Quote:
Originally Posted by Igottago
Let's face it -- Musical "geniuses" are either self proclaimed, or packaged and sold these days. Musical genius has become a marketing term. I think I've heard people describe Drake and Lil Wayne as musical geniuses at points as well. But honestly, if you have to tell me you're a musical genius, it most likely means you aren't one.
I've had this discussion with friends, Kanye is fine, there is talent there -- but I just see him as a chartoon character, he's obsessed with his own fame and god complex, and that makes it hard for him to tap into any real insight with his music and lyrics. To me musical geniuses tap into something vital about the human experience -- I don't really get that from Kanye. I'm no expert on rap, but I think Tupac was far more a genius than Kanye has ever been, at least in the rap genre. There was something undeniably real with that guy, including all his flaws. With Kanye I still feel like I'm being sold something, from what I've listened to.
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Honestly when I first started listening to his albums I thought exactly the same. "This guy's such a goof, who raps about these things?". His cornball lyrics were what initially caught my attention, most for humorous effect.
But on subsequent listens it was the passages and builds the songs went through that really caught my ear and kept me coming back. His albums are just densely packed with different melodies & passages that a single song will end up sounding closer to three different songs.
You know Layla by Derek and the Dominos switches gears about 1/2 way through? Most his tracks are like that, except split into 1/3rds, 1/4ths, or even 1/5ths. No recycling of the common verse/course/verse structure.
I could blow hot air all day about this really, but I guess I just find his approach refreshing and unique. I'd put it on par with St. Vincent in terms of a twisted/angular approach.
But I also listen to a lot of Ministry/Industrial music circa '89-'92, so my definition of "genius" is questionable at best.