"Big Brother" by YeSupporting Bigotry or Compassion For A Broken Man?
Disclaimer: You do NOT have to listen to the accompanying music to understand this piece…but you will not get the entire multimedia experience and/or message without it. Please at least turn it on in the background at a comfortable volume that still allows you to read and comprehend. Thank you and enjoy.
This article will not deconstruct or solve (sadly, still) modern complexities like anti-Semitism, racism, or bigotry. This piece will not defend Kanye “Ye” West. This song will not praise him either. This composition is not properly researched. I am an artist and I am not properly qualified to diagnose or help anyone with their mental issues, and you don’t have to read / listen to this track.
This is simply an attempt to tell a small part of his story, as I see it, with the help of Ye’s own words in my favorite song of his—Big Brother.
The full lyrics are listed here—but I’ll pull heavily from them below to try to illustrate my point. All parties involved can get this smoke—especially people who make money off of mental illness and struggle. Enjoy.
With conservative news outlets like Fox News co-opting Ye’s flirtations (or outright f*ckery) with the alt-right and MAGA crowd, it’s no surprise to see familiar faces like Candace Owens and Tucker “MY FAMILY PREVIOUSLY MADE MILLIONS OFF OF CHICKEN BROTH, SO I HATE POOR PEOPLE?” Carlson defending him. It’s the standard playbook. “Support famous black artists and leaders when they say things that we approve of.” Good boy.
At the same time, every single liberal news outlet has spent the last week attacking and being appalled that…mentally ill people sometimes…say terrible things…?!?!?!??!?! What NEWS to all of us real liberals…? It’s very depressing. I wanted to deconstruct one song and one particular facet of Ye’s trauma that, I believe, has led to the broken man in the news today.
This isn’t about his blood family or his beloved Donda. It’s about…
Kanye is mentally ill. He is saying dangerous things. He needs help.
But…there’s another issue. Someone is missing from Ye’s life—someone who used to be very important.
Let’s start at the beginning—like Ye says…
My big brother was B.I.G.'s brother
Used to be Dame and Biggs' brother
Who was Hip Hop brother, who was No I.D. friend
No I.D. my mentor, now let the story begin
The song starts off with an obvious nod to Jay-Z’s relationship to the late Notorious B.I.G. Ye expresses a compliment and a brag for his “Big Brother” Sean Carter before the “story begins…”
Ye continues,
It's the Hard Knock Life Tour, sellout
Picture us in the mall, coppin' Iceberg and yell out "Jigga"
Yeah, that's what we'll yell out, yell out
You know the name do I gotta spell out or tell 'bout
J-A-Y, and 'Ye so shy
That he won't even step to his idol to say hi
Standing there like a mime and let the chance pass by
Back of my mind, "He could change your life
With all these beats I did, at least let him hear it
At least you can brag to ya friends back at the gig"
But he got me out my momma crib
Then he help me get my momma a crib
He drops Jay’s single. His album. His tour. His fame. He fans his idol, now brother, with envy. He denigrates himself for being shy and nervous—and for not taking his life by the horns sooner. He’s reflecting on his actions, his thoughts that he doesn’t act on, and both of their consequences. He’s overly concerned (for good reasons) with his mother and her happiness. This new home for her is a major milestone in his life and he knows it. Jay-Z is changing his life.
Fresh off the plane, I'm off to Baseline
Nothing handed out, I'm 'bout to take mine
'Round the same time of that Blueprint 1
And these beats in my pocket was that blueprint for him
I'd play my little songs in that old back room
He'd bob his head and say "Damn! Oh, that's you?"
Ye’s life starts to pick up as his success and relationship with Jay-Z, Rockafella, Dame, and his growing audience increases in importance to him. As he progresses in ability and accomplishments—even getting a nod from his idol, but not for his lyrics…only his beats. He knows he’s useful, but not in the way that he believes he can be.
But by The Black Album, I was blacking out
Partyin' S.O.B.'s and we had packed a crowd
Big brother got his show up at Madison Square
And I'm like "Yeah, yeah, we gon' be there" but
Not only did I not get a chance to spit it
Carline told me I could buy two tickets
I guess big brother was thinkin' a little different
And kept little brother at bay, at a distance
But everything that I felt was more bogus
Only made me more focused, only wrote more potent
Another smash success for Jay-Z and Kanye is still not as successful as he can be—he’s a great producer. He knows he has problems connecting with people and being honest. He knows he has addictive tendencies. He knows he has the talent to change the world, or at least believes he does, and knows that a “healthy” level of belief might make it happen…
Only thing I wanna know is why I get looked over
I guess I'll understand when I get more older
Big brother saw me at the bottom of the totem
Now I'm on the top and everybody on the scrotum
My big brother was B.I.G.'s brother
Used to be Dame and Biggs' brother
Who was Hip Hop brother, who was No I.D. friend
No I.D. my mentor, now let the story begin, begin
Let the story begin
If you feel the way I feel why don't you wave your hands?
He’s back to giving Jay-Z his well deserved props—it’s the chorus and the focus of the song. He might be lashing out in some parts of the song, but the central undertone is respectful to his Big Brother—just a bit biting…a bit like a fighter taunting a sparring partner that they respect.
Have you ever walked in the shadow of a giant?
Not only a client, the Presidito, hola, Hovito
The game gettin' foul so here's a free throw
I was always on the other side of the peephole
Then I dropped "Jesus Walks" now I'm on the steeple
And we know, "New Jack City"—got to keep my brother
But to be number one I'ma beat my brother
On that "Diamonds" remix I swore I spazzed
Then my big brother came through and kicked my ass
Sibling rivalry, only I could see
It was the pride in me that was drivin' me
At the Grammys I said, "I inspired me"
But my big brother who I always tried to be
When I kicked a flow it was like pick-and-roll
'Cause even if he gave me the rock, it's give-and-go
I guess Beanie's style was more of a slam dunk
And my shit was more like a finger roll
But I had them singles though
And them hoes at the show gonna mingle, yo, heh, y'all know
I told Jay I did a song with Coldplay
Next thing I know he got a song with Coldplay
Back in my mind I'm like, "Damn, no way"
Translate, español: "No way, José"
Then I went and told Jay Brown
Shoulda known that was gon' come back around
Shoulda talked to you like a man, shoulda told you first
But I told somebody else and that's what made shit worse
Humility, braggadocio, cultural appropriation, cultural respect and awe, movie references, self-references, societal milestones like the Grammys, other artists, clever wordplay—all of it rolled up into a verse that addresses both Ye’s biggest flaws and smallest benefits, when it comes to our musical landscape.
My big brother was B.I.G.'s brother
Used to be Dame and Biggs' brother
Who was Hip Hop brother, who was No I.D. friend
No I.D., my mentor, and that's where the story ends
There are people on all sides making money off of this man. Managers, agents, drivers, nannies, housekeepers, record executives, doctors, sound engineers, road giggers, fashion designers, and a host of family members, friends, news networks, record labels, fashion houses, advertising companies, shoe companies and social media networks—all collecting cash and social capital off of this man’s pain (and his painful/harmful comments).
It’s sad to see this type of recognition and emotional intelligence in his lyrics from so long ago. I hurt for any victims of his current inflammatory comments—but I also pain for the artist who helped me get through the hardest times of my life.
I can’t help it. I’m human—and I love art. I love music. And I love Kanye West.
I hope he gets treatment and is taken away from anyone other than trusted medical professionals and loved ones who have his best interests at heart.
I believe that he should be evaluated and probably institutionalized—if that isn't legal, it should be something we discuss and change with our state & federal legislators.
Not just for Ye, but also for other influential people like him who used to be able to govern/regulate their egos and any power they wield…but now can't.
I hope this message is received with the intention that it was given.
#ThroughTheWire #ThankYouYe #GetHelp
I “think” that Ye needs his right now.
Toomp killed this sh*t.
He even thanks his producer at the end. I miss Kanye West.
I'm trying to emulate Kanye's early work. Aspirational, honest, raw, and messy. It's his opus in my mind—Graduation.
As far as criticism, I'd like to respond to some obvious points…
I keep hearing things like:
Agreed. Mentally ill people are sometimes mentally ill for a long period of time. Sometimes for life.
Agreed. Lots of mentally ill people struggle multiple times before finding successful treatment and stability. Even those who have the means to achieve these things struggle too.
If mentally ill people commit a murder…we have a special set of circumstances for how we treat them and prevent them from harming those around them…
I told you. In the beginning of MY story…
This is what is what is important to me…
It took our society 2 whole decades, multiple mysterious deaths, and a trail of broken children to get this much negative media coverage built up for someone like Jeffrey Epstein.
Why the hell is the ONE THING we can all get behind in the media is…”Oh yeah, but Kanye is worse than anyone…” These paparazzi, star news outlets, and entertainment networks cause suicides, instigate actions of violence, and do both all the way to the bank. Legitimate news networks piggyback from their footage and coverage—also making money.
I don’t give a f*ck what race or religion these people are—they DO make money off of him. That’s a conflict of interest. It can at least, be talked about.
Kanye West is saying anti-Semitic things. F*ck those things.
Kanye West is (in my personal and unprofessional opinion) not in full control of his actions or his ability to speak.
Hundreds, if not thousands of people are profiting directly from his meltdown—many of them in the press. Remember that conflict of interest?
I don’t want to excuse anti-Semitism, racism, or any other type of “-ism".
I just want Kanye West to be put into a safe place until we can figure out how much of him is truly “bad” or “evil” and which parts are just…broken.
I brainstormed, constructed, wrote, and published this piece before eating my lunch today. Now I’ve lost my mind with confidence…just like…New Ye.
Check out my latest personal story (and song):
The second part of my 5-part musical series and verbal playlist is available above. I’m sorry that I’m not more handsome—but I am pretty accomplished for my age. < See self-degradation and light, tolerable arrogance. Old Ye.
#Kanye #JayZ #Ye #Yeezus #Social #News #AntiSemitism #MentalIllness #Media #HipHop #Rap
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