Kanye's "Backhanded Apology" | All of the Lights Breakdown

Check out the NEW channel "Digging The Talks" here: • Ken Lewis on working w...
Listen to the all new Digging The Greats Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere else: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Today I’m breaking down the Kanye song, “All of the Lights” - the metaphor and warning behind it, talking to one of the musicians involved, and seeing how this song and album was Kanye’s “backhanded apology”
Thanks to Ken Lewis for chatting about his work on this song. Catch more clips from our conversation on Digging the Talks, or our full conversation on the Digging The Greats Podcast.
You should also check out Ken's Mixing Night Livestreams here: / @mixingnight or at www.kenlewis.com
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SOURCES
Jeff Bhasker Interview: • Jeff Bhasker on Produc...
web.archive.org/web/200812171...
hiphopdx.com/news/id.72012/ti...
www.nytimes.com/2013/06/16/ar...
#kanyewest #musichistory #hiphop

Пікірлер: 300

  • @ChristianFoleyRaps
    @ChristianFoleyRaps Жыл бұрын

    Hey man, I'm a music teacher in the UK, focusing on sample-based beatmaking for students who are excluded from regular school. I use your videos in class, as they are amazing - the kids love them. Thank you so much.

  • @jonesconrad1

    @jonesconrad1

    10 ай бұрын

    Nice work mate. I bet they are much more interested in that

  • @ashtmslf2315
    @ashtmslf2315 Жыл бұрын

    It's impressive how you put such well edited videos out so frequently

  • @ajuister
    @ajuister Жыл бұрын

    MBDTF is Kanye's magnum opus. May not be my personal favorite, I personally can listen to the college dropout everyday all day, but it's so perfect for what it is. Best album of the 2010's in my opinion

  • @napoleansolo5849

    @napoleansolo5849

    Жыл бұрын

    Yes

  • @maryannappiagyei4277

    @maryannappiagyei4277

    Жыл бұрын

    Agree. Album hip hop best. 2010s

  • @pervertedalchemist9944
    @pervertedalchemist9944 Жыл бұрын

    Kanye pulled out all the stops for "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy". He had everything riding on its success - which is why it is considered his best album.

  • @MrMiguelForster

    @MrMiguelForster

    Жыл бұрын

    I cant be the only one who thinks everything after graduation is trash 😂

  • @WoozyYami

    @WoozyYami

    Жыл бұрын

    @@MrMiguelForster you're not the only one but yall have no taste

  • @MrMiguelForster

    @MrMiguelForster

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WoozyYami 808s sounds like me playing with fl studio when I was 12, everything after that sounds good sonically but its just pretentious crap lol

  • @thomasnelson5758

    @thomasnelson5758

    Жыл бұрын

    @@MrMiguelForster You might not be the only one but I can surely tell you that you are the wrong ones

  • @sho-m-er5194

    @sho-m-er5194

    Жыл бұрын

    ​@@MrMiguelForsteroldhead

  • @rafaeljp
    @rafaeljp Жыл бұрын

    I'm huge fan of 808s & Heartbreak, despite the general opinion about the album. It was a change in Kanye music that I think nobody was prepare at that time, and people look at it now and realize how important was the album, it change the game

  • @Canelo3

    @Canelo3

    Жыл бұрын

    So true. I remember a lot of people hating on 808’s when it came out due to it sounding different and the high bar set by Graduation before it. With the benefit of hindsight, ppl finally see that it was groundbreaking and inspired the sound of hip hop over the following decade+

  • @saqib7965

    @saqib7965

    10 ай бұрын

    Ik he was a genius around that time 4 classic albums back to back was rare

  • @oyinwaritimi1820

    @oyinwaritimi1820

    8 ай бұрын

    Probably my favorite

  • @seanjohnson7367

    @seanjohnson7367

    11 күн бұрын

    My problem with 808s always has been that Kanye claimed he wasn't using the production and autotune on it as a crutch. Instead he was supposedly using those maligned elements to create a concept album. Then I saw him at Coachella and his singing was terrible even with Autotune. At that moment, his production on 808s really did feel like a crutch for his subpar performance ability. I'll always love Kanye's stuff, but sometimes he's full of shit.

  • @keldrickdunn6430
    @keldrickdunn6430 Жыл бұрын

    Bro is consistently great and improving with each drop, AND giving us more on other channels??? Salute to you and the team, my good sir 🫡

  • @gemsound
    @gemsound Жыл бұрын

    Kanye wasn’t wrong tho. That “Single Ladies” video was re-enacted by everyone you could think of that year. It broke the Internet…I don’t even remember the video or song Taylor Swift won for.🤷🏾‍♂️

  • @mjstray7961

    @mjstray7961

    Жыл бұрын

    Beyoncé won the far more important “Video of the Year” award while Swift won “Best Video by a Female Artist”, he was in the wrong. Beyoncé didn’t even side with him.

  • @vogelvogeltje

    @vogelvogeltje

    Жыл бұрын

    😂😂 when Beyoncé doesn’t even f with your attempt, you know you in the wrong.

  • @ScottThePisces

    @ScottThePisces

    Жыл бұрын

    @@zym6687 EXACTLY

  • @mjstray7961

    @mjstray7961

    Жыл бұрын

    @@zym6687 I didn’t make the rules for the award show, I wouldn’t have cared if Beyoncé won both awards. All I was pointing out was that the “Video of the Year” award is seen as more prestigious and Beyoncé won that award.

  • @Jonathan_Doe_

    @Jonathan_Doe_

    11 ай бұрын

    @@mjstray7961Pretty sexist really

  • @OrionVX
    @OrionVX Жыл бұрын

    You’r videos are amazing. The delivery, details. You can reflect the main ideas of each album and artist!

  • @diggingthegreats

    @diggingthegreats

    Жыл бұрын

    🙏🙏

  • @zaggnutt
    @zaggnutt Жыл бұрын

    Despite what I feel about Kanye now, this album is a masterpiece. I hope he gets all the help he needs.

  • @derrikferguson3219

    @derrikferguson3219

    Жыл бұрын

    It really is a masterpiece.

  • @kyussfan6

    @kyussfan6

    Жыл бұрын

    Yeah, a fist to his mouth

  • @KnowledgeSeeker78491

    @KnowledgeSeeker78491

    Жыл бұрын

    ​@@derrikferguson3219I personally liked 808 the best, but I guess I'm in the minority

  • @derrikferguson3219

    @derrikferguson3219

    11 ай бұрын

    Yeah that's fine. The receipt of music is a subjective experience. @@KnowledgeSeeker78491

  • @Yore-Nemesis

    @Yore-Nemesis

    8 ай бұрын

    8/10

  • @noirknight9770
    @noirknight97708 ай бұрын

    I really love how every kanye album is a story about where he was at life at that point..makes it relatable to the person listening..its like how the quote goes , if you're a fan of kanye you're a fan of yourself

  • @wifimanboy
    @wifimanboy Жыл бұрын

    This is one of Kanye's best crafted songs. The amount of detail put into this song is impressive not one bar or note goes to waste.

  • @chickenpw33
    @chickenpw3311 ай бұрын

    A way I’ve always looked at All Of The Lights and the interlude before it, is that he is “changing acts” in his performance and slowing it down. The first few songs are big and letting everyone know Kanye can still rap and he knows it. The literal interlude sets the stage for him to get up in front of everyone and address his behavior and actions. He is explaining how everything looks and feels to him. Quite a lot of pressure. “Turn up the lights in here baby I want y’all to see this” could mean “look at everything going on in my life outside of fame “.

  • @ajwilson1985
    @ajwilson1985 Жыл бұрын

    Class in session. One of the only channels I have notifications on

  • @diggingthegreats

    @diggingthegreats

    Жыл бұрын

    🙏I appreciate you

  • @NerdyFrames2000
    @NerdyFrames2000 Жыл бұрын

    Despite all the controversy this man has caused. You cant get him out of your head and can't blame ya. Kanye is a genius. A mad, misunderstood genius.

  • @joshb9516

    @joshb9516

    Жыл бұрын

    I only listen to that album when I pronounced it kane west.

  • @Canelo3
    @Canelo3 Жыл бұрын

    Great video! Such a beautiful, complex, multi-layered song. MBDTF was such a rich album sonically. It’s weird looking back and remembering how Ye was portrayed after 808’s and the Taylor Swift incident. I remember it feeling as though he was really going to stop making music forever - even President Obama dissed him lol. His antics combined with the fact that many ppl didn’t appreciate 808’s when it first came out turned him into an underdog. And then he came back with what many consider to be his best album.

  • @jesperschultz2727
    @jesperschultz2727 Жыл бұрын

    Not gonna change my view of Kanye, but an amazing analyses of this song. I've heard analyses of the song before and they didn't come close to this, but you make it sound perfectly spot on! Excellent work, once again!

  • @dopeboyfreshest1
    @dopeboyfreshest1 Жыл бұрын

    This is the single greatest deconstruction of a single song I've ever heard, seen, and felt... ever! This is your best video yet! Thank you ❤

  • @tshore0601
    @tshore0601 Жыл бұрын

    You just don't miss. Love this album.

  • @diggingthegreats

    @diggingthegreats

    Жыл бұрын

    🙏🙏

  • @emilebaujard7048
    @emilebaujard7048 Жыл бұрын

    I wanna work in the music industry and you are a huge inspiration to me man !

  • @diggingthegreats

    @diggingthegreats

    Жыл бұрын

    🙏🙏🙏Definitely check out the new channel and podcast - going much deeper with the guests than I can in these videos (links in description, explanation in video). I think you'd dig it

  • @WareWolf831
    @WareWolf831 Жыл бұрын

    All of the light is one of the most beautiful intros to any song ever

  • @DJTheDJ.
    @DJTheDJ. Жыл бұрын

    Yo bro I love your videos my professor is 9th wonder and Id love to see a video on him and some of his work

  • @bp2000k
    @bp2000k Жыл бұрын

    I feel like MBDTF is a reflection of what’s going on about him today. It’s more than just Rap & very spiritual tho. One of the most craziest album in music history.

  • @benedictjephcote6815
    @benedictjephcote681511 ай бұрын

    Another thing about the everything-turned-up quality of 'All of the Lights' is that it's not overwhelming for someone with bipolar going through mania/hypomania, instead it's music turned up in sympathy with one's amped up frequency/intensity -it's the level you feel 'you need' in that part of your wave.

  • @omarrochdi1583
    @omarrochdi1583 Жыл бұрын

    Bruh this channel is dope!!!! I wish I had you as my music teacher back in school

  • @peteyesco
    @peteyesco Жыл бұрын

    Definitely my favorite Kanye album. More analysis on MBDTF, please!

  • @shawncharles6077
    @shawncharles6077 Жыл бұрын

    I’m locked in of course. Great video again. Can’t wait to listen to the podcast. I think the artwork logo would be dope on a shirt or other merch. That’s fire 🔥

  • @diggingthegreats

    @diggingthegreats

    Жыл бұрын

    🔥🔥🔥

  • @HorneATL
    @HorneATL Жыл бұрын

    7:12 Now subscribed to the new channel. Love what you’re bringing to us!!

  • @Jalexander14
    @Jalexander14 Жыл бұрын

    Incredible stuff! Wow! Never would have known this 🥹 Kanye is a genius and with these metaphors just shows how much more he is 🙌

  • @90cpett
    @90cpett Жыл бұрын

    Favourite channel on KZread mate. Love your videos

  • @ChrisPlsDontKillMe
    @ChrisPlsDontKillMe Жыл бұрын

    Bless you for another amazing episode! Cant thank you enough for all these insightful music history/ production lessons! Mbdtf is one of my all time favorite hiphop projects and one not many youtube tend to break down. Also the brilliant p0rn player at 5:54 😂ai subtitles know how sexy that brass melody is

  • @diggingthegreats

    @diggingthegreats

    Жыл бұрын

    😂😂 Fixed! 🙏

  • @cxsanchez28
    @cxsanchez28 Жыл бұрын

    I've always thought that 808s & Heartbreak came from Katt Williams' dis in WNO of "you can't make a song without a sample"

  • @AverageBlud
    @AverageBlud Жыл бұрын

    I'm early! Stoked for this video

  • @valdemarnoer1031
    @valdemarnoer1031 Жыл бұрын

    Love your way of making videos!

  • @benjaminpaz5854
    @benjaminpaz585411 ай бұрын

    These vids are amazing. Love the Kanye content.

  • @ucopiedyibo1959
    @ucopiedyibo1959 Жыл бұрын

    Great Video! Can you please do a video on the purple tape in the future?

  • @jesseshort8
    @jesseshort8 Жыл бұрын

    Excited about the new channel Brandon.

  • @diggingthegreats

    @diggingthegreats

    Жыл бұрын

    🎉🎉🎉 Me too, lots more great stuff on the way 🙏

  • @David__J
    @David__J10 ай бұрын

    Bravo on opening a new channel for the content over most creators that would just make a partron and put em there

  • @modestoestudio
    @modestoestudio Жыл бұрын

    Another fantastic video!! This channel just keeps raising the bar everytime. Congrats man

  • @bl2528
    @bl252810 ай бұрын

    Though Graduation is my personal favorite KW album, I acknowledge the impact that 808 and Heartbreaks had in influencing the next wave of hip hop production for the next decade. And I also can see why MBDTW is considered his magnum opus.

  • @philipngo5005
    @philipngo500511 ай бұрын

    You made me fall inlove with the album all over again.

  • @HandscharGeorgeCostanza
    @HandscharGeorgeCostanza Жыл бұрын

    You blew my mind man subbed

  • @Samdud
    @Samdud11 ай бұрын

    You should make a video about homecoming! That’s my favorite Kanye song!

  • @franckateba2970
    @franckateba2970 Жыл бұрын

    This album was something else every song in that album was out of ordinary. All of the lights was soooooooooo great. Thank you for this episode

  • @saqib7965
    @saqib796510 ай бұрын

    Rihanna also payed homage with the kanye floating stage from the saint pablo tour and his red outfit from donda listening party /ruanway vma performance

  • @niceguyeddie
    @niceguyeddie Жыл бұрын

    This song gave me goosebumps when I first heard it

  • @giannis4mvp400
    @giannis4mvp400 Жыл бұрын

    Best videos on youtube. Keep up all the hard work. Here's your flowers while I can still give them to you 💐

  • @nocrownking97
    @nocrownking97 Жыл бұрын

    damn, you're good at this!

  • @obertcal11
    @obertcal11 Жыл бұрын

    It’s criminal how underrated this channel is!!!

  • @FalseFlagAmerican
    @FalseFlagAmerican Жыл бұрын

    This is really solid, interesting and I appreciate engaging with this intelligent, passionate content.

  • @lRlMlGl
    @lRlMlGl Жыл бұрын

    Bruv I was literally just thinking about you uploading a new video lol

  • @diggingthegreats

    @diggingthegreats

    Жыл бұрын

    🪄🪄🪄

  • @ScruFaceJeanOfficial
    @ScruFaceJeanOfficial Жыл бұрын

    Somehow you made this song better for me. ✊🏿

  • @EdgeKnox
    @EdgeKnox Жыл бұрын

    Man, your videos are amazing.

  • @8teenOfficial
    @8teenOfficial Жыл бұрын

    A+ video fr. Please make more videos about edm legends too like the Daft Punk videos ❤

  • @coreyworthingtonii9230
    @coreyworthingtonii92305 ай бұрын

    MBDTF is my favourite album of ALL TIME. So many bangers and so much talent all in one album.

  • @WillChomicaRollout
    @WillChomicaRollout Жыл бұрын

    Great video it is cool that you got to talk to the horn producer and you get a podcast and a second channel! Still checking Donny Hathaway your favorite Christmas artist? How it was created is crazy! Imagine a friend of a friend was a professional songwriter and your song was released!!!

  • @diggingthegreats

    @diggingthegreats

    Жыл бұрын

    🙏🙏 THIS CHRISTMAS NOW AND FOREVER 😂

  • @MusicFromAnotherTime
    @MusicFromAnotherTime Жыл бұрын

    At the end of each video where you point to a past video, how long do you stand there perfectly still staring into the camera without blinking? I like to imagine its for hours.

  • @diggingthegreats

    @diggingthegreats

    Жыл бұрын

    “We good? We get it? Can I move?!?”

  • @marcoboulais475
    @marcoboulais475 Жыл бұрын

    I’ve always had the hunch that the piano from the Temple of the Golden Pavilion by Philip Glass inspired the intro to Runaway. I’m curious what your thoughts are.

  • @davehandelman2832
    @davehandelman2832 Жыл бұрын

    Love these!!!

  • @davidhardy5670
    @davidhardy567011 ай бұрын

    This is partially related but i always wondered if the "cop lights, flash lights, Spot lights" line was a not so subtle allusion to "Flashlight" by Parliament Funkadelic. i wonder if anyone else ever thought about that line.

  • @broolkeez
    @broolkeez Жыл бұрын

    Another dope one bro 👑🔥💪🏽💯‼️

  • @alexj835
    @alexj8354 ай бұрын

    300k subs now?! This channel was always going to blow. Guy is too talented of a creator.

  • @stephenforde4735
    @stephenforde4735 Жыл бұрын

    The "Rick Beato" of Hip Hop and beyond. This cat deserves as many subscribers as well. Crack on brother.

  • @badbelly
    @badbelly Жыл бұрын

    Always a quality video

  • @diggingthegreats

    @diggingthegreats

    Жыл бұрын

    🙏🙏🙏

  • @Ramos-Lavina
    @Ramos-Lavina Жыл бұрын

    DTG never misses… every vids a banger💯

  • @natura808
    @natura808 Жыл бұрын

    You’re doing amazing job, thank you!

  • @rizingpho3nix
    @rizingpho3nix9 ай бұрын

    OMG I wish you could cover Kanye West's song "Gorgeous" with Kid Cudi. That song is crazy and more importantly Kid cudi's hook was the chef's kiss.

  • @chbrabo
    @chbrabo Жыл бұрын

    Man u break it, this channel is the real goty

  • @MrBobbyFreakout
    @MrBobbyFreakout Жыл бұрын

    Love hearing more about one of my fave albums. i miss the old kanye.

  • @T_R_O_Y_McClure
    @T_R_O_Y_McClure Жыл бұрын

    I have an unusual comment. I have posed this question to as many people as possible that have a great knowledge of sampling. I need help solving a 30 year arguement. In group home's living proof intro there is a collage of samples of variations of "im ready" who is the very first voice we hear? And where is it from? I think you may be the man for the job. Any help is much appreciated.

  • @indestruct4000
    @indestruct40009 ай бұрын

    If you have ever lived at the housethat was the party spot everyone went to when it was time to get crazy instead of being one of the ones that went to someone else's house to party, then you got a small glimpse of what it is like to live as a famous person. Privacy takes on a whole new level of importance. Sometimes you just want to just chill, but can't you are the spot...

  • @davidcache
    @davidcache Жыл бұрын

    Great content!

  • @tobbetobster9930
    @tobbetobster9930 Жыл бұрын

    Banger video as always

  • @apersonontheinternet4071
    @apersonontheinternet4071 Жыл бұрын

    Bro a podcast is literally perfect for your channel. Cant wait

  • @diggingthegreats

    @diggingthegreats

    Жыл бұрын

    🙏🙏🙏 Very excited to publish these longform interviews

  • @lucristianx
    @lucristianx11 ай бұрын

    The layered Star Wars reference got me to subscribe

  • @TYBO-xl1xz
    @TYBO-xl1xz Жыл бұрын

    I have to actually listen to this album because to me Late Registration is my favorite album from him

  • @diggingthegreats

    @diggingthegreats

    Жыл бұрын

    Late Registration is also 🔥

  • @amoron123
    @amoron123 Жыл бұрын

    Nice, a podcast!! Subbed!

  • @diggingthegreats

    @diggingthegreats

    Жыл бұрын

    🎉🎉🎉 FIRST SUBSCRIBER ALERT 🔥🔥🔥 🙏🙏🙏

  • @amoron123

    @amoron123

    Жыл бұрын

    Looking forward to hearing more! Your videos are incredible so know the pod is gonna be great too!

  • @thatmightyninja8465
    @thatmightyninja84653 ай бұрын

    May you please do a few vids on Nujabes. I feel in my deepest heart that both Dilla and Nujabes were two of the greatest producers and there's a lot of people that need to know about the genius of Nujabes

  • @dang_nada
    @dang_nada Жыл бұрын

    808s is a process record. a rare insight. it won nothing? nah, it won our hearts.

  • @krisxandrabolivar7973
    @krisxandrabolivar797311 ай бұрын

    kanye was right

  • @kidsonicofficial
    @kidsonicofficial Жыл бұрын

    "Turn up the Lights in here, extra bright I want you to see this" could also mean the constant media attention that follows celebrities.

  • @saqib7965
    @saqib796510 ай бұрын

    A masterpiece song, album

  • @electrixfyingipod6206
    @electrixfyingipod6206 Жыл бұрын

    Can you please explain how 808’s and heartbreak change the whole genre of hip hop this album is so influential and hip hop would look totally different without it

  • @saqib7965
    @saqib796510 ай бұрын

    Quality video

  • @ScottThePisces
    @ScottThePisces Жыл бұрын

    14:00 i'm pretty sure Kanye was supposed to be at this show, based on all of the staging and themes throughout. Especially when All of the Lights went straight into Run This Town with Jay Z

  • @FKnox123
    @FKnox123 Жыл бұрын

    I'm predicting 1M subs for this channel soon 💪

  • @diggingthegreats

    @diggingthegreats

    Жыл бұрын

    📈📈📈

  • @davido3109
    @davido3109 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks again thanks!!!! Always musical and life.. Namaste Haribol Asewe!!!

  • @ReSergent
    @ReSergent Жыл бұрын

    Yay new vid!

  • @nvmyutube

    @nvmyutube

    Жыл бұрын

    shouldn't it be 'ye new vid' ?

  • @ReSergent

    @ReSergent

    Жыл бұрын

    @@nvmyutube 🤯

  • @munny_1206
    @munny_120611 ай бұрын

    Your look of amazement as he talks about the 20 something horns

  • @AKSourGod
    @AKSourGod Жыл бұрын

    WOAHHHH really didn't realize how many people sung on this song. No wonder it had such a different energy.

  • @ScottThePisces
    @ScottThePisces Жыл бұрын

    We gonna need MBDTF 2 this time round 😭

  • @d.a.c.e.3198
    @d.a.c.e.319811 ай бұрын

    👑

  • @killagilla24
    @killagilla24 Жыл бұрын

    This guy knows music.

  • @KnowledgeSeeker78491
    @KnowledgeSeeker78491 Жыл бұрын

    I've listened to this song like 3 times in the last week... Google is obviously all in my business

  • @e66iu
    @e66iu Жыл бұрын

    Thank you. I've been trying to put into words why that song makes me sad. Everybody I know thinks it's because i got depression (jesus is the one), but it's deeper. Kanye said "I used to want this thing forever, ya'll can have it back."

  • @younghan3573
    @younghan3573 Жыл бұрын

    I liked you interpretation of his metaphors, but are there concrete examples of Kayne backing them up? Some sort of Rosetta stone to translate his stories?

  • @1savannahlegend247
    @1savannahlegend247 Жыл бұрын

    Lyrically the sing reminds me of Flashlight by Parliament

  • @slickvisualpoetry
    @slickvisualpoetry Жыл бұрын

    Weird. Can't seem to find the podcast on Pocetcast or Tdl.

  • @JWMCMLXXX
    @JWMCMLXXX Жыл бұрын

    808s got me into Kanye.

  • @Phat_TONY
    @Phat_TONY Жыл бұрын

    hows anyone in our days even give him any time?

  • @GiangHPham
    @GiangHPham8 ай бұрын

    “My beautiful dark twisted fantasy” is top 5 best album any genre of all time.