Tina+Tavares

Tina Tavares Eng101 Prof. Kingsley 10/25/09  More than Just Music Notes    Kanye West who is most known for his Blunt yet outspoken words, people around the world sometimes view Kanye West as being cocky or too into himself. But what they are not looking at lies deeper into his music. A much deeper concept then just being “into himself”, he articulates social issues threw his music. After listening and reading the lyrics to his songs, then one can pass judgment. West was born in Atlanta Georgia but was raised in Chicago. West attended school but dropped out of high school due to deficient grades. During his time in school he produced songs to major artist including, Nas, Jay-Z, and Janet Jackson. He, being known as a ghost writer: one who writes the songs but does not get credit for it. He produced songs for Nas and Mob Deep, West did this while still in college when he released his first album College Drop out on February of 2004, he mostly got praise for the song “All Falls Down”. This song explores this issues of peer pressure, insecurities, racism, and economic issues.   Within the first paragraph of the song All Falls Down, West deliberates on the issues of insecurities of a young black women and the effect of the economy on her. He is talking about this woman who has no idea about what she is doing in college. This woman is so scared that her parents are going to view her as crazy that she refuses to drop out, as West says, “Man I promise, she's so self conscious, she has no idea what she's doing in college, That major that she majored in don't make no money. But she won't drop out, her parents will look at her funny. Now, tell me that ain't insecurrre. The concept of school seems so securrre” (http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/kanyewest/allfallsdown.html). The last section of that quote is what really draws the reader in my opinion because it is a stereotype that a lot of America faces. When people usually think of college they feel a certain certainty that they well succeed, but do not realize it is much more difficult then that.   Throughout the second and third verse of the song, West elaborates on the issues of racism and freedom. He refers to “they” as slave owners in his comment about African Americas trying to get back what they had lost. “We shine because they hate us, floss cause they degrade us. We trying to buy back our 40 acres” (http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/kanyewest/allfallsdown.html). Kanye isn't directing this just towards the Caucasian population but everyone in the world. The real significance about this is how African Americans were enslaved and used to work on plantations. But this can be mean to everyone that was enslaved not only African Americans. West also makes a comparison with the community today, and how it is functioned, West claims, “We buy our way out of jail, but we can't buy freedom We'll buy a lot of clothes when we don't really need em, Things we buy to cover up what's inside”. He demonstrates a good issue that does not just refer to the African American Society but to everyone. Even though someone may have enough money to set them free out of jail. There is no amount of money that can buy ones freedom. West’s metaphorical technique and use of background history adds more diversity to his music and the social issues he is trying to address. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> His second album Late Registration went further into Social issues then College Drop Out did. He focused more on a worldwide issue. When his second album Late Registration dropped his first single of the album was “Diamonds from Sierra Leone” this song had a different vibe compared to his other music. He focused on one social issue throughout the song and that was Blood Diamonds. He wanted everyone in the world to now that diamonds from Sierra Leone were blood diamonds. That people and even kids die from making those diamonds for everyone. He signified that how could something that all of us love be so wrong. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;">Sierra Leone is a country in West Africa, and like most countries in poverty, Sierra Leone faced problems with the civil war. This affected the whole country, making children fight in wars and work in mines. In This photo above you can see all the children and adults working in the mines. But not only that you can visualize the poverty and everything those children go through. West makes a connection to the war that happened in Vietnam. By claiming people are still loosing lives over. “Good Morning, this ain't Vietnam still. People lose hands, legs, arms for real. Little was known of Sierra Leone. And how it connect to the diamonds we own” (http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/kanyewest/diamondsfromsierraleoneremix.html). The War is a big issue in Sierra Leone so West pointing it out to the world really has significance. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;">These two photos demonstrate the effect that the war has caused on Sierra Leone. West described these issues within the first line of the song because he wanted everyone to understand what the real issue was that was going on. The picture to the right a young girl who lost one of her arms due to the war. The photo on the left is a young boy who is shooting at something. Both these photos illustrate a serious concern. Not only is this happening in Sierra Leone but around the world children and young adults are being forced into working. West wants the whole world to realize something as beautiful and precious as a diamond comes from something horrid and ugly. He is looking deeper into social issues; he has gone further into the world. And articulating world wide problems that many people do not always consider within their day to day basis. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;">Kanye West might be a cocky rapper, and certain people don’t like him. But as I demonstrated above, his music reaches out and connects with everyone on a different level. He illustrates not only social issues but worldwide issues that are affecting us every day that people may not even think about. His music, the tone of the songs, and the videos made to go along with the song, show great depth. Kanye West is a stupendous artist who reveals more than just music notes. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;">Bibliography <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;">[] <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 200%;">Copyright © 2000-2009 AZLyrics.com <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%;">[] <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 200%;">Copyright © 2000-2009 AZLyrics.com