STR8NYC.COM » Kanye West http://str8nyc.com A lil' bit Hood with a lot of Hollywood Good! Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:50:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 STR8 TALK: “WATCH THE THRONE” KING ON THE CHARTS BUT HIP HOP’S BLUEPRINT?! http://str8nyc.com/2011/08/18/str8-talk-watch-the-throne-king-on-the-charts-but-hip-hops-blueprint/ http://str8nyc.com/2011/08/18/str8-talk-watch-the-throne-king-on-the-charts-but-hip-hops-blueprint/#comments Thu, 18 Aug 2011 19:01:46 +0000 LexAve http://str8nyc.com/?p=45403 Tweet

Words by LaVisionary
Edited by LexAve


It’s easy to sit and judge the craftsmanship of an artist, and thanks to Twitter just about anybody can stand on their soapbox and do so these days. On August 8th, 2011 at the stroke of midnight Kanye West and Jay-Z dropped an album with more hype than the ‘08 elections x Raven Symone’s weight loss combined. The amount of hype and anticipation prior to its release, made critics wonder- will it live up to the hype or fail? With 436,000 copies sold so far, “Watch the Throne” has out beat the hype, to say the least.

The joy of “Watch the Throne” is grounded hip hop but also crosses over other genres. Given the influence that Jay-Z and Ye’ possess respectively, they have branched out and given hardcore hip hop fans a glimpse at life beyond the invisible hip hop barbed wire. On the 16 track (deluxe version) album, the duo dabbles in classical, dubstep and samples from some artists and songs neither you nor I have likely heard of. The mystery is what makes this entire album worth it, you never know what to expect when the next track comes on. That especially goes for the three minutes of silence before the Illest Motherf**ker Alive song. Yeah, we couldn’t figure that one out either. Illuminati? Probably not.

To critique each and every song would be unfair and almost impossible, so let’s just comment on the album in its entirety. “Watch The Throne” has nestled itself upon a pedestal that mere mortals won’t be able to reach. If anything, this album should be classified as motivation (sans Kelly Rowland) to other rappers on the come up and already in the game. A Blueprint of sorts for all those College Dropouts that haven’t quite found their niche. Yup, this is the album that can school them all.
Best part of this album, is the production…hands down-second to none. The lyrics are on par as well. Ye’s production style is splashed all over the album, but Jay-Z’s popular 90s swag is interlaced throughout most of the tracks. Some may say Kanye out shines Jigga on this album, but if you think about it, at this point in Jay-Z’s career he has little to prove. He’s had his shine and built an empire. Now it’s time to sit back and enjoy the riches and galore. Ye’ recovered from a few celebrity scandals and still lives up to the bar he set for himself with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. These two have created “grown folks” hip hop music; countless metaphors, double entendres and enough hidden punch lines to confuse any battle rapper.


Needless to say, these two gentlemen have crafted an album that will be recognized as a classic for years to come. “Watch the Throne” folks, and pay close attention to these kings! Oh yeah, not to mention “Watch The Throne” was the first hip hop album to release before it even leaked…if that doesn’t major, don’t know what does!

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STR8 VIDEOS: JAY-Z x KANYE WEST- “OTIS” (FULL) http://str8nyc.com/2011/08/12/str8-videos-jay-z-x-kanye-west-otis-full/ http://str8nyc.com/2011/08/12/str8-videos-jay-z-x-kanye-west-otis-full/#comments Fri, 12 Aug 2011 19:26:10 +0000 LexAve http://str8nyc.com/?p=45313 Tweet

After much anticipation, Watch The Throne’s “Otis” is here…in full swag indeed. Check out Jay-Z and Kanye posing as “besties” in their new Spike Jonze directed music vid. Don’t expect to see anything of grand scheme, except of course Hov and ‘Ye straight saw & burn a brand new Maybach and turn it into a tricked-out “Thunderdome” cruiser. Followed by the duo doing doughnuts in a parking lot with a gaggle of models packed in the back. Just a lil’ glimpse into their mogulin’ carefree life.


Love seeing these two bro-loving hard…but is that the real deal off screen? Hmm…

ON DECK or OFF DECK?!

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STR8 VIDEOS: JAY-Z x KANYE WEST- “OTIS” (TRAILER) http://str8nyc.com/2011/08/10/str8-videos-jay-z-x-kanye-west-otis-trailer/ http://str8nyc.com/2011/08/10/str8-videos-jay-z-x-kanye-west-otis-trailer/#comments Thu, 11 Aug 2011 02:25:28 +0000 LexAve http://str8nyc.com/?p=45283 Tweet

The official “Otis” video drops tomorrow via MTV, MTV2, BET, at 8:56pm. But here’s a real short (SHORT!) teaser to the Jay-Z x Kanye joint “Otis” off their “Watch The Throne.” Peep the King Bey cameo jamming to the joint.

Stay tuned we’ll post the full clip manana…keep it locked!

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STR8 TRACKS: NE-YO- “OTIS” (FREESTYLE) http://str8nyc.com/2011/08/09/str8-tracks-ne-yo-otis-freestyle/ http://str8nyc.com/2011/08/09/str8-tracks-ne-yo-otis-freestyle/#comments Tue, 09 Aug 2011 05:33:56 +0000 LexAve http://str8nyc.com/?p=45236 Tweet

With a slew of singers switching things up a bit (Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Ryan Leslie) and testing their rapping skills, Ne-Yo is the latest to catch the bug. But don’t get it twisted, Ne-Yo says with his chest on this “Otis” freestyle. The latest joint off his upcoming “101″ mixtape hosted by Kevin Hart.

DOWNLOAD->> NE-YO- “OTIS” (FREESTYLE)

ON DECK or OFF DECK?!

“I got a lot of money, no denying that/ But it ain’t in my gentleman nature to brag/ So just for a second I’ma take the fedora off and put on an NY fitted cap…”
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S/O Steve O

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STR8 TRIPPIN’: KANYE WEST= THE NEW HITLER…WTF?! http://str8nyc.com/2011/08/08/str8-trippin-kanye-west-the-new-hitler-wtf/ http://str8nyc.com/2011/08/08/str8-trippin-kanye-west-the-new-hitler-wtf/#comments Tue, 09 Aug 2011 03:29:43 +0000 LexAve http://str8nyc.com/?p=45216 Tweet

Right on time…in true Kanye fashion, the diarrhea of the mouth continues. Ever thought you’d ever meet a black white supremacist?!…Let me re-introduce Kanye West!

I knew it was all smoke and mirrors when Ye made a toast to all the douchebags aka himself, trying to convince the public he’d tone it down. Controversy is Kanye’s middle name. The rapper was performing at the Big Chill Festival in Eastnor Castle Deer Park in England on Saturday night when he went into a monologue, offending nearly EVERYONE. Mid-way through his set, Kanye went off on a rant about his misunderstood artistry.
According to the Associated Press:


“I walk through the hotel and I walk down the street, and people look at me like I’m (expletive) insane, like I’m Hitler,” he said. “One day the light will shine through and one day people will understand everything I ever did.”


Hear it live below…fast forward to 6:40 mark.


This is some serious sophisticated ignorance at its finest!

With his collaboration album “Watch The Throne” with Jay-Z out today, you better believe we’ll be hearing more Kanye rants…CAPS LOCK AND ALL!

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STR8 COVERS: JAY-Z x KANYE WEST “WATCH THE THRONE” http://str8nyc.com/2011/07/04/str8-covers-jay-z-x-kanye-west-watch-the-throne/ http://str8nyc.com/2011/07/04/str8-covers-jay-z-x-kanye-west-watch-the-throne/#comments Mon, 04 Jul 2011 13:32:05 +0000 LexAve http://str8nyc.com/?p=44731 Tweet

After much speculation and anticipation, fans can now officially patiently wait for Hip Hop’s moguls Jay-Z x Kanye West collabo album Watch The Throne to drop August 2nd. For all you eager heads, be sure to pre-order it HERE. Jay-Z and Kanye enlisted Givenchy Creative Director Riccardo Tisci to design the gold metallic cover excluding both the artists’ names and album title. Word is there will be two versions to the ep,

The deluxe CD is being sold for $16.99, while the standard CD goes for $13.99. The album is also available in MP3 versions; with the deluxe copy going for $14.99 and the standard digital album priced at $11.99. Shipping costs and taxes are not included.


The artwork was officially unveiled on WatchtheThrone.com on Sunday night along with a pre-order link.



“Watch The Throne” drops August 2nd! Pre-order HERE.

While we wait for the epic tracks to leak, what your thoughts on the album cover?

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STR8 TRACKS: KANYE WEST- “MAMA’S BOYFRIEND” http://str8nyc.com/2011/06/14/str8-tracks-kanye-west-mamas-boyfriend/ http://str8nyc.com/2011/06/14/str8-tracks-kanye-west-mamas-boyfriend/#comments Tue, 14 Jun 2011 21:40:50 +0000 LexAve http://str8nyc.com/?p=44380 Tweet

Check out Kanye West’s leftover joint “MaMa’s Boyfriend” off his Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy…definitely a joint all boys and men can relate to. The self-proclaimed mama’s boy takes us back in his rhymes to when he was a young’n and being the only man worthy of his mother’s love and later turning out to be just like one of the men he despised as a young boy.
“He walked in our lives
I was only five
superman pajama’s I was super duper fly
sitting here like why, he at least supersize
you know I scrutinize like who this newer guy
I’m my mama boyfriend I’m her little husband
I was the man of the house when there wasn’t
trying to get to know homie just kill the charm”


Kanye definitely paints a heartfelt picture in this joint!

Mama’s Boyfriend by icclim

ON DECK or OFF DECK?!

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STR8 VIDEOS: KANYE WEST ft. JAY-Z x RICK ROSS x NICKI MINAJ- “MONSTER” (OFFICIAL) http://str8nyc.com/2011/06/06/str8-videos-kanye-west-ft-jay-z-x-rick-ross-x-nicki-minaj-monster-official/ http://str8nyc.com/2011/06/06/str8-videos-kanye-west-ft-jay-z-x-rick-ross-x-nicki-minaj-monster-official/#comments Tue, 07 Jun 2011 03:51:34 +0000 LexAve http://str8nyc.com/?p=44221 Tweet

You might have missed it when it leaked last December, Kanye’s “Monster” featuring Jay-Z x Rick Ross x Nicki Minaj is back on the nets…this time the director’s cut verison. Along with such heavy weights in the video, there’s plenty of scantily-clad thin models, zombies, and bloodsuckers. Kanye makes sure to protect his art piece by making this disclaimer: “The following content is in no way to be interpreted as misogynistic or negative towards any group of people.”

Surely the fellas fully enjoyed the backshots courtesy of Nicki Minaj.

ON DECK or OFF DECK?!

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STR8 GLOSSY: AMBER ROSE GIVES BBM POSE FOR VIBE MAGAZINE JUNE/JULY ’11… http://str8nyc.com/2011/05/27/str8-glossy-amber-rose-gives-bbm-pose-for-vibe-magazine-junejuly-11/ http://str8nyc.com/2011/05/27/str8-glossy-amber-rose-gives-bbm-pose-for-vibe-magazine-junejuly-11/#comments Sat, 28 May 2011 03:08:44 +0000 skool http://str8nyc.com/?p=43952 Tweet

Fab’s/Kanye’s/Reggie Bush’s/ and now Wiz Khalifa’s arm-candy graces the cover of Vibe’s “Sexy Issue’ to match Rick Ross on the female version. Ross + Rose = Sexy Time. Once again…why is this chick famous? Ok…she’s beautiful, but definitely not the only beauty on the block. So what differentiates her from the rest? I guess her glossy wet orange puckered lips + licking down a popsicle is some kinda of indication.


In the interview she discusses her relationship with the true icon Kanye West, who she says helped her realize her true beauty and potential to be an icon. She tells the mag, “Kanye would always tell me how beautiful I was and that I was going to be iconic. He always said that, ‘Baby, you are iconic. You don’t understand what you have.’ I didn’t. I didn’t understand it.”

After Kanye she says: “What am I supposed to do? Crawl up in a corner and die ‘cause I’m not with Kanye anymore? Am I supposed to go back to the strip club and not take these opportunities that I have?” She’s right, she shouldn’t regress, but what’s the next move? She now wants to be this relatable icon more so than other model celebs. She says: “I don’t have rich parents and it’s a struggle. I can’t just call my dad and be like, ‘Dad, my money is a little messed up. Can you buy me a car or a house? It’s not like that for me. I feel like more people will relate to my story than the Kardashians or the Hiltons.”

My question is what will she do with that story? I’m not too sure I’m comfortable with her just capitalizing on her looks, oh wait, she’s only a model. So by all means, do your dougie and get your money while those looks are valuable, but I hope she comes to understand other things about herself and inner-beauty.

Amber’s Sexy face > Rick Ross’ Titty Meat. (Ungh!)

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STR8 TALK: HOW MUCH DO YOU OWE YOUR EX?! *PAGING ADELE* http://str8nyc.com/2011/05/12/str8-talk-how-much-do-you-owe-your-ex-paging-adele/ http://str8nyc.com/2011/05/12/str8-talk-how-much-do-you-owe-your-ex-paging-adele/#comments Thu, 12 May 2011 20:57:31 +0000 LexAve http://str8nyc.com/?p=43587 Tweet

Forget Str8 Talk! This is straight up BLASPHEMY! The homie, The Fury, recently posted a story on Adele and that her ex boyfriend is seeking compensation for inspiring Adele’s previous album “19″. Her response to the creep according to The Sun,
“Finally, I said, ‘Well, you made my life hell, so I lived it and now I deserve it.’ He really thought he’d had some input into the creative process by being a p****. I’ll give him this credit – he made me an adult and put me on the road that I’m travelling.”
WHAT IN THE HELL?! TALK ABOUT FUCKERY TO THE FULLEST! We can all attest to the fact that at some point ex-es have inspired the worst and the best in us all. In this case, Adele’s ex caused her so much pain it inspired all the powerful lyrics and hit songs in both her albums “19″ & “21″. But why the hell should her ex-boyfriend reap any benefits?! The most he should get is a “thank you!” and “kick rocks!”. In my case, my ex (you know who you are) was a huge inspiration in getting this Str8NYC.com blog + movement started and sure things didn’t work out between us. Am I thankful for being one my biggest cheerleaders yeah…but if he ever considered to come after me for money and seeking any type of compensation he better think twice. #imjustsayin

So this leads me to my next point “How much do you owe your ex?”. If this rule in fact applied in relationships…Here are some celebs that owe they’re ex-es a lil’ more than a “thank you”



Say what you want…but with Diddy’s help J.Lo became a household name. From the music to a switch in management (Benny Medina) to naming her “J.Lo”…dating Diddy was a major boost in Jenny from the Block’s career.


Chilli breaking up with Usher gave him his best + top selling album of his career…need I say more.


Sure Amber Rose was Kanye’s arm candy but Kanye was her personal ATM. Without him would be talking about Amber today?…I think not!

Can you think of any others?!

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