Kanye West Remarks Cut From Storytellers

Posted on Friday February 27, 2009 at 11:02

A program like “Storytellers” seems tailor-made for a performer like West, an artist known for speaking his mind no matter the possible blowback.

But when the hip-hop star complained about Radiohead and defended Chris Brown, the program’s producers evidently decided some of West’s stories didn’t need telling.

During a Feb. 13 taping of “Storytellers,” West said Radiohead’s Thom Yorke snubbed him backstage at the Grammys. West said the alleged non-attention hurt him because he idolizes Radiohead, a band he considers as one of his few creative equals, Reuters reports.

“So when he performed at the Grammys, I sat the f--- down,” West said.

Shortly after dropping a Radiohead-directed f-bomb, West told the VH1 audience that Chris Brown deserves a break.

“Can't we give Chris a break?” said West, referring to all the media attention Brown has received since being arrested for allegedly beating Rihanna on the morning of the Grammy Awards. “I know I make mistakes in life.”

And, for good measure, West also told the audience that Michael Jackson, O.J. Simpson and Michael Phelps are, in his words, “Amazing.”

“Michael Jackson, amazing. Michael Phelps, amazing ... He's a real f---in' person; he makes mistakes,”

“O.J. Simpson, amazing. Is he not? What he did, when he did, what he did. Was he not amazing though?”

Olympic swimming champion Phelps has seen his share of controversy lately since a photo depicting him taking bong hits surfaced a few weeks ago. Jackson and Simpson have often been epicenters of controversies over the years including a child-molestation trial resulting in acquittal for the Jackson; an acquittal for Simpson on charges he murdered his ex-wife, and a more recent conviction on robbery charges.

Apparently the Radiohead and Chris Brown remarks were edited out of the final version of the program, and remarks about Phelps, Jackson and Simpson will air, presumably without the cuss words.

But don’t blame it on any conspiracy to silence the outspoken performer. VH1 says some of West’s remarks merely went longer than necessary.

“A lot of the stories that Kanye told went long,” executive producer Bill Flanagan told Reuters. “I tried to get to the essence of his comments.”

Flanagan also said “Storytellers” encourages artists to talk and producers regularly edit out any “gotcha moments.”

West’s appearance on “Storytellers” is scheduled to debut on VH1 Feb. 28.

http://www.pollstar.com/b...51369.aspx

So?

Timmy84 said:

So---I guess since his "Beyonce is greater than Tina Turner" comment didnt make enough waves, this is the only way he can achieve controversy these days...by saying MJ, OJ and Phelps are amazing and how he didnt stand up for Radiohead's performance. That Kanye...he is such a rebel!

NaughtyKitty said:

He's a rebel, alright. Uh, Kanye, MJ and Prince just called, they're saying "stop stealing our careers, thank you."

Timmy84 said:

Hopefully MJ and Prince left the same message to Justin Timberlake, Usher , Chris Brown and the rest of the wannabes as well.

NaughtyKitty said:

They did.

Well what he said was true, but I can understand that he can be a bit long winded, which is necessary if they cut out some parts of what he said. I don't think they were trying to censor him, but c'mon we talking about Kanye. He can talk a whole in a person's head...and possibly put some folk to sleep.

NaughtyKitty said:

I think you've got it wrong. Unlike people like Madonna who will deliberately do things and say things to be controversial, Kanye's brain seems to operate with no filter. You know those moments that most people have where they stop before they say something because they know even though its how they feel, its probably best left alone? Kanye just goes ahead and says it. I don't think its contrived. He does this too often for it to be contrived. He just says whatever comes to mind without thinking of the effects.

missfee said:

Everybody goes to sleep when he talks tho. I forgot he said some stuff at the Grammys about Bob Newhart getting the Grammy for Best New Artist and HE didn't. He also said that famous "Bush hates black folk" comment. It was like "yeah we know". Those comments were not exactly "shocking". In fact this is about MUSIC. If you're gonna tell stories, tell it about the song and the story behind it, lol. But I guess he couldn't just help himself, right?
[Edited 2/27/09 13:23pm]

Oj was an amazing football player but he killed 2 people, so which is amazing, his playing or his ability to get away with murder? If thats the case Robert Blake and Phil Spector are amazing too.

News to Kanye, Radiohead by majority, feel nothing towards your music. You may be creative in your genre and credit for being different, somewhat, but RadioHead are out of your league, i know you wanna get down with them and Coldplay so you can try to get into the "rock alt" thing, and since you have no chance playing instruments, you wanna ride someone else's coattails into their genre and praise. This is the same shit he pulled on U2, when he played a show with them on the bill, Kanye made he seem like 100,000 people turned up in a stadium for his ass, he left out the fact that all he did was a song or two and wasnt even listed on the ticket, once again riding coattails.

Let me get this straight - don't they book people on "Storytellers" that have actual stories to tell?

Or did they run out of those kinds of people, and so they had to book Kanye West?

BlaqueKnight said:

Yeah, that could be the case as well. Either way I dont think its doing him no favors lol! People dont really take what he has to say all that seriously. Its like, when he says something, people are like There goes Kanye shootin off his mouth again.
[Edited 2/27/09 14:00pm]

NaughtyKitty said:[quote]

BlaqueKnight said:

Yeah, that could be the case as well. Either way I dont think its doing him no favors lol! People dont really take what he has to say all that seriously. Its like, when he says something, people are like There goes Kanye shootin off his mouth again.
[Edited 2/27/09 14:00pm]


The problem is, it would be one thing if we could turn off the radio station that is playing his "stuff", but because the media seems to think it is important to pay attention to his tired behind, it is unfortunately not an easy task trying to avoid his inane comments.....
[Edited 2/27/09 14:24pm]

lastdecember said:

Thank you, my sentiments exactly. I'm sure they didn't stand up for him either! I hope Thom Yorke gets asked about it. I wonder what his response would be...

NaughtyKitty said:

lastdecember said:

Will people please get off this OJ Simpson murdering two people thing already? There's no way he could have butchered two people all by himself they way Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman were butchered, leave only paper-cut amounts of blood in the Ford Bronco, hide the murder weapon and any blood-drenched clothing in an undisclosed location which to this day have not been found, get back to his house, take a shower, pack for a trip to Chicago, grab a limo, and catch a plane flight all in 90 minutes.

But enough of that. I admire Kanye for being one of the best artists in hip-hop, and I also admire that he wants to transcend hip-hop and become an innovative artist like Radiohead or Coldplay, but musically he is out of his league compared to those artists. And BlaqueKnight is right about Kanye having no mental filter in his head when he spouts off stuff.

Like I've said before on other forums, I used to have respect for this guy. Moreso because I saw him actually playing an instrument, which is something that you don't often see a rapper doing. Even if it was just a piano/organ/whatever.

But then he went & posed as Jesus Christ on the front cover of "Rolling Stone" and started runnin mouth like he is right now.

Hey, Kanye!.....

NaughtyKitty said:

the amnesiac b-sides contain more creativity than kanye's entire catalogue.

concerning creativity and songwriting even 80s prince would have a hart time
holding a candle to some of the abnormally wicked stuff radiohead released
in the last 10 years.

this guy needs as much attention as ANY thread on him

i love yeezy he keeps the haters so so busy

RodeoSchro said:

Yeah, IIRC "Storytellers" was supposed to be a show that let artists give anecdotes about the song they're about to play. Guess Kanye had nothing interesting to say so he had to try to "stir the drink"?

IstenSzek said:

Yeah, I thought the same thing when I read that.

BlaqueKnight said:

NOT!

dannyd5050 said:

You guys make me laugh Radiohead is not beyond Kanye league ...does Radiohead know who Kanye West is yes of course do they like his music maybe ? who knows do they like him as a person .....well this is the question ?

I'm sure Radiohead over the years have met alot of fellow artists but do they like them on a personal basis....maybe not...that's life..

lastdecember said:

Apparently a jury wasn't convinced O.J. is a murderer.

I like Kanye as an artist and individual.
I don't have a problem with people expressing themselves just be civil about it and Kanye generally is.

But you know what? As much as some of his comments rub me the wrong way, he knows how to do a show right, lol. I was quite impressed actually with his show. Even tho he still can't sing worth a damn.

BlaqueKnight said:

I've said it before and I will say it again. In the accident he had, there was some frontal lobe damange. The frontal lobe handles in part impulse control. He has very little. He acts on impulse and it is very obvious he needs medication or need actual help managing his impulses by way of talk therapy. I think he is a very smart kid, very creative, but sometimes delusional.

And by the way, OJ did do it. Nobody else wanted that coke whore dead.

That was a GOOD show. Kanye need to have a live album.

728huey said:

some ppl want OJ to be guilty so bad that they continually utter that he is as if to convince themselves.

lilgish said:

Lawd knows that chile killed those people. That's why he locked up now cuz he thought he could get away with anything.