Mon 23 Jul 2012
The 10 Most Powerful Statements About Kanye West in Complex’s G.O.O.D. Music Cover Story
Posted by Mikey Fresh under interview[18] Comments
Like the legendary Wu-Tang Clan, G.O.O.D. Music was masterminded by one individual. Though all members of the crew play vital roles, there’s only one boss in Kanye’s camp. Just as Rza lead the almighty Wu, ‘Ye plays the head of the machine that houses Pusha T, Common, Big Sean, Kid Cudi, Q-Tip, John Legend, Mr. Hudson, Hit-Boy, CyHi The Prynce, Teyana Taylor, Mr. Hudson, and 2 Chainz (Unofficially). In their first joint magazine cover and accompanying story, the starting lineup discussed what makes their camp the “Hermes of Hip-Hop,” as Pusha previously described. In honor of Mr. West, who was noticeably absent from the piece–Kanye has chosen to skip on all media for Cruel Summer–we’ve compiled the 10 most powerful statements about Kanye West from Complex’s cover story.
Check out all 10 statements after the jump…
1. Big Sean: Kanye put himself in a class that nobody can match, as far as evolving, progressing, and taking the best of what we learn and making more out of it.
2. Common: ’Ye’s perspective is “We’re going to make the purest music, and make it reach. There ain’t no limitations to where you can reach.
3. 2 Chainz: “[Kanye} sees all these fucking colors and builds around your vocal tone and moves it around.
4. Q-Tip: ’Ye don’t give a fuck.
5. Cudi: He knows what he’s talking about. It’s crazy how insanely smart he is—it’s frustrating at times.
6. Pusha T: ... he’s going to tear your shit all the way down, and then build it back up. It doesn’t get any better than that.
7. Common: And shit, he used to have a phone. [Laughs.]
8. John Legend: He’s consistent in the fact that he’s willing to change. He’s willing to push himself and go beyond what he did in the past.
9. 2 Chainz: Stuff was happening in my life that I couldn’t tell nobody. I didn’t have anybody in my life that I could tell, like, “’Ye just called me.”
10. Q-Tip: We all have that drive. Kanye channels it—he’s the nucleus. But at the same time, it’s collaborative. He’s open to whatever it is.
Related:
In Kanye They Trust: G.O.O.D Music’s Complex Cover Story
July 23rd, 2012 at 11:20 pm
I am so here for Kanye West always have been even when he is doing to much and needs to sit his azz down somewhere and be quiet lol
I would like to hear him speak on all of them
Reply
July 24th, 2012 at 12:45 am
Dope
Reply
July 24th, 2012 at 1:08 am
Um, I don’t want a GOOD Music album. Their team is bloated.
I want a CRS album or just a solo Kanye album. Quit it with this GOOD Music junk…
Reply
July 24th, 2012 at 3:30 am
love how everyone wants to be the Wu, but nobody’s willing to put in the work and actually be INNOVATIVE.
The Wu didn’t sit there wondering how they can sell records to drunk white chicks, at least not in the first 3-4 years when they were considered WU
Reply
Flowdini Reply:
July 24th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
true
Reply
brucebaner1 Reply:
July 24th, 2012 at 12:28 pm
Wu as a group was eccentric…….GOOD with Pusha T, 2Chains and Big Sean ruins that. They are “typical” rappers rapping about “typical” things. Every member of the WU provided something new and different to Hiphop. The same way OutKast and the Fugees did. That is why those three groups will go down as the best to EVER do it.
Reply
tessa Reply:
July 24th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
run dmc, Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest, NWA etc etc
Reply
jrmcuboulder Reply:
July 25th, 2012 at 4:57 pm
I disagree. The subject matter of what Wu-Tang and GOOD rap about doesn’t differ that much in profundity. They are essentially rapping about bits and pieces of their own world, how they see it, and putting their own lyrical spin on it. Basically, its all about HOW they are saying it. One of the beautiful things about hip-hop is the way an artist can take something that has little value or meaning to people and make it amazing.
COMPARISONS ARE STUPID. WU isn’t GOOD and each group is doing their own thing. Just because they are a group doesn’t mean that equates to them being like another group. Not saying you are doing this per se, but dumb comparisons happen a lot in hip-hop. Just let these dudes rap for Chrissake and evaluate the music after. No way to please everyone. Now instead of talking about the substance we have all this talk about Wu-Tang Clan. And seriously, is it just me or was it just a little hard to understand Wu-Tang sometimes? You don’t want to be TOO LYRICAL. LOL
Reply
brucebaner1 Reply:
July 26th, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Dont get me wrong the subject matter is very similar (girls, clothes, mafia, karate?) but the style, personalities, and flows were different from anything out at the time. Meth, ODB, RZA, INspec, Ghostface, Ray, all offered something different to hip-hop. You are right; its about HOW they are saying it. But that makes all the difference because delivery is the MOST important part of communication.
So to me it’s about the delivery…….
flatbush ave Reply:
July 24th, 2012 at 12:35 pm
yea comparing these niggas to wu is kinda reaching.
Reply
July 24th, 2012 at 5:24 am
Ok, nerd moment. kanye cant be voltron in the movement. one person cant be the entire Voltron. The movement is Voltron and when it forms, he just happens to be the head. Word to Method Man.
Reply
July 24th, 2012 at 12:45 pm
!G.O.O.D MUSIC! I can’t believe the LP got pushed back lol I guest Aug wasn’t official
Reply
July 24th, 2012 at 4:29 pm
I not a big Common fan, he can rap though
Same with Pusha T, he can rap.
Q Tip and Tribe made some of the most important music in hip hop. Without them, no Neptunes, no Kanye maybe even kn Outkast as we know it.
I catch alot of flack about it, but I think Kanye is extremely overatted. He makes some great beats and has some catchy joints, but as a rapper, a spitter? I have never really taken him seriously.
With all that, these brothers might make some decent music. Or it can sound confused and be overhyped like Watch the Throne… oops.
Reply
jrmcuboulder Reply:
July 25th, 2012 at 5:01 pm
I seriously don’t understand how you can’t take Kanye seriously after his verse on “Run This Town”, “Put On”, “Diamonds From Sierra Leone”, “Way Too Cold”, the whole freaking MBDTF album? I mean I respect your opinion and all but REALLY? I’m just trying to understand. What he has been spitting in your view just hasn’t been that dope? Or is it a personal thing of just not liking the guy or his style of rap. Just curious….
Reply
brucebaner1 Reply:
July 26th, 2012 at 5:42 pm
You tripping; Kanye overrated? Maybe he takes himself too seriously…actually he does….but he is definately one of the best around right now. Ask any real rapper and they all say he’s a beast. When have you EVER heard anyone in hiphop say Kanye is Overrated? He is definately a lyricist…period.
Don’t make me google some of Kanyes best lyrics and start posting them……that could take awhile and I have work to do
Reply
July 24th, 2012 at 6:04 pm
I think the G.O.O.D Music collective generally makes music that’s good for this era. Everyone goes nuts today then kinda forgets about it a few weeks later. WIth Ye, Common & Qtip in mix he do have the potential for long lasting creations to be formed.
The group to me is much more like the little brothers of the ROC then the WU. Either way I am looking forward to the album. Gotta have something to ride to between rotations of “Life is Good”
Reply
July 24th, 2012 at 7:07 pm
WTF HAPPENED TO MOS DEF MAAAAAAAAAAAN …
cmon.
Reply
jrmcuboulder Reply:
July 25th, 2012 at 5:02 pm
2nd
Reply