Latest news with #TheBlueprint
TimesLIVE
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
How the Carter and Kimye clans fell out
Beyoncé has become renowned for her surprise acts and breathtaking performances but this week, she wowed audiences attending her Cowboy Carter Tour with an appearance from her husband, Jay Z. Performing some of the favourite hits they've recorded together, Jay was seen to be taking a swipe at his former BFF Kanye West when he said he would replace his name in their chart toppper N***gas in Paris with Beyoncé's instead, signalling an end to the decades-long bromance. The feud has also included their wives, who have always dodged the rumour that they don't get along. Here is a look back at how the Carters and Kimye (Kim Kardashian and Kanye's portmanteau) went from double-date buds to sworn enemies. FOR WHOM THE BLUEPRINT TOLLS (SEPTEMBER, 2001) West and Jay Z first meet collaboratively when the producer gets a chance to work on Jay's album, The Blueprint. The song Izzo, which West worked on closely with Jay, became the latter's first top 10 hit on the Billboard charts. Even with the album's success, rappers at the time were still coming from harsh backgrounds and gang affiliations which Jay worried might not be a fit for Kanye. THE CARTERS HAVE LANDED (NOVEMBER, 2001) Jay spilt the beans on the two dating on his Vanity Fair cover where he admitted that he did the very best he could to wine and dine Beyoncé. WEST'S HEROES (2002) Jay and Beyoncé would work with West on their beloved Bonnie and Clyde duet, slowly cementing West as a favourite collaborator of Jay's behind the scenes. GONE WITH THE GANGSTER (2004) Jay and his business partner Damon Dash finally sign West to their Roc-A-Fella company. While still hesitant, West proves them wrong with his highly successful debut album The College Dropout. That same year, Jay and Beyoncé made their first red carpet debut. THE STORY OF CHRIS MARTIN (2006) Jay would burst back into the rap scene with a comeback album, Kingdom Come. The titular song would be made in collaboration with Chris Martin. This was about the same time West was already making his own effort with the star and would later be addressed in his third and highly successful album The Graduation. In the song Big Brother West describes his initial shyness and respect for Jay that would ultimately cause a "sibling rivalry that only he could see' to what he viewed as his "big brother' copying him. THE RAPPER IN THE RYE (2007) While Jay and Damon had their reservations about West due to his lack of gangster rap experience, West would also ruffle feathers with rappers outside of their company, especially hitmaker 50 Cent. This would result in their feud which would ignite a competition to see who would outsell the other. West would come out the champion and this would also affect the trajectory of rap, making him a greater success in the years to follow, eventually eclipsing gangster rap. SAVING PRIVATE BEYONCÉ (2009) West would make his support for The Carter's publicly known at the MTV VMAs of 2007, by taking the stage when Taylor Swift won the Best Female Video. He rated Beyoncé's Single Ladies"the best music video of all time' in comparison to Swift's video for You Belong to Me. While Beyoncé did not chastise West, she did invite Swift back onstage to finish her acceptance speech. OPERATION CARTER WEDDING (APRIL 2008) Paparazzi were at a standstill as they all fought to get their snaps of the top-secret Carter wedding. Speaking about the wedding, a source shared that it was "a very emotional wedding' for the couple. TWO KINGS (2011) The bromance between Jay and West would thrive following their highly successful collaborative album Watch the Throne. THE BOY IN THE SUIT AND TIE (FEBRUARY 2013) West was not too pleased by Jay partnering with former NSYNC lead singer, Justin Timberlake for their collaborative effort. He said, "I got love for Hov [Jay Z], but I ain't f--king with that Suit & Tie.' This was part of a rant during one of his performances, something he would become famous for over the decade. TWO MORE KINGS (JULY, 2013) The relationship between the two was going well, with Jay sharing glowing praise for West and said "it's always been a 'Big Brother' thing and a respect thing' when asked by the BBC. He also told them he would love to collaborate with West again in Watch the Throne 2. West and Kardashian would also welcome a baby that year, as well as an engagement. ARMY OF SOLANGE (MAY, 2014) A media furore reputed when pictures of a visibly shaken Jay and a livid Solange were seen at the Met Gala alongside Beyoncé and her bodyguard. Over the next couple of years, it would be revealed that it was in reaction to the news of Jay's infidelity, which would be discussed in his album 4:44 as well as Beyonce's Lemonade. They would all go viral shortly after elevator footage was released of Solange beating Jay, with the bodyguard trying to stop her. THE WEDDING GAME (MAY/APRIL 2014) While the Carters attempted to deal with their nuptial affairs, there would be cause for concern when they did not make an appearance at Kimye's wedding in Italy. Beyoncé would share a tribute to the couple on Instagram in absentia. Kanye would address the matter with GQ, telling them that it did not matter who did or didn't attend, what mattered was "the important person to show up there; to me, it was Kim'. THE BIG MUSIC MUSE (FEBRUARY, 2015) All was well with the foursome, but eyebrows were raised when West shared that Kim was a direct inspiration for much of Beyoncé's songwriting, claiming the Single Ladies singer had pictures of Kardashian o n her wall. Later that month, West showed support for Beyoncé at the Grammy Awards, even mocking his gaffe with Swift by pretending to storm the stage when singer Beck won an award over the singer. FROM HERE TO PARIS (2016) Following a robbery in Paris that Kardashian narrowly survived, The Carters would be in hot water for not showing enough support for the traumatised Kimye. "Don't call me after the robbery and say 'how you feelin?' You wanna know how I'm feelin'? Come by the house,' West told The Standard. BROMANCE UNDER FIRE (JULY, 2017) Rumours continued to spread as tabloids and fans speculated that Jay and West were at odds. Forbes reported that West left Tidal in July that year; a shock, since West was also co-owner of the streaming platform. CASUALTIES OF BROTHERHOOD (DECEMBER, 2017) In an interview, Jay finally broke his silence and shared that there was competition between the two. He said that West had "always been like his big brother'. "And we're both entertainers. It's always been like a little underlying competition with your big brother. And we both love and respect each other's art, too. So it's like, we're both — everyone wants to be the greatest in the world. You know what I'm saying?' ALL QUIET ON THE CARTER FRONT (MARCH, 2018) West would share in 2025 that he had reached out to his friends Jay and Beyonce to help him get "leverage' against Kardashian's control of his children. The couple was seperated at the time and would eventually divorce in 2022. A VERY LONG WEDDING (MAY, 2018) During a sit-down interview for The Breakfast Club, West suggested that he was in fact hurt that the Carters never made the wedding. "I understand they were going through some things, but if it's family, you're not going to miss a wedding.' He also shared that he never asked Jay why he and Beyoncé did not make the wedding. JAY'S LIST (FEBRUARY 2025) Following a partnership to produce halftime shows for the NFL, Jay's biggest show would be one by Kendrick Lamar. Several rappers would be upset they were not included alongside Kanye, who was not pleased. INGLORIOUS KANYE (MARCH, 2025) As West continued to rant and rave on X, he also aimed attacks at the Carter's young twins Rumi and Sir, saying they were "retarded'. He told Page Six that he removed the post because he did not want to have his X account deleted. While he did eventually express remorse, Tina Knowles mocked him on her return to Instagram, where she also said, "It's hard to remain positive and classy in the face of ignorance and evil. But I know that no weapon formed against me or my family shall prosper.' Kanye would also release a series of posts apologising to the couple and again reiterating how hurt he was that they never attended his wedding. He also shared that the debacle about who was allowed to perform at the halftime show bothered him, as he would have loved to have been included.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democratic Party Launches Daily Show Aimed at Donald Trump
Democratic Party Launches Daily Show Aimed at Donald Trump originally appeared on Parade. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has launched a new live, daily show on YouTube. The 15-minute program, called The Blueprint, is aimed at 'focusing Democrats' messaging and highlighting how Democrats are countering Trump's moves,' unnamed party officials described to Axios. 'The launch of the Daily Blueprint is an exciting new step for the Democratic Party — it cements our commitment to meet this moment and innovate the ways we get our message across in a new media landscape," DNC chair Ken Martin said in a statement to the outlet. DNC Deputy Communications Director Hannah Muldavin, who hosted the debut episode on Monday, June 9, added that the show is 'nothing like the Democratic Party has ever seen before, and that's by design.' New episodes will air each weekday on YouTube at 10 a.m. ET and are part of the DNC's broader War Room efforts to challenge Trump and mobilize supporters. Following the first episode, the Democrats promoted the launch on X, writing: 'We're launching The Blueprint, a daily show that'll keep YOU up-to-date on Republican chaos and how you can help Democrats fight back and win.' In the same tweet, Muldavin added: 'We're going to talk about what's happening in Washington today, what Republicans are up to, what Democrats are doing, and how you can join the fight.' Democratic Party Launches Daily Show Aimed at Donald Trump first appeared on Parade on Jun 9, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hans India
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
John Legend reflects on Kanye West's decline: ‘It's shocking to see where he is now'
Grammy-winning jazz musician John Legend has expressed his sorrow over the dramatic transformation of his former friend and business partner, rapper Kanye West. Speaking candidly in an interview with The Times of London, Legend shared his shock at how West, once a prolific and passionate artist, has evolved into a figure defined by controversy and divisiveness. Legend reminisced about their early days together, recalling how West was a visionary with a boundless sense of optimism and creativity. 'Back then Kanye was very passionate, very gifted, and he had big dreams not only for himself but also for all the people around him,' Legend said. 'He had so much optimism, so much creativity. It does feel sad, sometimes shocking, to see where he is now.' In the mid-2000s, West played a pivotal role in turning around Legend's career. After being turned down by multiple labels, Legend was signed to West's label, GOOD Music, in 2004. The partnership not only gave Legend exposure but also allowed him to witness firsthand the meteoric rise of West, who was already making waves with his production on Jay-Z's The Blueprint and his own solo albums like The College Dropout. Legend explained how the success of The College Dropout, which sold 400,000 copies in its first week, turned the tables for both of them, making Legend a sought-after artist in his own right. However, despite their professional achievements, the two friends drifted apart after a public falling-out in 2022, when West voiced his support for former U.S. President Donald Trump. While Legend had hoped for a resolution, he never anticipated the further escalation of West's behavior, particularly his recent embrace of harmful ideologies. 'I didn't see a hint of what we're seeing now, his obsessions with antisemitism, anti-blackness, and it is sad to see his devolution,' Legend admitted. He speculated that the passing of West's mother in 2007 marked a turning point in his life, with a noticeable shift in his behavior that has only accelerated in recent years. As the world watches Kanye West's increasingly controversial public persona, John Legend's reflection offers a somber look at the downfall of a once-promising artist who once inspired hope and creativity.
Express Tribune
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
John Legend talks Kanye West's fall from grace
John Legend is reflecting on what he calls the "descent" of his former friend and collaborator Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. In a candid interview with The Times published on Saturday, the EGOT-winning singer opened up about the painful shift in Kanye's personality and politics over the years. "Back then Kanye was very passionate, very gifted, and he had big dreams not only for himself but also for all the people around him," Legend said, recalling the early 2000s when their creative partnership blossomed. Kanye played a pivotal role in launching Legend's career, featuring him on 2004's The College Dropout and later signing him to G.O.O.D. Music. That early bond, though once defined by artistic synergy and mutual admiration, began to fray as Kanye moved deeper into public controversy. Their relationship suffered after Ye's vocal support for Donald Trump in 2016 and ultimately broke down during his 2020 presidential run. But for Legend, what's most painful isn't the political disagreement, but watching someone he once admired become a purveyor of hate. "I didn't see a hint of what we're seeing now," Legend said. "His obsessions with antisemitism, anti-blackness; it is sad to see his devolution." Ye has drawn widespread condemnation in recent years for antisemitic comments and inflammatory online behaviour. In 2022, he praised Adolf Hitler in interviews, tweeted a swastika merged with a Star of David, and said, "I like Hitler" on far-right conspiracy theory outlet Infowars, resulting in multiple platform bans. Most recently, he claimed his new single, Hitler, was banned from all digital platforms. He's also shown public support for embattled figures like Diddy, who is currently facing sex trafficking charges. Legend is clear that he's not here to psychoanalyse his former friend, but he does suspect a key turning point: the death of Kanye's mother, Donda, in 2007. "His descent started then and seems to have accelerated recently," he said. Still, Legend hasn't forgotten Ye's early influence. "Kanye blew up after producing Jay-Z's The Blueprint in 2001," he recalled. "Then The College Dropout sold 400,000 copies in its first week, suddenly everyone wanted to know who I was." Now, though, that shared origin story is shadowed by what Legend sees as a tragic unravelling. "It does feel sad, sometimes shocking, to see where he is now," he said.
Buzz Feed
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
John Legend On Kanye West's Downfall
If you watch a Kanye West live performance from the early 2000s, it's possible that you might spot a young John Legend somewhere in the background. Yep, long before he was the EGOT winner he is today, John got his big break thanks to his close ties to Kanye, serving as his backing singer and keyboard player. For many years, John and Kanye were incredibly close, both professionally and personally, as were their wives, Kim Kardashian and Chrissy Teigen. However, around the time Kanye first publicly endorsed Donald Trump in 2016, it seems a rift began to form between the two artists. In 2018, Kanye memorably shared a screenshot of a text exchange between himself and John where the All Of Me singer was encouraging him to 'reconsider aligning' himself with Trump. 'You're way too powerful and influential to endorse who he is and what he stands for…So many people who love you feel so betrayed right now because they know the harm that Trump's policies cause, especially to people of color,' one of John's messages read. 'Don't let this be part of your legacy.' At the time, Kanye said he shared the private texts online 'to show that there are people around [him] that disagree with [him] and voice their opinion.' As we know, Kanye's problematic behavior only got worse over the years, resulting in his divorce from Kim in early 2021. Since then, the rapper's vitriolic hate speech online has rightfully left his reputation in ruins. Now, commenting on his former collaborator's public downfall during a new interview with the UK Times, John considered the drastic changes in Kanye's personality since they first met as budding artists. 'Back then Kanye was very passionate, very gifted, and he had big dreams not only for himself but also for all the people around him. He had so much optimism, so much creativity,' he said. 'I didn't see a hint of what we're seeing now, his obsessions with antisemitism, anti-Blackness, and it is sad to see his devolution.' The Oscar-winning artist also acknowledged how his proximity to Kanye in the early 2000s took his career to the next level after being 'turned down by labels everywhere.' 'Kanye blew up after producing Jay-Z's album The Blueprint in 2001,' he said. 'Then he experienced a buzz as a solo artist and the whole time I was traveling with him, doing shows with him, getting exposure not only as his singer and keyboard player, but also as an artist myself. Then The College Dropout sold 400,000 copies in its first week, everyone wanted to know what was happening in our camp.' He added: 'All those people who turned me down suddenly decided that my music sounded a lot better than it did the first time round.' It's no secret that Kanye was deeply impacted by the death of his mother, Donda West, in November 2007. Notably, John weighed in on the widely theorized belief that 'there was definitely a difference' in Kanye from that point onwards in terms of his problematic behavior. 'His descent started then and seems to have accelerated recently,' he said.
