Non-Album Singles: In order to stir up advance hype for his new disc, West released a bevy of official and non-official songs which will not be appearing (as of yet) on his new record.
• Fall Out Boy — “This Ain’t A Scene, It’s an Arms Race” (Kanye West remix). Kanye drops a hilarious verse over his fellow Chicagoans in their emo-pop single, including a pitch-perfect response to the song’s puzzling vocals: “Now, I don’t know what the hell this song is talking ‘bout/Do you?”
• The Police — “Message In A Bottle” (featuring John Mayer and Kanye West). Apparently Police fans were up-in-arms when the rapper stopped by to deliver a verse during the band’s Live Earth set, but lovers of white reggae probably would not dig Kanye anyway.
• Kanye West — “Throw Some D’s” (remix). This hilarious freestyle reinterprets Rich Boy’s automobile rims as referring to an enhanced part of the female anatomy. Without Kanye’s charm, this track would be a misogynistic anthem, but he manages to create a friendly banger.
• Kanye West — “Classic (Better Than I’ve Ever Been)” (featuring KRS-One, Rakim and Nas). This upbeat old-school track was commissioned by Nike to sell shoes, but instead became a metaphorical passing of the torch between the old school and the new.
Albums
• Common — “Finding Forever.” Even though it is not his own solo release, Kanye’s fingerprints are all over the newest LP of fellow Chicago rapper Common. The two friends began a partnership with 2005’s “Be,” which was almost exclusively produced by Kanye and featured several of his verses on it. The just-released follow up, “Finding Forever,” capitalizes on Common’s creative resurgence as well as some taut Kanye beats. Check out first single “The Game” for a classic slab of soul.
• Kanye West — “Graduation.” Details are short, but Kanye’s much-hyped third album has already made a huge splash with singles, including the genre-bending techno jam “Stronger” as well as the epic “Can’t Tell Me Nothing.” Considering the album is another collaboration with composer Jon Brion, who added incredible textures to “Late Registration,” it should be on par with his previous work.
If you still aren’t convinced, try Kanye’s ultra-cool fashion column in “Complex” magazine, or the bootlegged single “US Placers” from Child Rebel Soldiers, the newly-formed, top-secret grouping of Kanye, producer-rapper Pharrell and rapper Lupe Fiasco. Otherwise, mark your calendars for “Graduation.”
Bill Earl wants you to know that all songs mentioned in this article are available to stream for free on The Hype Machine at www.hypem.com. Play on.