Genius annotations provide additional meaning & context to lyrics, poetry, text and beyond. We broke down everything Kanye West has said in 2015 to provide a more insightful view on the most polarizing man in pop culture.
January 1: Kanye West ft. Paul McCartney - "Only One"
Kanye delivered "Only One" from the perspective of his late mother, Donda West, as she looks on him from Heaven. He couldn't remember singing the song when lines were played back to him, and concluded Donda was sending him a message. The song is very similar to The Beatles' "Let It Be", which Sir Paul McCartney wrote about the death of his mother.
Legendary producer Rick Rubin annotated the song's first verse:Kanye is a combination of careful and spontaneous. He’ll find a theme he likes quickly, and then live with that for a while, not necessarily filling in all the words until later. At the end, he’ll fill in all the gaps
He was upset at one point when I said that he wrote the lyrics quickly. He’s right — they percolate for a long time, he gets the phrasing into his brain, lives with it, and then lines come up. It definitely starts from this very spontaneous thing
On Only One, a lot of those lyrics came out free-form, ad-libs. The song is essentially live, written in the moment. Some of the words were later improved, but most of it was stream of consciousness, just Kanye being in the momentJanuary 25: Rihanna ft. Kanye West & Paul McCartney - "FourFiveSeconds"
Yeezy's return to the charts couldn't have come with a better tune. The stripped back 70's esque track features a booming chorus from Rihanna, accompanied by Sir Paul McCartney's chord progression on the acoustic guitar. The genre blending song is the brainchild of West & McCartney, who originally created the song for Kanye's So Help Me God.If I go to jail tonight
Promise you'll pay my bail
See they want to buy my pride
But that just ain't up for sale
January 27: Ellen Degeneres Show
Kanye has appeared on the Ellen Show four times in his career - 2008, 2010, 2013, and now 2015. Like his previous visit, he used the opportunity to premiere a music video - this time for "Only One". He also spoke about his change in attitude since Yeezus, his marriage, and clothing line with Adidas.Ellen: How do you think marriage has changed you, if it has?
Kanye: I've definitely learned how to compromise more. Which is something you have to understand when you partner with people in business.January 29: Big Sean ft. Drake & Kanye West - "Blessings"
Big Sean's "Blessings" featuring Drake and Kanye (on the remix) gave each artist a chance to give thanks for the lives they lead. Of course Kanye didn't stop there, he gave us a hint at what he might be planning in the future.And my daughter right there getting home-schooled
I'm blessed/And I was thinking 'bout starting up my own school/A MontessoriJanuary 31: The Daily’s Fashion Los Angeles Awards Speech
Kanye's relationship with the fashion industry is similar to his relationship with music: he started at the bottom, now he's here. While he may be ridiculed by the outside world, he's well regarded by some of the industries most respected members - Mazdack Rassi and Anna Wintour are among them.As we all know, The Devil Wears Prada was about Anna..I said, “I wanna be in the middle of that conversation.”...She was talking about the blue sweater...Let’s make the conversation shorter between when the blue sweater goes from a Wang show to when it finally hit Kohl’s’ or something.February 9: E.T interviews Kanye pre Grammys
"This is the irony of my life" - Kanye discussed his plans to improve the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences with E.T pre Grammys - none of those plans included getting up on stage.I'm appreciative of my nomination but I really just wanted to use the stage to perform this song "Only One". It's extremely important to me. Also the Grammy's could adjust their voting system, I think it's extremely flawed but we're going to work on that, I'm not going to complain from stage about it. I'm gonna work on it from the inside
February 9: E! interviews Kanye post Grammys
In the space of five hours Kanye had changed his mind, gracing the stage at the Grammys to protest Beck's "Album Of The Year" win over Beyonce. While everyone thought Kanye was poking fun at himself, Yeezus turned up to the after party and had some choice words - none of which came out in the right order.We ain't finna play with them no more. "***Flawless", Beyoncé video. And Beck needs to respect artistry, and he should've given his award to Beyoncé.February 11: On Air with Ryan Seacrest
Kanye called Ryan Seacrest to set the record straight two days after the most tweeted about moment at the Grammys. While not apologising directly to Beck (he did this on The Breakfast Club), Kanye clarified what he mean't by "respect artistry".When I said that thing about respect artistry, I think it came off the wrong way, and that was a mis-wording on my part because obviously Beck is one of the most respected artists and respects artistry. But I felt — and this is my opinion and he’s his own man and he’s not wrong and we’ll still go play basketball and stuff [unless] he doesn’t want to do it — but I felt that even though the Grammys some times gives awards to people who you wouldn’t think should win in the category, as a respect to artists, we mention the other artist’s name in our speech. And that was the point I was making about it. There’s like many of times I gave other people my award, literally made them come up onstage. Maroon 5, when they won best new artist, [Adam Levine] mentioned me because it was the College Dropout and [it had] 10 nominations and all that.February 12: André Leon Talley interviews Kanye for Vogue
After showcasing YEEZY SEASON 1 during New York Fashion Week, Kanye was asked how he feels about his "pronouncements that become viral, and go viral immediately" - in reference to the Beck incident - his answer:I feel good, I feel like a human being, I feel like a man. A man can make mistakes, a man can have an opinion, a man can be hypocritical. But you know, I feel like I have blood in my veins. That my blood hasn't been turned cold by the concept of celebrity or missed opportunities or perception.February 12: Kanye West discusses his new fashion line with MTV
Mr. West spoke to MTV after YEEZY SEASON 1 about "taste levels" and challenging critics & viewers to share his vision of the future.Taste shouldn't be used to separate, it should be used to problem solve. So I've been raising my taste level and educating myself and putting myself around people with way higher taste. And now we're using it to give something back to the people and this is the very beginning. Mark this interview, mark this interview, look back at this interview five years from now and see what happens from this. For anyone, you know who reviews the collection poorly, whatever they might do - not even to put that type of energy out there, but if they do, I really feel sorry for that they don't have a vision of what the future holds - cause you just saw the future.
February 12: Kanye West ft. SIa & Vic Mensa - "Wolves"
Kanye debuted "Wolves" at the YEEZY SEASON 1 launch event during New York Fashion Week and live broadcasts in fifty movie theatres across the globe. "Wolves" explores a range of emotions - depression, addiction, suicide, fear, hope and love. Kanye, Vic Mensa & Sia had to reach their lowest of lows to get where they are today.Lost out, beat up
Dancin', down there
I found you, somewhere out
'Round 'round there, right right there
Lost and beat up
Down there, dancin'
I found you, somewhere out
Right down there, right 'round thereFebruary 16: The Kanye West Interview with Style.com
Style.com provided one of Kanye's most articulate interviews since his media hiatus ended in 2013. He opened up about his feelings on the Adidas line, his perception in the fashion world, and how he ascended from spoofed designer to fashion god.Just as much as Drake is influenced by Kanye West, you know my fucking influences. You see Raf Simons right there, you see Helmut, you see Margiela, you see Vanessa [Beecroft], you see Katharine Hamnett. It’s blatantly right there.February 16: Complex Magazine Interviews Kanye West
Kanye also spoke to Complex Magazine during NYFW, comparing the Adidas collection to the Superbowl and himself to illusionist David Blaine. However, what surprised us most was this on-point comparison with Eminem.I feel like I’m Eminem, you know? You don’t think "white rapper." You just think Eminem. You don’t think celebrity designer, straight designer, black designer, all these types of things that kind of held me back conceptually in being accepted as a designer. You just think of those words. But when those moon boots come out, you put them on your feet and just swag out and go somewhere with your friends, those words don't matter. February 17: Big Sean ft. Kanye West & John Legend - "One Man Can Change The World"
Kanye continued to jump on Big Sean's singles and on February 17, the pair, along with John Legend released the moving "One Man Can Change The World" - an ode to their mothers and grandmothers.And when you get it all just remember one thing
Remember one thing
That one man could change the world
That one man could change the world
February 21: The Breakfast Club Interview
After a vintage interview in 2013, the Charlemagne vs Kanye war was ready to heat up again in 2015. While everyone was expecting a difference of opinion, the two old rivals surprisingly got along. Kanye spoke candidly about doing more for the artists he's signed, as well as what he can do for hip hop.But I owe hip-hop. You know, just like, saying like, Ben Horowitz is the only VC out in San Fran that believes in rap. You know, he gave Nas a piece of Rap Genius and all that. You know, he used to be in a rap group. But, you know we all owe hip-hop.February 24: Big Sean ft. Kanye West - "All Your Fault"
Rumoured to have originally been Kanye's song, "All Your Fault" features Big Sean & Ye trading bars over a rich Ambrosia’ sample. While he admitted to during The Breakfast Club Interview his father Ray advised he stay out of 2014's heated debate on race in America, he went ahead regardless.But cops chokin' n***as out in the media
We finna have to protest and tear the city up
We bout to tear this whole place up pretty muchFebruary 24: BET Honors Speech
Ever since Kanye West's had a platform to express himself, he's educated us about the future. They told him he wasn't going to rap - he rapped. They told him he wasn't going to make clothes - he does that too. Parts of his BET Honors Speech drew us back to his College Dropout days, and reminded us at the end of the day he's still the same old Kanye.So don't think that because we can afford this custom Balmain suit that we're free. And don't think that because we can buy a $300,000 car that we're free.
February 26: Kanye West ft Allan Kingdom, Paul McCartney & Theophilus London T - "All Day"
After the release of pop tracks "Only One" & "FourFiveSeconds", Kanye dropped a banger at the BRIT Awards. The performance was as grandiose as the production, with flamethrowers and what Theophilus London described as "goons" on stage. Kanye did what he does best - get people talking.Don't really matter what I make, boy, you know I still go wild. Like a light skinned slave, boy, we in the mothafuckin' houseFebruary 27th: Interview with Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1
Kanye's 2013 interview with Zane Lowe is widely regarded as his most polarizing. Yet in 2015 we saw a new Kanye. He went from calling himself "a god" in 2013, to referring to himself as the "40 year old virgin of dealing with corporations" just 18 months later. He also went onto describe his new album, titled So Help Me God.Kanye West: I mean, it's a joyful noise onto the Lord. Like, it is still, you know, the struggle, you know, but the beauty from the struggle. You know
Zane Lowe: As opposed to just the struggle?
Kanye West: Yea, the song Amazing Grace, you know coming out of the worst pain possible and making the most beautiful song you know, possible.
March 3: Lecture at Oxford University
No stranger to prestigious universities (see his speech at Harvard School of Design in 2013), Kanye lectured at Oxford University's Guild Society, providing students with his view on social constructs, including racism and classism.You could say "But you are successful?" I’m successful in learning about the beauty that is afforded to rich people. But in learning that, being brought up, middle class, it’s something that is beating out of my chest. ‘Wait a second, I was middle class, and I didn’t get to see none of this shit!’March 4: Unreleased: Behind The Scenes With GQ
Kanye graced the cover of GQ magazine for the summer of 2014, but it wasn't until March 2015 that the behind the scenes video of the photo shoot surfaced online. The relatively short interview features Kanye discussing tones and proportions, along with "taking things to the Genius level".If you're given a voice, you have to take that seriously. March 8: Interview with WWD Paris
After producing the majority of his previous album in a Paris loft, Kanye's love of everything French continued into 2015 with a four night residency at the Louis Vuitton Foundation. During his visit to Paris Fashion Week, he spoke to Womens Wear Daily and described his love of the city, and why his experience in Paris has made him a better creative.As a musician, I would have never been able to design a show like what you saw tonight if it hadn’t been for my experience in Paris — learning how to minimize and make design decisions, how we started with just the single light.
March 12: Interview with CliqueTV
Kanye caught up with Clique TV and old friend Jean Touitou for an interview at the A.P.C Headquarters in Paris. He discussed race, designing, and the struggles of fame.The thought was that everything popular was very basic and not complex and the negative connotation of commercial. So soon as you're commercial, you don't have the complexity of a Bach, a Mozart, a Basquiat, and if you say out loud as a commercial person that you're in the same breath as Basquiat, then everyone looks at you like you're an egomaniac or somethingApril 10: Vic Mensa ft. Kanye West "U Mad"
The Kanye West drought hadn't even lasted a month when Vic Mensa dropped "U Mad" off his Street Lights EP. Kanye's verse was littered with quotables, notably his reference to multiple "MJ's".I feel like MJ, I'm in his shoes
I'm talkin' Montell Jordan, this is how we doApril 10: Profile by T Magazine
The New York Times profiled West during New York Fashion week, touching on his previous frustrations with the fashion industry, working with Adidas, and his own psyche.I have this table in my new house, they put this table in without asking. It was some weird nouveau riche marble table, and I hated it. But it was literally so heavy that it took a crane to move it. We would try to set up different things around it, but it never really worked
I realized that table was my ego. No matter what you put around it, under it, no matter who photographed it, the douchebaggery would always come through.April 13: Tyler, the Creator ft. Kanye West & Lil Wayne "SMUCKERS"
Hailed by fans as his most "lyrical" guest feature of the year, Kanye's flow on "SMUCKERS" is reminiscent of songs that appear on Late Registration - Tyler's favorite "Kanye era".They say I'm crazy but that's the best thing going for me / You can't lynch Marshawn, if Tom Brady throwin' to meApril 15: The 100 Most Influential People by TIME Magazine
While Elon Musk penned his profile, TIME also interviewed West. He spoke on breaking the internet, entering the fashion world and surprisingly to most, stated he "didn't care about being remembered."I don't care about having a legacy, I don't care about being remembered. The most important thing to me is like - while I'm here, while we're having fun, while we're going to sleep and breathing oxygen and living life and falling in love and having pain and having joy is like "What can I do? What can I do with my voice, what can we do each other to make life easier - to make life doper for our kids? You know, as they grow up." We were born into a broken world and we're like the cleanup crew.
April 20: Kanye West: In His Own Words
Kanye took it back to KanyeUniverseCity days and penned his own cover story for PAPER MAG. He spoke on a range of subjects; from racism, to the Illuminati, and his place in the creative world.It's funny that I worked at the Gap in high school, because in my past 15 years it seems like that's the place I stood in my creative path -- to be the gap, the bridge.To be continued...
