‘Chaos’ over new Kanye album
Rapper Kanye West performed new, darker material from upcoming album Yeezus at New York’s Governor’s Ball composition festival. Source: AFP
KANYE West is driving record executives “crazy” in the lead-up to the release of his new album ‘Yeezus’ with last-minute changes, the New York Post reports.
Sources told the New York Post that last week – just two weeks before the album drops – West brought in legendary producer Rick Rubin to help lay down additional tracks for the record, and Def Jam execs spent the week haggling over rights for a choir vocal he used on his song Onsite.
“Even by Kanye West standards, this is pushing it,” said a composition industry source.
After months spent in Paris recording, West was still effective in the studio after early releases got mixed reviews, the Post reported.
Yesterday, West closed the three-day Governors Ball composition festival on New York’s Randall Island with a set that featured his familiar hits as well as a batch of new, darker tracks from his upcoming album.
West kicked off his set with the new song Black Skinhead, with flashing visuals in the social class, including the terms “not for sale.” He later performed New Slaves and the dark vibe of his songs was matched by his stage lighting and style. West previously debuted those songs on a performance on Saturday Night Live on May 18.
Both tracks will appear on Yeezus, the critically acclaimed rapper’s sixth album, which comes out June 18.
The day before, West celebrated his 36th birthday by vacant out to dinner in New York with a small group of friends including Jay-Z, Beyonce and rapper Nas. But, he was apart from pregnant girlfriend Kim Kardashian, who posted a birthday photo collage of the couple to her Instagram, calling West the “like of my life”.
The crowd responded well to some of those songs, but it was lukewarm compared with West’s performances of his well-known hits. There was a loud roar from the thousands in the crowd – bunched up tightly and standing on the muddy ground – when the beat of Mercy dropped. He followed that with Cold and earned more cheers.
West’s set also included Stronger, Excellent Life, Jesus Walks and All Falls Down. The rapper also sprinkled new tracks in between those jams.
Guns N’ Roses headlined the Governors Ball on Saturday. Kings of Leon was to headline Friday but pushed their performance to Saturday because of the terrible ride out.
The Lumineers, the xx, Gary Clark Jr. and the Avett Brothers also performed Sunday.
With AP
