Throw it back to 2009. Yeezus and T. Swift are at it again (with the white Vans). In case you live under a rock, this installment of not-so-subtle shade throwing and Snapchat videos heard around the world all started with Kanye’s new song, "Famous," and its trending lyrics:
“I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex. Why? I made that bitch famous.”
After the release of the song, Swift made it clear she was both offended and horrified by the lyrics. Originally, I sympathized with her. She was making money and topping the charts before Kanye interrupted her at the VMAs, and wasn’t her success his issue to begin with?
Kanye doesn’t really have any business seriously taking credit for her fame. While I thought Kanye’s shot was cheap, it is rap music. Most male rappers have said worse about female artists – I’m looking at you, Eminem.
However, Kanye and Kim K. had a different story to tell. Kanye tweeted he had cleared the song with Taylor before performing it, which Taylor denied vehemently. Kim, apparently fed up with everyone coming for her husband, did an interview with GQ singing the same song (pun not intended). According to Kim, Taylor had approved the lyrics and then did a complete 180. The world was divided. It was 'he said, she said,' and everyone had an opinion.
Apparently, last week Kim had enough of the gossip and speculation -- you know how the Kardashians hate being in the spotlight -- she released a video of Kanye and Taylor talking about the song, and Taylor giving the clear go ahead, even calling it a “kind of compliment.” The video shows Kanye rapping part of the song to Taylor, but we never here Ye use the word bitch. After that, Swift’s tune changed a little bit. She was put on the spot by Kanye, and because she had never heard the whole song, she “could not approve.”
This whole mess left me with a couple questions:
Since when are rappers required to get approval from their subjects?
Sorry, but as far as I’m concerned Kanye had the creative license to sing what he wanted. He didn’t say Taylor’s last name, phone number or address -- he voiced an opinion. And probably not even his own. I hate to break it to you, but Ye probably just wanted to create a controversy, which totally didn’t happen. This wasn’t a biography or a school paper, he didn’t need to cite his sources. And even if he should have, we should all know by now that famous people can get away with way more than the average student turning in a term paper.
This whole thing is really because Kanye West used the word bitch?
I hate inequality as much as the next gal, really, I do, but I think if Taylor is so concerned with misogyny and feminism in the music industry there are other places for her to focus her time. For example, taking a stand against popular male entertainers with a history of domestic violence.
Does this look like hypocrisy to anyone else?
Taylor can be mad Kanye said he gave her the fame she has. Because that’s not true. But what did she become known for? Writing unflattering songs about her exes of course. And eventually, not just Taylor’s ex-lovers were on the chopping block, but her ex-friends.
Taylor Swift holds a grudge and writes albums -- Kanye should look out.