Mr. West can lock it down
Kanye West has never really shied away from showering himself with praise. He once called himself “the number one human being in music,” and recently dubbed himself as “the voice of this generation.” Humble as always, Mr. West.
However, he does introduce an innovative sound that has proven to be a big hit worldwide. His latest single, “Love Lockdown,” is new for pop music and new for West, whose past hits have showcased collaborations with other major artists to basic mainstream appeal. But “Love Lockdown,” a leak off his new album “808s and Heartbreak,” is different for West.
It had a unique sound that I’ve personally never heard before, especially from West. The song starts off with a basic beat and West’s vocoderized vocal, which seems to be a very popular tool to make songs these days sound more unique and futuristic. It’s a synthesized system that makes sound come off as robotic (Styx’s Mr. Roboto, anyone?). “Love Lockdown” never breaks from the vocoder, giving the West’s voice a Daft Punk-edge. A progressive combination of piano, hand-clapping and jungle-like drum beats slowly emerge into the chorus.
The drum beats stand out in this single and are apparently expected to be the theme of West’s next album, set to be released on Nov. 24. In a recent interview with MTV, producer Mike Dean mentioned that this latest LP would, in fact, have more drums and more singing, moving away from the typical hip-hop beats we’re all so used to hearing. Bold, yes. But appealing to the typical, hip-hop beat-loving masses? From what I’ve seen and experienced at some clubs and dance parties, yes.
It’s got an attractive build-up into the chorus, whose primitive-sounding beats and easy-to-sing lyrics could cause us to bust out into full-on boogie mode, like us crazy kids often do. “Love Lockdown” is strange, but a breakthrough for the singer nonetheless. So go ahead, Mr. West. Give yourself that oh-so-humble pat on the back.
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