Big Brother (Kanye West song): Difference between revisions
Flesh-n-Bone (talk | contribs) redirecting it because it's not even announced to be a single. |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Infobox Song | |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| Name = Big Brother |
|||
| Cover = |
|||
| Artist = [[Kanye West]] |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| Released = |
|||
| track_no = 13 |
|||
| Recorded = 2006<br>Doppler Studios<br><small>([[Atlanta, Georgia]])</small><br>Legacy Recording Studios<br><small>([[New York, New York]])</small> |
|||
| Genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]] |
|||
| Length = 4:47 |
|||
| Label = [[Roc-A-Fella Records|Roc-A-Fella]], [[Island Def Jam Music Group|Island Def Jam]] |
|||
| Writer = [[Kanye West]], [[Aldrin Davis]] |
|||
| Producer = [[DJ Toomp]] |
|||
| Misc = |
|||
| prev = "[[Homecoming (song)|Homecoming]]" |
|||
| prev_no = 12 |
|||
| next = "Good Night" |
|||
| next_no = 14 |
|||
}} |
|||
'''"Big Brother"''' is a song by [[United States|American]] [[hip hop music|hip hop]] artist [[Kanye West]]. |
|||
==Writing and inspiration== |
|||
"Big Brother" was written by Kanye West while the music was produced by [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]] producer [[DJ Toomp]].<ref name=linernotes>{{cite album-notes |bandname=Kanye West |title=Graduation |year=2007 |publisher=Roc-A-Fella Records |publisherid=}}</ref> It stands as the sole track on the entire third album not to feature production by West. Kanye wrote the song as a tribute to [[Jay-Z]], whom he feels so close to that he sees him as a brother.<ref name=Praise>{{cite web |author=Scaggs, Austin|title=Kanye West: A Genius In Praise of Himself |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/16257550/kanye_west_a_genius_in_praise_of_himself/print|work=[[Rolling Stone]] |publisher=[[RealNetworks|RealNetworks, Inc]] |date=2007-09-20 |accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref> |
|||
==Music and lyrics== |
|||
Like many songs on ''Graduation'', "Big Brother" expresses slow, [[rock music|rock]]-tinged production, featuring drum programming embellished with melodic [[synthesizer]] and rhythmic, distorted guitar chords in the background. Lyrically, "Big Brother" is a honest, heartfelt examination of the complexities that encompass West's relationship with [[Jay-Z]]. In the song, Kanye dually touches on his love and admiration for Jay-Z as well as his envy and antagonism towards him, metaphorically equating their relationship to that of a [[sibling rivalry]]. The narrative song chronicles Kanye's time with Jay-Z from the Hard Knock Life Tour, to the construction of the classic ''[[Blueprint (album)|Blueprint]]'', and finally the present day. West also uses the song's [[chorus (music)|chorus]] as a subsidary dedication to his former mentor [[No I.D.]], who first taught him how to produce music.<ref>{{cite book |title=Kanye West in the Studio: Beats Down! Money Up! (2000-2006) |last=Brown |first=Jake |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2006 |publisher=Colossus Books |location= |isbn=0-9767735-6-2|page=557 |pages= |url= |accessdate=}}</ref> |
|||
==Reception== |
|||
"Big Brother" received unanimously positive reviews from music critics and was widely regarded as the best song on ''[[Graduation (album)|Graduation]]'' lyrically. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' gave a favorable review in which it claimed that the song "has lyrics introspective enough to make fans cry."<ref>{{cite web |author= Crosley, Hillary|title=Graduation|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/albums/e3ibe8ec7c980d6765c46225c438690a813|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=[[Nielsen Business Media|Nielsen Business Media, Inc]] |date=2007-09-15|accessdate=2007-09-15}}</ref> |
|||
Making note of its "classic hip-hop storytelling framework" and the "raw style" of West's rapping, [[PopMatters]] cited "Big Brother" as one of the songs on the album that gave off a "timeless hip-hop feeling."<ref>{{cite web | author=Heaton, Dave | title= Kanye West Graduation – PopMatters Music Review| url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/kanye-west-graduation| work=[[PopMatters]] | publisher=PopMatters Media, Inc | date=2007-09-10 | accessdate=2007-09-12}}</ref> |
|||
''[[The Observer]]'' listed "Big Brother" as one of the top five best tracks on the album while ''[[The Guardian]]'' music critic Dorian Lynskey stated that the song, "intertwines admiration and envy with fascinating honesty."<ref>{{cite web |author=Thompson, Ben |title=Kanye West, Graduation|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2007/sep/16/shopping.urban1|work=[[The Observer]] |publisher=[[Guardian News and Media Limited]] |date=2007-09-16 |accessdate=2007-09-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Lynskey , Dorian |title=Kanye West, Graduation|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2007/sep/07/urban.shopping|work=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |date=2007-09-07 |accessdate=2007-09-10}}</ref> A year later, a columnist for ''The Guardian'' included the track within a "Readers Recommend" column that discussed hero worship, writing, "Kanye West demonstrates more self-awareness in his thoughtful tribute to his brother-in-spirit, Jay-Z, exploring the complications of their fan-idol relationship, which grows trickier as the two become peers."<ref>{{cite web |author=Costa, Maddy |title=Readers Recommend — Songs About Hero Worship|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/sep/05/popandrock|work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |date=2008-09-05 |accessdate=2008-11-16}}</ref> |
|||
Although it was not released as a single, "Big Brother" managed to chart at number nineteen on the U.S. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles]] chart for the issue date of September 22, 2007.<ref name=US>{{cite web |author= |title=Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles – Big Brother|url= http://www.billboardmagazine.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=345&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Bubbling+Under+R%26amp%3BB%2FHip-Hop+Singles&ci=3086451&cdi=9396548&cid=09%2F22%2F2007|date= 2007-09-15|work=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|accessdate=2009-06-18}}</ref> |
|||
==Live performances== |
|||
"Big Brother" was first unveiled before an audience of five hundred fans and invited guests during a initmate show that took place at [[Westminster Central Hall]] in [[London, England]] on August 20, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.nme.com/news/kanye-west/30539|title=Kanye West Gives Shout Out to Jay-Z During Intimate Gig|work=[[NME]]|publisher=[[IPC Media]] |date=2007-08-21 |accessdate=2007-08-21}}</ref> On September 11, Kanye provided a live rendition of the song on [[BET]]'s ''[[106 & Park]]'', in which [[Jay-Z]] himself made a surprise appearance at the very end to perform "Encore" in tandem with West.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.complex.com/blogs/2007/09/12/staidum-status/|title=Stadium Status|work=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]|publisher=Complex Media, LLC |date=2007-09-12 |accessdate=2007-09-14}}</ref> |
|||
==Charts== |
|||
{|class="wikitable" |
|||
!align="left"|Chart (2007)<ref name=US/> |
|||
!align="left"|Peak<br>position |
|||
|- |
|||
|align="left"|U.S. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles]] |
|||
|align="center"|19 |
|||
|} |
|||
==Personnel== |
|||
Information taken from ''Graduation'' liner notes.<ref name=linernotes/> |
|||
*Songwriters: Kanye West, Aldrin Davis |
|||
*Producer: DJ Toomp |
|||
*Recorders: Paul Sheehy, Andrew Dawson |
|||
*Mix engineer: Andrew Dawson |
|||
*Assistant engineers: Dale Parsons, Andy Marcinkowski |
|||
==References== |
|||
{{reflist}} |
|||
==External links== |
|||
*[http://www.mtv.com/lyrics/west_kanye/big_brother/19654002/lyrics.jhtml "Big Brother" Lyrics] at [[MTV]] |
|||
{{Kanye West songs}} |
|||
Revision as of 19:06, 16 November 2009
| "Big Brother" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Big Brother" is a song by American hip hop artist Kanye West.
Writing and inspiration
"Big Brother" was written by Kanye West while the music was produced by Atlanta producer DJ Toomp.[1] It stands as the sole track on the entire third album not to feature production by West. Kanye wrote the song as a tribute to Jay-Z, whom he feels so close to that he sees him as a brother.[2]
Music and lyrics
Like many songs on Graduation, "Big Brother" expresses slow, rock-tinged production, featuring drum programming embellished with melodic synthesizer and rhythmic, distorted guitar chords in the background. Lyrically, "Big Brother" is a honest, heartfelt examination of the complexities that encompass West's relationship with Jay-Z. In the song, Kanye dually touches on his love and admiration for Jay-Z as well as his envy and antagonism towards him, metaphorically equating their relationship to that of a sibling rivalry. The narrative song chronicles Kanye's time with Jay-Z from the Hard Knock Life Tour, to the construction of the classic Blueprint, and finally the present day. West also uses the song's chorus as a subsidary dedication to his former mentor No I.D., who first taught him how to produce music.[3]
Reception
"Big Brother" received unanimously positive reviews from music critics and was widely regarded as the best song on Graduation lyrically. Billboard gave a favorable review in which it claimed that the song "has lyrics introspective enough to make fans cry."[4] Making note of its "classic hip-hop storytelling framework" and the "raw style" of West's rapping, PopMatters cited "Big Brother" as one of the songs on the album that gave off a "timeless hip-hop feeling."[5] The Observer listed "Big Brother" as one of the top five best tracks on the album while The Guardian music critic Dorian Lynskey stated that the song, "intertwines admiration and envy with fascinating honesty."[6][7] A year later, a columnist for The Guardian included the track within a "Readers Recommend" column that discussed hero worship, writing, "Kanye West demonstrates more self-awareness in his thoughtful tribute to his brother-in-spirit, Jay-Z, exploring the complications of their fan-idol relationship, which grows trickier as the two become peers."[8] Although it was not released as a single, "Big Brother" managed to chart at number nineteen on the U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart for the issue date of September 22, 2007.[9]
Live performances
"Big Brother" was first unveiled before an audience of five hundred fans and invited guests during a initmate show that took place at Westminster Central Hall in London, England on August 20, 2007.[10] On September 11, Kanye provided a live rendition of the song on BET's 106 & Park, in which Jay-Z himself made a surprise appearance at the very end to perform "Encore" in tandem with West.[11]
Charts
| Chart (2007)[9] | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles | 19 |
Personnel
Information taken from Graduation liner notes.[1]
- Songwriters: Kanye West, Aldrin Davis
- Producer: DJ Toomp
- Recorders: Paul Sheehy, Andrew Dawson
- Mix engineer: Andrew Dawson
- Assistant engineers: Dale Parsons, Andy Marcinkowski
References
- ^ a b Graduation (Media notes). Roc-A-Fella Records. 2007.
{{cite AV media notes}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|publisherid=(help); Unknown parameter|bandname=ignored (help) - ^ Scaggs, Austin (2007-09-20). "Kanye West: A Genius In Praise of Himself". Rolling Stone. RealNetworks, Inc. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
- ^ Brown, Jake (2006). Kanye West in the Studio: Beats Down! Money Up! (2000-2006). Colossus Books. p. 557. ISBN 0-9767735-6-2.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Crosley, Hillary (2007-09-15). "Graduation". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
- ^ Heaton, Dave (2007-09-10). "Kanye West Graduation – PopMatters Music Review". PopMatters. PopMatters Media, Inc. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- ^ Thompson, Ben (2007-09-16). "Kanye West, Graduation". The Observer. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 2007-09-17.
- ^ Lynskey , Dorian (2007-09-07). "Kanye West, Graduation". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 2007-09-10.
- ^ Costa, Maddy (2008-09-05). "Readers Recommend — Songs About Hero Worship". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
- ^ a b "Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles – Big Brother". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2007-09-15. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
- ^ "Kanye West Gives Shout Out to Jay-Z During Intimate Gig". NME. IPC Media. 2007-08-21. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
- ^ "Stadium Status". Complex. Complex Media, LLC. 2007-09-12. Retrieved 2007-09-14.
