KaNyE wEsT TaKeS hIaTuS

Kanye West has taken a vow of silence and makes peace with corporate partners. Read here.

BoUnD 2 oR rEbOuNd 2?

As folks try to dissect the mind of Kanye West, it makes you wonder if the veteran rapper takes pleasure in the hoopla that he causes?

From his rant and rave antics which causes his audience to question his behavior, to the 'Bound 2' video most people still can't figure out, and with the latest headlines of Kanye

gifting his beloved Kim an expensive Hermes Birkin bag, hand-painted by world renowned artist George Condo, which displays 3 nude women and 1 male creature adorning the front of the forty thousand dollar leather product; it makes you wonder if Mr. West, is trying to make a point?

Instead of "life" happening to the Chicago native wherein art is created as a result, is Kanye trying to make "art" happen to life?

We live everyday as a result of what life has in store for us, and somethings you couldn't plan if you wanted to. But what if you did plot, plan, and use strategy, with the ending result being an execution through works of art transformed into real life? Using the power of the mind to create, in order to elicit a reaction.

It reminds me of Greek tragedies and how a play, film, TV program, or other narrative work, can portray or depict catastrophic events while having an unhappy but meaningful ending. For example: In ancient Greek culture, says philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, "there is a conflict between the plastic arts, namely the Apollonian, and non-plastic art of music, the Dionysian." 

"[...] These two instincts are so different they walk side by side, mostly in open conflict, stimolandosi each other to new and more stalwart reactions to perpetuate itself incessantly in the struggle of that conflict." ~The Birth of Tragedy

And if you look at KimYe in the sense of Apollonian and Dionysian, West's actions begin to make perfect sense. He of course is Apollo; one who suggests reason and the power of the mind, while Kim is Dionysus; one who suggests emotion, sensuality and chaotic action. Furthermore, the 'Bound 2' video makes even more sense as Kanye, used power of the mind to create the art form while Kim, added the features of sensuality and emotion. 

The original 'Bound' song spoke of taking notice of a female and falling in love with her. However, Yeezus' rendition of the song doesn't give you the "falling in love" feeling but instead insinuates plural sex, the fact that he's a "pimp" as he uses Jeromey Rome's name (who as a character is a pimp), all while telling his bride-to-be what position he wanted her in during sex and the special "spunk" drink he planned to give her afterwards -- which Kim seemed to agree with as she "play wiped" her mouth in the video. 

Dionysian is defined as: dissolved individuality, dissolution of all boundaries, excess, human being(s) as the work of art, destruction and non-logical. Would you say this is an accurate description of the reality star?

And that Hermes Birkin hand-painted bag! The art form itself depicts a foursome, as the 'Bound 2' song also suggests multiple sex partners. Dionysian also represents wine drinking and unconstrained sex; did you notice the glass of wine in the painting? 

Regarding the 'Bound 2' video Kanye explains, "I wanted to take white trash t-shirts and make it into a video. Yes. I wanted it to look as phony as possible. I wanted the clouds to go in one direction, the mountains to go in another, the horses to go over there, I wanted to show that this is the "Hunger Games" this is the type of imagery that's being presented to all of us, the only difference is there's a black dude in the middle of it."

We can argue with Kanye about what he meant when he used the term "white trash", we can ask him why he wanted the imagery to look fake and/or phony since he claims that's what Americans watch on TV, and we can even ask why his video represents the "Hunger Games" aka "every man for themselves"; but as you read this I'm sure you can begin to connect the dots.

"Art" happening to "life" makes more sense now doesn't it? 

2013 LA

 

GaBbY gEtS a RoCk

Successful actress and self-proclaimed former mean girl Gabrielle Union, finally received the proposal she'd been waiting for from her longtime basketball beau, Dwayne Wade. The Miami Heat guard gave his girl an early Christmas surprise and afterwards tweeted a picture displaying the HUGE rock he gifted Gabby.

Congrats to the happy couple!

2013 LA

WiLl KiMyE's EgO lEaD tO wReCk AnD rUiN?

When thinking of Hip Hop artist Kanye West and the E! Queen herself Kim Kardashian, what are your first initial thoughts of the couple? Are they perfect for each other? Are they bad for one another? Do you even care?

As the months continue to play out in a whirlwind dramedy of KimYe's recent engagement, many are wondering if the high profile couple will make it to the alter. Not because they can't afford it and not because they don't have the cojones, but because differences of opinion can begin to play a vital role in their covenant.

Have you ever heard the saying "to much of something can sometimes be bad for you?" 

Regarding Kimye I'd say this saying is about accurate as they both continue to push past the cracked glass ceiling, while using their enormous egos to do it. The duo seems to take great pride in using their extreme behavior to garner attention; one that uses brash words to make his point while the other uses her physical anatomy to stimulate -- well, not the mind we'll say. The two extremists will continue to make headlines as they commit to keep pushing their limit to "out-do" themselves -- which will eventually "over-do" themselves. 

Does it matter to fans that their idols' behavior is becoming increasingly extreme? 

As a fan of KimYe, I'd say yes. I LOVE Hip Hop and I LOVE Ye's music however, sometimes his rants and raves are weird and to the point that I wish someone would just give him a hug. Deciphering the Chicago natives rhetoric when he's speaking abruptly is usually easy, but there are other times when one stares in disbelief and total shock over his words. 

For example: when his now fiance Kim Kardashian posted a "selfie" of herself on Instagram, baring all her naked goodness to the world in an all white one piece bathing suit Kanye stated that, "There’s no way Kim Kardashian shouldn’t be on the cover of Vogue [The First Lady has graced the cover twice]. She’s like the most intriguing woman right now. She’s got Barbara Walters calling her like everyday,’ West said. “No one is looking at what [Barack Obama] is wearing. Michelle Obama cannot Instagram a pic like what my girl Instagrammed the other day.”

See what I mean? A total #Smh moment. 

Of course the First Lady can't Instagram a picture like Kim's -- SHE'S THE FIRST LADY! Mrs. O is on a whole other level from Kim, and the amount of money one has -- doesn't have anything to do with it. 

 Furthermore, we're use to seeing Kim K strut her infamous curves that keep our eyes glued to the television set however, I've noticed that the former brunette that we all came to know and drool over seems to be partaking in more cosmetic procedures which is in turn changing the look that originally made her famous. Yes, people do evolve as change is inevitable but there is such a thing as to many botox injections. It can make even the prettiest girl look like a freak show if they aren't careful. 

Kim and Kanye, is it true love?   

  

It seems to be infatuation more so than true love as Kanye seems obsessed with Kim's appearance; she's high profile enough to wear his fashions (as she had to throw away her clothes immediately when they became serious), and there's the likelihood of him extending his gene pool with beautiful babies. 

As for Kim, she seems turned on by Ye's power and A-list celebrity status -- because when it comes down to it the E! reality star won't reign forever, and eventually people will stop "Keeping up with the Kardashians" if no new storyline material emerges. And if the Yeezus rapper isn't careful he can easily be dethroned from the title of creative genius to commercialized character.

With recent word of Kanye's tour sales falling could it be a sign of the "Kardashian Kurse" beginning to take affect?

Will this couple stand the test of time, or crash and burn as quickly as Kim K's 72 day marriage?

2013 LA

LaMaR oDoM cOnFeSsEs To "DL" aCtIvItIeS

Apparently, the Lamar Odom train wreck just keeps getting worse with the latest controversy surrounding a newly leaked video tape, displaying the former Los Angeles Clippers power forward completely inebriated. Also making an appearance in the video is Odom's high school bestie Jaime, who was often seen on the reality show "Khloe and Lamar."

In the three minute tape Lamar and Jaime, incoherently "freestyle confess" about using drugs and cheating with LO slurring the words, "And when Khloe's out of town, I still be on the DL", while hinting that he smokes to "make the pain go away."

Usually when guys use the term "DL" it has a totally different meaning behind it, and normally it's referencing homosexual tendencies. Could this be the reason why Odom pointed to Jaime while stating in his video, "And my boy right here, I got good taste?"

Was it his "boy" that leaked this video? Seriously, I want to have sympathy for Lamar's situation but it's becoming increasingly difficult since he is responsible for his actions. After this entire fiasco dies down I'm sure Khloe Kardashian, will think long and hard before taking another trip down the aisle.

2013 LA

Lamar Odom Cracked Out Rap Video -- I Cheated on Khloe Kardashian - Watch More Celebrity Videos or Subscribe

KAnYe Is PeRmAnEnTlY "kEePiNg Up" WiTh KiM kArDaShIaN

America wondered if Kimye would ever make their bond official and on October 21st, at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California, Kanye rented out the stadium to propose to his baby mama and reality starlet, Kim Kardashian. The E! Queen was presented with a 15 carat Lorraine Schwartz diamond ring, which Kanye helped to design. They say diamonds are a girls' best friend and I'm sure Kim's 33rd birthday got a lot brighter after Kanye, slid that huge sparkler on her finger. 

The life of Kim Kardashian has taken her on a public whirl wind of controversial events; from her exposed sex tape, to her exposed body parts, to her exposed 72 day 2nd marriage from hell. The negative backlash which ensued after Kardashian filed for divorce, appeared to leave her bewildered and vulnerable; enters Kanye West. He was there in her time of need when Kardashian fans felt betrayed by her jilted marriage, and unleashed their fury in comment sections on media outlets. 

The Hip Hop star may have been Kim's saving grace while she endured the tough times in her life and as a result, their bond seemed to be made stronger. West flipped the script on America and made their duo tighter with an "us against the world" type mentality. A fleeting romance emerged between the two highly profiled stars which eventually produced their beautiful 4 month old daughter, North West. 

Honestly, I thought it would take Kanye a lot longer to propose to Kim, since she's been married twice before and the creative genius seemed less inclined to getting his heart broken. But the Yeezus rapper is apparently sure of himself and Kim as well, since she accepted her boyfriend's marriage proposal. 

"[Marriage] is something I know that we both want in our future, but I don't have this sense of urgency about it," Kim herself said in the February 2013 issue of Cosmpolitan. "I have this best friend who understands me and helps me through all my tough experiences, and vice versa, you know? It just feels like this is it for me."

Well, there you have it! Congrats to the newly engaged couple!

2013 LA

HiGhLiGhTs oF tHe 2013 BeT hIp HoP aWaRdS

The host of this years BET Hip Hop Awards was Uncle Snoop, who graced the stage with his calm laid back demeanor and "O G" swag. The show opened with Snoop being interviewed by James Lipton, the host of Inside the Actor's Studio. Lipton was truly a team player using Snoop's one-of-a-kind Ebonics, to communicate with the veteran rapper. The comical video made light of the event which is usually known for its gritty, hard, and explicit artistry. The BET Hip Hop Awards isn't as commercialized as The Grammy's and doesn't give out as many awards, but it does stay focused on the craft of Hip Hop by introducing to the world up-and-coming rappers through metaphorical cyphers.

The political climate was thick at this years award show with rappers wearing hoodies that read, "Racially Profiled" and t-shirts with the "Illuminati pyramid" while referencing black activists like Huey P. Newton. Then uncle Snoop stepped his political game up with a parody video of 'The Butler' which showed him serving several presidents throughout the decades, with Snoop giving each president the proper "greetings" they deserved. The parody video ended with Snoop as the "butler" greeting President Obama, giving the commander-in-chief the down low of the streets while arranging a basketball date with the preezy!

It was a pleasant surprise the variety of cyphers this year with the "Real Husbands of Hollywood" actors, chiming in to contribute their comical cyphers that gave the BET audience a thrill. Most cyphers are serious business so the added comedy was a good balance. Veteran rappers Lil Kim and Joe Budden made cypher appearances but in all honesty, A$AP Mob and Kendrick Lamar stole the cypher show in my opinion. 

Diddy, French Montana, Snoop, and Rick Ross hit the stage giving an energetic performance that got everybody to their feet, with Diddy in the end "crowning" himself as king. Then Bone Thugs-N-Harmony took us back to the "crossroads" and the "first of the month", two singles that exploded within urban communities while proving timeless as the BET audience sang and swayed to the music. 

And of course the "I AM HIP HOP" award went to none other than MC Lyte! Lyte as a Rock! Gotta Get a Rough Neck! What!? The industry veteran took to the stage in her leather black and white outfit, and looked no older than 35 years old. As a person that grew up listening to MC Lyte, all I want to say is it's about time, and I want to personally thank the Hip Hop legend for defending women in her speech. 

The 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards was official.

2013 LA

RaNtInG aNd RaViNg: ThE pHiLoSoPhY tHaT iS kAnYe WeSt

                                     Kanye West; Jimmy Kimmel (NY Daily News)
October 9, 2013 - Hip Hop star Kanye West made an unexpected visit to the Jimmy Kimmel Live show, and it appears both men buried their twitter feud differences with one another; Kimmel apologized to Kanye at the beginning of the interview. During the sit-down which centered around a BBC interview Kanye had given previously, Kimmel did in fact admit he didn't listen to West's rhetoric in it's entirety. West sarcastically commented "Yea that's what I thought."

The apology was due to a parody video Kimmel made which portrayed the rapper as a child ranting West's BBC interview lines. The "Blood on the Leaves" rapper didn't appreciate the video and displayed his frustrations in a public twitter rant. Kimmel seemed to further soften his apology by sharing with the audience his personal experience hanging with West at a wedding, and showed a picture of Kanye with his dad. Kimmel painting a humane picture of West, gave the rapper permission to pick up where he left off from the BBC interview while pressing forward with his complaints of major designers within the fashion industry, who refuse to give him a chance to produce great products due to industry "status" he describes as classism.

After listening to West's BBC interview and watching him on Jimmy Kimmel, it's easy to understand how some people feel Kanye is on a rant rave. He hasn't mastered the art of controlling his passionate outbursts yet, or maybe he just doesn't care to. His aim is definitely to make you "feel" his words.

What do I think about Kanye's "rants"?

Honestly, his "rants" seem to be about discrimination and he appears hurt over the lack of diversity in industry areas of his interest. In his BBC interview West stated "I look around me, and there's no one around here in this space -- that looks like me. And if they are, they're quiet as f**k!" 

It would seem that West isn't a stranger to the hard knock life of discrimination, and chooses to use his powerful platform of artistry to make his frustrations known. His life experiences literally dictate the outcome of his artwork and he has cleverly found a way to mesh both worlds together; upsetting it, not upsetting it. There's a saying that "all publicity is good publicity" and Kanye, seems to take full advantage of this hypothetical.

In the BBC interview West stated, "I'm here to crack the pavement and make new grounds sonicly" and "I'm going to try to make something that jumps up and affects you." Like a slavery movie Kanye doesn't want to make you comfortable he wants to excite the nerves. 

Does Kanye West consider himself to be a new genre? 

In the philosophy that is Kanye West; is molding the world with his imagination the ultimate goal in life therefore unequivocally establishing himself as an "original" and not a carbon copy? It's obvious he's an original when it comes to music but what about other areas -- such as fashion? Will he prove himself to be a master of fashion, or allow himself to be held back by the resistance of others? I'm sure everyone knows the answer to the latter!

Side note: At the end of Jimmy Kimmel Live, did you hear the talk show host call Kim Kardashian Kanye's wife? Was it a stab or simply respect?

2013 LA