RUN IT OR DUN IT??
I love Kanye West but this song is not my favorite. Assassin’s feature is the best part of this track, but for me, that happens to be the problem too! The lyrics from Assassin’s feature and Kanye’s verses seem at odds — almost as if there were two different songs. Now add in singer Bon Iver’s feature and it really gets a bit mumbo jumbo for me. One reviewer described the song as a “dancehall orgasm mired in quicksand”. I’m not sure what he meant by that but it seems fitting!
The song is also extremely gratuitously sexually explicit. Perhaps dancehall’s ‘sexiness’ may explain why Kanye wanted the musical genre featured on the album and specifically on this track. After all, dancehall often reverberates sexuality in its lyrics, imagery and its bass thumping riddims.
At the end of the day, this is why Kanye is viewed as a musical trailblazer. He does what he wants to do musically (and personally!) and him nuh bizness bout unno! This kind of musical pioneering takes you on a journey and makes you remember the track – like it or not!….
By the way, the album features several other dancehall tracks including I Am A God, featuring sections of Capleton’s Forward Inna Dem Clothes, while another track, Send It Up, has samples of Beenie Man’s Memories. Popcaan is also featured on a track called Blocka.
RCS SIDEBAR: I guess Kanye has given himself a promotion. First he made Jesus walk and now he’s actually God — the Yeezus” album features a track called “I Am God”
WARNING: EXPLICIT!!!!!
Assassin spoke with the JAMAICA STAR: about the project:
Assassin explained that he got a call from GeeJam Studio in Portland in October and that is how the link with Kanye was made.
“Kanye’s production was there working on a summer project and wanted some verses from dancehall artistes, and I was one of the artistes selected. I spat some verses, some with and some without music. I got a call in January and I was told he liked what he heard and I’d be hearing from them soon in order to do a bit more work,” he said.
Excited about being featured on the album, Assassin said, “the song is crazy … but it’s Kanye, so we know he pushes the envelope.”
As for his career, the deejay says this new development shows that he is diverse.
“What it means for my career really is a reinforcement that I am a diverse artiste who isn’t limited to a specific genre or type of music. I believe in being creative, and working with Kanye’s team was one of those great opportunities,” he told THE STAR, adding that he is open to any other such opportunities.
Meanwhile, Assassin says he recently released other songs like Shell, Tell Unnuh,How Yuh Mean featuring Ankle Socks (Twins of Twins character) and MaterialGirl.
“These are the summer hits you need to listen out for, as Shell has already started creating a buzz,” he said.
Having done shows in Tortola and West Palm, United States, in recent times, Assassin says he is looking forward to shows in Pennsylvania in June and the finals for Wray & Nephew Contender at the Chinese Benevolent Association next week.
Biggups to Assassin!
