Previous Next Latest

Even Without Obama, Kanye West Reclaims Chicago and Lollapalooza

8/4/08, 1:15 am EST


Rumors of Barack Obama being onhand to introduce Kanye West proved false. No matter. Aiming to permanently put the Bonnaroo debacle in the past, the local rapper came out not to just conquer the festival stage but to reclaim his hometown as his own. West’s flashy light show lived up to promise. Yet despite all the popping strobes, panning spotlights and pastel illumination, the emcee remained the focus of attention. His energy and intensity backed up his cocky attitude and prodigious boasts. Examinations of conscious, conversations with god and motivational talks punctuated a non-stop beat-heavy blitz. West tackled “Heard ‘Em Say,” “Diamonds From the Sierra Leone” and “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” with the kind of elevated drama and drive that fuels champion athletes. He inhabited the narrative of “Put On,” pushing the song until it became an autobiographical statement and personal pledge. “This performance is for the lady that drove me to Chicago at the age of three,” he stated during the track, before getting everyone to scream for his mother. Such candor and motivation are not only what make West a visionary; they are what make him human.

[Photo: Kisby/Getty]
More Lollapalooza Coverage: Rock ‘N’ Roll Diary


Previous Next Latest

Comments

psm390 | 8/4/2008, 3:10 am EST

Thank your rolling stones for loving and respecting Kanye West.I am so glad trouble do not last always. We Kanye West fans will continue to share Love with him so that one day the healing of the Lost of his Mother will come. I Love you too, Rolling Stones Magazine.Barbara Moore

Attenborough | 8/4/2008, 10:26 am EST

I heard he compared himself to Hendrix and rightfully got booed. I think he’s just talented enough to keep himself onstage without falling considering how hard he pats himself on the back.

jfou | 8/4/2008, 10:35 am EST

Kanye still sucks!!!!!

someone | 8/4/2008, 10:50 am EST

FUCK KANYE

Jordan | 8/4/2008, 11:11 am EST

Ass or not, Kanye is a fantastic artist. One of the few visionaries we have right now.

Scott | 8/4/2008, 11:33 am EST

Kanye West being referred to as a “visionary”? That’s it folks, popular music is officially dead.

Anonymous | 8/4/2008, 12:25 pm EST

LOL, people hate Kanye so much sometimes is actually kinda funny.
And I didn’t hear him get booed for mentioning Hendrix. That’s just some wishful thinking from a hater. He was actually talking about how people think your an asshole or crazy just for aspiring to be a great artist so that you could compare yourself to other great artists. Looks like he was right. At the guy tries to tell the truth.

alejandromarin | 8/4/2008, 1:02 pm EST

i saw kanye at the msgarena in ny back in may or something and i thought he was amazing. i wish i coulda seen him in lollapalooza

Seriously | 8/4/2008, 1:18 pm EST

im not trying to be an ass or anything. but seriously, what makes kayne west a visionary? i just don’t know, i listen to a lot of music and im not sure so obviously im missing something…please help

Proxy Error Guy | 8/4/2008, 1:45 pm EST

Never mind Kanye being referred to as a “visionary”, Rolling Stone actually have the balls to call him “human” in that same sentence!! What the hell.

NINner | 8/8/2008, 4:31 pm EST

Kanye West was at Lolla 2008?!?

Tokwnnwn | 7/14/2009, 12:27 am EST

VOfsMc

jewels1900 | 9/15/2009, 10:15 am EST

I wonder how all this is working for him now? Can you say Taylor Swift,2009 VMAs?

MOM | 9/16/2009, 3:21 am EST

KAYNE WEST NEEDS HELP IF HE THINKS THAT EVERY TIME HE HAS SOMETHING TO SAY HE CAN JUST BLURT IT OUT. IF YOU DONT HAVE ANYTHING NICE TO SAY KEEP IT TO YOURSELF,

the unknown | 9/16/2009, 3:43 am EST

Kanye is a self centered bum!!! I bet if that was 50 and the G Unit he wouldn’t have grab his mic. He would have suffered immediately Yet he grabs the mic of a Female. Can you say silent abuser!!!!!

the unknown | 9/16/2009, 3:45 am EST

Kanye you just got insulted by the most powerful black man in the US. Well You made history “JACK ASS”

BK | 9/16/2009, 8:15 am EST

Taylor Swift is an inspiration to all young women. Beyonce has done her time and is wonderful in her own rights. Kanye West did not have to make a fool of himself on her behalf. The only reason he apologized, if that’s what you call it, is that he new he got booed and he knew record sells would go down if he didn’t do something. He never actually said, “Taylor Swift, I am sorry for ruining your big moment!” Just because everyone hypes him up doesn’t make him “WONDERFUL”! He’s not a nice person and I won’t ever listen to his music again. Plus, a visionary is someone like Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton, etc.. They are multitalented and have given to history.

uk | 9/16/2009, 1:49 pm EST

It would be best if Kanye West just faded away and crawled into the hole he has created

Just Wondering! | 9/16/2009, 3:50 pm EST

Okay already,Kanye was wrong for ruining Taylors special moment. He apologized for it and Beyonce graciously gave Taylor the opportunity to recapture the moment. Let it go. So many others are quilty of blurting out stupid remarks and making stupid decisions, should we kill them for it, whatever happened to forgiveness people? Can we be civil or what?

linnette | 9/16/2009, 3:51 pm EST

taylor swift should be the person being talked about,she behaved like a lady .kanye was just being himself, a jackass.

What? | 9/16/2009, 5:54 pm EST

He does not even come close to Hendrix in talent.Hendrix rocked.Kanye West plays the skin flute.He sucks as a person and his music sucks(if you want to call it that).

Post A Comment

Caution: Off-topic comments will be deleted

Name:

Comments:



Advertisement

Advertisement