While I typically don't give much thought to the annual Grammy nominations (the Shortlist process being much more interesting), I couldn't resist the headline glaring back at me on Yahoo!'s front page earlier today, "Kanye West Receives 10 Grammy Nominations". Now, I'm not necessarily saying I've garnered any new respect for the Acadamy of Recording Arts and Sciences, but I must say this was a bold move and an unexpected event. It seems as if Kanye's takeover of the music world is now complete (he was also prominently involved in the albums of the runners-up in nominations, Usher and the Goddess Alicia Keys, who received 8 apiece). As much I love Kanye and admire his work I would never have guessed that he would crossover to 10 Grammy status.
Of course I'm somewhat torn in the way that any serious music fan is at that point when his or her little artist or movement, which was so personal and poignant at the time of discovery, becomes part of the pop/corporate American culture machine. A little seperation anxiety when something that you so passionately defended and sung the praises of, becomes no longer just yours, but a part of everyone else too. You are happy for their success (which you for so long thought overdue and deserved) but it's slightly bittersweet because you've lost that personal connection, and dammit, nobody likes to share.
I shall reiterate my hope that success and the demands of a multiplatinum superstar life doesn't dilute his work. I hope this opens a doorway from the Academy to the rest of the best hip-hop has to offer (i.e. Talib Kweli, Common, Mos Def, etc.) And lastly, I hope that Kanye keeps popping up on mix tapes and keeps churning out amazing beats, taking his cue from the likes of U2 and Eminem who haven't yet let their ridiculous success get in the way of making good music.
Speaking of which.....
I have in my possession both the new Eminem and the new U2 and I must say both have earned glowing stamps of approval from the pizzle. Em is all grown up now, what with the politics and such, but he is still not above burp and fart jokes, and he can still ride the beat like no other rapper in the history of the world. U2 have been grown up for awhile, but there's just something so simple and familiar, yet new and uplifting about any U2 melody; so understated yet peircing about every Edge solo, that I can't help but get carried away.
Enough with the hyperbole and superlatives, midnight on the west coast is approaching and the pizzle is signing off. Peace.
*****
"This sugarcane
This lemonade
This hurricane, I'm not afraid.
C'mon c'mon no one can see me cry
This lightening storm
This tidal wave
This avalance, I'm not afraid.
C'mon c'mon no one can see me cry
That's sugarcane that tasted good
That's who you are, that's what you could
C'mon c'mon no one can see you cry"