“Kanye West, for me, is one of the greatest if not the greatest performers, entertainers, musicians of all-time. He’s right up there with the greats, and people may not recognize it today. But I promise you a few years from today we’re going to look back and say, 'Oh my god, what an amazing, amazing talent.' People love Kanye for sure, but he’s great, great. I mean on the level of Prince. But modern day, he's hip-hop. He's not the same thing. He doesn’t play guitar, he doesn't play piano. He's not that kind of performer, but for hip-hop he is a king."

~Veteran record executive turned “X-Factor” judge L.A. Reid on Kanye West serving as a modern day version of singer-songwriter Prince.

I saw this on TV. Shaun Robinson (reporter) was holding the mike and almost dropped it when she heard that. She actually, reiterated "so you're saying that Kanye is on the level of a musician like Prince." That's when Reid started to qualify his statement saying "as a performer, I mean he doesn't play an instrument, blah, blah, blah."

This from the man who signed Bieber, Usher and Rhianna, 'nough said.

*shudder*

O.K. , has he actually heard that disgrace of a 'song' he just did with Jay Z.?. Damn, these hip hoppers really need to get a big reality check. Kaye is a dumb ass act that plays to a dumb ass audience. I would LOVE Kanye to dare share the stage with P -not in a big audience participation thing like he did recently but in a sitaution like P did with the George Harrison tribute. Imagine a stage with Kanye, Jay Z, Lil what's his mofo face, P.Diddy etc. Seriously, imagine P getting up on THAT stage and killin' it!!.

Grrr!!.

More like L.A. Re-tarded . This nigga doesn''t know what the fuck he talkin' bout.

This really, REALLY explains why so much music is shit these days.

NewYorkMike said:

More like L.A. Re-tarded . This nigga doesn''t know what the fuck he talkin' bout.

Oh thats nice, having a go at these celebrities, thats all well and good, because who really cares about them, but don't be deragatory towards people with special needs my friend. Your just as bad as Obama, with his oh-so 'normal' family, when on a chat show some years ago, mocked special olympics athletes. Or when Tiger said something similar some years back commenting on a competitors bad performance, or when Brand called Bush a retarded cowboy. Yes, we all hate Bush but don't put down the most vulnerable in society at the same time! Aniston did something similar this year on a morning show. Silly celebrities.

As for your use of the 'N' word, well some say that its been reclaimed. I hate it myself. As an asian I would never want to be called a 'paki' for instance. Nothing empowering about that. Nope, definitely don't want to reclaim that word.

I like Kanye but hell not.... Can i get LA's address so i can mail him a bitch slap

It just goes to show you how much the music industry has managed and lowered expectations of the audience. It passes Kanye -- a talented MC and producer -- off as a legendary musician. And today's coveted audiences, many of whom were born in an era where rappers have consistently been chart-toppers, will buy what Reid is selling.

It comes as no surprise the industry is in decline.

I love Kanye - got all his albums - support him to the fullest...

...but no.

Darshy said:

NewYorkMike said:

More like L.A. Re-tarded . This nigga doesn''t know what the fuck he talkin' bout.

Oh thats nice, having a go at these celebrities, thats all well and good, because who really cares about them, but don't be deragatory towards people with special needs my friend. Your just as bad as Obama, with his oh-so 'normal' family, when on a chat show some years ago, mocked special olympics athletes. Or when Tiger said something similar some years back commenting on a competitors bad performance, or when Brand called Bush a retarded cowboy. Yes, we all hate Bush but don't put down the most vulnerable in society at the same time! Aniston did something similar this year on a morning show. Silly celebrities.

As for your use of the 'N' word, well some say that its been reclaimed. I hate it myself. As an asian I would never want to be called a 'paki' for instance. Nothing empowering about that. Nope, definitely don't want to reclaim that word.

WTF? Kanye sucks.

motown1958 said:

“Kanye West, for me, is one of the greatest if not the greatest performers, entertainers, musicians of all-time. He’s right up there with the greats, and people may not recognize it today. But I promise you a few years from today we’re going to look back and say, 'Oh my god, what an amazing, amazing talent.' People love Kanye for sure, but he’s great, great. I mean on the level of Prince. But modern day, he's hip-hop. He's not the same thing. He doesn’t play guitar, he doesn't play piano. He's not that kind of performer, but for hip-hop he is a king."

Ok... I'm trying hard to give LA the benefit of the doubt. He's saying "for HIP HOP" he would be the equivalent.

I dont listen to hip hop so I can't really judge what that means to be honest. In any sense though I think thats a bit of an insult to Prince and what he's done to get where he is.

I saw this too, and thought it was pretty cool that LA Reid felt Prince was the standard by which he measured Kanye's talent, regardless of how we feel about Kanye West. That's pretty cool coming from one of the most successful music producers of all time.

lezama said:

motown1958 said:

“Kanye West, for me, is one of the greatest if not the greatest performers, entertainers, musicians of all-time. He’s right up there with the greats, and people may not recognize it today. But I promise you a few years from today we’re going to look back and say, 'Oh my god, what an amazing, amazing talent.' People love Kanye for sure, but he’s great, great. I mean on the level of Prince. But modern day, he's hip-hop. He's not the same thing. He doesn’t play guitar, he doesn't play piano. He's not that kind of performer, but for hip-hop he is a king."

Ok... I'm trying hard to give LA the benefit of the doubt. He's saying "for HIP HOP" he would be the equivalent.

I dont listen to hip hop so I can't really judge what that means to be honest. In any sense though I think thats a bit of an insult to Prince and what he's done to get where he is.

I fully agree. He isn't even on the level as Prince who has done so much in his career and wouldn't have been as insulting to others as West as done like steal the joy from Taylor at the awards and just asting like an all around ass.

People love Kanye for sure, but he’s great, great. I mean on the level of Prince.

L.A. Reid is part of the team that unleashed that dreaded Rihanna on the world. Please buy him a one way ticket to hell.

ALL ther orgers should make a line and take turns bitch-slapping Reid, like in that scene in the film "Airplane"

what record label is he currently tanking? and remind me, is it his 3rd or 4th?

Ok, I'm going to respond w/out looking at any of the previous post.

Here's what I thought when I read the title of this thread. It's not about Kanye and Prince being equals. It's about them, in general.

Both men are very talented and both men, due to their antics, have more or less "fallen from grace".

Kanye's infamous stage interruptions (albeit drunken or not) aren't that different than Prince's rants, imo.

AWW HEEEELLLLL NO!

What an insult to Prince's talent!

Kanye West is NO way on the same page as P, not in any way, not even in the same orbit

Comparing the 2 is like comparing a tiny lil cockroach turd to a giant chunk of solid gold

*Prince being the gold, kanye being the roach turd

PositivityForever said:

ALL ther orgers should make a line and take turns bitch-slapping Reid, like in that scene in the film "Airplane"

I'm first!!

L.A. Reid has obviously got a bunch of loose screws...but oh, he's on X-Factor...douchbag

NeonCraxx said:

I love Kanye - got all his albums - support him to the fullest...

...but no.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiight

Wonder if LA Reid saw his boy wonder performing with Prince recently....oh lawd