Showing posts with label kanye west. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kanye west. Show all posts

Saturday, January 30, 2016

KANYE WEST I MESSED UP ... Kids Are Off Limits in My Twitter Wars

0130-kanye-west-tmz-01

wizKanye West blinked ... indirectly apologizing to Amber Rose and Wiz Khalifa for dragging their son into the epic Kanye/Wiz twitter war.
Kanye took to Twitter late Friday with this mea culpa ... "God's dream .... Never speak on kids again."
Mr. West crossed the line when he told Wiz, "I own your child!!!"  The implication -- Kanye made Amber famous, which then made her desirable to Wiz, which then produced Sebastian. 
0130-sub-kanye-west-twitter-01Yeezy, who said his new "Waves" album was gospel seems to be hanging with the right people ...  2 Chainz posted a pic of Ye in studio with gospel musician Kirk Franklin.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West “Fake Marriage” Exposed? (EXCLUSIVE)


Kim Kardashian Fake Marriage
(In Touch)
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have a “fake marriage,” declares In Touch, which often seems like a fake magazine.
According to the weekly, the duo sleep in “separate bedrooms” and have “scripted public appearances,” Kardashian is allegedly “living a lie” and is secretly “disgusted” by West, and their arrangement is a “business deal” that has nothing to do with love or family.
Of course, two weeks ago, In Touch lied to its readers and falsely claimed the marriage was supposedly “over after 58 days!”
So we can understand why those guys are feeling a little embarrassed and desperate right now, with Kardashian and West doing just fine.
In Touch’s “reporting” on the marriage has been a joke ever since the tabloid had the gall tofake a cover wedding dress photograph shortly before Kardashian and West tied the knot.
Because the magazine has done such a miserable job of covering the couple, it apparently feels the need to invent sensational stories.
That’s how we get this train wreck of a report, which calls the Kardashian-West marriage a “charade fueled by image and greed” but provides NO EVIDENCE to support the claim.
All we get are bland “source” quotes about how the couple is staying together as some kind of cash grab, and unverifiable accounts of Kardashian supposedly bashing West behind closed doors.
There’s no specifics about the money, no rationale for why they’d choose to have a child if it was all a business arrangement… nothing.
Like so many In Touch stories about the duo, it’s completely wrong.
The only thing “exposed” here is the tabloid’s rapidly diminishing relevance.
A rep says the In Touch report is totally false: “It’s ridiculous — the magazine is disgusting.”
 CREDIT and LINK to Gossip Cop on this exclusive.

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Kanye West gets booed on stage after he launches into '20-min rant'


Kanye West's self-entitlement continued on Friday night after he launched into a 20-minute rant mid performance at the London Wireless Festival. Kanye paused his performance to talk to the crowd about discrimination in the fashion industry and his promise to marry Kim seven years ago. 
"People be looking at me like I got a problem or something. Like I’m uncontrollable, that I do what I’m not supposed to do.’ Turning his attention to the media, Kanye said ‘They control everyone with rumours & lies. They steal you from you & sell you back to you.’
To the crowd, Kanye asked: ‘How many people here think they’re awesome and have had people say they’re not their whole lives? What have I ever done other than believe in myself?’
They say they won’t negotiate with celebrities…like I’m a terrorist or stupid. I’m not going to name names, I’m not going to mention any names but... Nike, Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Don't discriminate against me 'cos I'm a black man making music.
What he said about Kim and his promise to marry her seven years ago after the cut...


'‘I told Kim seven years ago: ‘I’m going to marry you,’ and I did – all the stuff I talk about, I can back it up. F**k saving face and what it's supposed to mean, it's about living my dream.'
I just wanted to make something awesome and be awesome and change the world, and that's exactly what I plan to do.
Well, after a while, the crowd had enough and started to boo him. They didn't come to hear him whine, they wanted music. After the rant, Kanye continued playing music...

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Breaking:Kim Kardashian, Kanye West Are Officially Married, Exchanged Wedding Vows in Florence

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are married!
Arial-view-of-Kimye-wedding-pcn

Wedding-pic–back-view-ig-kimye-may-24
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are married! Credit: Denise Truscello/WireImage.com
It's official—Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are married! The rapper's rep confirmed the news to Us Weekly shortly after the ceremony, saying, "Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were married in a private ceremony in the presence of family and friends in Florence, Italy, today."
As expected, the couple of two years tied the knot on Saturday, May 24, in Florence, Italy, at the 16th-century Forte di Belvedere in front of their closest family members and friends, including Chrissy Teigen, John Legend, LaLa Anthony, Lorraine Schwartz, Q-Tip, and more.
PHOTOS: Kimye's sweetest moments
The 33-year-old bride stunned during the sunset vows to her rapper beau. The 36-year-old artist made sure Kardashian had the wedding of her dreams.
A source close to West told Us Weekly the ceremony would be a "princess fairy tale for Kim," adding, "Kanye thought of every detail."
Forte di Belvedere in Florence, Italy
Forte di Belvedere in Florence, Italy
Credit: AFP PHOTO/FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/GETTY
The fashionable couple's ceremony was only part of the extravagant memorable weekend. After a couple of days of merriment in and around Paris, on Friday, May 23, the couple treated their guests to a brunch at designer Valentino's castle and then held a lavish party at the Palace of Versailles.
PHOTOS: Celebrity bridesmaids
Kardashian and West, who are parents to 11-month-old North West, are set to attend a friend's wedding next and will later embark on their honeymoon sans North, a source tells Us.
The couple got engaged in an equally lavish way. West proposed to the reality star with an enormous Lorraine Schwartz diamond ring on the eve of her 33rd birthday, surprising her on October 21 in front of family and friends at AT&T Park in San Francisco. West projected onto the stadium screen: "Pleeease Marry Meee!!!"
PHOTOS: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West: the perfect match!
The couple were good friends prior to first stepping out together in 2012. West revealed in an interview with On Air With Ryan Seacrest in October 2013, he's always had a fascination with the reality star.
"I just knew I wanted her to be my girl for a long time," West admitted. "I remember I saw a picture of her and Paris Hilton … and I remember telling my boy … 'Have you seen that girl, Kim Kar-dijon?'"
PHOTOS: Over-the-top weddings
Kardashian herself, however, didn't think of their relationship romantically at first.
She admitted: "I think you never know what it’ll really end up being like until you try and have a relationship and two years ago we tried and we realized it really does work. But [in the beginning], I was looking at it in such a friend way for so long and he was there to support me and be that friend to really talk about every experience I was going through, so it breaks my heart to look at it now and think I must have been killing him inside when he felt a certain way!"
PHOTOS: Kim and Kanye's love timeline
This is the first marriage for West. Kardashian previously married music producer Damon Thomas in 2000 and Kris Humphries in 2011, whom she filed for divorce from only 72 days later.

Friday, May 23, 2014

WEDDING FEVER: Kim & Kanye step out in style as they attend their pre-wedding bash

The power couple looking great as they step out to attend their full blown pre-wedding bash at the Palace of Versailles. But where's Kanye's family and friends in all this? See more pics after the cut...



Thursday, December 27, 2012

Kim Kardashian Pregnant and Being Treated for Acute Morning Sickness


Kim Kardashian Pregnant and Being Treated for Acute Morning Sickness
It looks like that big rumor about Kim Kardashian being pregnant is one of the worst kept secrets in Hollywood right now.  Aside from the obvious weight gain a doctor was reportedly called out to her home last night to treat her acute morning sickness! Apparently all that festive holiday food is doing Kimmie a bit of good because she has been sick as a dog. Media Take out was the first to report the news of her doctor’s visit but you better believe this story is going togain even more momentum now.
 Since she’s Kris Jenner’s daughter and we all know how Kris likes to use her kids lives to keep raking in the big television bucks, I’m thinking an official announcement will come once the ink is dry on a new season of one of their E! Reality shows. No doubt a spin off is already in the works for Kim and Kanye West, her current boyfriend.
Do you think Kanye wants a family as much as Kim has talked about wanting babies? Will he be hands on when it comes to parenting or is he just going to ultimately end up her baby daddy?  Do you think that Kim’s having a baby right now is even a good idea? Maybe she’s thinking that since she can’t seem to get marriage right she should just hop onto having a baby first instead, not realizing how hard it is to be a single mom even in the best of circumstances. I just have a hard time imagining that Kim can be selfless enough to be a good mother. Unfortunately, I see her baby being raised by nannies except when she takes it out in public as if it’s an accessory.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Kim Kardashian Refuses to Give Kris Humphries Her Engagement Ring Back


 is refusing to return the gigantic  that Kris Humphries gave her when he popped the question.
The pair were  for just 72 days and are yet to legally end their union.
Sources say Kris wants the band — which cost him $750k, but is said to retail for around $2 million — returned.
But Kim — who’s now  Kanye West — is having none of it.
“Kris is adamant that he wants the ring back,” said the insider.
“And it’s becoming a real sticking point  his and Kim’s attorneys. She has made it plain that she has no intention of returning it though and feels she is within her legal right to refuse as she went through with the wedding.
“However, Kris contends that the  was a total sham and that Kim only wed him for publicity so therefore she has no right to keep such an expensive gift.
“Kris doesn’t understand why Kim would even want to keep the ring anyway. It obviously has no sentimental value as she has publicly  their wedding as ‘a huge mistake’ and she certainly doesn’t need the money, so why doesn’t she just return it to him?
“Kris is more than willing, and eager, to end this chapter of his .
“But he wants it done on his terms. He thinks Kim tricked him into marrying and he wants his day in court to prove that. There’s no ulterior motive, he just wants the record set straight and what he perceives as a massive wrongdoing against him put right.”

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

What The Heck Is Kim Kardashian Wearing?









Have you also been asking yourself what happened Kim Kardashian’s fabolous fashion sense since she started dated Kanye West?
When it comes to fashion, Kim K was building a brand name but all of a sudden, she has dropped to the bottom as her recent appearances have been nothing to talk about.
Just recently, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were spotted in London doing a dinner. Wearing a velvet, one-piece jumpsuit, slicked back bun, and finished the look with some Christian Louboutin pumps on her feet, Kim Kardashian failed to pull fashion together again-considering the fashion icon she claims to be (and Kanye’s stand in fashion).



Thursday, April 12, 2012

Q-Tip Signs to Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music


After much speculation, it's official: Q-Tip has signed a deal with Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music label and Def Jam Recordings. His first album through the venture, tentatively titled The Last Zulu, is slated to drop early 2013.

"I'm excited to be a part of the great iconic Def Jam label," Q-Tip said via a statement. "I'm humbled to be a part of such a storied history. To reconnect with Barry Weiss is a great thing. As far as G.O.O.D. Music, I'm excited to solidify my working relationship with Kanye, and I look forward to all the opportunities that lie ahead in our partnership. I will do my best to present the most cutting edge music I can."

"I am thrilled to be working with Q-Tip once again," added Barry Weiss, Chairman & CEO of Universal Republic and Island Def Jam, who worked with the New York MC in the 1990s as a member ofA Tribe Called Quest signed to Jive Records. "He is a respected voice in the music community as shown by his acclaimed solo albums and countless contributions to the work of other artists. His creativity continues to surpass all boundaries of hip-hop, R&B, pop, and jazz. We welcome Q-Tip to the G.O.O.D. Music / Island Def Jam family."

The union won't be the first time Tip and Kanye work together. The two also joined forces for 'Ye's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, on which Q-Tip produced, as well as West's and Jay-Z's recent collaborative effort, Watch the Throne.

Q-Tip was most recently in the studio with Rico Love, Marsha Ambrosius, Kendrick Lamar and Fiona Apple, among others. He also produced songs on the just-released fourth solo album by Esperanza Spalding.

Sunday, April 8, 2012


Fans might be amped about Kanye West's latest song, Theraflu," which hit the net (April 5), but the cold medicine company the song is named after isn't too happy.

Theraflu released a statement to TMZ about 'Ye's title choice, expressing their displeasure with it.

"We in no way endorse or approve of the references or use of the image and likeness of Theraflu in this manner," a company rep told the entertainment site.

Although Yeezy named the song after Theraflu, which helps fight colds, he uses the title to reference how "cold" he is towards his enemies.

As previously reported, Kanye revealed his love for reality star Kim Kardashian on the track, rapping, "I admit I fell in love with Kim, 'Round the same time she fell in love with him / Well that's cool baby girl, do your thing, lucky I ain't have Jay drop him from the team." (Jay-Z is a part-owner of the New Jersey Nets, the team Kim Kardashian's ex-husband Kris Humphries plays for.)

Kim appeared on NBC's Today Show today and said she liked Kanye's song, adding that the two have been friends for a long time and that she's excited about what the future might hold for them. And while she didnt flat out say they were dating, People Magazine reports they indeed are in the early stages of a relationship as the two were recently seen leaving a movie theater in New York City and then on a lunch date on Thursday (April 5).

There is no word yet on whether Theraflu is planning on suing Kanye West.

Friday, April 6, 2012

Kanye West Confesses Love For Kim Kardashian on "Theraflu"


Kanye West surprised fans Wednesday night (April 4) by releasing a brand new record, "Theraflu."

On the track, which features DJ Khaled and DJ Pharris and was produced by Hit-Boy, 'Ye dedicates a few bars toward his ex-girlfriend Amber Rose and salutes her current partner Wiz Khalifa. In back to back lines, West confesses about falling in love with Kim Kardashian and even takes shots at New Jersey Nets pro basketball player Kris Humphries, whom Kardashian infamously filed for divorce with in October of last year after only 72 days of marriage.

"And the whole industry wanna **** your old chick/Only ***** I got respect for is Wiz/And I'll admit, I fell in love with Kim/Around the same time, she fell in love with him/Well, that's cool, baby girl do your thing/Lucky I didn't have Jay drop him from the team."

The last line refers to Humphries playing for the New Jersey Nets--a team Kanye's big brother, Jay-Z is a minority owner of and is partially responsible for helping to move the franchise to Brooklyn soon.

Late last year, Amber Rose painted Kardashian as a homewrecker, who got between her and Kanye's relationship by sending numerous sexy pictures of herself to West. In turn, Kanye stayed relatively mum about the subject till dropping "Theraflu."

The record isn't the only noise that the Louis Vuitton Don plans on making this week. That's because, 'Ye and his G.O.O.D. Music family plan on dropping "Mercy," the first single off their impending compilation on Good Friday (April 6).

Kim Kardashian's Caught Sneaking Out Of Kanye West's Apartment After Spending The Night With Him



Things have apparently taken a romantic turn between Kim Kardashian and long-time friend Kanye West and obviously they are dating.

The pair were pictured leaving a movie theatre in New York last night and Kim was seen exiting the rapper's apartment in the same clothes this morning.

Kim was seen sneaking out of West's apartment following a sleepover, before getting in a car and heading back to her hotel with a bodyguard in tow.
Dressed in a pair of leather trousers and a white vest Kim clearly hadn't got changed after and was dressed in the same ensemble she wore to their cinema date on Wednesday night.

The couple also met up for lunch in Thursday just a few hours after Kim had left Kanye's apartment.

The pair enjoyed food together at Serafina in the city but arrived and left separately.

Kim still had the same leather trousers she had been sporting this morning and the night before but had changed her top and a new jacket.

In another sign things are less than platonic, West has released a new song declaring his love for the 31-year-old reality star.

The singer and rapper also refers to his ex-girlfriend Amber Rose in the song, called Theraflu, following her claims he and Kim had a fling while they were together.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Mannie Fresh Explains His History With Kanye West

It's a well known fact that Mannie Fresh and Kanye West have maintained a relationship since before to 'Ye rose to super-stardom. Now, in a recent interview with Vibe, the former Cash Money producer recalls how he first linked up with the Chicago producer/emcee.

Mannie Fresh said that he was first introduced to Yeezy through former partner Mikkey Halsted when the Chicago duo were in talks to sign with Cash Money in the late '90s. Fresh said that Halsted ultimately signed with the label as a solo artist,  and that 'Ye went on to join the Roc-A-Fella army in 2000.

"I knew Kanye way before he was signed,” he recalled. “He came to Cash Money with Mikkey [Halsted], who was an artist on Cash Money. They came together as a group and Kanye was the producer, and he decided to split out and later did his thing with Jay-Z. So I’ve been knowing dude forever. Kanye knows what I’m about.”

Mannie Fresh also spoke on the impressive roster of artists signed to Yeezy's G.O.O.D. Music imprint. He said that the talent at G.O.O.D. Music is so extensive that the label's more akin to a factory, with 'Ye at the head of the pack overseeing the product.

“There are so many talented people that are on G.O.O.D. Music that it’s nuts,” he said.. “You have so many people that you are working with that it’s unlimited. I can’t say what it’s structured around. It’s more so a music factory. It’s like, hey, everybody that walks through those doors play Kanye something. If he likes it they give it to him. It’s as simple as that.”

Friday, March 30, 2012

Kanye West, Lil Wayne Songs Named in EMI Suit Against Def Jam Rapstar


The company behind the video game Def Jam Rapstar is being sued by publishing house EMI for failing to clear songs that are featured in the game, including tunes by Kanye West, DMX and Lil Wayne, among others.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the various subsidiaries of EMI filed the lawsuit in New York federal court last week and is alleging substantial damages incurred by the video game creators' inability to obtain musical rights required for the songs to be featured on the game.Def Jam Rapstar was produced by 4mm Games and Terminal Reality, both co-defendants in the lawsuit.

The suit also says EMI notified the game makers about its rights to account for royalties, but the demands were ignored.The complaint includes a listing of compositions and sound recordings that were used in the game, including DJ Khaled's "I'm So Hood," which EMI claims 10 percent ownership, MIMS' "This Is Why I'm Hot," a song with 16 writers which EMI claims 16 percent ownership, and Lil Wayne's "Got Money," which EMI claims 30 percent ownership.

EMI also says some of its sound recordings were infringed in the game, like Daft Punk's "Harder Better Faster Stronger," which was sampled by Kanye West on the song "Stronger."

In total, the suit lists 54 songs that were infringed, and now the label wants statutory damages in the amount of $150,000 for each of those infringements, not to mention other potential damages for violations of EMI's other rights

Monday, March 19, 2012

Kanye West Why Is D’Banj Not a Walking Liability for G.O.O.D Music? D’Banj IGNORES MAJOR Announcement of Dissolution of Mo’Hits by Don Jazzy, Goes on



By now both Africa’s music industry insiders, fans and the public are aware of the confirmation by Don Jazzy, Founder and President of Mo’Hits Records, of the termination of his relationship with D’Banj, his business partner and artist turned Vice President of the company. This announcement came less than twenty four hours ago via Twitter. For insiders in the know, this news is not necessarily a surprise. Reports have indeed circulated that the two have not spoken for over four months so the split seemed inevitable. Nevertheless, Don Jazzy made the announcement less than 24hours ago and added he will donate proceeds from his music production catalogue from day one to charity but says NOTHING about the obligations of Mo’Hits to signed artists under the label. As an executive working for Mo’Hits, can he just arbitrarily make his own personal decision to donate (proceeds from ) his production works in behalf of the company to charity??? What about the artists signed to the label: Wande Coal, Dr. Sid and D’Prince?

Further, as if that is not enough, his business partner D’banj ignoring Don Jazzy’s announcement that has cluttered the internet, gone viral across Africa and trended on twitter, pulls a PR stunt that in essence says ”let me show you how irrelevant you are Don Jazzy. I will drown your news with my new music video Oliver Twist.”

Like who really cares about Oliver Twist? We haven’t even touched ownership/ the intellectual property rights that affects the performance of Oliver Twist given the termination of their relationship. Neither have we touched the issue of the Oliver Twist winner who was supposed to be featured in the video. Is the winner in the video? For all intended purposes, Oliver Twist is irrelevant when the President of a global African owned music brand of which D’Banj co-owns, in less than 24hours BEFORE release of D’Banj’s new video online, tells the world your relationship is over. You don’t ignore it. You speak on it. You don’t drop a video, you speak on what your President just said.

Folks these are executives of one of the major labels in Africa whose affiliation with Kanye West’s GOOD music made headlines the world over. They are not random individuals running a company. They are executives and have a responsibility to their shareholders, if they have one, and definitely their signed artists on their labels and the members of the public to inform of the implications of the termination of Mo’Hits; specific to these signed artists while the two sort out their mess outside of or in a courtroom. Why exactly is D’Banj not acknowledging a major statement from the President of his company; and is instead focused on promoting that Oliver Twist video again?

When the OccupyNigeria strikes hit Nigeria, D’Banj, Nigeria’s UN Youth Ambassador, ignored youths and instead went promoting his Oliver Twist video. Now, he continues the same pattern and practice. Clearly, he could care less. Hence my focus on the people who do care and should care, Kanye West’s GOOD Music, Island Def Jam, their Publicists and Entertainment Lawyers.

Folks, what I want to know is this, Kanye West , GOOD Music representatives, Island Def Jam, why is D’banj not a walking liability for GOOD Music? I’d love to hear why. Can anyone within your departments have a talk with Kanye to pull this young man in and make sure he is clear on his intentions given your affiliations with his personal brand?

The bad publicity he continues to generate for GOOD Music is one thing. But, opening GOOD music to potential legal liability in the handling of his affairs both with his fellow GOOD Music signee Don Jazzy and the artists signed to his label ‘Mo’ Hits’ is another story.

D’Banj is not the first African to do business with an American record label and he won’t be the last. What’s really GOOD, GOOD MUSIC?

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Jay-Z to Headline BBC Radio 1's Hackney Weekend,D'banj to Perform


Hip-Hop mogul Jay-Z  has been booked to  headline BBC Radio 1's Hackney Weekend event, a huge outdoor festival set to take place as part the of 2012 london Olympic Games.

    The event will take place on London's Hackney Marshes on June 23–24 and will hold up to 100,000 people. Jay-z will headline the event's opening day (June 23), with a second headliner set to be confirmed in the coming weeks. 
   The majority of the tickets for the event are being given free to residents of  Hackney and the surrounding London boroughs.
    Nigerian music star  D'banj is one of the acts billed to perform at the festival . Among other acts confirmed to perform are David guetta, dappy,jessie j,emeli sande ,tinie tempah and leona lewis.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Kanye West Upsets Royal Family(Britain’s Royal Family Not Feeling Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music)


Kanye West has been living in London for the past few months working on his fashion line and music projects, and his presence may have miffed the royal family. Kanye has reportedly been renting out the top floor at The London Lanesborough Hotel, next door to Buckingham Palace, where he invited the G.O.O.D. Music team to stay with him to finish up their upcoming album. According to Big Sean, their stay at the posh London hotel upset the royal family who happened to be staying in the room underneath Ye and crew.

"Every room was a studio,” Sean told The 3m360. The royal family below were complaining like, 'We got all this loud-ass rap music above us and weed smoke.'"

The G.O.O.D. Music guys have been hard at work on their upcoming compilation album which Big Sean predicts should be out this spring. "We're gonna do the G.O.O.D. Music album first; we been working on that," Big Sean said. "So, me, Kanye, Cudi, CyHi, John Legend, Common, Pusha T, everybody on G.O.O.D., Mr Hudson: We're all working on a new project; it's almost done."Earlier in the week, Kanye got the party going at his Paris Fashion Week show, where he revealed his second women’s collection. Guests like Diddy, Common, Alicia Keys, Cassie, Swizz Beatz, Big Sean and Kim Kardashian were all spotted at the runway show alongside fashion royalty such as Vogue's Anna Wintour and Anna Dello Russo. At the after party, Azaelia Banks, Common, Waka Flocka Flame, Mos Def, Big Sean and A-trak hit the runway for a show of their own and gave a performance for party guests. A go-kart track was even set up around the runway for some added fun.Kanye knows how to throw a good party. Maybe if the royal family can't beat him, they should join him.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE KOKO MASTER ABOUT HIS NEW PATNERSIP WITH GOOD MUSIC :D’banj – ‘Why Kanye West Likes Me’


BY DR LORI
curled from THE NET

African pop star D’banj’s February 19 performance at the New York City’s Irving Plaza has kept on receiving rave reviews from local and more international media.
As The Entertainer marked his formal US debut , MTV Iggy caught up with the Mo’Hits act as he talked about working with his G.O.O.D Music record label boss Kanye West, why he feels he’s already broken out and how he feels bringing Nigerian music to a more global audience.
How does it feel to be bringing Nigerian music to a more global audience?
With the reception I’ve gotten, I’d like to say, not like I was nervous, I just hoped and prayed that people would come with an open mind, that they can listen. And I saw that today, they came with their hearts, they came with their minds. I’m only grateful to God that that’s the beginning. Seeing this, I’m now eager to move around and continue the gospel.

What is your next step toward world domination?
To go on the road. America, for one. Even with this crowd, they’ve already shown us that there is massive audience for me here. I thought I was in New York City, but I’m seeing New Jersey, I’m seeing Maryland, I’m seeing Houston. I already have bookings in Houston. It’s just a big privilege and I’m so humbled. I can’t wait to just gladly take the music there to touch them.
A lot of American artists and rappers are working specifically with Nigerian musicians.
What do you think it is that attracts them to that scene?
I think it’s not just now, and it’s not just about one or two things. First, I give a lot of thanks to a lot of people who have come before me. For one, I would say it’s not just even rappers. If you look at what happened here in New York for the last twenty four months, with Fela Anikulapo Kuti on Broadway [the musical FELA!]. I was fortunate to be at Radio City Music Hall during the Tony Awards. It was nominated for eleven awards.
Also, it’s our culture, It’s what we’re preaching, the music, for one, as you know, the sound. It’s not like I want to blow our trumpet, but I always say we came up and we already have sounds and melody and now we’re seeing the aggression.
If you had to describe the difference between performing in Lagos versus anywhere else in the world, what would you say?
Wow. With today, I wouldn’t say it’s any different. Today my people showed me here, people appreciate good music. Good music is universal.
Is there something in Lagos that sets the scene apart?
It’s very real. It’s very real and very original. You know, people are asking me if I’m going to change and I say, ‘What Kanye likes about me is that I’m very original’. Even the way I call my name: ‘I’m D’Banj!” And I don’t want to change that.
That’s what we all have in Africa. You know that we’re blessed with a lot of natural resources. We’re blessed with things like oil, and also we have talents. They say we’re a developing continent. Well, we have been developing. Now, we are developed.
You are already recording with Kanye West.
What is it like being in the studio with him?
I came with a mind-set to learn. Also, to show my culture, but more importantly to learn. In the studio the chemistry was great. You know, music is universal. I’ve been in the studio with people who don’t speak English, but, at the end of the day, I love melody. I’ve gained a lot from him, that’s the main reason I’m here.
Do you have a place here in New York?
I do, but I’m not a New York fan. The weather is a bit crazy. I like ATL, it reminds me of Africa. Anytime I stop by the ATL, I like it. The roads are wider and I love the weather. Miami too.
Who is going to be the video for ‘Oliver Twist?’ I heard there would be some cameos.
A lot of cameos. I’ll give you a hint: my new family members.
How did you choose the harmonica as your instrument?
Oh, I didn’t choose the harmonica. My late brother chose the harmonica.
And you play it because of him? Did he teach you?
No, no one taught me. Later, when I studied it, I learned that it’s such a spiritual instrument.
Coming from even way back, from the era of the slave trade. It was one of the very rare instruments that Africans, now African-Americans could play. It was one of the few things that they could do, people that were stuck over here. But even for people that were not African-Americans, it stood for something that was more natural. Like, if you listen to country music a lot of them play the mouth organ and the harmonica.
Are you going to be doing something really different on the new album?
I really don’t know. I’m exploring. I’m going to be doing rock now. I’m doing a rock song! Don’t you believe I can rock?
Tell me about Kokomobile. You have a branded cell phone on the market in Nigeria?
Yes, I do. Well, my brand is called ‘Koko’. It comes from the song on my first album. And people say, ‘Well, what is the koko?’ The Koko is whatever you do to derive pleasure. It is the bone of contention. So, people started calling me the Koko Master. Today, no one knows its specific definition.
But now I have the Koko Lounge, my club in Lagos, Nigeria. And I have Koko Garri, my breakfast cereal.
What will it take to bring Nigerian music to a mainstream audience in the US?
I think it’s already happening. It’s happened. I walked around; I saw the pictures of the people that have performed here [at Irving Plaza], The Beastie Boys, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, on the same stage. So, it’s already started.
The thing I love about Americans is they’re open to good music. If it sounds good to them and it looks good, they’ll buy it.
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
I like Rihanna


Tuesday, February 28, 2012

KANYE LOOTS FROM CHARITY (Kanye West’s Charity Did Not Do Charity )


It was reported by The Daily that Kanye West’s charity foundation set up in the rapper’s name spent over a half a million dollars in 2010, and none of that was given to a single charity. According to the site, the majority of the spending was on expenses.
The expenditures in 2010 amounted to $572,383, and this was used to pay salaries and other overhead expenses. What is funny is that the total amount of donations the foundation received that year came out to $178,916 even after West’s $88,501 donation.
This foundation was considered a non-profit organization up until it decided to close its doors in April 2011. When the charity shut down, the former executive director Joseph Collins emailed the New York Times and had this to say, “I am reaching out to let you know that the Kanye West Foundation has officially closed its doors after a successful 4+ years of programming and events.”
The program was set up to help the dropout rates in schools. It must not have had much luck considering in 2009 it only managed to donate $581 to only one charity out of a total spent on its books of $553,826. The charity in question was “Loop Dreams,” which according to news.com.au taught kids about music production.
In the same NY Times article, there was mentioning of the charity closing down very strangely, and Collins only gave one statement which was that reporters should get in touch with Mr. West. In 2010, it seems as if Kanye and his company West Brands donated $35,000 which made up the majority of the money that was donated to the charity – $123,501 out of $178,916. Four other contributors made up the rest of the money, but that still did not even come close to the amount of money that was spent in the charity’s name.
At least in 2009, the charity earned $442,951. It made it a little more difficult for them to hide their tracks even though again only $581 was actually donated to anything. Also, Kanye only donated $5,000 that year; so it begs the question, who was being robbed?
Charity Navigator, “a non-profit watchdog,” stated a charity should not spend more than 15 percent of its income on expenses. The Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance also suggests that at least 65 percent of money spent should be on charity activities. In what has been released, Kanye did not even come close to either of these amounts.

DONATE