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==Background==
==Background==
The song is a [[ballad (music)|ballad]] dedicated to West's mother, Donda West, describing his affection and appreciation for her having raised him amidst personal hardships and instilling her values in him. After his mother died due to complications from [[cosmetic surgery]] on November 10, 2007, West used the song as a tribute to his late mother, most notably during all of his concerts on his [[Glow in the Dark Tour|Glow in the Dark]] tour. On November 17, 2007 at [[Le Zenith]] in [[Paris]], [[France]], during his first public performance since his mother's death a week before, West broke down into tears while attempting to perform the song.<ref>{{cite web | last=Asward | first=Jem| title=Kanye West Breaks Down In Tears During Paris Concert | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1574566/20071118/id_0.jhtml| date=2007-11-19 | work=MTV | publisher=MTV Networks | accessdate=2007-11-19}}</ref> On February 11, 2008, West performed the song at the [[50th Grammy Awards]] & ended his set by performing it at the 2011 [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival]].
The song is a [[ballad (music)|ballad]] dedicated to West's mother, Donda West, describing his affection and appreciation for her having raised him amidst personal hardships and instilling her values in him. After his mother died due to complications from [[cosmetic surgery]] on November 10, 2007, West used the song as a tribute to his late mother, most notably during all of his concerts on his [[Glow in the Dark Tour|Glow in the Dark]] tour. On November 17, 2007 at [[Le Zenith]] in [[Paris]], [[France]], during his first public performance since his mother's death a week before, West broke down into tears while attempting to perform the song.<ref>{{cite web | last=Asward | first=Jem| title=Kanye West Breaks Down In Tears During Paris Concert | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1574566/20071118/id_0.jhtml| date=2007-11-19 | work=MTV | publisher=MTV Networks | accessdate=2007-11-19}}</ref> On February 11, 2008, West performed the song at the [[50th Grammy Awards]] & ended his set by performing it at the 2011 [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival]].

Kanye West song “Hey Mama” was written in the early 2000’s before Kanye’s fame days and was released on August 30,2005. “Hey Mama” appears on the album Late Registration who Kanye recorded with The Recording Plant, Grandmaster Recording Studios, and Sony Music Studio. The song was written in dedication to Kanye’s mother, Donda West, “describing his affection and appreciation for her having raised him amidst personal hardships and instilling her values in him.”(wikipedia)
The song is clearly about the love and appreciation West has towards his mother Donda West. It has three verses, each ending with a “Hey Mama”. Even though the line is used multiple time it contains an emotional connotation, the way it is sung seems to be talking to his mother with love and appreciation. Each stanza follows an abcdeef rhyme scheme
Each verse talks about memories West remembers about him mother and the love she always showed him. For example, the first verse notes, “I was three years old, when you and I moved to the Chi/Late December, harsh winter gave me a cold”(5-6). The song goes on mentioning how his mother struggle working to give West the best stating,” You work late nights just to keep on the lights”(9). Donda demonstrates that Kanye was before anyone else,” And you never put no man over me”(13). When he mentions,” See you're, unbreakable, unmistakable/Highly capable…”(21-22) and “just look at what heaven do/
Send us an angel, and I thank you”(23-24) Kanye shows a strong relationship, love, and appreciation to his mother.
Overall, the song evokes a feeling of gratitude in the listener. The listener feels like the struggle Donda went to raise a child with love is justified, similar to West descriptions.
The song is a tribute to West’s mother who struggle as a single mother to give her son a shelter. On November 10,2007 Donda West passed away due to a heart problem while she had a cosmetic surgery. Although the song was written in the 2000’s West perform “Hey Mama” for the first time at Le Zenith in France during his Glow in the Dark tour,“ during his first public performance since his mother's death a week before, West broke down into tears while attempting to perform the song“(wikipedia). The lost of West’s mother was a big obstacle in his life. Kanye had not spoke about his mother until at a conference on December 2008 where Kanye states,” It was like losing an arm and a leg and trying to walk through that"(wikipedia). “The Donda West Law” required “patients to provide medical clearance for elective cosmetic surgery”(wikipedia) was passes by the governor of California Schwarzenegger.
“Hey Mama” came in position sixthy-four for the Hot Canadian Digital Singles and enter the Billboards in North America. The album also earn the first spot on the Village Voice’s Pazz and Jop. Kanye’s album Late Registration within a week had been sold over 860,000 copies.
Kanye uses imagery to evoke a description to the listener of how his mother struggle to raise a child. For example,” You work late nights just to keep on the lights
/Mommy got me training wheels so I could keep on my bike”(9-10).In this line imagery is used to describe his mother as one who cared for her son. By singing, ”You work late nights just to keep on the lights” he is stating how his mother had to work hard to give him a shelter. This line evokes the struggle Donda went through to raise Kanye. He reveals to be proud of his mother to do all she has for him.
Kanye also uses simile to evoke a feeling of affection towards his mother . For example,” Give me a verse of "You, Are So Beautiful To Me"/Can't you see, you're like a book of poetry/Maya Angelou, Nicky Giovanni, turn one page and there's my mommy”(32-34). In this line simile is used to describe the love of son he has towards his mother. By singing,” Can't you see, you're like a book of poetry” he is making it seem like his mother is the best because of all the effort she put into raising a child as a single mother. This makes the listener feel the love and appreciation Kanye has towards his mother.
Kanye note,” she always gave me support”(wikipedia) making her an important figure in his life. Kanye was proud of his mother because he saw how she struggle to earn money to give a shelter to her son. ”Hey Mama” was a special song dedicated to Donda West because of the efforts as single parent since Kanye was three years old.


==Chart performance==
==Chart performance==

Revision as of 10:49, 25 April 2011

"Hey Mama"
Song

"Hey Mama" is a song written by American rap artist Kanye West. It appears on his 2005 second album, Late Registration. Co-produced with Jon Brion, the song contains a sample of "Today Won't Come Again" by Donal Leace.[2] Though it first appeared on his 2005 album, West had composed the song long before he had found fame, as early as 2000.[1]

Background

The song is a ballad dedicated to West's mother, Donda West, describing his affection and appreciation for her having raised him amidst personal hardships and instilling her values in him. After his mother died due to complications from cosmetic surgery on November 10, 2007, West used the song as a tribute to his late mother, most notably during all of his concerts on his Glow in the Dark tour. On November 17, 2007 at Le Zenith in Paris, France, during his first public performance since his mother's death a week before, West broke down into tears while attempting to perform the song.[3] On February 11, 2008, West performed the song at the 50th Grammy Awards & ended his set by performing it at the 2011 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

Chart performance

Despite the absence of a physical single release, "Hey Mama" managed to enter charts in North America. In the United States, the song entered the Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles at number nine for the issue dated November 24, 2007.[4] A few months later, on the issue dated March 1, 2008, "Hey Mama" appeared on the Hot Canadian Digital Singles chart in the sixty-fourth position.[5]

Live performances

An early live performance of "Hey Mama" took place in West's hometown of Chicago at the conclusion of a concert with Dilated Peoples held in the House of Blues on May 5, 2004.[6] West included "Hey Mama" within the setlist of his Touch the Sky Tour that occurred in late 2005.[7] He provided a live rendition of "Hey Mama" as a tribute to his mother within the setlist of his Glow in the Dark Tour.[8] In the concert, West followed the performance up by dedicating a cover of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" to her.[9]

Personnel

Information taken from Late Registration liner notes.[2]

  • Songwriters: Kanye West, Donal Leace
  • Producers: Kanye West, Jon Brion
  • Recorders: Anthony Kilhoffer, Andrew Dawson, Tom Biller
  • Mix engineer: Manny Marroquin
  • Assistant engineers: Richard Reitz, Matt Green, Taylor Dow
  • Additional vocals: John Legend

Chart positions

Chart (2007/2008)[4][5] Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles 9
Hot Canadian Digital Singles 64

References

  1. ^ a b Patel, Joseph (2003-06-05). "Producer Kanye West's Debut LP Features Jay-Z, ODB, Mos Def". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2009-04-21. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  2. ^ a b Late Registration (Media notes). Roc-A-Fella Records. 2005. {{cite AV media notes}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |publisherid= (help); Unknown parameter |bandname= ignored (help)
  3. ^ Asward, Jem (2007-11-19). "Kanye West Breaks Down In Tears During Paris Concert". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2007-11-19.
  4. ^ a b "Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles – Hey Mama". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2007-11-17. Retrieved 2009-06-18. [dead link]
  5. ^ a b "Hot Canadian Digital Singles – Hey Mama". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2008-02-23. Retrieved 2009-06-18. [dead link]
  6. ^ Jones, Ivory (2004-05-11). "Kanye West, Dilated Peoples / May 5, 2004 / Chicago (House of Blues)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2009-04-29. [dead link]
  7. ^ Vrabel, Jeff (2005-10-17). "Kanye West / Oct. 13, 2005 / Gainesville, Fla. (O'Connell Center)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2009-01-06. [dead link]
  8. ^ Crosley, Hillary (2008-05-14). "Kanye West / May 13, 2008 / New York (Madison Square Garden)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2009-01-26. [dead link]
  9. ^ Sarah, Wilson (2008-04-23). "Kanye West Tells A Story With His Biggest Hits, At The Glow In The Dark Tour's L.A. Stop". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2008-05-12.


"Hey Mama (Kanye West Song)." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, Web. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hey_Mama_%28Kanye_West_song%29>.

"Kanye West." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, Web. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayne_West>.

"Kanye West's Mother, Donda, Dies." People November 11, 2007: n. pag. Web. 13 Apr 2011. <http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20159597,00.html>.

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