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October 7, 2008

Kanye West Doesn't Care About Black People

Somehow it says a lot about Kanye that he premiered his new video for "Love Lockdown" on Ellen. ELLEN! Next thing you know Lindsay will be listening to Kanye West.

If I was a lot smarter than I am, I would probably have something to say about how weird and unsettling it is that Kanye West features decontextualized figures of native African culture as so much aesthetic decoration in his sparse, modern apartment. I would talk about what a complicated and weird statement he is making by associating Africans with Sub Zero refrigerators, as if somehow his blackness was a tasteful curio picked out by his interior decorator. I wish I was smart enough to talk about that. Oh well.

Posted by Gabe at 1:15 PM in
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6 Comments

I thought it neatly represented Kanye's personality - obsession with modern kitchen design, overly sexual usage of Glow In the Dark paint and african tribal dancers making the track "raw".... All we're missing is an anime Teddy Bear skateboarding through a multi-colored Murakami galaxy!

Posted by: ww at 10/07/08 1:52 PM | Reply
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Weakest. Video. Ever.

Posted by: Michael at 10/07/08 2:00 PM | Reply
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Kevin

the chorus to this song is just sooo good though. the drums remind me of that awesome fuck buttons song. about that autotune, though, kanye. go to your room.

Posted by: Kevin profile link at 10/07/08 2:48 PM | Reply
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aaron

I'm definitely calling some penis flashing on that jumping native around 1:03 into the video. Actually Kanye confused me with his adult contemporary music video that I'm pretty confused. Second opinion?

Posted by: aaron profile link at 10/07/08 2:54 PM | Reply
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randi

so am i to understand that because he's black and famous he has to withhold his natural africanness? and must supress being black? this video's awful.

Posted by: randi profile link at 10/07/08 3:01 PM | Reply
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jetblak22

hey. it's just a music video.

Posted by: jetblak22 profile link at 10/07/08 4:34 PM | Reply
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