According to the popular Google results for West’s dating history, he and Phifer would split sometime in 2005 and reunite in 2006. But Phifer was never mentioned on Dropout, Late Registration, or Graduation by name (unlike Sumeke Rainey, his pre-fame girlfriend, was on “Never Let Me Down”). An August 2007 cover story by Harper’s Bazaar gave a snapshot of their relationship, including that the two had ignited their romance in 2002. The history between West and Phifer, an enterprising fashion designer, isn’t well-documented. Only 58-years-old, her death was unexpected. But in the fall of 2007, she passed away after complications from a surgery. She travelled with him, was CEO of his brand label, head of his charity foundation, and gave constant advice and guidance as only a mother can.
She would retire from CSU in 2004 to manage her son. A doctor of English Education, Donda spent a majority of her career-24 years-teaching at Chicago State University. Then 808s was, when you boil it down, a cry for help.Īs separated from his old life as he was, Kanye had had one constant and one semi-constant: his mother (Donda West) and his fianceé (Alexis Phifer).ĭonda had long-been Kanye’s #1 fan.
Graduation, as we detailed in Part 1, saw Kanye explore the experience of leaving Chicago behind and accepting that his home and relationships could never be the same.
#KANYE WEST MY BEAUTIFUL DARK TWISTED FANTASY ARTWORK 1000PX FULL#
Late Registration was full of nostalgia for the life West had left behind since he became a superstar. Following much of the joyous fun of The College Dropout, his next albums- Late Registration, Graduation, and 808s & Heartbreak-had an increased focus on the cost of fame. While Kanye’s career had continued to flourish, his personal life was a far more winding road. Unfortunately, two months before the tour began, in September of 2009, Kanye West went to the VMAs. Given what we know of how creative both artists are, their penchant for epic staging and storytelling, one can only imagine the legendary potential of Fame Kills. “Just Dance” and “Poker Face” had been the number one songs in the country. While Gaga was the newly minted star, as her debut album, The Fame, had arrived with the force of a hammer blow. Kanye was, at that time, already established. In the summer of 2009, West and Lady Gaga announced a joint-tour called “Fame Kills,” set to kick off in November. Why else would he call out George Bush on national television rather than sticking to the script regarding Katrina relief? Why else would he condemn the homophobia in hip-hop and call for his peers to be better and do better? As much as he cared about himself, he seemed to care about others. Yes: he could be loud, he could be brash. While West’s reputation for ego and arrogance defined his perception at-large, the power, vulnerability, and thoughtfulness of his art made him one of the most relatable musicians of the era. The Grammy’s-often considered the music industry’s top prize-would, in this early period, knight Kanye 12-times, including “Best Rap Album” and “Best Rap Song” awards for his first three projects.
0 kommentar(er)
