Kanye West's '808's and Heartbreak' has garnered a lot of attention since its release. And while some have appreciated the rapper/producer's decision to take a stab at something new, others had some negative feedback.
In a recent podcast with Conspiracy World Wide Radio, Phonte of hip-hop duo Little Brother didn't hold back his feelings. "I heard pretty much most of the Kanye album," he stated. "I didn't like it. I was just like 'get the f--- out of here.'
"I honestly thought it was an act of cowardice," Phonte said. "I think if you're gonna make the creative leap to sing, then really sing. Let your voice come out, and let people hear all the eccentricities and all the little idiosyncrasies in your voice. That's what makes you uniquely you...Imagine if Aretha Franklin used Auto-Tune on 'Respect.'
To add insult to injury, Phonte went on to say that he felt that Kanye was "biting T-Pain," and '808's and Heartbreak' was a "case of the reach extending the grasp." Sounds like a small beef might be brewing. Can't we all just get along?
Reader Comments(1 of 2)
candibmoreat 1-23-2009
ok.... who is "Lil Brother" and what has he contributed to the rap game? NOTHING, exactly stop trying get fame off of Kanye... 808's and Heartbreak is cool!
b4realinhpncat 1-23-2009
Actually Little Brother is a hip-hop group from NC, who done several good albums. Phonte is only 1 member of the group. Originally there were 3 members: Phonte, Big Pooh, and 9th Wonder. 9th Wonder has produced songs for Jay-z, Beyonce, Destiny's Child, Murs, Buckshot, and Erikah Badu.(9th recently left the group, but he still produces some of their music.) If you get a chance go to ITunes.com and check out some of their music. You might really like it.
dbizzleat 1-26-2009
I agree completely with him, I love Kanye's older stuff, like Drive slow, Everything I am and through the wire, it was sooo much more original and so much heart went into his music, it actually meant something.
His new stuff is just some crappy Pop Bullshit, and is just to take a stab at pop and make some more sales. It isn't really Kanye, for one, and two, I just hate that voice, like I love Lil wayne, I've got over 350 of his songs on iTunes, with mixtapes and shit, but when he started doing the auto tone on his voice (with exception of self destruction) it just pissed me off, it sounded like shit.
And if you guys don't know who Little Brother is, you don't deserve to comment on hip hop, real hip hop is stuff like Cunninlynguists, Rapper Big Pooh, Aesop Rock, and Little Brother has put out some amazing albums.
waytootalentedat 1-23-2009
Kanye West is a bickering BOOTY BANDIT... ON Tuesdays he craves BOOTY SANDWICHES with a side side of MAN BUTTER.. And that's just the appetizer..
Little crabcake is always crying!!! Grow somw nuts!!!!
Tbaum
bigdaddyt819at 1-23-2009
that chipmonk cheek one hit wonder, with his new mullett is a joke....Con-yah is right he con everyone into thinking he can sing.
budddxat 1-24-2009
Ey, I love Little Brother. And Phonte is a beast with the lyrics. And the bama actually has a pretty good singing voice. And I've never been a fan of Kanye other than producing. With all that said, I call bullshit on Phonte. Okay Phonte, you can sing. You obviously want people to respect your singing ability because you've had shows at "Bus Boys and Poets" were you're in a suit and tie singing on stage. But everybody isn't a singer like you homeboy. Ain't no shame in a non-singer using the voice box or "Auto-tune" on a record. That shit Phonte is talking is a little self-righteous. People can bad mouth him for standing up giving shows being some pseudo singer crooning all night. Again, other than producing I've never been a Kanye fan. And I ain't one of those Little Brother fans that just got on Little Brother and got all the previous albums and studied up on them and now call myself a fan. I've been there since they came out and I got all the mix tapes, and the Comedy album, the Get Back, The Listening and all that. . . The HOJ album, the Dream Merchant joint by 9th, and the Sleepers joint from Pooh and everything. BUT!!! Phonte know damn well that Kanye is by and large a "pop-star" and playing his role as a "pop-star" by using the "T-Pain", Peter Frampton, Roger Troutman voice-box/Auto-tune. I think Phonte respected Kanye before this album and didn't see Kanye doing some weak ass shit like this. To be truthful I didn't see him doing this either. I was surprise when I jumped on the Lolly Pop joint with Wayne!!
Faceat 1-26-2009
I just think that this corny for even being written. Shame on you, Nia Beckwith. Especially for filing this article under "What's Beef?" I never thought of Phonte as being relevant in hip-hop, at large, thus, his OPINION is irrelevant. He lost me with the Aretha Franklin reference. My advice to n*ggas: Stay in your lane!
D.O.Cat 1-26-2009
I believe Phonte has just said what everyone else has been thinking. Many fans were disappointed by Kanye's album and in reality it was a disappointment. Now Phonte is justified to make any commentary on whatever he feels as he is a contributing member to Hip Hop and a good one at that. I read a statement earlier about staying in lanes, thats whatever. Like Skillz says "the music is either good or its not" and people expected a little more from Kanye
rachelat 1-26-2009
wow wow wow! i agree with budddx about kanye - i only like his production. i totally agree with phonte though. i hate auto tune. (go here for a really funny spoof - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBaXwRQQciI)
and little brother is my favorite group! i have seen them live 3 times and have all their albums.
so basically other than the callin bullshit on phonte part i agree with budddx
JOldNumber7at 1-26-2009
I love when people say Kanye's a one hit wonder... Look at how many times he's had a hit on countdowns... Hence he's NOT a one hit wonder.. Think of terms before ya use em. And who cares bout Little Haters and they're opinion of a rapper clearly more developed, more successful, and more creative who's willing to put out music that he wants regardless of what all these over-critical haters are gonna say about it. If ya don't like it don't buy it... Go get some Britney Spears or somethin and quit whining.
Professor Wrightat 1-26-2009
Phonte is right. I'm sick of the auto-tune vocals. Little Wayne and T-Pain were channeling their inner-Roger (Zapp). Now Kanye is on board. Much like MJ doing the moon walk spelled the death of break dancing.
Time for hip-hop to move on.
Kapwanat 1-26-2009
Phonte is right about Kanye in the aspect of relying on autotune, but that statement can be applied to most everyone using the damn thing. I love little brother and I like Kanye's production and rapping but 808 and heartbreaks felt like a half hearted emo-pop album. I commend Kanye for his effort but agree with Phonte in respect to not giving it his all. Simply look at his pefromance on SNL without autotune compared to the cut on the album and its like to different people on the song.
Scottat 1-26-2009
tell phonte to shut the fuck up, your nothing compared to kanye
Gaztoat 1-27-2009
I don't think Kanye is a one hit wonder,nor do I think his latest album is hot-dat is pure bullshit...shame on all people who are buying dat shit-y'all are probably gay,come outta da closet and sing with your penties on.Who doesn't know Little Brother?If you don't then you don't like HIP HOP-you are a visitor mu'fucker!!!!!!
willason825at 2-10-2009
Okay, here's the thing, The music industry is about putting out ART that the ARTist feels comfy with, not putting out what people of a certain genre's following will be comfortable with. I give Ye a STANDING ovation for 808's. He really put out his form of ART. YES, it is different from what we are used to hearing from him, but that does NOT make it bad. If you dont like it, then dont, but dont call it trash because its not ur thing, I personally dont like Polka music, but thats me, there are people who LOVE it. With that said, all the haters should grow up and maybe contribute to the world instead of trying to tear it down. peace