Image Credit: George Napolitano/FilmMagic.comIt’s only Wednesday, and already this week seems to be yielding more Kanye West news than the entire first quarter or two of 2010. Remember those long-ago months when West was in hiding from the media and details about his next album were a closely guarded secret? That era is so over. With My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy‘s Nov. 22 release date coming up soon, he’s in full press cycle mode.
West started on Sunday night by claiming that his NSFW cover artwork for Fantasy had been “banned,” possibly indulging in a bit of hyperbole. Since then he’s been revealing tasty news bits left and right. Read on after the jump for your essential guide to The Week in Kanye.
West showed off his new diamond teeth on The Ellen DeGeneres Show yesterday. (Watch the clip at the end of this post.) He told an incredulous Ellen that he actually had his bottom row of front teeth surgically removed and replaced with a permanent diamond and gold fixture. “I just thought that diamonds were cooler,” West smirked. Also: “I used to always clean my jewelry with toothpaste anyway, so it works out.” Okay, that makes total sense, then.
That Ellen appearance also included a brief preview of West’s “Runaway” short film. He screened the entire thing in L.A. on Monday night. The surreal 35-minute tale, which will air on MTV, MTV2, and BET this Saturday at 8 P.M., shows West (spoiler alert!) falling in love with a mythical phoenix played by model Selita Ebanks. Nicki Minaj provides opening narration. Idolator has a handy plot summary.
He told the audience at that L.A. screening that he “contemplated suicide” after his mother’s death in 2007, according to the AP. Thankfully, that difficult time is in the past. “I will not give up on life again,” West reportedly said, adding, “There’s so many people that will never get the chance to have their voice heard… I do it for them.”
A final tracklist for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy has not been confirmed, but it’s starting to take shape. West told MTV News that “Monster” and “Devil in a New Dress,” both of which were originally released in his free “G.O.O.D. Friday” download series, will make the cut for the album.
Another Fantasy track, “All of the Lights,” will feature a double-take-inducing 11 guest stars, West has announced. Rap-Up reports that Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Elton John, Fergie, John Legend, The-Dream, Tony Williams, Kid Cudi, Charlie Wilson, Ryan Leslie, and Elly Jackson from La Roux all contributed to the track. Whew!
West also told MTV News that he’s planning five album covers for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. No word on whether the controversial art he posted on Sunday night is one of the five.
What do you think of all this Kanye West news? Anticipating his album next month? Sound off in the comments.
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Willow Smith’s ‘Whip My Hair’ video: Watch it here
Whats going to be the next BIG Knaye story before week’s end? Him making a statment bout Beyonce’s ‘supposed’ pregnancy!? We’ve got a whole nother month before the disc drops & most people are already fed up with his shenannigans. But truly surprised you have written up anything on his recent dance music forays Simon! His cameo in the star studded DuckSauce “Barbra Steisand” clip or his appearance on Stromae’s “Alors en danse” Remix (top 10 on iTunes dance singles sales chart)..but oh wait…that would mean y’all would have to make a dance post that didn’t involve Gaga or David Guetta. SIGH……..
I think he is an amazing talent and an innovator. I don’t really care if he is a big jerk or douchebagggggg
Kanye contemplated suicide? Too bad he didn’t follow through with that.
beaaassstttt
Mikey, you r a hater! Go drinks some Gatorade & sit down & shut up
okay kanye had no excuse for what he did to taylor..we all know that.
othwer than that i think hes talentedd
WILL kANYE WEST HELP ME TO GET A HOME PLEASE ? I DON’T HAVE A HOME. DIAMONDS IS SO COOLER – BUT A HOME FOR ME KANYE ? GOSH ! THAT WOULD BE SUPER COOLER, WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.
Can’t the EW IT staff ban this ping poster’s IP address from posting!?