Kanye West - Diamaonds (First single from LATE REGISTRATION)

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Not my favorite Kanye track.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 20 April 2005 23:30 (eighteen years ago) link

I kinda wish he had Will Smith ghost-rap for him. They have similar rhythms and West's voice sounds like Jazz. Nice production, natch.

― miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 20 April 2005 23:31 (eighteen years ago) link

omg seriously if Kanye was feeding Will Smith (he's an actor anyway) his tracks and lyrics we'd be like OMG this is the shit! They should do a Taupin-John type thing.

― miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 20 April 2005 23:33 (eighteen years ago) link

Antony did you just OTM yourself there?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 20 April 2005 23:52 (eighteen years ago) link

I heard this for the first time today. I like the beat, and the rapping was much better than a lot of the last album. At first I was like, "Nice, who is this?" and then "Oh shit, it's Kanye?"

― Hurting (Hurting), Wednesday, 20 April 2005 23:53 (eighteen years ago) link

kinda, Alex, I just reaffirmed the seriousness and enthusiasm of my sentiment with like two posts in a row. I do that when I get excited. If I was God I'd just make it so.

― miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 20 April 2005 23:59 (eighteen years ago) link

Haha it was very cute.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 21 April 2005 00:02 (eighteen years ago) link

Jesus this song is great!

― Lethal Dizzle (djdee2005), Thursday, 21 April 2005 01:41 (eighteen years ago) link

Talk about stepping your production game up.

― Lethal Dizzle (djdee2005), Thursday, 21 April 2005 01:41 (eighteen years ago) link

ever evr ever ever STOP IT!
Besides that I'd say its an above average kanye west track on the whole.

― jmeister (jmeister), Thursday, 21 April 2005 01:49 (eighteen years ago) link

Whoa, noice!

― Remy (x Jeremy), Thursday, 21 April 2005 01:52 (eighteen years ago) link

:-o

― Al (sitcom), Thursday, 21 April 2005 01:53 (eighteen years ago) link

btw i'm seeing elsewhere that the full title is "Diamonds Are Forever" (which is similiar to Jay's "Diamond Is Forever" off Blueprint 2)

― Al (sitcom), Thursday, 21 April 2005 01:55 (eighteen years ago) link

Honestly, he's exceeded my expectations with this track alone.

― Lethal Dizzle (djdee2005), Thursday, 21 April 2005 02:00 (eighteen years ago) link

Seriously. The production's good but the VOX are an exponential leap forward. I have big hopes for this as a summer dance hit.

― Remy (x Jeremy), Thursday, 21 April 2005 02:02 (eighteen years ago) link

i posted my immediate reaction on the shrimp. no promo.

― Lethal Dizzle (djdee2005), Thursday, 21 April 2005 02:04 (eighteen years ago) link

you really think this sounds like a dance hit radio song? I dunno, sounds more to me like the warning shot for mixtapes/DJ shows than the real real single, but I could be wrong. (xpost)

― Al (sitcom), Thursday, 21 April 2005 02:08 (eighteen years ago) link

either way it's pretty nice to hear after all those bogus Late Registration leaks that were all 3 year old demos.

― Al (sitcom), Thursday, 21 April 2005 02:09 (eighteen years ago) link

Yeah this doesnt sound like much of a summer dance track at all, it doesnt really have a dance groove or anything, its totally top-heavy (in a good way)

― Lethal Dizzle (djdee2005), Thursday, 21 April 2005 02:10 (eighteen years ago) link

The production is fantastic. I don't know if the Outkast quote is cute or stupid, though.

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 21 April 2005 02:10 (eighteen years ago) link

"the Roc is still alive everytime I rhyme"

great song. but the "eva eva" is really, really annoying.

― Guy Incognito (Guy Incognito), Thursday, 21 April 2005 02:11 (eighteen years ago) link

As is... nah, I don't think it's likely to go far as dance hit. But I've got my money Roc-a-Fella releasing like 18 remixes over the next five months, and with the killer bass/harpsicord/shirley bassey it's got all the ingredients. I'm particularly impressed w. the hardness of it - it's much more believable than anything on college dropout.

― Remy (x Jeremy), Thursday, 21 April 2005 02:12 (eighteen years ago) link

that last verse is killing me. I don't think the beat's a shocker, though, he's done lots of these kind of twinkly high drama hard rock beats (although mostly not on his solo stuff)

― Al (sitcom), Thursday, 21 April 2005 02:13 (eighteen years ago) link

(except duh I'm forgetting "Two Words")

― Al (sitcom), Thursday, 21 April 2005 02:15 (eighteen years ago) link

Its not the mood that's surprising as it is the pure sonic clarity of the thing - like all the different elements sound really clear in the mix.

― Lethal Dizzle (djdee2005), Thursday, 21 April 2005 02:17 (eighteen years ago) link

lows sound low, mids sound...mid etc

― Lethal Dizzle (djdee2005), Thursday, 21 April 2005 02:18 (eighteen years ago) link

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1500482/20050420/west_kanye.jhtml?headlines=true

I'm pretty hyped now to know that the album's out in July. the last few things I'd heard made it sound like it'd been pushed way back to the 4th quarter, so I'm excited that it's coming sooner than I expected.

― Al (sitcom), Thursday, 21 April 2005 04:07 (eighteen years ago) link

People really hate the "ever ever" bits? Dude. Might be the best part of the song.

― hillary, Thursday, 21 April 2005 13:26 (eighteen years ago) link

the 'for ever ever' bit sounds like it's lifted directly from that bit in 'Ms Jackson' except exaggerated.

Not sure if this is intentional or not.

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Thursday, 21 April 2005 13:50 (eighteen years ago) link

Fucking AY. This shit is like MAGNIFICENT! There is nothing summer about it though, this is like END TIMES music. The verses here are better than like anything he's ever even THOUGHT ABOUT before. Just...wow.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 21 April 2005 13:57 (eighteen years ago) link

yeah that part is definitely intentional xp. It doesnt bother me too much, but it doesnt really seem to fit with the song.

― Lethal Dizzle (djdee2005), Thursday, 21 April 2005 13:58 (eighteen years ago) link

It's totally intentional.

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 21 April 2005 13:58 (eighteen years ago) link

He should have pitch-shifted his voice so the 'evah evah's go even higher. I hear he knows how to do that sort of thing.

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 21 April 2005 13:59 (eighteen years ago) link

hahahaha

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 21 April 2005 14:11 (eighteen years ago) link

i really like this. i want to listen to it now but i forgot to update my ipod after d/l'ing the song last night.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 21 April 2005 14:12 (eighteen years ago) link

nice....he's coming along as a rapper, too...great track.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Thursday, 21 April 2005 14:33 (eighteen years ago) link

AGH! I DLed this and all that plays is silence. WTF! I am dying to hear. Can someone gmail an mp3?

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Thursday, 21 April 2005 14:37 (eighteen years ago) link

Check your gmail there sister.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 21 April 2005 15:05 (eighteen years ago) link

ick.

I really don't know about this

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Thursday, 21 April 2005 15:07 (eighteen years ago) link

Blown away, dr. bill?

― Lethal Dizzle (djdee2005), Thursday, 21 April 2005 15:09 (eighteen years ago) link

I love the beat, especially the little breakdown after "but the flow is anemic." I hope this isn't the first single, though (or if it is, that it is quickly followed by another), because I am looking to Kanye for a SUMMER JAM, and this ain't it.

I also love the opening line about Vegas on acid through Yves St. Laurent glasses. With the beat there it produces a great image.

― Scott CE (Scott CE), Thursday, 21 April 2005 15:21 (eighteen years ago) link

I dunno, is anyone actually expecting a SUMMER JAM from Kanye? I mean the last album was sold on the basis of singles about a car accident, Jesus, and how materialism is motivated by self-consciousness. "Slow Jamz" was kind of a fluke, and the one real attempt at a summer jammy jam, "The New Workout Plan" kinda flopped as a single.

― Al (sitcom), Thursday, 21 April 2005 15:59 (eighteen years ago) link

Who cares what the songs were about? I'd say about half the tracks on that album were appropriate summer jams.

― Scott CE (Scott CE), Thursday, 21 April 2005 16:03 (eighteen years ago) link

The New Workout Plan flopped as a single? but I'd love another song like that one

― Guy Incognito (Guy Incognito), Thursday, 21 April 2005 19:39 (eighteen years ago) link

evaeva annoying but j barry samples... the way to my heart. reminds me of lil kim 'came back for you' (opulent/decadent) which is a kanye i like.

― xcixxorx, Thursday, 21 April 2005 20:00 (eighteen years ago) link

"New Workout Plan" was one of my favorite songs from the album. What an awful video, though.

― Lethal Dizzle (djdee2005), Thursday, 21 April 2005 20:20 (eighteen years ago) link

"Slow Jamz" was kind of a fluke

Nothing involving Jamie Foxx is a "fluke".

― Lukas (lukas), Thursday, 21 April 2005 20:26 (eighteen years ago) link

I like "Workout Plan" too, I was just saying it didn't do well on radio (although for all I know they might've just put out the video without giving it a push to radio). and I meant "Slow Jamz" was a fluke in the sense that it was supposed to be an album track for Kanye but then it took off and Twista's label decided to release it as a single.

― Al (sitcom), Thursday, 21 April 2005 20:28 (eighteen years ago) link

This is nice. I don't think it will blow up but I think it shows he still cares about creating something just a little bit different. It's something to back up that big mouth of his.

― Wookie Rookie, Friday, 22 April 2005 02:39 (eighteen years ago) link

I was badmouthing this today, but it is quickly growing on me (if not with the tropical ivy speed of that Missy/Ciara joint).
The "eva eva" is wack. This smells of "Jesus Walks" to me, which is okay.
The production IS impressive. I WANT to dislike Kanye, but he just keeps putting out catchy shit.
"Workout Plan" was BY FAR my fave track on Dropout; how it flopped is beyond me.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Friday, 22 April 2005 03:09 (eighteen years ago) link

the more I listen to this the more I'm dazzled by the production. there's so much going on underneath the 2nd verse it's ridiculous.

― Al (sitcom), Friday, 22 April 2005 03:20 (eighteen years ago) link

After writing him off as the token rapper that rock-orientated white people liked in 2004, this impresses me.

Isn't the best choice for a summer anthem so it probably isn't the best first single. This would've worked better as a second, more serious single. That usually works for hot rappers just coming off a huge summer anthem. Enimem does it almost every album.

― Cunga (Cunga), Friday, 22 April 2005 03:23 (eighteen years ago) link

i'm struggling to see how "Workout Plan" was considered a big flop. yeah, it wasn't a huge chart hit - but that shit was inescapable on the radio and in clubs here in Chi-town. i think i heard that song far more often than any of the other singles.

― jonviachicago, Friday, 22 April 2005 03:23 (eighteen years ago) link

Cunga OTM.

― Remy (x Jeremy), Friday, 22 April 2005 03:27 (eighteen years ago) link

local hit =/ national hit. I'm sure Workout Plan and lots of other Kanye records got a lot of spins in Chicago that weren't hits everywhere else, I'm talking about how it did nationally. and it doesn't mean people didn't like, just that it didn't get spins anywhere near like Jesus Walks, Through The Wire, All Falls Down, Slow Jamz, etc. but it was really a minor point I was making and people seem very intent on misinterpreting it, so whatever.

― Al (sitcom), Friday, 22 April 2005 04:19 (eighteen years ago) link

Workout Plan was a hit in chicago (and in clubs) because its basically a house track!

Cunga almost OTM, but this is definitely a lead-off for-the-streets joint, not a second single!

― Lethal Dizzle (djdee2005), Friday, 22 April 2005 06:54 (eighteen years ago) link

I love this! I wasn't very bothered about new Kanye so soon, but this has won me over. 'Jesus Walks' but glitzier and harder and less Jesus-y. And the "ever-ever" bit is totally a 'Ms Jackson' reference and also very funny!

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 22 April 2005 07:07 (eighteen years ago) link

Wa-hey! Shirleh Basseh, ghetto sistah! This presses all my buttons, it has to be said.

― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Friday, 22 April 2005 08:46 (eighteen years ago) link

last night during rush hour i heard this twice within 15 minutes on 100.3 'the beat' in philly. the djs were really into it, and so stoked that they just had to play it again.

― the leglo (the leglo), Friday, 22 April 2005 15:24 (eighteen years ago) link

this beat is so dated sounding!

― ooo, Friday, 22 April 2005 15:28 (eighteen years ago) link

How so?

― deej., Friday, 22 April 2005 16:03 (eighteen years ago) link

If you listen carefully, you can here the date stamp on the second chorus. After the 17th "eva eva?" a chipmunk whispers "this beat was produced on January 17th, 2005."

― Scott CE (Scott CE), Friday, 22 April 2005 16:10 (eighteen years ago) link

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