Kanye West- Runaway: The Movie

Heading out now, but I'll be back with impressions of this one later, check it out if you haven't already... pretty amazing visuals.

Kanye West- Paranoid

Continuing in his attempts to create images for every song on 808s and Heartbreaks, Fishstick fanatic Kanye West dropped this new video for Paranoid:

First off, yes, that is Rihanna as the featured girl in this video. And yes she looks absolutely amazing. Kind of ironic that she's featured in a song about Paranoid women, when she is on record as being... a paranoid woman. Oh irony, how comical.

Great video and great song, 'nuff said.

Fresh New Music-- Clipse F/ Kanye West

Mailce and Pusha T are back minus their signature Neptunes sound. Either way, this new joint is a monster. Shout to Kanye for posting this on his blog, and dropping a great verse.

Check out CLIPSE - KINDA A BIG DEAL F/ KANYE WEST

Shout to Miss Info for the drop.

New Artists to check for in 2009-- Big Sean

Big Sean Mixtape

Hailing from Santa Monica, CA, Big Sean has been around for about 2 or 3 years. The recent G.O.O.D Music / Def Jam signee looks to drop his debut"Finally Famous" later this year. Make sure you check for that.

I first heard him on Kanye's 2006 mixtape "Can't Tell Me Nothing" when he came with this joint:

If you're feeling that joint, check out the mixtape. Its really really good. I hope to hear more from this artist later this year.

Rick Ross' new album is gonna be amazing

Rick Ross' new album drops this tuesday, and from what I've heard so far, the album is incredible. I'll try to post a review, but everytime I promise to do something on the blog, I wind up taking an extended "blog vacation... but I digress. Check out this stand out cut, "Maybach Music Part 2" f/ Kanye West, T-Pain & Lil Wayne.

Kinda funny that Wayne and Kanye replaced Jay-Z on Part II of Maybach Music (Hov was on Part one, which was on Ross' 2007 album "Trilla")

Has Jay-Z finally become irrelevant?? Probably not, but I'm sure some less talented bloggers will share in that opinion...

What do you think?

G.O.O.D. Music in the House!

Kanye and the G.O.O.D Music roster were recently at the Fader/ Levi's party and performed the teams two biggest joints right now, Day and Night, and Love Lockdown. Check it out:





Dope. GIVE US THAT ROBOCOP VIDEO!!!! I WILL NOT ASK AGAIN!!!

Daft Punk Console

Shout to Kanye for posting this... a GREAT way to waste time. See if you can recreate some of that Daft Punk Magic:

Daft Punk Console

You'll thank me later...

NEW KANYE ... sort of

88 Keys- Stay Up! (Viagra) f/ Kanye West



Great song, with an even better video... one big problem: THIS SONG IS DAMN NEAR 2 YEARS OLD!!

I first heard this on Kanye's "Can't Tell Me Nothing" mixtape back in the summer of 2007. Oh well, still a hot song. Love me a hot blond... haha.

Go pick up that 88 Keys album, its great. Real talk.

Kanye West Live from American Idol

"Heartless" live



I love how they made sure to add the auto tune to Kanye's audio... even his ad libs. I'm not gonna dwell on the music too much, everyone knows i'm like the biggest Kanye Stan. I will comment, however, on the jean jacket Kanye was sporting. This was a rare miss in my opinion. I'm not feeling the resurgence of the jean jacket at all. Wasn't feeling it when I was 10 or 14 and I'm not a fan now.

Otherwise, an okay performance on a dying show.

Welcome to Heartbreak video

This video is really trippy... good to see Kid CuDi get some shine, maybe we'll see a video for Day N Nite one of these days. Maybe...

I'm a little pissed at this video, especially because this is not even close to being the best track of 808s. Kanye, please, give me a video for Robocop!!!!


Off 808's and Heartbreaks, in stores now.

Is gay the new straight PT-2

Leave it to Kanye West to sidestep the gay questions that naturally come with his daring sense of style. Check out his interview/ freestyle with Sway of MTV.

Kanye & Sway




This video brings me back to a post we put up way back last summer, in which we raised the question, "Is gay the new straight?".

Gay is the New Straight Part 1

Personally, my insight on this issue is a little bit different than it was a few months ago. In my initial post, I stated that I was good with the fashion forward style. One of the comments on the post stated that one cannot dress "gay". That is indeed factually correct, I think the look could more appropriate be considered dressing in a fashion forward manner, or simply being fashion forward.

Since my last post of this variety, I lost quite a bit of weight, which is awesome, except for the fact that almost none of my clothes from before fit me. With the opportunity to refresh my wardrobe, i decided to give the slim/ fashion forward look a try. Why not?

Its been a mixed bag, the ladies dig it, but the fellas and bros... not so much. I understand why some people are so abrasive about embracing the tight fitted look. Check out Terminology's "Tight Pants are for Girls" if you need proof of what I'm saying here.

Terminology's song, and many people's distain for this look show a strong fear of homosexuality among many in the Hip Hop community. While the title of this post references gay culture, and most people equate this look with gay men, be clear, the fashion forward look does not try to emulate gay culture. In fact, the look tries to replicate the fashion characteristics of the 80s: Slim jeans, graphic tees, Sunglasses and other elements of that era.



Personally, I dress for me (and for the opposite sex) so dudes can hate all they want, I'm feeling Kanye on this one.

Lets get a conversation started, gents, do you have a problem with the fashion choices of dudes like Kanye and most of the Village? Why?

Ladies, scared your man may steal your jeans??

Speak on it!!

Grammy Performances

Courtesy of World Star Hip Hop

Justin Timberlake and T.I. - Dead and Gone



M.I.A, T.I. , Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Kanye West & M.I.A.'s fetus- Swagger Like Us



Coldplay f/ Jay-Z - Lost




I'm on my way out, so I'll leave it to you all... what did ya'll think of the performances??? How about M.I.A rocking with a bun in the oven??? Poor kid...


Btw, I know I was COMPLETELY wrong about the album of the year award... next time I'll do a better job with my due diligence. Led Zeppelin was awesome, btw.

I wanna be Kanye when I grow up

In case you were unaware, Kanye West is releasing a sneaker designed by Louis Vuitton. I can't lie, these sneakers are pretty hot. Appearantly, Mr. West is a big fan of the sneaker, as well as a big fan of himself. Check out his latest Vlog post, courtesy of Vimeo...


A message from kwest on Vimeo.

I know many people think that Kanye is an arrogant bastard, and please believe, he is... but consider this: what other rapper, or celebrity has an endorsement with a brand as respected and highly regarded as Louis Vuitton? Exactly. I mean, check out how good this things look with jeans...



I know many of you are probably thinking, "Damn Jersey, you dick-riding!"... Sorry guys. I guess i've been caught red-handed here, pause.

Kanye, swaggerific, or cocky bastard? Speak on it!!!

Kanye on the Cover of Vibe

I know the man is hurting and all, but damn, you rich! Got get a shape up, Chi-City, please send your boy a clue... madness.

UNSIGNED HYPE - Mr. Hudson and the Library

Don't let the Guitar fool you, this guy is very very talented. You may have heard Mr. Hudson on Kanye's recent musical opus. Mr. Hudson and his band 'The Library' hail from London, England and showcase a rediculious sound which is part Beatles, part auto tune, part hip-hop, but all dope. The band has toured with the crackhead you all loving know as Amy Winehouse and have performed at such UK venues as Glastonbury, T in the Park and Bestival.

Check out their lead track, "There Will Be Tears".



Mr. Hudson is signed to G.O.O.D Records, and plans to release a record sometime this year. I'm looking forward to it.

(Btw, I know he's signed, so techincally he's not 'unsigned hype'... whatever)

Kanye West Live from SNL

Heartless/ Pinocchio Story



Love Lockdown



Enjoy, watching these helped me escape the pain of watching Brett Farve and the Jets shit the bed. Thanks Kanye.

Bring on the Remixes!!!

If you haven't done so, please stop reading this blog and get that Kanye West album 808s and Heartbreaks. If been noticing a lot of remixes coming down the pipeline from the albums check out these two stand outs:

Love Lockdown Techno Remix f/ LMFAO



Heartless remix f/ Rick Ross



Something for the hip hop heads and for the club kids. ENJOY.

EVERYBODY should buy Kanye West's new album

Exclusive Kanye West Interview w/ DJ Symtex



I just finished listening to the retail version of Kanye West's new album 808s and Heartbreaks. I was absolutely blown away. The first thing I noticed was that there was no parental advisory sticker. My simple ass, I'm thinking, shit, I got the edited version. But in actuality, Kanye forgoes his braggadocios style for a more honest, reserved swagger.

If you are a simpleton who loves to listen only to rap music, please, avoid this album at all costs... IT IS NOT FOR YOU!!! Believe me, this album is more Coldplay than Plies. If you read this blog, you know I love Coldplay, Radiohead and Electronica, and the same qualities I see in those artists and genres are present in this album.

I really respect Kanye as an artist because he stepped out and made the album he wanted to make. If we can only get 50 Cent or some of these other knuckleheads in music to do the same. A lot of people have complained that Kanye has gone 'Emo' or soft, but let me ask you this, aren't you a little tired of Rap music that all sounds the same? Open your mind to some new shit. Why not?

Check out one of the highlights of the albums, Amazing featuring a phenomenal verse from Young Jeezy:



INCREDIBLE.

Please comment, let me know how everyone is feeling about this album. Love it? Hate it? Don't give a shit? Speak on it.

A few more words about auto-tune

I've been going back and forth about how I really feel about the budding trend of rappers using the vocoder or auto tune effect to alter their voices in songs. At first, like many of you, I first heard the sound and thought my Macbook was mailing it for the day. The first song I clearly remember that showcased the sound was T-Pain's "I'm Sprung".



Pain's every word was delievered with extra emphasis and it almost felt like he was crawling through the track. As silly as the song was, it paved the way for current crop of auto-tune tracks. Seriously, everyone who features the sound on songs/ albums owes a great debt to Mr. Pain. He's the Jackie Robinson of the Auto-Tune... that's a painful analogy to make, trust me.

How do I currently feel about the auto tune trend? I'm actually starting to love it. I think artists are getting creative with the ways they employ the technique. Case and point: Mr. Kanye West. Check out "Robocop"



I LOVE THIS SONG. I can't stress that enough. Shout out to my homie Camille. She came thru on Friday and kicked it with me for about an hour with this song on repeat.

Back to business, this is what I mean by the auto-tune effect being used in a very creative way. The record also exists somewhere between hip-hop and electronica. As a big fan of electronica and trance, I guess I am more in tune to like this musical movement.

But what about people who do not share my live for computerized music? Is that you? Do you crave hip-hop that only talks about blunts, 40s and bitches? Well, guess what?? The auto-tune movement can give you that also. Check out this gem from Lil' Wayne's new mixtape Dedication 3.



Lil Wayne- She's a Rider f/ Gudda Gudda

Not as crazy about this song, but I think its a good example of how the auto-tune can work for very traditional (insert boring, predicitable, or simple) hip-hop.

So here it is, Da Turnpike officially endorses the Auto-Tune... that is, until Plies or Fat Joe decide to send their voice through the digital cutting board. Let's pray that day is not any time soon, this week has already been painful.

New Kanye West Videos!

Heartless from kwest on Vimeo.

Kanye West- Heartless

Beautiful song/ video. 808s and Heartbreaks coming soon...

EVEN MORE KANYE...



MORE!!



DJ Earworm - Love Lockdown/ Radiohead mash up.

This remix/ video is awesome. Definite upgrade from the original version, which is actually dope.

Dj Khaled f/ Kanye West and T-Pain- Go Hard

From DJ Khaled's We Global, in stores now.