Kanye West – Graduation
September 23, 2007Cause Jesus He knows me
and He knows I’m right
I’ve been talking to Jesus all my life
oh yes He knows me
and He knows I’m right
and He’s been telling me
everything is alright
Genesis, “Jesus He Knows Me,” from the album, “We Can’t Dance”
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Jesus Christ, from the Bible, Matthew 7:21-23
We rappers are role models we rap we don’t think
I ain’t here to argue about his facial features
Or here to convert atheists into believers
I’m just trying to say the way school need teachers
The way Kathie Lee needed Regis that’s the way I need Jesus
Kanye West, “Jesus Walks.”
I know some folks may not agree or even like this song
But I’m just speakin MY truth, cause I heard it sets you free
And my conversation’s with God, even though he speaks through me
Ludacris , “Freedom to Preach”
I am sick of some rappers claiming to be right with God or getting right with God. The sin and disgraceful speech that drench their work signifies that they aren’t right with God, that God isn’t happy with them. They are deluding themselves. They are “serving” a God of their own imagination.
Anyway, this isn’t about that, it’s a review of Kanye West’s new album.
Not sure what all the buzz was about regarding the heavy use of keyboards. Rappers have used keyboard sounds from way back. From Whodini to LL to more recently Outkast.
Here’s the songs from West’s new album, along with a little commentary:
“Champion”
This song samples Steely Dan’s “Kid Charlemagne.” Steely Dan is a classic rock band from the 70’s. I always appreciate a well executed sample from a memorable song from the past. Great song, turned disagreeable by the repeated phrase “that’s that sh*t.” The main hook is reminiscent of Jay-Z’s “Show Me What You Got.”
“Stronger”
This song mixes God-aware lyrics with trashy lyrics. Nothing new coming from West.
“I Wonder”
The music is cool, but the rhymes are horrible. The rhymes are like a bad Beastie Boys song slowed down. And “somethin’ in your blouse gots me feeling so aroused?”
“Good Life”
This song samples Michael Jackson’s “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing),” a despicable song to sample, especially in light of Michael Jackson’s known and well publicized pedophilia leanings. Ruins the song for me.
“Can’t Tell Me Nothing”
Surprisingly, Kanye bemoans how stupid he can be and some of the bad mistakes he’s made. “I had a dream I could buy my way to heaven, when I woke I spent that on a necklace.” Believe it or not, I think this is the best rap lyric of 2007. In fact, there are a lot of clever lyrics in this song.
“Barry Bonds”
A big 180 degree turn from the previous song, Kanye boasts about how great he is in every way.
“Drunk and Hot Girls”
Embarrassingly bad.
“Flashing Lights”
This is one of those songs with heavy synthesizers. I like the music, but I don’t really know what he’s talking about. Guess I have to listen to it more.
“Everything I Am”
Whatever.
“The Glory”
“Where the bridesmaids catch the garter” – now that is a wedding I’d rather not attend.
“Homecoming”
The beat and background noise is just like Linkin Park’s “Bleed It Out.” You might recognize the singer as Chris Martin of Coldplay.
“Big Brother”
This is a song about Jay-Z and their relationship through the years. This song has a very disgusting lyric that I won’t mention here.
All and all, no surprises here. It’s obvious Kanye West is a talented rapper and producer. But like most rap albums, it’s just full of boasting. Let’s see what the Bible says about boasting:
In Romans 1:30,31, the apostle Paul is speaking about how, in the last days, God will turn people over to a depraved mind.
“They are gossips, slanderers, God–haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
The definition of “depraved” is corrupt, wicked, or perverted. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is being carried out daily in our society. This is God’s sovereign will for the people of the world- they refuse to worship Him who is to be worshiped, so he’s turned them over to their sins. Ever wonder why some sins, that only decades ago were frowned upon by society have now been embraced?
What about you, dear reader? Has God turned you over to your sins? Are you boastful? Are you disobedient to your parents, without feeling the slightest bit bad about it?
There’s only one who can save you from this path of destruction, Jesus Christ.
There was a violent earthquake when the apostle Paul and Silas were in prison for preaching the gospel of Christ.
At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”
The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.
He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God–he and his whole family.Acts 16:26-34
Will you be like that jailor and be miraculously saved? Or will you be like Kanye? Boastful, thinking you’re right with God? But really not right with God at all.
u r retarted, n i will b nether the jailer that is saved nor kanye who thinks he has found god but hasnt…i will b j formz, who does wut he does n doesnt pretend to b or not b found by god, if i go to heaven i go to heaven, if not, then that sucks, but wuteva happens happens cause i do wut i do n 1 day well c wut the outcome is…go do sumthin wit ur life, because u have way too much time on ur hands…1
And, for a moment, I thought there were big mainstream rappers out there that WERE right with God!
As you’ve again shown to a “T,” music is only getting worse. It’s too bad that “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” which DOES have the best rap lyric of 2007 (I agree), still has language that dwarfs everything he said prior about God. And it all slides downhill. But what the heck does “bridesmaids catch the garter” mean? I looked up “garter” on my iMac’s extremely handy onboard dictionary, and the definition didn’t make sense.
Sometimes I wonder how people can even display such hypocrisy, and part of me says (wrongly), “Well, at least I’m not like THAT!” But after reading this, a couple of verses come to mind: “If you love Me, you will keep My Commandments.” And there’s something else that God speaks a lot, about “man’s works of righteousness [being] nothing but filthy rags.”
But after reading your evaluation on Kanye’s new album and looking at the lyrics for myself, I ran those verses through my life, and I saw that my actions are not much different from Kanye’s. He is trying to delude himself into thinking he’s right with God, and he has done a good job. I am a perfectionist to the max in everything that I do, and unfortunately, I have a strong tendency to take that to the extreme. Yet, in my failing efforts to stay 100% right with God and keep my life balanced, I wonder how much room I’m leaving for God’s grace in the areas that I have failed in the most. In essence, I say to myself, “Mess up once more, John, and you’re screwed!” (Some of what I used to do would probably make people want to throw up.) And surprise, surprise! I run myself ragged trying to keep myself perfect. And where’s God’s grace applying in my life?
Maybe, like me, Kanye truly wants to get it right, or he’s trying to justify himself by throwing in God and even a bit of Scripture, while still singing and acting in ways that are abominable. Or he could be doing all of the above. But the point is, I have to be painfully reminded that a Christ-follower’s perfectionist attitude doesn’t score me any more points than unsaved rappers’ hypocrisy. They’re still filthy rags before the Lord. There’s no difference.
In addition to your writing bringing up major areas in my life and walk with God, your critiques on modern music are great. It’s always an enjoyable read. Thank you!
< John
its good , but i would like to see more of related videos and snaps
I completely agree, Kanye is horrible, I used to love him and his music, Till i found out exactly what he meant by his songs. and he has lusting songs, and that is not of god. He says He’s a believer but then he sings a song “Drunk and Hot Girls.”, No, I’m sorry. Very Absurd.
ALSO, JAY-Z, That Man Is like a devil believer, Look here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oRyrhJdwCw
I’m not gullible or anything, But this man speaks the truth.
Elena Mena, I saw that video you linked to above. That was appalling to hear about Jay-Z’s encoded message. Thank you for posting the link to that video. What an eye-opener.
Robert, great observation vis-à-vis “Kid Charlemagne” by Steely Dan. Awesome song by an awesome group. Thanks, and Merry Christmas!
I’m not surprised at your comments, but I think you are judging a culture you don’t understand by your own standards, which are not entirely applicable. Consider Jesus Walks, a popular song of Kanye West’s. He wrote and produced that song to send a message about God, to make a generation of kids that weren’t paying attention sit up and listen. That album spun pretty well because it was so novel, but if he continued to make records like that, the novelty would wear off. The man has to make money. If putting out albums is his job, he has to write songs that his demographic will buy. That’s not to say that music should be about money, or that artists should compromise their beliefs in the pursuit of cash, but it really comes down to what kind of impact an artist wants to make. The more albums Kanye West sells, the more influential his opinion, and the more he can talk about what he really wants to say. And he has expressed before that he really wants people to pay attention to God. His language and some of his content are certainly objectionable, but the man openly admits that he’s writing about his sins. I don’t think it’s wrong for him to tell others about his sins, but I suppose I can see why you might. There are some songs, like Drunk and Hot Girls, that I won’t even listen to, but can we not, as Christians, accept the bad choices of the wayward along with the good? Consequently, I, personally, think it is wrong for you to presume that you know what God thinks about Kanye West and his music, or much of anything else really. Humans are not on this earth to judge others–deeming one person as “not right with God” or not even “trying to be right with God” when you say you are, is the exact type of thinking that leads to radical religious views, which are dangerous.
By the way, John, garters are the lacy bands brides wear around their legs under the dress. By European tradition, the groom removes the garter after the wedding ceremony. This tradition comes from the days when newlyweds were shoved into a room with the family members ripping off the couple’s clothes, encouraging them to proliferate. Objectionable, I suppose, but it’s tradition.
Them’s fighting words! I absolutely understand this culture. This blog exists to expose this culture for what it is- morally bankrupt and in need of repentance.
Them’s stupid words. Remember when God commissioned Jonah to go into Nineveh and preach against it? I guess God was trying to lead people to have radical religious views. Maybe we “Christians” should just put our heads in the sand and not say anything in judgment about other people. Jesus said “by their fruits you will recognize them.” By recognizing them we’re recognizing what they are. That is righteous judgment.
Well, now Robert. First of all, I’m talking about African American culture, not popular American culture, and I’m not convinced that you do understand it. Certainly, it needs fixing, but “morally bankrupt” is a strong label to put on an entire culture.
Second, Jonah’s story, as I’m sure you will agree, is completely different from Kanye West’s. Since your parallel is irrelevant, your argument falls apart. God has not told Kanye West to preach against common culture. In terms of numbers, West has done a better job of spreading God’s word than your average Christian. Nobody would buy an entire album of Christian rap. That’s why he hasn’t made it. He makes what sells, but he still tries to spread the gospel. He’s just a guy doing the best he can with what he’s got. There’s nothing wrong with that. Although, I do wish he’d clean up his lyrics a little.
Your an idiot.