EuroNymous

5y

In Defense of “Nah Nah Nah” by Kanye West This song was immediately met with extreme hatred from hip hop fans and even Kanye fans, and I want to say not only do I disagree, but I find this song to be fantastic, and probably his best since Kids See Ghosts (not including leaks). I'm going to start with the beat. Many call this beat irritating, but frankly I don't understand how this beat is much different than most trap songs. The prominent flute sample is loud and dissonant, but I feel it provides tension and adds to the manic mood of the song. Unlike other trap songs with a prominent flute samples (Mask Off, Kanye's own "New Body," "Praise the Lord") this flute sample seems to fight against the beat and sticks out. I understand finding this beat irritating, but considering rap music is filled with constructing beats out of various dissonant noises, I don't really see why this songs as particularly different. I like the flute sample in this song a lot more than the previously listed examples because of its dissonance. It makes the beat feel very anxious and provides a avant-garde noise influence into the song. It reminds me a lot of recent rap songs that use crazy orchestral or minimalist samples and create a catchy beat around that sample (something like Uzi's New Patek or Death Grips’ System Blower). I think the beat is great, and I especially like the inclusion of the heavenly choir in the last third of the song. It feels almost hellish, and in a lot of ways reminds me of a more trap infused yeezus. Kanye's fascination with Playboi Carti is obvious here, as I think this song sounds like the kind of crazy soundscape he would try to rap on. As for the lyrics... I mean, what did you expect? How can you not find the Star Wars reference absolutely ridiculous and hilarious? This is what Kanye has always done, no different. In my opinion, its corny and stupid but it works just like some of his other corny lines (FSYH pt 1, highlights, All Mine). The hate of Kanye's flow is also understandable, but in my opinion close minded. He sounds frantic, slurred and hyper on this track, and I love it. Compared to what was made on Jesus Is King, Kanye feels alive and really fits in with the music. After how hollow Ye's vocals sounded on Jesus Is King, isn't this exactly what we were looking for? Kanye makes use of a couple different flows here, and despite sounding sloppy, he manages to make use of the awkward rhythm of this track in a way I wouldn't expect. Kanye is showing on this track that despite his age he understands modern hip hop. He understands why trap music is as celebrated as it is right now, and with this song he contributes to its ever growing experimentation. Again, the Playboi Carti influence on this song is very clear. Similar to Carti, Kanye is being laughed at and scorned for his willingness to take trap into weirder and more ridiculous directions, and I find that extremely fascinating. Like many other Kanye songs from the past decade the ridiculousness of some of his lines distract people from what he is really saying. As kanye fans, shouldn't we be the ones to know this? We know the thematic purpose of his debauchery on Yeezus and TLOP, so why not here? Kanye is shouting out against the influences he feels controls the world he lives in as a black man. How is this any different than what he has been preaching his whole career? If I put myself in harm's way to get my own masters They'll put theyself in harm's way to stay the master They'll put theyself in harm's way 'cause they ain't askin' They'll put theyself in harm's way, the slaves are massive How can anyone think the beat change that occurs underneath these lines is anything other than absolutely crazy? Kanye's closing lines on this song remind me a lot of Vince Staples "Bak Bak," where Staples raps about how black people will not stop at Obama and that they will continue to push further and further in order to get the equality they deserve. I think Kanye is preaching the same thing here. Do you want me to get specific? Do you want me to name numbers? Do you want me to name summers? All the stars came from us All the styles came from us All the talent came from us All the shoes came from us But the news ain't on us All the news ain't honest All the news ain't honest They wanna ignore me, rewrite the story Take all the top spots, in every category Back in Fashion Week them boys, can't ig-, can't ignore me These lines are powerful. They are about black liberation; something Kanye has always preached. I find these lyrics absolutely thrilling, and that Kanye's cadence shows how passionate he feels about this sound. Thank you all for reading. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

BladeWalker

5y

People are saying he deleted 808s now???

HoneyBunny

5y

kanye deletes his whole discog as promo because donda is the only album we'll ever need

Everest

5y

he’s deleting his whole discog chronologically

The black artist photo was the beginning. It’s all going.

Speakers

5y

search for the album on apple music, it's still there

HoneyBunny

5y

kanye deletes his whole discog as promo because donda is the only album we'll ever need

emocean

5y

yep

Q3D

5y

Lord I Need You is so great

Nuns

5y

kanye deletes his whole discog as promo because donda is the only album we'll ever need

Everest

5y

he’s deleting his whole discog chronologically

The black artist photo was the beginning. It’s all going.

HoneyBunny

5y

kanye deletes his whole discog as promo because donda is the only album we'll ever need