Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Like James Blunt and KT Tunstall, Kanye West is another star anticipating criticism, although in hip-hop that's par for the course. The figurehead of the fight against the genre's gangsta tendencies, Kanye's openness to white influences makes him vulnerable to accusations of Uncle Tom-ism: there's even a duet here with Chris Martin, enough to make Gandhi reach for his revolver. But his multi-culturalism is actually Kanye's trump card. The samples from Elton and Daft Punk lend originality to his grooves.
Particularly impressive is the way he builds "Drunk and Hot Girls" around Can's lilting "Sing Swan Song", expanding it to epic proportions with grandiose piano and strings. Steely Dan's "Kid Charlemagne" provides the backbone to "Champion", on which West accepts the mantle of underdog spokesperson. But whatever his detractors might say, it's still the street that drives him, he says: "Everything I'm not made me everything I am." With 600 annual gang deaths in Chicago alone, who can blame him?
Download this: 'Drunk and Hot Girls', 'Champion', 'Everything I Am', 'Flashing Lights'
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments