Good for Kanye

[HNT]

I support him in what he did. Fact is, awards ceremonies are self congratuatory nonsense, and Taylor Swift IS a no talent moron who stands for absolutely nothing. I am far from the biggest Kanye West fan in the world, but I at have to acknowledge that he has put out several decent tracks (including Love Lockdown which is probably the best pop track this year). Beyonce's song, while not my personal cup of tea, was certainly more memorable than that nonsense that Taylor Swift attempts to pass off as music.

Not to mention, the whole thing is similar to when Limp Bizkit won some nonsense award for their no talent tripe back in the day and Tim Commerford from Rage Against the Machine took to the stage, climed the rafters, and wouldn't leave because he was protesting the fact that Limp Bizkit was vapid frat boy rock that stands for absolutely nothing.

Sorry, guys, whether you are pissed off at Kanye West or not, Pat Boone was NEVER better than Ray Charles and Little Richard even though he won the awards for doing watered down white versions of their songs that didn't threaten the middle class white demographic OR their parents. When did rock music become so sanitized that we have to criticize the challenging and unpredictable artists for "being mean" to the radio friendly manufactured pop princesses.

Kiss my ass in Macys window. Kanye did the most punk rock thing of the night by a wide margin. Take that, you teenybopper Greenday fans

[CT]

I actually am a big kanye fan. I have yet to watch the clip of what happened and I'm sure he was right about beyonce over swift. The problem is that this isn't the first time kanye has stormed on the stage of an awards show to protest a result. At like so e European MTV awards show a few years back he did the samethibg because he had lost in a best category contest. I agree this awards shows are nonsense and if so why should kanye care. He either needs to ditch MTV and lose their marketing power and make a bit less money, or keep quiet when rigged awards show go down, as they will continue to. Although he right about the crappy pop of today, he just comes off as an egotistical dick in situations like this. It's unfortunate because he is talented and bright and positive in other ways. For example he's one of the first mainstream rappers to admitthat homophobia is a problem in hip hop and should be stopped. Just chill out kanye, your music will still be played 20 years from now and this other crap will go by the wayside soon enough.

[HNT]

Yeah, that is the logical answer, but I don't always like logic in my rock or my rockers. I realize taht I am using the term "rock" rather broadly by including Kanye, but I heard from my parents about how those "race records" were supposed to turn the youth of their era into horny drug addled filth. And I remember the look of horror on my mother's dface the first time I blasted Fuck tha Police in my house.

When did rock music lose that edge? Why should we be surprised that a musician acts silly, childish, and crazy? If that kind of spontaneity is to be criticized rather than either embraced or accepted, then the rebellion that spawned this music in the first place is truly dead and buried.

[CT]

Kanyes ego and antics do make for a good rock and roll persona, and I don't mind it so much because he has the intelligence and talent to back up most of what he's saying. I'd like to see him more as a rebel in the industry behind the scenes instead of Trying to do it onstage at awards shows embarassing people who have won awards (justifiably or not). I know he was defending beyonce but I think in the end he emabarassed her. Kanye is also in a bit of hot water with people since he pretty much poo pooed the fact that his friend and collaborator Chris brown had beaten the tar out of Rihanna.

[HNT]

Yeah, and Sid Vicious stabbed his girlfriend to death in a heroin addled rage. And Phil Spector shot some broad. Gene Vincent was nearly paralyzed in a car accident that took the life of fellow rocker Eddie Cochran in which both were reportedly too drunk to stand up, let alone operate a motor vehicle.

THe perverted and drug addled exploits with groupies of the Rolling Stones, the Who, and Led Zeppelin are widely known.

I don't think I even have to say more tahn the name Jim Morrison before you have images of 100 lifetimes worth of degradation and debauchery crammed into only a few months.

What this actually means to me is not that I have to admire the fucked up behavior of these folks. I should not allow myself to be surprised by it, though.

Rockers, by definition, are egotistical, uninhibited, and usually not very nice or polite folks. Were we to try to change that, we would probably lose the edge that makes the music worthwhile.

Exhibit A: Taylor Swift. I rest my case

[CT]

I see your point and rappers are even more egotistical than rockstars. I just wish Ye would spread his crazy around a bit instead of getting bent outta shape over MTV BS. Don't get me wrong it's fun YouTube fodder nonetheless. As a fan, I would have liked him to condemn Chris brown for using Rihanna as a punching bag, instead of immediAtely trying to get them to reconcile so that lucrative hip hop collaborations wouldn't be postponed or halted.

[7]

This was Kanye being Kanye. No more, no less.

We need more people like him..

[CT]

Maybe next he can get in Obamas face And grab the mic at a joint session of Congress.

[HNT]

WEll, before people shit on him, they should think to themselves whether they can even remember the chorus of Taylor Swift's song? I know I can't.

Then again, that is not necesessarily a testament to quality, as I have had Lady Gaga's Poker Face stuck in my head all fucking day, and the most interesting thing she did was wear a bird's nest on her head

[Jen]

Sorry, but I don't think this makes him a rebel or rock and roll.....to me, it was just pointless, silly and embarrassing. The fact that he gave a rather phony apology like.....2 minutes later makes it even worse..... Maybe its because Taylor Swift is really just little more a kid to me, and she is obviously for a different demographic. The kind of demographic that MTV is now often geared toward. I could respect him for going his own way, but this....I don't know, doesn't even ring genuine. Any of it. Its kind of, I hate to use the word, but.....pathetic. I thinks its a little embarrassing for her, Beyonce AND him...LOL.

[CT]

HNT, you're right I don't know Taylor swifts songs. In fact I had never heard of her before the incident. I do not watch or care about MTV award shows for the negative reasons you point out. They've been giving awards to losers for what, a dozen years? This didn't start yesterday or even 5 years ago.

Bless you Jen, I agree with your whole post. And I'm not shittin on 'Ye. I know I'm the biggest hip hop fan on hmam and Kanye is one of my favorites, talented, brilliant writer. I do reserve the right to shit on him for this particular indescration for which had already apologized as Jen pointed out. It is also somewhat vindicating to be on the side of Presidet Obama who (no joke) called Kanye a Jackass.

One of the biggest reasons I love kanye is because he sets a good example most of the time. My favorite lyrics of his:

"woke up early this mornin with a new state of mind"
"a new way to rhyme without using knifes and guns"

Kanyes no unsavory character to be demonized. I guess I do however expect a lot from him as a brilliant man who has the potential to right many of the wrongs of hip hop. (homophobia, sexism, etc etc)

Perhaps I'm looking at it from a different angle but I hope it's one that can be respected.

[The Walking Dude]

What it comes down to.... was Kanye nominated for an award? when did he last have a hit? I assume it was a last gasp attempt to gain some notriety before he faded from the limelight.A simple publicity stunt, that Taylor and Beyonce were probably all part of.In fact before this hit the news I had never even heard of the girl.but now apparently I will never forget her.Apparently..... who were we talking about again?

[CT]

Kanye wins plenty of awards and has plenty of recent hits so he's not fading. You might be closer than you think on the other point though Matt, as MTV is notorious for staging controversies at their awards shows.

[HNT]

Sept 16, 2009 5:11:36 GMT -5 The Walking Dude said:

What it comes down to.... was Kanye nominated for an award? when did he last have a hit? I assume it was a last gasp attempt to gain some notriety before he faded from the limelight.A simple publicity stunt, that Taylor and Beyonce were probably all part of.In fact before this hit the news I had never even heard of the girl.but now apparently I will never forget her.Apparently..... who were we talking about again?

Actually, he had a hit single this year that was bigger than Swift's. Not to mention, he wrote and produced Beyonce'ssong. If anything, you can charge him with being an arrogant douche who wanted to get credit his way for the song that he wrote for Beyonce. I am pretty sure that was running through his mind

In any case, I think the three of them are really sub par artists for the most part, and I find the whole thing kind of amusing. MY only interest in the whole thing is that it seems that we have finally come to the point where we expect safe and non-controversial activities from musicians. When did that happen? Kanye West got drunk and made an ass of himself on stage. For God's sake, what would Keith Moon or John Bonham be thinking right now if they were alive to see this nonsense? Hell, what would Ozzy or Alice Cooper say about this?

[CT]

I don't think our society suddenly wants these people to act squeaky clean. It's just the setting. The antics of older rockers you refer to happened during performances and parties. I know MTV awards weren't around and I wasn't around in the 60S and 70s. However I know awards show did happen. If things have changed HNT, please cite exampleS of bad behavior that was tolerated at awards shows in the 60s and 70s.

Yes famous musicians acted crazy then, and still do now. Seems like a constant rather than a change.

In fact it seems like we almost tolerate more from musicians. For some reason nobody has acknowledged Chris brown and this is like the third time I've brought him up, but he's already doing mainstream news interviews and releasing new songs. I know you guys care about abuse against women, perhaps you haven't seen the pictures of her face looking like hamburger?

And although we don't all see eye to eye on this, I would like to acknowledge this is the most intelligent discussion I've heard on the kanye topic which is refreshing with how terribly they've overplayed it and sensationalized it in the media.