When Chance the Rapper began turning heads as a teenager in Chicago’s burgeoning rap scene, comparisons between him and Kanye were rampant, which created anticipation for the moment the two would cross paths musically. Chance The Rapper Was Supposed To Appear On More Songs While a lawsuit, filed by Natalie Green’s biological parents against West, disputes the validity of that agreement, regardless of the outcome, Natalie’s contribution to The Life of Pablo is quintessential and her words and voice will forever be etched in our heads.ģ. “We want the Lord, and that’s it.” The video, which was recorded prior to a family road trip, popped up on Kanye’s radar, who then reached out to the Green family to ask permission to use the clip on his album, which they obliged. “We don’t want no devils in the house, God,” she shouts, as Samoria ad-libs. Kanye West may be the headliner, however, the first voices you hear on The Life of Pablo belong to Samoria and Natalie Green, two South Carolina residents who gained attention after an Instagram clip of a then 4-year-old Natalie delivering an impassioned prayer went viral. The Origin of the Prayer on “Ultralight Beam” Revealed While Rainey’s name isn’t mentioned, all of the embedded clues point to Ye’s former beau being a source of inspiration for this track.Ģ. Tidbits of the inner-workings of their relationship, as well as its eventual end, can be heard on classic Kanye cuts like “Never Let Me Down” and “Touch the Sky,” but is rehashed on “30 Hours” with tell-tale references including the estimated 30 hours it takes to drive between Los Angeles, where Kanye was working at the time, and his and Rainey’s hometown of Chicago. Many of these recollections may be overt, but one that may have flown over listeners’ heads is “30 Hours,” Yeezy’s ode to his ex-girlfriend Sumeke Rainey, who he dated during his rise to fame. Having displayed a penchant for weaving testimonials drawn from his personal life into his music, it’s no surprise that references to various past experiences are sprinkled throughout The Life of Pablo. Peep them below.ġ. “30 Hours” Was Inspired By One of Kanye’s Ex-Girlfriends With five years having passed since its release, we unearthed nine interesting facts about The Life of Pablo that may catch you by surprise. Certified double-platinum, The Life of Pablo earned five Grammy award nominations, and was among the most critically acclaimed releases of 2016. Treating the album like a canvas, the final version boasted guest appearances by Chance the Rapper, Kid Cudi, Desiigner, Rihanna, The Weeknd, Ty Dolla Sign, Post Malone, Kendrick Lamar, Sia, Vic Mensa, Chris Brown and Young Thug, as well as productions by various A-listers including executive producers Rick Rubin and Noah Goldstein. West, who continued his tradition of cohesive, yet wildly entertaining projects. When all was said and done, the LP became the first album to debut atop the Billboard 200 solely through streaming and was yet another feather in the cap of Mr. Initially titling the album SWISH, and then Waves before settling on The Life of Pablo, Kanye gave various updates throughout the recording process while alluding to various artists and cultural tastemakers being involved in helping with the creation and curation of the project. Released on Febru the album was synonymous with spectacle, as Yeezy pulled out all of the stops to build anticipation around it including playing it at his own Yeezy Season 3 fashion show at Madison Square Garden. And if you ask most rap fans, the madness that surrounds and defines Kanye West’s music, career, and overall lifestyle is a direct byproduct of his genius, which was captured throughout the process of liberating his seventh studio album, The Life of Pablo.
There’s a thin line between genius and madness, yet, which side you stand on depends largely on who you’re talking to. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer or company.