Blame Game
"Blame Game" | |
---|---|
Song by Kanye West featuring John Legend and Chris Rock | |
from the album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy | |
Recorded | 2010 |
Genre | |
Length | 7:49 |
Label | |
Songwriter(s) | |
Producer(s) |
|
"Blame Game" is a song by American
Critics were generally complimentary and praised Legend's vocal delivery. The appearance by Rock was widely noted as a surprising element of the song and received mixed criticism, though some critics described it as a highlight. It charted on the
Background
"Blame Game" was recorded in
West asked comedian Chris Rock to appear on the song.[9] Rock, a fan of West's, mused that he was more than happy to collaborate with West,[9] and said, "you'd be amazed at how many people want to work with you if you just ask, if you just make a call."[10] He had previously collaborated on other hip hop songs, such as with rappers Ludacris, Ol' Dirty Bastard, and Ice Cube on the track "You Ain't Gotta Lie (Ta Kick It)".[10] Rock described his collaboration with West as exciting in nature, commenting that he was always open to working on unusual ventures.[9][10] In an interview with The New York Times, Rock went into detail about the composition of the song:
I did that quicker than I read scripts that they offer me money to do ... I thank [Kanye] so much it probably freaks him out. Especially at this late date, to get on something, the album of the moment, that stuff is priceless, you can’t put a price tag on that. I felt invigorated by it. I’ve still got my fastball.[9]
The song is partly inspired by West's relationship with model Amber Rose.[11][12] West originally met Rose in 2008, and they subsequently developed a romantic relationship,[13] before having a dramatic break-up in 2010; Rose cited allegations of adultery.[14] Rose also said that West had written the song about their relationship, commenting that West "talked reckless about me on his album".[12][14]
"Blame Game" uses the composition "Avril 14th" by Aphex Twin (Richard D James). According to James, after he was sent an early version of "Blame Game" with a heavily timestretched sample of "Avril 14th", he offered to rerecord the piece at a different tempo; West's team replied with "It's not yours, it's ours, and we're not even asking you any more", and tried to avoid paying for its use.[15] The final "Blame Game" may have used a rerecorded version of "Avril 14th" rather than a sample, and James received credit.[16]
Composition
"Blame Game" is built on the piano composition "Avril 14th" by Aphex Twin.[15] The song begins with a minute long introduction sung by Legend.[17][19] "Blame Game" has a lush, cello-driven production with predominant piano.[17] After Legend's introduction, West raps his verses in a highly melodic manner, almost singing his lines.[19] West's forceful delivery expresses hurt and contempt.[11][20] The song's soulful sound juxtaposes West's angry lyrics: "been a long time since I spoke to you in a bathroom, ripping you up, fuckin' and chokin' you".[21] He subsequently raps less antagonistically and repeatedly confesses "I can't love you this much".[22]
West's vocals are substantially manipulated throughout the song from "naturally clear-sounding and ominously pitched-down as it pans back and forth",
On "Blame Game", West attempts to call his past lover, but he receives a call back instead and he hears a conversation between her and Chris Rock,[25][26] who begins an extended monologue approximately five minutes into the song.[27] Chris Rock performs a vulgar, profanity-ridden sketch in which he compliments his lover's dress sense and sexual technique, and asks her who taught her these skills.[19][28] Each time he asks, the answer is the same: "Yeezy taught me." Rock proceeds to thank 'Yeezy', stating that he will support him by buying the album and threatens to 'shoot a bootlegger'. Rock finishes the skit by telling West's past lover that "Yeezy taught you well".[19][29] Andy Gill of The Independent commented that a similar "alliance of aristocratic piano and cello with less rarefied elements underpins 'Blame Game', a brutal rumination on West's sexual appetite".[18][30]
Reception
"Blame Game" received mostly positive reviews.
Marketing
The song was also featured in Runaway, a 35-minute music video directed by West set to music from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.[35][36] After a traumatic dinner sequence, the song is played during a tense moment between West and the phoenix.[37] At the Vevo Presents GOOD Music musical presentation, the song was performed by both West and Legend together.[38] The two performed a few songs together before Legend performed his own single "Ordinary People" separately.[38]
A planned music video for the song was going to feature an appearance by Amber Rose, however she declined the offer.[39] Rose commented that she passed on the video because she "just felt like Chris Rock's part was disrespectful", believing that the song painted her in a negative light.[12] Another reason for her declining to appear in the video because of her then-current relationship with rapper Wiz Khalifa, feeling that appearing in an ex-boyfriend's musical venture would be disrespectful to Khalifa.[12] West told Rose that both "Blame Game" and the Runaway film were partially inspired by his relationship with her.[12]
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010).[40]
- Chris "Hitchcock" Chorney – cello
- Andrew Dawson – engineer, mixing
- Mike Dean– additional production, bass, composer, mixing, piano
- DJ Frank E – composer, producer
- Ryan Gilligan – engineer
- Richard D. James – composer (sample)
- Phil Joy – engineer
- John Legend – composer, featured artist
- Salma Kenas – additional vocals
- Anthony Kilhoffer – mixing
- Chloe Mitchell[41] – composer (poem)
- Chris Rock – additional vocals
- Kanye West – composer, producer, primary artist
Charts
Chart (2011) | Peak position |
---|---|
South Korean Gaon Chart[34]
|
81 |
References
- ^ "Chloë Mitchell - Your Bitter is My Sweet/Blame Game".
- Complex. Retrieved on 2010-11-30.
- ViacomRetrieved on 2010-11-30.
- ^ Serpick, Evan. Kanye West. . Rolling Stone Jann Wenner. Retrieved on 2009-12-26.
- ^ a b Asward, Jem. (2010-11-04) Kanye West Talks Up New Album in Live Chat. Rolling Stone Jann Wenner. Retrieved on 2009-12-26.
- ^ Idolator. Buzz Media. Retrieved 2012-04-27.
- ^ Staff (2010-10-18). Kanye West’s Biggest Collaboration Yet. Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine Retrieved on 2010-11-28.
- ^ Crosley, Hilary (2011-03-20). "John Legend Talks Kanye West's 'Eyes Closed'". MTV Rapfix. Viacom. Retrieved 2010-10-07.
- ^ a b c d Caramanica, Jon (March 3, 2011). "Chris Rock in Stephen Adly Guirgis's Play on Broadway". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-04-27.
- ^ a b c Koroma, Salima (2011-03-07). Chris Rock Shares Sentiments About Kanye West's 'Blame Game'. HipHopDX. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.
- ^ a b Weiner, Jonah (2010-11-22). Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Slate. Retrieved on 2011-01-29.
- ^ a b c d e Staff (2011-07-01). Kanye West - Amber Rose Turned Down Kanye West's Blame Game Promo. Contactmusic.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-30.
- ^ Carney, Annie (2011-03-20). "Amber Rose – a star is 'shorn'". New York Post. Retrieved 2010-10-07.
- ^ The Huffington Post. Retrieved on 2011-01-29.
- ^ a b "Aphex Twin Speaks on His New Album, Being Sampled by Kanye, More". Pitchfork. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 2019-04-19.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-04-19.
- ^ a b c d Conner, Thomas (2010-11-21). Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Archived 2012-10-19 at the Wayback Machine. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved on 2010-11-21.
- ^ a b Gill, Andy (2010-11-19). Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. The Independent. Retrieved on 2010-11-19.
- ^ a b c d "New Music: Kanye West featuring John Legend and Chris Rock; Blame Game". Rap-Up. 2010-11-09. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
- ^ Embling (2010-11). Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy | Music Review | Tiny Mix Tapes. Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved on 2011-04-30.
- ^ a b c Kellman, Andy (2010-11-21). Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Allmusic. All Music Guide Retrieved on 2010-11-21.
- ^ a b Sheffield, Rob (2010-11-22). Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Archived 2010-12-18 at the Wayback Machine. Rolling Stone Jann Wenner. Retrieved on 2010-11-11.
- ^ a b Beringer, Drew (2010-11-22). "Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
- Pitchfork Media. Retrieved on 2010-11-21.
- ^ a b Empire, Kitty (2010-11-19). Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2010-11-19.
- ^ a b Browne, David (2010-11-17). Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Time. Retrieved on 2010-11-18.
- ^ Kot, Greg (2010-11-17). Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved on 2010-11-17.
- ^ Grischow, Chad (2010-11-23). Kanye West: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Review - Music Review at IGN Archived 2012-04-01 at the Wayback Machine. IGN. Retrieved on 2011-04-30.
- ^ Barber, Andrew (2012-12-07). Kanye West f/ John Legend & Chris Rock "Blame Game" (2010). Complex. Retrieved on 2010-11-30.
- URB. Retrieved on 2010-12-08.
- ^ Fennessey, Sean (2010-11-17). Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Archived 2012-10-21 at the Wayback Machine. The Village Voice. Retrieved on 2010-11-17.
- ^ Jones, Steve (2010-11-22). Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. USA Today. Retrieved on 2010-11-22.
- ^ Abebe, Nitsuh (2010-11-12). Filthy, Rich: Kanye West’s Royal Fantasy. New York. Retrieved on 2010-11-12.
- ^ Gaon Chart. Retrieved 2011-06-10.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Concepcion, Mariel (2010-10-07). "Kanye West Premieres 35-Minute-Long 'Runaway' Video In London". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-10-23.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (2010-10-07). "Kanye West Screens 'Runaway' In London". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved 2010-10-07.
- ^ Morris, Andy (2010-10-12). "100 things Kanye taught GQ: Everything that happens in Runaway". GQ. Archived from the original on 2010-10-18. Retrieved 2010-10-23.
- ^ a b Kaufman, Paul (2011-03-20). "Kanye West Brings G.O.O.D. Music, Jay-Z To Texas For SXSW". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved 2010-10-07.
- ^ Coleman, Vernon (2012-07-07). Amber Rose Turned Down Role In Kanye's ‘Blame Game' Video. Archived 2016-10-06 at the Wayback Machine. HipHopWired. Retrieved on 2010-11-30.
- ^ My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (CD liner). Kanye West. Roc-A-Fella Records. B0014695-02.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "chloe". Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
External links
- "Runaway" full-length film on YouTube(34:33)