Kanye West is rumoured to be making a David Bowie tribute album - let's stop this!

The difference is that Kanye emerged into a genre that was already big, Hip Hop, whilst with Bowie even today it's difficult to put him into one Genre, it's overly simplistic to call him rock and it means nothing to call him pop. With Bowie each single, each album was unchartered territory, as soon as someone could put him into one category he'd emerge as something completely different. Infusing elements from all over the musical spectrum, his creativity (I believe) is unmatched. As for his influence, it knows no bounds. It's understandable that not every one of his albums or singles will be a success because each album was a new venture for him, and the world as a whole as listeners.

Re. Hip Hop though, I'm actually a big listener, and though it may be cliched it's cliched for a reason, Eminem holds the top spot. With Bowie it's different because with each album came uncharted territory, from classic rock, to dance, to electronica, to whatever you want to call it, there's not one brush that you can paint him with, but that's just not the case with Kanye. Kanye is a product of several years of Hiphop, whereas Bowie paved the way himself. It's because of this that they're several leagues apart.

For the record, I do quite like Kanye, Yeezus was a brilliant album, one of the best produced albums I've ever heard in fact, but I don't think it'll hold up for 50 years. I don't think in 50 years time people will still be singing "stronger" (probably his best known song) yet "Space Oddity" has held up. Kanye is brilliant, but despite that, he's not special.

It's not even elitism, it's just matter of fact. Kanye hasn't even influenced Hip Hop to the extent that Bowie influenced music as a whole.

Sorry for upsetting the proverbial TSR apple cart. I'll let all of you go back to watching Keeping up with the Kardashians, since you clearly have no idea what truly talented music is.

And I'll let you get back to sitting alone in your room with Nirvana posters (despite probably never listening to them) and listening to some obscure af 70s 'dream experience' musician on your vinyl player whilst you angrily message your other hipster friends and angrily decry our society despite probably having experienced none of it. The fact you hate Kanye so much (I'm guessing you've heard 10 second clips of Power and Stronger but now think you're an expert) suggests that you actually have no idea what talent is, and the fact you hate Kanye fans so much suggests you actually have no idea what music is.

David Bowie was innovative "Experimantal" Pop-Rock, don't act like the genre never existed before him and he was some groundbreaking messiah, music has been around for ages and each generation there are a handful of innovators among which was Bowie. But he didn't create some genre out of nothing, he incorporated elements from other genres.. He innovated and introduced new ideas, just as Kanye West did for Hip Hop. Go and find an artists who samples as well as him as a producer pre-2000. You won't find it in Dr Dre, or Snoop or anyone really for that matter. Sure you'll find a couple of one off songs. And each Bowie album was NOT uncharted territory lmao, completely insane, some were but he has another artists worth of trash albums. 90s Bowie was crap, his albums were crap. His first album too was a failure and he had a fair few poorly reviewed albums even in the 70s and his 80's/90's output was horribly reviewed even now, when these things usually get the rose tinted glasses. Not denying he isn't great but you've either not listened to Bowie bar the famous albums or you're talking out your arse.

LMAO at Eminem holding the top spot, you don't listen to much hip hop do you Eminem is one of the greats but not the best, his output has been poor since Curtain Call and his themes are exhausted. He's a 40 year old acting like a 20 year old, it's old now. Technically brilliant but thematically limited. The bit about Kanye is pure ignorance, cba to respond. Kanye isn't some hip hop messiah either, but in now way is he the product of several years of hip hop lol, if that was the case he'd sing innovative gangsta rap which is what 90's and early 2000's hip hop was geared towards, if you listened to GRODT and College Dropout the 2 albums are worlds apart at a time where gangsta rap was dominating for the forseeable.

Jesus Christ lmao, you've no idea. In 50 years time we'll look back at MBDTF as one of the very greatest albums ever made, not just in hip hop but in general.

I've actually heard both of those songs from start to finish, but why would I bother to go out and buy every single Kanye West album if I don't enjoy his music? Like I've already said, it's mainly his atrocious personality that makes me object to him making a tribute album to David Bowie. I think it's doing a great disservice to Bowie's memory and is in very poor taste, and I'm not sure if Bowie would want to be associated with a person like Kanye West.

If Kanye was such a big David Bowie fan, then why didn't he ever collaborate with him when he was alive? He's clearly just cashing in. There could at least be some consolation in the fact that there's a chance some decent music could come out of all this (and I'm all for that, no matter what my own musical preferences are), but having watched his Bohemian Rapsody video last night, I doubt that very much. Quite frankly, I'm ****ting myself if there is indeed any truth to this rumour.

OP is a fedora tipping neckbeard who probably hasn't listened to anything hip-hop bar a 30 second clip from In Da Club back when he was 10. Makes me cringe an 18 year old could type this lmao. Also, PRSOM :'(

I've actually heard both of those songs from start to finish, but why would I bother to go out and buy every single Kanye West album if I don't enjoy his music? Like I've already said, it's mainly his atrocious personality that makes me object to him making a tribute album to David Bowie. I think it's doing a great disservice to Bowie's memory and is in very poor taste, and I'm not sure if Bowie would want to be associated with a person like Kanye West.

If Kanye was such a big David Bowie fan, then why didn't he ever collaborate with him when he was alive?

.... Are you suggesting, that someone who prefers Bowie to Kanye, is geeky and looserish in nature?

If so, you see that door over there? Get the **** out. We all like the occasional hip-hop (who doesn't like to slum it occasionally?) but it has absolutely nothing on Bowie. Especially if you talking Kanye level hip hop.

Because Bowie was an elusive character since Kanye became famous. I think you might have a point though, I don't think he was much of a Bowie fan, has he ever even sampled one of Bowie's songs lol? And I do wonder if this might be a publicity stunt to promote SWISH which is out next month.

I've actually heard both of those songs from start to finish, but why would I bother to go out and buy every single Kanye West album if I don't enjoy his music? Like I've already said, it's mainly his atrocious personality that makes me object to him making a tribute album to David Bowie. I think it's doing a great disservice to Bowie's memory and is in very poor taste, and I'm not sure if Bowie would want to be associated with a person like Kanye West.

If Kanye was such a big David Bowie fan, then why didn't he ever collaborate with him when he was alive? He's clearly just cashing in. There could at least be some consolation in the fact that there's a chance some decent music could come out of all this (and I'm all for that, no matter what my own musical preferences are), but having watched his Bohemian Rapsody video last night, I doubt that very much. Quite frankly, I'm ****ting myself if there is indeed any truth to this rumour.

Repped.

.... Are you suggesting, that someone who prefers Bowie to Kanye, is geeky and looserish in nature?

If so, you see that door over there? Get the **** out. We all like the occasional hip-hop (who doesn't like to slum it occasionally?) but it has absolutely nothing on Bowie. Especially if you talking Kanye level hip hop.


Hip hop has absolutely massacred the British music industry.

Why must a musician collab with another musician to prove they are a fan? That's an incredibly narrow way to view things - does that mean that West, Bowie, or any other musician were fans of no other musicians during their lifetimes beyond those they collab/ed with? No. If Kanye's music isn't your style, then you don't have to listen. If you dislike it, that's fine. But don't try to prevent it from even being made just because you have different tastes.

For example, "All falls down" despite being a brilliant song is nothing special, it just sounds like several other early 90s hip hop songs.

The thing about Bowie is that it was never for the plaudits, or the money, or the fame. He ended Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars at the end of a concert having not told any of the band prior. He wrote "All the young dudes" for Mott the Hoople when he could have kept it for himself. Look, to sum up everything, Kanye West is making a tribute album for Bowie, would Bowie have done the same for Kanye?

(The answer is probably no)

Will just keep it short as I don't think we'll agree, however I respect your stance(s).

All Falls Down however, is a pretty unique sounding song. Off the top of my head, only The Fugees and Lauryn Hill (Who originally was going to provide the sample to All Falls Down) used soul samples so prominently, not every Kanye song sounds unique or anything but All Falls Down is an unusual one to single out and I don't think there are several songs that sound like it tbh. That's ignoring the lyrics too.

And I'm sure there was an element of fame, glamour and an air of (rightful tbh) arrogance about Bowie; look at some of his quotes, interviews, how he put some of his own character into his personas (The Thin White Duke in particular) and you'll see he wasn't some modest dude, he knew he was a 'game changer'. And none of us can ever answer that for sure, who would ever have seen Kanye and Macca collab 11 years ago? Anyway tbh, this whole thing is overblown, Ye is not going to produce a tribute album, he'll have a tough time getting hold of the sampling rights and all that too.

Some Questions: Do you think you have better taste in music than people who listen to Kanye? Do you objectively perceive Kanye to be 'talentless'? Are you aware that, just because you do not like an artist, that does not mean they are ****, I mean, **** to you maybe, but not EVERY OTHER SENTIENT BEING? Also, you do know just saying an artist is **** in the first place does not really provide a basis for anything? It would be preferable and largely beneficial if you gave a subjective reason, rather than just saying, 'oh he's ****, this guy is waaay more talented'. You clearly have something against Kanye. Is is because he's black? I mean, you appear to be a music snob, I would not be surprised if you were racist too. I guess that is an unfair and largely offensive statement, not much unlike what you yourself are doing here. Alas, I digress. You don't have to listen to the tribute album if you don't want to. Although I have an inkling you'll probably buy it on vinyl and masturbate to it in the depths of your secret Kanye shrine where you sacrifice your blood everyday in the name or lord Kanye. Long Live Yeezy. Amen.

P.S. I'm not a fan of Kanye. I mean, his early stuff was great, incredible in fact, but what he releases now is way too egotistical and thus unlike-able. He raps about fashion and so I couldn't give two ****s. Bowie is a genius and Blackstar is a magnificent album exploring his own death, something strange and painfully sad. Blow me.

I'm someone who takes music pretty seriously as part of my life, think Blackstar is AOTY so far, and listen to more extreme metal than anything else, but it's silly to argue that Kanye West isn't an incredibly significant 21st century artist. Bowie is (was ) fantastic. West makes good music. I think this could be spectacular.

.... Are you suggesting, that someone who prefers Bowie to Kanye, is geeky and looserish in nature?

If so, you see that door over there? Get the **** out. We all like the occasional hip-hop (who doesn't like to slum it occasionally?) but it has absolutely nothing on Bowie. Especially if you're talking Kanye level hip hop.


Hip hop has absolutely massacred the British music industry.