Kanye West Breaks Down to Tears on Stage..UPDATE VIDEO
Kanye Crying on Stage
Only a week after his mother's death, Kanye West returned to the concert stage Saturday night in Paris, only to dramatically break down in tears, audience members tell PEOPLE.
Nearing the end of the more than 60-minute performance, with the riff of "Hey Mama" beginning, West attempted to introduce the tribute to a sold-out crowd at Le Zénith in Paris, saying "this song is for my mother...." and could get no further.
"He just cracked," one attendee tells PEOPLE, "He was at the end of his concert and had just started to dedicate the song and then he just lost it completely."
"He said the word, 'Mother' and just couldn't go any further," Le Parisien journalist Meddy Magloire said. "A back-up singer, the DJ and a guitar player came over to console him. It looked like he might collapse. He just couldn't continue. He just stood there in a spotlight, crying while the band continued playing."
After a few moments of stunned silence, Magloire says, the audience of 5,000 reacted by offering calls of encouragement, which grew into applause.
The band restarted the song, but West left the stage, returning after 10-15 minutes to conclude the concert with a rousing performance of "Stronger."
"He was very nervous, seemed to have gathered himself up, and had a lot of energy," Magloire says. "He kept shouting out to the audience, 'I need you... I need you right now.' and the public was screaming back. It was magic."
Surprise Appearance
West had been reclusive since death of his mother. He cancelled a Victoria's Secrets performance on Thursday and was not at the memorial for her in Chicago on Friday.
His arrival in Paris at the Hotel Le Meurice on Friday, accompanied by fiancée Alexis Phifer and her son, was unexpected, coming just hours after another scheduled concert set for Monday in Amsterdam was officially cancelled.
West is scheduled to perform in Brussels on Sunday night. It's now expected he will return to the United States for his mother's funeral in Oklahoma City on Tuesday afternoon before returning to Europe to perform in London on Thursday.
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20161303,00.html
Wow...I feel for him there... That must be so emotionally damaging to the man. ANY Visitors to the site from Europe at that show? ANYONE have additional footage? If so, leave a message or email me
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50 Cent on Smack DVD
Speaks on Kanye, Jay Z, Game & Lil Wayne
Speaks on Lil Wayne, Dipset, Jadakiss, Styles, Jae Hood, MTV Top 10 list & Vitamin water
Speaks about the future of the music business & his deal
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C.A.S.H. – an acronym for “Clif, A Straight Hustla’” – was born and raised in Oakland, Ca. Growing up, C.A.S.H. had a unique experience, going from a private catholic school in elementary, to a public middle and high school. Traveling from high school where drugs and violence were a standard, to a neighborhood where drugs and violence was non-exsistent created a very stressful life for a young man growing into adulthood. After several years of being influenced by Jay-Z, E-40, Tupac, B.I.G., and T.I., C.A.S.H. was put on to artists like Kanye West, Common, Lupe Fiasco, and Little Brother. C.A.S.H. realized that he could create Hip Hop music that reflected his life, and not come off like a sucka emcee. Having never lived the life of a drug dealer, gangsta, and not wanting to be contained in the box of a "back pack rapper", C.A.S.H. is carving a lane of his own. C.A.S.H. represents the Hustle for anyone and everyone trying to rise up in the world. With a style that's fresh, raw, comical, and introspective at times, C.A.S.H. is on the rise in the Hip Hop.
Samples of his work:
C.A.S.H.- King With Words (Feat. Old Man WIllis and Uncle Rodney, scratches by THE MIGHTY MOBILITY)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/4918319cd7bc75/
C.A.S.H. - Life Of the Party (Shout out to Little Brother)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/4918255db31cf1/
C.A.S.H. - Why You Hate Tha Game (Feat. LGZUS)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/49183997f5e650/
CASH is currently looking for beats and willing to work with artists looking to collaborate on projects. Add him/contact him on his myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/cashmakessense
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Mac Dre (R.I.P.)- Pill Clinton
http://depositfiles.com/en/files/2405775
or
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8M71T3FR
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Lupe Fiasco - The Coolest (mixtape) (click to enlarge pic with tracklist)
http://rapidshare.com/files/70366474/LF-TCM-07-cleanupman.zip
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First Listen: Lupe Fiasco's "The Cool"
Posted Thu. Nov 15, 8:21 PM ET by Brandon Perkins in The URB Blog
Jay-Z gave Patron shots and insight to his inspirations. Kanye West provided popcorn and novelty sun glasses in a rented movie theatre. On Wednesday night, Lupe Fiasco didn't seem to give a damn.
The listening session is approaching industry standard for albums that generate any sort of anticipation, especially in the increasingly leak-leery hip-hop world. Lupe Fiasco's sophomore album, The Cool, is certainly relevant to today's hip-hop and he's petrified of his album being downloaded for free. His debut record suffered from a few leaks and thus tweaks, but still found its way on many writers Top 10 lists for 2006. But at the Sunset Marquis, in Los Angeles, Lupe offered little to no discernment about the complicated cast of characters that make up his new concept album. In fact, he turned the lights low and the music way up before turning his back to the audience of about 20 without injecting anything into his nearly 80-minute record. Here's a track-by-track recap:
1. Baba Says Cool For Thought
A spoken word intro by Iesha Jaco, it carefully depicts the ills of the world. And here we go.
2. Free Chilly (ft. Sarah Green and Gemstones)
OK, here we don't go. The second track offers hope to the apocalyptic-theme of the first introduction, but still no Lupe.
3. Go Go Gadget Flow
At double time speed, Lupe comes out firing Midwest pride over a powerful bow striking simply against strings. It's a quick fire introduction from the MC and he begins mouthing the words while still facing the giant projection of his album cover and rather grim artwork in a steady loop. With his hands, he orchestrates and emphasizes the idiosyncrasies in the production...something he'll do with great fervor throughout the session. He has yet to engage anyone in the room and the back of his head is all we get.
4. The Coolest
Here comes the concept. The Cool is an expansion of the same-named song on Food & Liquor about Michael Young History, or the spiritual manifestation of him as a character called The Cool (if I'm reading this print out right), who was a hustler come back to life. The other characters are The Game (a deviously sexy female with dollar signs in her eyes, no relation to the former G-Unit member) who is married to The Streets (imagine Wyclef as a wannabe rapper from the Dirty Dirty, gold fronts and all; no relation to the snarky British emcee). "The Coolest" is perfectly indicative of the macabre premise and its complexly construed cast: haunted house piano, Tim Burton violin crawls and slightly scary choirs mix for a measured amount of drunkenness.
5. Superstar (ft. Matthew Santos)
The first single is also the first track with a Chris Martin Impersonator (CMI), but he'll return. An impossible earworm, "Superstar" coyly turns a VIP line into those waiting at heaven's gate. Look closely at the video for an appearance from The Streets and The Game.
6. Paris, Tokyo
While Lupe caught some flack for his not-really-liking-A-Tribe-Called-Quest admission, it's quite obvious that his producers--mostly Soundtrakk--have heard Midnight Marauders a few times. "Paris, Tokyo" tells the tale of the newly famous's globetrotting adventures while simultaneously falling in love. Breezily floating along, it's a familiar second album story from an artist who suddenly finds himself being recognized in Japan or France after a successful debut LP.
7. Hi-Definition (ft. Snoop Dogg and Pooh Bear)
A vicious syth hits the beginning of this track, screaming the end of the tiresome "Paris, Tokyo" and perhaps the third single. The constantly mutating production of "Hi-Definition" is something akin to a DJ Shadow beat, but like Lupe does throughout The Cool, he completely ignores its changes. Lupe seemingly raps with his head down, even as his hand gestures in this listening session are intently concentrated on the beat's intricacies. I can't wait for the Ludacris remix of this could-be burner.
8. Gold Watch
There's a sufficiently head-nodding piano and bass explosions on "Gold Watch" that's completely overwhelmed by a claustrophobic vocal snippet that refuses to go away. The song focuses on the newly acquired successes and riches that come with fame, paying special attention to the designers, gadgets and the weight of such possessions. However, that damn vocal sample dominates everything...and not positively.
9. Hip-Hop Saved My Life (ft. Nikki Jean)
Apparently Michael Young History is from Houston. "Hip-Hop Saved My Life" is about the struggle and passion of an up-and-coming rhymer who deals with the highs ("1100 MySpace friends") and the lows ("can't pay the producer, so he has to remove the hot song from his page"). With the exception of a screwed vocal sample in the first verse and a black Cadillac on D's, there's little reference to the hometown H-town connection.
10. Intruder Alert (ft. Sarah Green)
It's getting hot in here. The studio's doors are shut for optimum sound potential and the air is stale. Between the smog-laced carbon dioxide exhaled by a room full of Los Angelites and all the machinery cooking, the room is starting to get oppressive. There's a classical piano racing across "Intruder Alert" and I'm pretty sure it's got some heavy ish, as words like "famine" and "homeland" occasionally perk my ear, but half way through, it's already becoming redundant. Apparently the Playstation that's playing Lupe's album agrees, as it overheats and quits, awaking a confused Lupe from his trance-like state of his own music.
11. Streets On Fire
After the PS3 restart, the beat begins by promising an anticipatory build-up to some anthemic level of excitement, but it never climaxes and Lupe starts rhyming about AIDS.
12. Little Weapon
This is Lupe's song about kids with guns. Right after the song with the AIDS verse, it's happy times. Darting between the kids in the Middle East with the AK-47s and the kids in the Midwest with the trench coats and the kids in the streets who "can't read the words that are on their own graves," Lupe daftly tackles a tough topic without much of the grandstanding moralizing that permeates most of this record.
13. Gotta Eat
More moody broody steel string plucks. More moralizing. More towering choir vocals. The first overt comic book reference, however.
14. Dumb It Down
Lupe skips this song in the session. But his metaphors are pretty crazy on the verses. Here's the video
15. Hello/Goodbye (Uncool) (ft. UNKLE)
It feels like a fat-handed knuckle sandwich of sound right in the face. There isn't much white space on the entire record, but this collaboration with UNKLE and Queens Of The Stone Age's Josh Homme (does anything spell pretentious sophomore album better than UNKLE and QOTSA?) is almost unbearable. There's a pretty cool Rage Against The Machine bass guitar solo for a Headbanger's Ball with a backpack moment, but I'm not sure I can breathe now.
16. The Die
Lupe can rhyme fast. With the soulful sample, lofting beat and light speed bars, this track would've fit perfectly on Twista's Kamikaze, but unfortunately, Lupe's Chi-Town comrade doesn't make an appearance. The Cool (the character) gets shot and dies at the end of "The Die" while listening to a Lupe song and his homie is taking a leak. Seems appropriate.
17. Put You On Game
Another macabre piano and orchestral string touches and rhymes about humanity's horribleness...this might be the best of the bunch, but at this point, who really knows?
18. Fighters (ft. Matthew Santos)
The CMI shows up again...this time over a sample that sounds like it came from the Stereolab catalog. It's pretty.
19. Go Baby
Even if Lupe doesn't listen to Tribe, it's apparent that he liked the Gnarls Barkley record. This cut is "for the ladies" and exists primarily as an extended hook and adlibish bits about extra cheese. This is the end of the record. And my blog. I could've used some Patron shots for that.
http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/urbmagazine/10/first-listen-lupe-fiascos-the-cool
What does everyone think of the upcoming album based on the review?
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New Music Downloads
Andre 3000 ft. Marsha of Floetry - Art of Storytellin Part 4 (snippet)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/49901239810884/
Jin - Get your hands off me (prod. Swizz Beats)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/499014562a87c0/
Slick Pulla ft. Fabo - Watching me
http://www.zshare.net/audio/49902240341d7f/
Lil Wayne ft. Junior Reid - Pom Pom
http://www.zshare.net/audio/4990013dd33b32/
Z-Ro ft. Lil James, Slim Thug - Alcohol Nut
http://www.zshare.net/audio/49726938d1338e/
Kelly Rowland ft. Gym Class Heroes - heroes (snippet)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/4990278c4438de/
Joel Ortiz ft. Novel - Duffle Bag Boy NYC remix
http://www.zshare.net/audio/4989959d5d4ca5/
Chamillionaire ft. Slim Thug, Trae, Z-Ro, UGK, Paul Wall, Lil Keke, Mike Jones - I wont let you down
http://www.zshare.net/audio/4982805c0e3d55/
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REQUESTS UPDATED
Jha Jha - Lights go out
http://www.zshare.net/audio/4620417b7fcc06/
Boyz II Men - Motown; A Journey Through Hitsville USA
http://rapidshare.com/files/68716171/Boyz_II_Men_-_Motown_Hitsville_USA__2007_..txt
Lil Wayne - The Weezy Effect (mixtape)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Z03WYYL2
Drake - Comeback Season (Toronto Stand Up!)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/4ro5oi
Drake - Room for Improvement
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=B1ME84VU
Freeway - Step back (Dirty Version Should be on this mixtape)
http://rapidshare.com/files/68194675/VA-DJ_LRM-The_ROC_Boyz-Bootleg-2007-UKP.rar
50 Cent - Smile (single)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/499885689799f0/
Juelz Santana - What the Game's Been Missing (2 part album download)
http://rapidshare.com/files/19288711/Juelz_Santana_-_What_The_Games_Been_Missing-_HHKingz.net_.part1.rar
and
http://rapidshare.com/files/19275242/Juelz_Santana_-_What_The_Games_Been_Missing-_HHKingz.net_.part2.rar
a different link for the whole album:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=0QV0CN63
Password : 311
Nas - Street Disciple (2 Disc Album)
Disc 1
http://rapidshare.com/files/65610125/Nas-Streets_Disciple.part1.rar
Disc 2
http://rapidshare.com/files/65616874/Nas-Streets_Disciple.part2.rar
Jin - I Promise (album)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=RLLUR0QB
Password : 311
Queen Latifah - Black Reign
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=SZ3A2PGA
Password: 311
Queen Latifah - Nature of a Sista
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=R2QLA8V1
Password: 311
Jungle Brothers - Straight out the jungle
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=CXSLPK1V
Password: 311