It’s early Saturday morning and I just woke up. My Twitter timeline is ablaze with tweets about Kanye West‘s impromptu performance on the facade in Brooklyn. Kanye was in Brooklyn? No. His face was. He debuted his new single “New Slaves” and if the title of the jam isn’t jarring enough, the lyrics are! It turns out, Brooklyn wasn’t the only place interrupted by Kanye’s obnoxious release. Projector screens popped up across the world in 10 cities. “NEW SONG AND VISUAL FROM MY NEW ALBUM BEING PROJECTED TONIGHT ACROSS THE GLOBE ON 66 BUILDINGS, LOCATIONS @ KANYEWEST.COM,” he tweeted.
“What you want a billy/fur coat, diamond chain/All you blacks want all the same things/Used to only be n***as/Now everybody play me/ Spending everything on that Alexander Wang/New Slaves,” he raps.
LOVE
Creating acceptable music about racism is challenging, many have failed miserably trying. Hence, the response to LL Cool J’s “Accidental Racist” song. As much as I am beginning to despise my fellow Gemini Mr. West, his bars on the controversial “New Slave” aren’t gimmicky. He doesn’t skate over the issue, he dives into the bitter chilled waters band-aided head first! Slavery and racism aren’t kind subjects so he doesn’t use friendly metaphors or give it a scary approach. He’s taking it there, no restraints or f**ks given!
HATE
On “New Slaves,” Kanye references the Blacks who were treated better because of their fair skin. Yet, his Armenian baby’s mother–Kim Kardashian–has glowing white skin! A Black man with a White girlfriend calling out other Blacks for being slaves… Negro please.
Kanye’s braggadocious lyrics and lifestyle makes him just the stereotype of the person he is rapping about. “I throw these Maybach keys/I wear my heart on my sleeve/I know that we the new slaves/I see the blood on the leaves,” he proclaims. His Omniscient way of thinking allows him to speak on certain truths from an outside perspective where he can include or exclude himself at any time.
LOVE
Outside of the obvious list of “New Slave’s” offenses, the song has an incredible beat with all the dramatics it takes to pull off such a controversial statement.
HATE
I often wonder, while listening to rappers boast about their riches and flaunt it int the faces of listeners, just who are they talking to? “You see it’s leaders and it’s followers, but I’d rather be a d**k than a swallower.” The very people who support these rich and popular artists are the ones constantly insulted by them. If it isn’t a line about “You ain’t accustom to customs, you ain’t been nowhere huh?” then it’s criticizing the public for attempting to be like the celebrities they adore.
Love Hello Beautiful - Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle and Hair Care for Black Women? Get more! Join the Hello Beautiful - Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle and Hair Care for Black Women Newsletter
It’s early Saturday morning and I just woke up. My Twitter timeline is ablaze with tweets about Kanye West‘s impromptu performance on the facade in Brooklyn. Kanye was in Brooklyn? No. His face was. He debuted his new single “New Slaves” and if the title of the jam isn’t jarring enough, the lyrics are! It turns out, Brooklyn wasn’t the only place interrupted by Kanye’s obnoxious release. Projector screens popped up across the world in 10 cities. “NEW SONG AND VISUAL FROM MY NEW ALBUM BEING PROJECTED TONIGHT ACROSS THE GLOBE ON 66 BUILDINGS, LOCATIONS @ KANYEWEST.COM,” he tweeted.
“What you want a billy/fur coat, diamond chain/All you blacks want all the same things/Used to only be n***as/Now everybody play me/ Spending everything on that Alexander Wang/New Slaves,” he raps.
LOVE
Creating acceptable music about racism is challenging, many have failed miserably trying. Hence, the response to LL Cool J’s “Accidental Racist” song. As much as I am beginning to despise my fellow Gemini Mr. West, his bars on the controversial “New Slave” aren’t gimmicky. He doesn’t skate over the issue, he dives into the bitter chilled waters band-aided head first! Slavery and racism aren’t kind subjects so he doesn’t use friendly metaphors or give it a scary approach. He’s taking it there, no restraints or f**ks given!
HATE
On “New Slaves,” Kanye references the Blacks who were treated better because of their fair skin. Yet, his Armenian baby’s mother–Kim Kardashian–has glowing white skin! A Black man with a White girlfriend calling out other Blacks for being slaves… Negro please.
Kanye’s braggadocious lyrics and lifestyle makes him just the stereotype of the person he is rapping about. “I throw these Maybach keys/I wear my heart on my sleeve/I know that we the new slaves/I see the blood on the leaves,” he proclaims. His Omniscient way of thinking allows him to speak on certain truths from an outside perspective where he can include or exclude himself at any time.
LOVE
Outside of the obvious list of “New Slave’s” offenses, the song has an incredible beat with all the dramatics it takes to pull off such a controversial statement.
HATE
I often wonder, while listening to rappers boast about their riches and flaunt it int the faces of listeners, just who are they talking to? “You see it’s leaders and it’s followers, but I’d rather be a d**k than a swallower.” The very people who support these rich and popular artists are the ones constantly insulted by them. If it isn’t a line about “You ain’t accustom to customs, you ain’t been nowhere huh?” then it’s criticizing the public for attempting to be like the celebrities they adore.
