It’s clear mental illness. It’s like stumbling on a weird SoundCloud or YouTube channel with <100 views, where the person is going through a psychotic break. Someone needs to get him off the nitrous and in a hospital; he can probably afford the kind of place that isn’t One Flew Over the Cookoo’s Nest.

I don’t like the word, but it is different when a black person uses it.

My mama was raised in the era when

Clean water was only served to the fairer skin

Doin’ clothes, you woulda thought I had help

But they wasn’t satisfied unless I picked the cotton myself

You see it’s broke nigga racism

That’s that “Don’t touch anything in the store”

And it’s rich nigga racism

That’s that “Come in, please buy more”

He’s pointing out that even though he’s wealthy, he still experiences racism. He’s alluding to the history of Jim Crow, while also discussing the fact that it really hasn’t gone away. Like that last verse - he can afford to join the country club now, but will he ever really be welcome?

The first high school I worked at was about 90% Black. The word has a very different meaning in that kind of space. It made me deeply uncomfortable, but I listened to a lot of really interesting conversations between students about the word - because it was basically in every other sentence. Hell, my first day of school I said hi to a student and their response was “this n—— gay!” (I’m white, mostly.)

I think New Slaves is genius. Same with Runaway and All of the Lights.

He was never a great lyricist (“I keep it 300, like the Romans”) but he had a way of getting the right people together and just making it all work. There was always the narcissism (“I am a god”) and some unhinged stuff, but he was honest to god a once in a lifetime talent.

Graduation, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Yeezus - these are all absolutely spectacular albums.

I guess I have to put back on my pink ass polo and a fucking backpack, cuz I don’t think Ye is bringing real rap back. 😢

Yeezus coming out was such a big deal to me personally. One of my favorite albums of all time.

This is just garbage though. Shouting incoherently about Jews controlling the media and bragging about making his wife show up naked to the Grammys… it’s like he turned to into fucking Viper.