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UGK (an abbreviation for Underground Kingz) consisted of Bun B and the late Pimp C. They began their career in 1992, when they released their first EP, The Southern Way, as well as their first album, Too Hard To Swallow. In 1994, UGK released Super Tight, which broke the Billboard Hot 200.
In 1996, they released their Southern classic, Ridin' Dirty, which is their best album to date. With this new-found success, UGK recorded another album, Dirty Money, but was held up by Jive Records and failed to gain any sort of attention. Shortly after, in 2002, Pimp C was sent to jail for aggravated gun assault, and was in there until 2005. By the time Pimp C was released, UGK had plenty of buzz. Finally, after 6 years, UGK released Underground Kingz, a dual disc album. It reached number one on the Billboard charts and was a commercial and critical success. However, the success was cut short when Pimp C died in December 2007 due to an overdose of codeine/promethazine. Bun B completed their last project alone (though Pimp C recorded the majority of his part before he died). UGK 4 Life was released in 2009, marking the final UGK album.
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The ubiquitous Kanye West—from his famous quip, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people,” to interrupting Taylor Swift’s speech, to marrying Kim Kardashian (and later divorcing with her), to announcing that he’s running for President, to admitting his love for President Trump, to proclaiming that there were admirable things about Hitler—it’s obvious that he’s a staple of the tabloids and the entertainment world, industry-wide.
That certainly doesn’t take anything away from his music; as a matter of fact, it only seems to add to his fortuitous career. For instance, his 2010 album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, was universally praised by fans and critics alike; it was recorded smack dab in the middle of the backlash received from his Swift interruption and his break-up with then-girlfriend Amber Rose.
He has scored countless well-known hits, as well, from each of his previous studio albums—such as “Stronger,” “Heartless,” and “Gold Digger.” Each of his albums have been massive critical and commercial successes, including his collaboration album with JAY-Z, Watch the Throne. As of 2022, West has won an astounding 24 GRAMMYs, as the most decorated hip-hop artist in Grammy history, he splits this title with his big brother JAY-Z, who has won 24 GRAMMYs too. And yet he doesn’t have seem to take too much pride in this fact.
Kanye’s sixth solo album, Yeezus, polarized his fan base and the general public but was heaped with rave reviews by music critics for its experimental production. In 2016, West released his seventh and most delayed body of work, The Life of Pablo, which was illegally downloaded over 500,000 times, frustrating fans after its TIDAL-exclusive release. West notably updated the album multiple times on TIDAL after its release.
Quite possibly West’s most surprising contribution to the music industry was his production streak during the summer of 2018, in which he produced five albums. Among these was a collaborative project with Kid Cudi, titled KIDS SEE GHOSTS; along with his eighth studio album, ye, which tied Eminem and The Beatles for eight consecutive chart-topping releases.
The public’s love for Kanye West has been apparent from the get-go, and each of his solo albums, barring his 2004 debut, The College Dropout, has peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 Album Chart. Another major standout, 2008’s 808s & Heartbreak, is largely credited with influencing the next generation of rappers; from the emphasis on heavy beats and melodic instrumentals to its heavy usage of auto-tune.
His ninth studio album, Yandhi, was originally scheduled to be released on September 29, 2018, and then again on November 26, 2018. However, West rescheduled the album release, because he felt it wasn’t finished yet, and eventually seemed to completely scrap and recycle its components into a new album. Songs from Yandhi have been reused in later Kanye albums such as Donda and Jesus is King as well as Travis Scott’s Utopia.
On August 29, 2019, Kim Kardashian-West teased a new Kanye album tracklist via Twitter, with the title Jesus is King. Kanye seemed to confirm this by clearing his official website and posting the same image of the tracklist with the expected drop date at the bottom, September 27, 2019; almost a year after Yandhi was supposed to be released. However, the release was delayed to October 25, 2019, to release along with his accompanying documentary.
Furthermore, after years of claiming he would run for President, he finally announced so on Twitter which was met with much controversy, many claiming it was merely a publicity stunt for his forthcoming album, Donda.
On August 24, 2021, West applied to have his name changed from Kanye Omari West to Ye, he cited “personal reasons” for the change, and on October 18, 2021, the request was granted. West had been alluding to this wish to change his name since 2018, and had used Ye as a nickname for several years prior. In a June 2018 interview, he explained:
I believe ‘ye’ is the most commonly used word in the Bible. In the Bible it means you. So, I’m you. I’m us. It’s us. It went from being Kanye, which means the only one, to just Ye. Just being a reflection of our good, our bad, our confused – everything. It’s more of a reflection of who we are [as] beings.
Following the overwhelming release of Donda, the album was further introduced to a sequel, which was further campaigned publicly on January 27, 2022. The album was met with an unfamiliar approach — only being supported on his Stem Player device — after his departure from Def Jam. It was debuted at a concert, which showcased the incomplete album, and then left as it was.
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One of the most influential, critically-lauded, and controversial artists of the early 21st century, American rapper and producer Kanye West has gone from hip-hop beatmaker to worldwide hitmaker with a wildly successful solo career that counted an unbroken string of chart-topping, multi-platinum albums and nearly two-dozen Grammy Awards. His early 2000s production work quickly led to a major-label recording contract, yielding a classic trilogy comprised of 2004’s The College Dropout, 2005’s Late Registration, and 2007’s Graduation. With each successive album, he pushed the boundaries of hip-hop and soon entered a new phase of artistry with game changers such as 2008’s 808s & Heartbreak, 2010’s widely-regarded magnum opus My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and 2013’s industrial-leaning foray Yeezus. Celebrity, tabloid headlines, and a changing artistic vision informed much of his next era, as the trappings of fame and inner turmoil became the focus of chart-toppers such as The Life of Pablo and Ye. He even released a gospel album, Jesus Is King, in 2019. As his outspoken personality and political statements began to eclipse his music into the 2020s, he still managed to top the charts and garner accolades with 2020’s exploratory Donda. In 2023, West joined forces with to form new project ¥$, the duo working towards the release of their debut album Vultures.
“marrying Kim Kardashian (and later divorcing her)” – this makes it seem like he’s the one who filed for divorce – he’s not.
“Quite possibly West’s most surprising contribution to the music industry was his production streak during the summer of 2018, in which he produced five albums.” Kanye has been a producer forever, why specify the summer of 18'? it makes it seem like he wasn’t a producer before, or after.
One of the most successful artists of all time, having sold 160 million records world wide, Kanye Omari West AKA Ye is considered by many to be the one of the most influential people in music ever. His album “808s and Heartbreaks” has been said to have influenced very well known artists today such as, Travis Scott, Kid Cudi, Drake, and JUICE WRLD. He’s won many awards for his music, including 26 Grammys and 7 VMAs. He’s known to speak his mind on every subject and unfortunately to some people that means that he has people who dislike his music and him as a person. Anti-Semitic, and deranged allegations have been made about him throughout the years and have beaten him down sometimes. In 2002 Kanye got into a traumatic accident while driving home after working a late night at the California recording studio. This crash left him with a wired jaw. After that fateful incident he created his first influential album of many, “The College Dropout” and lives today as one of the most influential artists in history and proves and inspires to many that you too can make it “Through The Wire”.
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Buck is a slang’s word for money. Also refers to deer as well since the next line talks about camo and because Yelawolf’s logo has a deer on it.
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