It’s a shame there isn’t an award for First Celebrity Blog Post Of 2010 To Namecheck Maya Angelou. Because if there were, then the trophy-loving Kanye West would probably have just won it. In a new blog entry, the rapper announces that he is “back in the studio making music” and then proceeds to explain that his new role models are poets. “IT’S FUNNY HOW SO MANY RAPPERS GET WORSE AS THEIR CAREERS STRETCH OUT BUT TRUE POETS GET BETTER,” he writes, “WE WILL FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MAYA ANGELOU, GIL SCOTT HERRON (sic) AND NINA SIMONE.”
As creative role models go, Mr. West could do worse than those three. And, certainly, I don’t recall Maya Angelou ever interrupting a Taylor Swift acceptance speech (though, of course, there was that unpleasant incident involving her and Ugly Kid Joe at the 1993 Kids’ Choice Awards. Don’t bother trying to YouTube it. I’m joking).
Anyone unfamiliar with the work of Gil Scott Heron, meanwhile, should definitely check out his classic track “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” below.
Are you glad Kanye is back recording again? And what do you think of his new role models?
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Go Kanye!!
Glad to know he’s back…and yeh, I remember Gill Scott — pathetic and so gifted.
Kanye, Imma let you finish, but Marianne Moore is the best modern-ish poet of all time. OF ALL TIME.
“And, certainly, I don’t recall Maya Angelou ever interrupting a Taylor Swift acceptance speech” Maya was 61 when Taylor was born, maybe that’s why. please Kanye no more autotune.
Didn’t mean to reply to this outdated joke of a comment
Sorry dear but your joke went over like a lead balloon.
Hey Kath……EPIC FAIL!!!
can’t wait for more kanye music. that guy hasn’t missed a beat yet.
Kanye is a superficial faker. He may be popular, but he will never approach musically the depths of the work of Gil Scott Heron or Nina Simon.
Kanye West may be quite a bit of an ass, but his music is fantastic and evolutionary compared to the rest of today’s hip hop. it is good he is telling us where he is getting insporation. I just hope he doedn’t come out with a spoken word album
Somewhere Maya Angelou is sipping her green tea and giggling ’til she farts. That’s right, Maya Angelou farts.
I’m glad! I’ve always loved Kanye’s music, and it was a shame that 808s & Heartbreak didn’t get a Grammy nom.
As much as I hate Kanye, I loved his first two albums (College Dropout and Late Registration). His third (Graduation) was also pretty good. I just hope his new album is nothing like that autotuned mess, 808s and Heartbreak.
I avoided 808′s and Heartbreak because everyone told me it was terrible. When I finally listened to it, I was incredibly surprised. It’s one of the most beautiful and moving hip-hop albums I’ve heard in a long time. I say more of the same!
I agree that 808s & Heartbreak was a good album, but what killed it was the overuse of Auto-Tune. I’m sorry, but really, who would want to hear an entire album of someone sounding like they’re singing into a fan? Never mind T-Pain, Kanye is way above him artistically and should’ve known better. And everyone expected better from him as well, hence the backlash on the album. If he wanted to sing, then he should’ve gotten a singing coach, I’ve heard him sing in his natural voice, and he’s not bad, he’s actually a better vocalist than a lot of the manufactured pop stars out now, sadly enough. Maybe 808s would work better if an actual singer would cover the whole album, a la Flaming Lips covering Dark Side of The Moon. Difference is, 808s isn’t a masterpiece that should be left untouched, it’s a good album whose prominent flaws keep it underrated.
Musically, Kanye hasn’t misstepped yet, and he took his biggest, most risky artistic step with “808s”. It would be folly to underestimate whatever comes next. If only he’s learned a lesson in regards to ego and what he says while he’s NOT performing…
Maybe he can do ala George Michael, put out good music but not come out in the videos! Its his damn face nobody wants 2 see!
Those are not new role models for Kanye at all. He has sampled Gil Scott-Herron more than once and has referenced both Nina Simone and Maya Angelou more than once. This isn’t a revelation, it’s just the man expressing himself.
Kanye is one of the greatest rappers and most important artists of the 2000′s. everybodys just hating. dont judge lest ye be judged
I was starting to get bored w kayne but I will tell you the truth after the vma I started liking him again yes he is rude but he grew up with a educated woman strong and confident. Kayne is not a drug addict or breaks the law like other rappers. He is like me ….
I love hip hop n love kanye… I hate emeniem n lil wayne boooo they all need to go to jail
Its cool if u don’t like kanye… judge me.<3