Latest news with #GoodMusic
BreakingNews.ie
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
John Legend says he feels sad to see ‘devolution' of mentor Kanye West
US musician John Legend has said he is 'sad' to see what has happened to former friend and collaborator Kanye West. The 47-year-old rapper, who now goes by the name Ye, has displayed erratic behaviour and made controversial social media posts including some of an antisemitic nature. Advertisement Legend, 46, was among the first artists West signed to his Good Music label in the early 2000s, and the rapper was an executive producer on his 2004 debut album, Get Lifted. Kanye West (Ian West/PA) Speaking to the Times, Legend, known for his solo hits and collaborations with Sam Smith and Ariana Grande, said: '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. It does feel sad, sometimes shocking, to see where he is now.' Earlier in the year calls were made to X owner Elon Musk to remove West from the social media platform over a string of offensive tweets. Advertisement In 2018, West gave an explosive interview to US outlet TMZ where he said slavery 'sounds like a choice'. At the Grammy Awards in February, he caused controversy on the red carpet with his wife, Australian model Bianca Censori, wearing a transparent dress. West and Kim Kardashian, who have four children together, finalised their divorce in 2022. John Legend and his wife Chrissy Teigen (Doug Peters/PA) 'Kanye blew up after producing Jay-Z's album The Blueprint in 2001,' Legend said. Advertisement 'Then he experienced a buzz as a solo artist, and the whole time I was travelling with him, doing shows with him, getting exposure not only as his singer and keyboard player but also as an artist myself. 'I had been turned down by labels everywhere, then The College Dropout (West's debut studio album) sold 400,000 copies in its first week, everyone wanted to know what was happening in our camp – and all those people who turned me down suddenly decided that my music sounded a lot better than it did the first time round.' In 2022, Legend told The Axe Files podcast that he did not agree with West's decision to run for public office and added that it had become difficult for them to 'sustain our friendship'. He told The Times: '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.' Advertisement
Perth Now
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
John Legend laments Kanye West's 'devolution'
John Legend is saddened by the "devolution" of Kanye West. The 'All of Me' singer was one of the first artists to be signed to West's Good Music record label during the early 2000s but has bemoaned the rapper's bizarre behaviour and controversial social media posts of an antisemitic and offensive nature. John told The Times newspaper: "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. It does feel sad, sometimes shocking, to see where he is now." Legend's relationship with West - who now prefers to be known as Ye - broke down in 2022 over the rapper's support for US President Donald Trump and he pinpoints the death of the star's mother Donda as the beginning of Kanye's "descent". The 46-year-old singer 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. "I don't think we're qualified to psychoanalyse him, but after his mother passed in 2007 there was definitely a difference. His descent started then and seems to have accelerated recently." Legend is a vocal critic of Trump and branded the White House chief as a "mad dictator" over the treatment of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was arrested at his home in Maryland and sent to prison in El Salvador in March. He said: "It's extremely dangerous in America right now. If the government can kidnap you, take you to a foreign prison, and claim they have no way of getting you back, the entire rule of law is meaningless." Legend continued: "If you can just be abducted by the government without any evidence or proof, then the whole system is done and we're living in a system based on the whims of a mad dictator. "That's what we're sitting on the precipice of right now. We're a nation of entrepreneurs. Who is going to want to start a business here, or come to university from another country, if they don't have the protection of the rule of law?" The star will continue to support the Democratic Party and thinks an "outsider" will be required to return the party to the White House. He said: "Generally with the Democrats they succeed with someone who isn't part of the Washington establishment, like Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. I think that's what it will take - an outsider - to get us in."
Metro
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
John Legend pinpoints exact moment mentor Kanye West's 'descent' began
US musician John Legend has admitted he's 'sad' to have witnessed the very public fall from grace of his former friend and collaborator Kanye West. The 47-year-old rapper, who now goes by the name Ye, has displayed erratic behaviour and made controversial social media posts, including some of an antisemitic nature, in recent years. Legend, 46, was among the first artists Ye signed to his Good Music label in the early 2000s, and the rapper was an executive producer on his 2004 debut album, Get Lifted. Speaking in a new interview, Legend, known for his solo hits and collaborations with Sam Smith and Ariana Grande, reflected: '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 added to The Times. 'It does feel sad, sometimes shocking, to see where he is now.' Earlier in the year, calls were made to X owner Elon Musk to remove Ye from the social media platform over a string of offensive tweets. In 2018, the Gold Digger hitmaker also gave an explosive interview to US outlet TMZ where he said slavery 'sounds like a choice'. Additionally, at the Grammys in February, he caused controversy on the red carpet with his wife, Australian model Bianca Censori, wearing a transparent dress. Since marrying in a private ceremony in 2022, Ye and Censori's relationship has been a topic of debate. For several months, the internet has speculated that he 'controls' her and what she wears, given how Ye will always be fully clothed out in public while his spouse is nearly naked. Ye was previously married to Kim Kardashian, and they share four young children. They finalised their divorce in 2022. It's believed the Skims founder's relationship with her ex-husband is now incredibly strained, despite navigating co-parenting. The exes' latest public row came when Kardashian, 44, allegedly fumed over Ye involving their 11-year-old daughter, North West, in a song with Sean 'Diddy' Combs. In fact, according to Page Six, the Skims founder has shown 'support' for 30-year-old Censori and has let her know she's there to 'talk if she needs'. An insider claimed to the outlet that Kim 'feels like she's the only other person on this planet who truly knows what Bianca has been through'. 'Kanye blew up after producing Jay-Z's album The Blueprint in 2001,' Legend added. 'Then he experienced a buzz as a solo artist, and the whole time I was travelling with him, doing shows with him, getting exposure not only as his singer and keyboard player but also as an artist myself. More Trending 'I had been turned down by labels everywhere, then The College Dropout (Ye's debut studio album) sold 400,000 copies in its first week, everyone wanted to know what was happening in our camp—and all those people who turned me down suddenly decided that my music sounded a lot better than it did the first time round.' In 2022, All of Me hitmaker Legend told The Axe Files podcast that he did not agree with West's decision to run for public office and added that it had become difficult for them to 'sustain our friendship'. '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,' he stated. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Donald Trump to be shown in much 'kinder' light with new $100,000,000 biopic MORE: Hollywood legend smiles as he watches Victory Day military parade in Moscow MORE: Star of $105,000,000 flop didn't realise film would be so 'wacky'
Leader Live
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
John Legend says he feels sad to see ‘devolution' of mentor Kanye West
The 47-year-old rapper, who now goes by the name Ye, has displayed erratic behaviour and made controversial social media posts including some of an antisemitic nature. Legend, 46, was among the first artists West signed to his Good Music label in the early 2000s, and the rapper was an executive producer on his 2004 debut album, Get Lifted. Speaking to the Times, Legend, known for his solo hits and collaborations with Sam Smith and Ariana Grande, said: '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. It does feel sad, sometimes shocking, to see where he is now.' Earlier in the year calls were made to X owner Elon Musk to remove West from the social media platform over a string of offensive tweets. In 2018, West gave an explosive interview to US outlet TMZ where he said slavery 'sounds like a choice'. At the Grammy Awards in February, he caused controversy on the red carpet with his wife, Australian model Bianca Censori, wearing a transparent dress. West and Kim Kardashian, who have four children together, finalised their divorce in 2022. 'Kanye blew up after producing Jay-Z's album The Blueprint in 2001,' Legend said. 'Then he experienced a buzz as a solo artist, and the whole time I was travelling with him, doing shows with him, getting exposure not only as his singer and keyboard player but also as an artist myself. 'I had been turned down by labels everywhere, then The College Dropout (West's debut studio album) sold 400,000 copies in its first week, everyone wanted to know what was happening in our camp – and all those people who turned me down suddenly decided that my music sounded a lot better than it did the first time round.' In 2022, Legend told The Axe Files podcast that he did not agree with West's decision to run for public office and added that it had become difficult for them to 'sustain our friendship'. He told The Times: '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.'
RTÉ News
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
John Legend bemoans the "devolution" of Kanye West
US musician John Legend has said he is sad to see what he described as the "devolution" of former friend and collaborator Kanye West. The 47-year-old rapper, who now goes by the name Ye, has displayed erratic behaviour and made controversial social media posts including some of an antisemitic nature. Legend, 46, was among the first artists West signed to his Good Music label in the early 2000s, and the rapper was an executive producer on his 2004 debut album, Get Lifted. Speaking to the Times, Legend, known for his solo hits and collaborations with Sam Smith and Ariana Grande, said: "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. It does feel sad, sometimes shocking, to see where he is now." Earlier in the year calls were made to X owner Elon Musk to remove West from the social media platform over a string of offensive tweets. In 2018, West gave an explosive interview to US outlet TMZ where he said slavery "sounds like a choice". At the Grammy Awards in February, he caused controversy on the red carpet with his wife, Australian model Bianca Censori, wearing a transparent dress. West and Kim Kardashian, who have four children together, finalised their divorce in 2022. "Kanye blew up after producing Jay-Z's album The Blueprint in 2001," Legend said. "Then he experienced a buzz as a solo artist, and the whole time I was travelling with him, doing shows with him, getting exposure not only as his singer and keyboard player but also as an artist myself. "I had been turned down by labels everywhere, then The College Dropout (West's debut studio album) sold 400,000 copies in its first week, everyone wanted to know what was happening in our camp – and all those people who turned me down suddenly decided that my music sounded a lot better than it did the first time round." In 2022, Legend told The Axe Files podcast that he did not agree with West's decision to run for public office and added that it had become difficult for them to "sustain our friendship". He told The Times: "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."
