezus is simply a (damn good) modern pop album, and definitely mainstream

Re: Can You Still call Kanye west a mainstream singer?

mickilennial — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 15:39:05 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 07/11/2013 19:39

Even in the alternative crowd? I didn't see much excitement over The College Dropout personally among that crowd. But maybe I'm not the internet savant I think I am either. 😜

Re: Can You Still call Kanye west a mainstream singer?

EyeKanFly — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 15:34:10 GMT

Author: EyeKanFly

Posted: 07/11/2013 19:34

Gowienczyk wrote:

In the hipster crowd? Nah, I didn't start seeing people make a big deal about him in all of my years on message boards (since 2001) until '09.

I don't know about on RYM, but among friends, the radio, articles, etc. he's been huge since "Slow Jamz" was released. People were going bananas over The College Dropout (granted, not as much as over My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, at least that I've seen).

Re: Can You Still call Kanye west a mainstream singer?

mickilennial — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 13:49:05 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 07/11/2013 17:49

DLGGLD wrote:

Bruh, he's been 'in' since '01

In the hipster crowd? Nah, I didn't start seeing people make a big deal about him in all of my years on message boards (since 2001) until '09.

Re: Can You Still call Kanye west a mainstream singer?

GeevyDallas — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 13:41:01 GMT

Author: GeevyDallas

Posted: 07/11/2013 17:41

Gowienczyk wrote:

Considering he's been "in" for three years now why stop liking him now? :wink:

Bruh, he's been 'in' since '01

Re: Can You Still call Kanye west a mainstream singer?

EyeKanFly — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 12:53:40 GMT

Author: EyeKanFly

Posted: 07/11/2013 16:53

Patman360 wrote:

I'm trying to be cool, should I like Kanye or not? 8)

🤣

Re: Can You Still call Kanye west a mainstream singer?

mickilennial — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 12:37:48 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 07/11/2013 16:37

Patman360 wrote:

I'm trying to be cool, should I like Kanye or not? 8)

Considering he's been "in" for three years now why stop liking him now? 😉

Re: Can You Still call Kanye west a mainstream singer?

Patman360 — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 12:35:45 GMT

Author: Patman360

Posted: 07/11/2013 16:35

I'm trying to be cool, should I like Kanye or not? 😎

Re: Can You Still call Kanye west a mainstream singer?

Jasonconfused — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 12:31:42 GMT

Author: Jasonconfused

Posted: 07/11/2013 16:31

Is he anything but mainstream?

Re: Can You Still call Kanye west a mainstream singer?

EyeKanFly — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 12:28:27 GMT

Author: EyeKanFly

Posted: 07/11/2013 16:28

ButterThumbz wrote:

I've just realised there's been two albums released since then. Forgive me, I'm old.

If those two albums you're referring to are Watch the Throne (with Jay-Z) and Cruel Summer (compilation by artists from Kanye's label), you're not missing much.

Anyway,

Behrus58 wrote:

So what are your thoughts ? Btw the albums yeezus is not discussed enough yet because it's really hard to get used to this album but if u have any thought add it plz.
tnx

Really? Hasn't been discussed enough?
http://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7394
We had a 20 page discussion about it here^
EDIT: (though now that I look back at it, not all 20 pages were actually about Yeezus)

Re: Can You Still call Kanye west a mainstream singer?

Hayden — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 10:57:44 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 07/11/2013 14:57

itsit wrote:

Kanye is very much still mainstream. Yeezus went to no.1 in tons of countries.

Yeah. This is the big winner... Kanye is definitely still a mainstream artist. I still hear All Of The Lights, and more recently Bound 2 playing around town and stuff.

Quote:

Yes. If Kanye is mainstream youre not allowed to like him.

And funneh 😉 [/quote]

Re: Can You Still call Kanye west a mainstream singer?

Necharsian — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 10:40:33 GMT

Author: Necharsian

Posted: 07/11/2013 14:40

Norman Bates wrote:

Is it important?

Yes. If Kanye is mainstream youre not allowed to like him.

Re: Can You Still call Kanye west a mainstream singer?

meccalecca — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 10:23:25 GMT

Author: meccalecca

Posted: 07/11/2013 14:23

lethalnezzle wrote:

Yeezus is definitely a commercial record. 'Blood On The Leaves', 'Bound 2', 'Black Skinheads', these are all huge pop songs (for better or worse). Anybody who is convinced otherwise is kidding themselves. It may not be as universally palatable, or even as immediately accessible, as Graduation or MBDTF, but Yeezus is not some massively experimental record with no commercial appeal either. It's an album by a popstar aimed at a pop market. The fact that some of it sounds pretty industrial or whatever does not change that. The lyrics are dumb as fuck, the hooks are catchy, and the beats are fun. We're not talking about Death Grips, or clipping, or Aesop Rock. So yes, you can definitely still call Kanye West "mainstream"; in fact, I struggle to see how anybody could say he's not mainstream.

Exactly. Anything is big is Yeezus is by nature mainstream. doesn't even matter if it's experimental. If its the biggest trend in music, then it's mainstream. Mainstream doesn't necessarily mean uninteresting or bad, just popular.

Re: Can You Still call Kanye west a mainstream singer?

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 10:06:42 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 07/11/2013 14:06

Yeezus is definitely a commercial record. 'Blood On The Leaves', 'Bound 2', 'Black Skinheads', these are all huge pop songs (for better or worse). Anybody who is convinced otherwise is kidding themselves. It may not be as universally palatable, or even as immediately accessible, as Graduation or MBDTF, but Yeezus is not some massively experimental record with no commercial appeal either. It's an album by a popstar aimed at a pop market. The fact that some of it sounds pretty industrial or whatever does not change that. The lyrics are dumb as fuck, the hooks are catchy, and the beats are fun. We're not talking about Death Grips, or clipping, or Aesop Rock. So yes, you can definitely still call Kanye West "mainstream"; in fact, I struggle to see how anybody could say he's not mainstream.

Re: Can You Still call Kanye west a mainstream singer?

alelsupreme — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 09:01:15 GMT

Author: alelsupreme

Posted: 07/11/2013 13:01

Kanye is very much still mainstream. Yeezus went to no.1 in tons of countries.

Re: Can You Still call Kanye west a mainstream singer?

ButterThumbz — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 08:06:11 GMT

Author: ButterThumbz

Posted: 07/11/2013 12:06

Facetious wrote:

Good point except I think he was talking about Yeezus specifically.

I haven't heard it, but if it's anything like his previous releases I would think it's mainstream enough.

Yeah, actually he probably was talking about Yeezus, which I haven't heard either. I only just made myself listen to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy which, much to my own disgust, I really liked. I've just realised there's been two albums released since then. Forgive me, I'm old.

Re: Can You Still call Kanye west a mainstream singer?

drakonium — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 08:03:10 GMT

Author: drakonium

Posted: 07/11/2013 12:03

Norman Bates wrote:

Is it important?

Norman Bates wrote:

I'm not entirely certain anything is worth anything.

Re: Can You Still call Kanye west a mainstream singer?

Facetious — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 07:46:31 GMT

Author: Facetious

Posted: 07/11/2013 11:46

ButterThumbz wrote:

Tell me what's not commercial or mainstream about any of that. Not singing songs most people will like? Not getting in the charts? Not winning awards? Really?!!!

Good point except I think he was talking about Yeezus specifically.

I haven't heard it, but if it's anything like his previous releases I would think it's mainstream enough.

Re: Can You Still call Kanye west a mainstream singer?

ButterThumbz — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 07:03:41 GMT

Author: ButterThumbz

Posted: 07/11/2013 11:03

Gowienczyk wrote:

A mainstream singer is a singer in the consciousness of the mainstream population. Even if Kanye doesn't make "commercial" music (which is debatable) at the moment, he is mainstream and he has not left the public's mind.

^ This.

From Wikipedia:

Quote:

"Power" was West's comeback single following his 2008 album 808s & Heartbreak. The song received acclaim from music critics and it was listed amongst the best tracks of 2010 by several publications, including Time, Pitchfork Media, Spin, and Rolling Stone. Critics described it as a return to form for West, praising its intricate production, lyrical merit, and scope. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 53rd Grammy Awards.

The video received positive reviews from critics and received two nominations for MTV Video Music Awards. West performed the song on Saturday Night Live, at the 2010 BET Awards, at the 2011 Coachella Music Festival, and his Watch the Throne Tour. A remix of the track featuring rapper Jay-Z was released on August 20, 2010.

The song was heavily featured in promotional trailers for David Fincher's film The Social Network. It was also featured in an episode of Gossip Girl entitled "Goodbye, Columbia", as well as in the trailer and commercials for the 2011 Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro film, Limitless. The single is also featured in Volition's Saints Row: The Third video game and its soundtrack.

Tell me what's not commercial or mainstream about any of that. Not singing songs most people will like? Not getting in the charts? Not winning awards? Really?!!!

Re: Can You Still call Kanye west a mainstream singer?

Norman Bates — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 06:33:30 GMT

Author: Norman Bates

Posted: 07/11/2013 10:33

Behrus58 wrote:

Can You Still call Kanye west a mainstream singer?

Is it important?