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I Love Kanye

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"I Love Kanye"
Song by Kanye West
from the album The Life of Pablo
ReleasedFebruary 14, 2016
Recorded2016
Genre
Length0:44
Label
Songwriter(s)Kanye West
Producer(s)West

"I Love Kanye" is a song by American rapper and producer Kanye West from his seventh studio album, The Life of Pablo (2016). It is delivered in a cappella, with West capitalizing on the meme that he loves himself and addressing criticism that he was better in the past. West used the song for a rap battle against Kyle Mooney on Saturday Night Live in February 2016. The song charted at number 14 and 48 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 and US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts respectively in 2016. It has been referenced by both Jay-Z and Meek Mill.

Background

American comedian and actor Kyle Mooney.
West used the song during a rap battle with Kyle Mooney in February 2016.

There had been a running meme for quite a while about how much West loves himself, which he capitalized on with the song.[1] The inspiration behind this meme was egotistical quotes from West, like when he said "For me to say I wasn't a genius, I would just be lying to you and to myself" during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live![2] Many critics have claimed that West was better when he started out and West shows awareness of such criticism.[3]

West debuted "I Love Kanye" on Saturday Night Live on the day before the album's release by using the track for a freestyle rap battle against American comedian Kyle Mooney.[4] In March 2016, West took to Twitter and sent out lyrics from the track in separate tweets for each line.[5] It stands as one of only two tracks on the album to be solely produced by West, with the other being "Siiiiiiiiilver Surffffeeeeer Intermission".[6] When asked by a young child about how he wrote the track, West said he did it by just thinking about what he loved.[7]

Composition

There is no backing beat for the track, with the entirety of it being composed of West rapping an a cappella.[8] Within "I Love Kanye", West mocks his changing public image in an ironic manner and pays reference to the "love yourself like Kanye loves Kanye" meme, rapping "I love you like Kanye loves Kanye" at one point.[1] The song addresses criticism towards how West has changed since the release of his debut studio album The College Dropout in 2004.[3]

Critical reception

Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone wrote of "I Love Kanye" that it "stings, especially the punch line 'I love you like Kanye loves Kanye' – Kanye knows he always fucks over the one he loves, even the one he loves most, himself".[9] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian wrote of the very same line that it is an example of "self-awareness occasionally suggested by [The Life of Pablo's] lyrics".[10]

Commercial performance

"I Love Kanye" made its debut at number 14 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 upon the release of The Life of Pablo and never charted again on it.[11] Within the same week, the song entered at number 48 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[12]

Live performances

West performed the song live on Saturday Night Live for a sketch of him that saw him engage in a freestyle rap battle with Mooney, who beat West in the battle.[4][13] The song was performed live by West as part of the Saint Pablo Tour's kickoff show in Indianapolis on August 25, 2016.[14] When performing it live in Tampa on September 14 during the tour, West held a fan's hand.[15]

The line "I miss the old Kanye" inspired the creation of a Stillwater Artisanal beer in tribute to West.[16] Jay-Z quoted the exact line when speaking of his changing feelings towards West in an October 2016 interview.[17] Meek Mill posted a similar quote, with the same theme, to his Instagram in May 2018.[18]

Remixes

On February 15, 2016, a remix of the track by Stefan Ponce was released.[19] A remix was released on February 21 by Key Wane titled "Kanye".[20] The song was remixed by DJ Premier on February 25, 2016.[21]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from West's official website.[6]

  • Production – Kanye West
  • Engineering – Noah Goldstein
  • Mix – Manny Marroquin at Larrabee Studios, North Hollywood, CA
  • Mix assisted – Chris Galland, Ike Schultz & Jeff Jackson

Charts

Chart (2016) Peak
position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[22] 123
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[23] 35
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[24] 14
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[25] 48
US On-Demand Songs (Billboard)[26] 44

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[27] Gold 500,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b Merriman, Rebecca (February 14, 2016). "Kanye West's I Love Kanye track sends fans into meltdown as he finally releases The Life Of Pablo". Mirror Online. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  2. ^ Sunberg, Lexi (August 10, 2016). "Kanye Loves Kanye: 10 Of The Best Yeezy Quotes Of All Time". Odyssey. Miami University. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Carra, Mallory (February 14, 2016). "What Is "I Love Kanye" About? There's A Deeper Meaning Behind The Lyrics". Bustle. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Kreps, Daniel (February 14, 2016). "Watch Kanye West Debut 'Pablo' Tracks, Rap Battle on 'SNL'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  5. ^ Skelton, Eric (April 18, 2018). "We Saved Some Classic Kanye West Tweets Before He Just Deleted Them Forever". Complex. PigeonsandPlanes. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  6. ^ a b davidbaker.tv, builtbylane.com ×. "The Life of Pablo". The Life of Pablo – Kanye West. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  7. ^ Hathaway, Jay (June 17, 2016). "Kanye tells little kid how he wrote 'I Love Kanye'". The Daily Dot. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  8. ^ Indiana, Jake (February 15, 2018). "Kanye West's 'The Life of Pablo': Every Song Ranked Worst to Best". Highsnobiety. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  9. ^ Sheffield, Rob (February 16, 2016). "The Life of Pablo". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  10. ^ Petridis, Alexis (February 14, 2016). "Kanye West: The Life of Pablo review – 'You can see why his immodesty rubs people up the wrong way'". The Guardian. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  11. ^ "Kanye West I Love Kanye Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  12. ^ Mendizabal, Amaya (April 12, 2016). "12 of Kanye West's 'The Life of Pablo' Tracks Are on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  13. ^ Lapatine, Scott (February 14, 2016). "Watch Kanye West Bring The Life Of Pablo And Lose A Rap Battle To Kyle Mooney On SNL". Stereogum. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  14. ^ Reiff, Corbin (August 26, 2016). "Kanye West Floats in Unique Saint Pablo Tour Kickoff". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  15. ^ "Top moments from Kanye West's Saint Pablo Tour". Twitter. November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  16. ^ Lozano, Kevin (August 17, 2016). ""I Miss the Old Kanye" Is a Life of Pablo-Inspired Craft Beer". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  17. ^ Hooton, Christopher (October 24, 2016). "Jay Z: I miss the old Kanye". The Independent. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  18. ^ Penrose, Nerisha (May 2, 2018). "Meek Mill's Kanye West Post On Instagram: 'We Miss You Bro'". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  19. ^ Monroe, Blaire (February 15, 2016). "Listen To This Soulful Remix Of "I Love Kanye" As Soon As Possible". THE FADER. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  20. ^ Diep, Eric (February 21, 2016). "Key Wane Flips Kanye West's "I Love Kanye" With a Dope Sample". Complex. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  21. ^ Monroe, Jazz (February 25, 2016). "Kanye West's "I Love Kanye" Remixed by DJ Premier". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  22. ^ "CHART: CLUK Update 9.04.2016 (wk14)". Zobbel.de. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  23. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  24. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  25. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  26. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (On-Demand Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  27. ^ "American single certifications – Kanye West – I Love Kanye". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
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