On Sunday, Kanye West will learn whether the critical success and buzz for his 2004 debut, “College Dropout,” translates into Grammy gold. The Chicago producer-turned-rapper is nominated for a leading 10 awards, including album of the year and song of the year. But no matter the outcome of the annual awards ceremony, local entertainment artists and radio executives say West is exerting a Midwest Midas Touch inspired by his own struggles as an aspiring rapper from the Windy City.
Tiffany Green, music director and assistant program director for WGCI-FM 107.5, said West is the force behind a musical renaissance in the Midwest. She says Grammys or no Grammys, West will continue that momentum. Green said West met with far tougher challenges before he became a household name.
“I got to know Kanye about three years ago before all the fame and success,” Green explained. “At first, he and his crew were kind of schmoozing me just because I was a program director at WGCI. But we really became close.”
So close that Green helped Kanye overcome objections from Roc-A-Fella Records/Def Jam, which thought of him as a producer, not a rapper.
“It was bad, really bad,” Green said. “It was to the point where Jay-Z would come to Chicago to perform and leave Kanye standing on the sidelines while he introduced other artists like Memphis Bleek. He even gave love to Twista who wasn’t even on Roc-A-Fella. Kanye would have to storm out on the stage and introduce himself to the crowd.”
So Green took matters into her own hands. During one of Jay-Z’s visits to the city in 2003, Green made a personal plea to Jay-Z and then-Def Jam President Kevin Lyles on behalf of West, telling them that West’s debut solo rap single, “Through the Wire,” was one of WGCI’s most requested songs. “At first, I was talking in this little girl voice,'” said Green, laughing at the recollection. “I mean, this was Jay-Z and I was kind of scolding him for not showing Kanye enough love. But when I showed him the numbers, I could see the light going off in his eyes. Then Jay got Kevin Lyles on the phone and they started talking about how to promote Kanye.”
But West wasn’t just sitting on the sidelines. While his label was just beginning to see the light, he had taken steps to secure the support of another Chicago talent, aspiring filmmaker Coodie Simmons.
Simmons, now 34, is a South Side native who met West when he was only 16 and just learning to produce tracks. At the time, Simmons was considered a local celebrity for co-producing and hosting the racy, hip-hop-focused public-access program “Channel Zero.”
“People used to ask me why the hell I was hanging out with this shorty,” laughed Simmons. “They thought I was crazy because I said Kanye was going to make it. I used to videotape him as much as I could, so I could document the making of the next great artist.”
That amateur documentary footage turned into the video for “Through the Wire,” which went on to win the 2004 Source Award for best video of the year and gained Simmons, along with co-director Chike Ozah, representation from the William Morris Agency. West also took home Source awards for album of the year and breakthrough artist of the year.
“Coodie’s so busy right now,” said Green. “Kanye and Common wanted him to help with Common’s new video, ‘Corners,’ and he couldn’t even make it here to do it. It’s Chicago folks on the come up.”
Erik Bradley, music director at WBBM-FM’s 96.3, agrees that the “West effect” has turned more focus on Chicago and enabled new artists. As a personal fan and supporter of West, Bradley is hoping that he will win over Grammy voters the way he has won over the nation.
“Kanye’s going to mop up on Grammy night,” Bradley said. “He’ll get at least 7 out of the 10. I think he is the ‘Outkast’ of 2004. Of course, Usher will do really well, but Kanye will be collecting a lot of honors.”
And they are well deserved, said Green. “Kanye has done a lot for Chicago,” she said. “He put us back on the musical map. Everybody in the city should be behind him, pulling for him on Grammy night.”
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What’s next in the Kanye/Chicago connection:
– Even if Kanye West doesn’t rule the night at the Grammy Awards, Chicago’s WGCI-FM 107.5 is trying to make sure he has his day. Music director and assistant program director Tiffany Green said that the station, along with the mayor’s office, is working to officially proclaim Feb. 25 “Kanye West Day.”
– Kanye West just directed the video for “Corners,” the new single from Chicago artist Common.
– West is producing a track for the debut album of Chicago native and rapper Bumpy Johnson, who was recently signed to Free 4 All/Atlantic Records.
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Who to watch
Unlike Hollywood’s awards shows, the Grammys have extra entertainment value–a slew of “very special” performances by popular musicians.
Here’s a taste of what to watch for Sunday night:
The overload:
Queen Latifah, the rapper/actress/producer, will emcee and perform. She’s also nominated for a Grammy for best jazz vocal album. We may very well be sick of her by the end of the night.
The opener: Five nominated acts will perform separately across three stages, including the Black Eyed Peas; Gwen Stefani with Eve; Los Lonely Boys; Maroon 5 and Franz Ferdinand. In its attempt to be more MTV-esque, CBS may just end up confusing us.
The marriage act: Jennifer Lopez and hubby Marc Anthony perform. It could be their “Gigli” moment as she prepares for the release of her album, “Rebirth,” on March 1.
The Chicago connection: Kanye West will perform with Chicago blues legend Mavis Staples, his protege John Legend and the Blind Boys of Alabama.
The cause: Tsunami. Bono, Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, Velvet Revolver, Tim McGraw, Stevie Wonder, Brian Wilson and Al Green will perform John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s “Across the Universe” on behalf of tsunami relief. The live performance will be available for download from iTunes.
The tribute No. 1: Bonnie Raitt and Billy Preston will perform a tribute to the late Ray Charles.
The tribute No. 2: Melissa Etheridge, in her first appearance since being diagnosed with breast cancer, will join Grammy-nominee Joss Stone in a tribute to Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Janis Joplin. The southern flavor: Tim McGraw, Gretchen Wilson, Keith Urban, Lynyrd Skynyrd and others will take part in a tribute to Southern rock. Why this genre gets its own salute, we can only guess. Perhaps it’s part of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s plan for a comeback.
The duets: The can’t-get-any-hotter Jamie Foxx (an Oscar- and Grammy-nominee) will join equally hot Alicia Keys. Meanwhile, “Godfather of Soul” James Brown will join “Grandson of the Six-pack” Usher.
