Kanye West Songwriter Wants Recognition For His Work
. The Chicago artist, born Cheland Smith, teamed up with Kanye West when the two were 16-year-old up-and-coming rappers in Chicago. In the interview, Rhymefest says he "stumbled" upon the sample used in West's Grammy-winning track "Jesus Walks." He says he gave West the sample and his lyrics. "Kanye had access. He was already signed to Def Jam and had an album slated, so this is the point where you could become selfish or practical. He rapped the song better than I probably would've at that time. He knew more about the industry, and he made that song a success. So he should get the credit for that. But he wouldn't have all that without my words." The MC continues: "I've written for all of Kanye's albums with the exception of 808s & Heartbreak. There are a lot of songs that my name isn't even on." He even hints that Kanye West and many other MCs don't write their own rhymes: "I think sometimes people get to a point where they're so busy� 'I'm doing fashion, I'm doing this, I'm doing that,' that you lose focus with the foundation of what it is," he says. "I think sometimes we� we have so many things, that we're just trying to keep our things, so we lose track of the fact that it wasn't about the things. You shouldn't be trying to keep the things, you should be trying to make new things." One rapper that Rhymefest isn't calling out is Common, who along with John Legend, co-wrote the Oscar and Golden Globe-winning song "Glory" from the film Selma. Rhymefest recalled the writing session that spawned the hit song. "Common called me up and said he needed a song for an independent movie, and it had to be a rap song," he said. "We prayed to the ancestors, and an hour and a half later, the words were there. I was sitting there in my underwear, and we just did it right over the phone." He points out that he was not invited on stage to accept any of his awards and that Common and John Legend "didn't mention me when they talked about it," but he quickly adds, "I want Common to be successful forever, because he has a good heart." He concludes that he is fed up and is ready for some real recognition. "I'm tired of writing songs for other people. So now, I got to put my own music out there." Read more here. Radio.com is an official news provider for antiMusic.com. |
Root 66: New Riders of the Purple Sage- Gene Clark- More
Robert Plant, Yes and Willie Nelson Among Stars Coming to Ozarks Amphitheater
Live: Heart and Cheap Trick Rock Tampa
On the Blue: New Horizons Cruise Days 4 & 5: Starship Lands on the Pearl, Alan Parsons Takes It Home
Imagine Dragons Team With J Balvin For New Version Of 'Eyes Closed'
Slipknot Add Date To Here Comes The Pain Tour Due To High Demand
Black Country Communion 'Enlighten' With New Single
All That Remains Return With 'Divine' Video
The Hu Share 'Tatar Warrior' Live Video To Announce Live At Glastonbury Package
A Killer's Confession Unleash 'Martyr' Video
Focus Announce New Album 'Focus 12'
Singled Out: David Haerle's The Great Galaxy Sci-Fi Convention Show