Kanye West's Elvis Presley Complex - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 11-28-2008, 04:29 AM

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Los Angeles (E! Online) – As you may have heard, Kanye West announced at the American Music Awards that he wants to be the next Elvis. Then West had to take it even further.

"When I said the statement, 'I want to be Elvis,' I really should have thought that out more because that statement was actually really incorrect," West told E! News' Ryan Seacrest Tuesday. "Actually, the true statement was 'I want to be better than Elvis.' "

So does West have what it takes to get anywhere near Elvis' stratosphere? We talked to some industry insiders to find out...

"Kanye is one of the biggest hip-hop stars in the world right now," says Emil Wilbekin, editor-in-chief of urban lifestyle magazine Giant. "But I do believe he has delusions of grandeur."

Wilbekin goes on to say, "I think Kanye is hugely self-absorbed, and I think that he thinks he could be bigger than Elvis. Kanye is very much concerned with how big he could be, how much music he can make and how many awards he could win."

It's that oversize ego that's propelled him to the top of his game, says Hillary Crosley, R&B/hip-hop correspondent for Billboard. "People find it so amusing that he takes it so seriously," Crosley says. "If he didn't have the ego, he wouldn't make it as far as he has."

Cory Cooper, a noted Elvis historian, says he's impressed with West's goals, but he needs a reality check.

"Even though Mr. West has a fantastic idea of what he aspires to become, he nor any other performer, past, present or future will ever accomplish Presley's unparalleled career," Cooper writes in an email. "Elvis stands alone. With all due respect to Mr. West, Elvis Presley is not called 'The King of Rock 'n' Roll' for nothing."

No one argues that West is a not a great musician, but Presley was more than just hit records. He not only crossed over into many genres (pop, rock, gospel, country), but he was also a true movie star. "He definitely needs to get himself outside of the hip-hop world in order to be spoken of in the same terms of Elvis," says Chuck Arnold, music critic for People. "I think that's what he's starting to do with singing—well, what you would call singing with the help of technology."

Wilbekin agrees. "Elvis had gospel and country music behind him and Hollywood behind him," he says. "Kanye just has hip-hop right now.

"He hasn't really done acting, aside from Saturday Night Live."

West did have a Hollywood project in the works. He was developing a Curb Your Enthusiasm-like series for HBO. However, it's reportedly been shelved. "I think it was too hard-core for HBO," writer and producer Larry Charles told ComingSoon.net early last month.

Billboard's Crosley says with a laugh, "Maybe he's secretly taking acting lessons."

We could hear Kanye now: "I want to be the next Marlon Brando."

Or as Los Angeles Times pop critic Ann Powers says, West should just be, well, West: "Kanye is excellent at being himself," she says, "and he is unique, so maybe he should be happy with that."

MickeyMac · 11-29-2008, 04:06 PM

Good luck and yeah right

If Kanye West is trying to be the next jerk, he has succeded beyond his wildest dreams.

Zebra 3 · 12-08-2008, 06:07 AM

He first needs to grow some sideburns.

11-28-2008, 04:29 AM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,441	Kanye West's Elvis Presley Complex Link Los Angeles (E! Online) – As you may have heard, Kanye West announced at the American Music Awards that he wants to be the next Elvis. Then West had to take it even further. "When I said the statement, 'I want to be Elvis,' I really should have thought that out more because that statement was actually really incorrect," West told E! News' Ryan Seacrest Tuesday. "Actually, the true statement was 'I want to be better than Elvis.' " So does West have what it takes to get anywhere near Elvis' stratosphere? We talked to some industry insiders to find out... "Kanye is one of the biggest hip-hop stars in the world right now," says Emil Wilbekin, editor-in-chief of urban lifestyle magazine Giant. "But I do believe he has delusions of grandeur." Wilbekin goes on to say, "I think Kanye is hugely self-absorbed, and I think that he thinks he could be bigger than Elvis. Kanye is very much concerned with how big he could be, how much music he can make and how many awards he could win." It's that oversize ego that's propelled him to the top of his game, says Hillary Crosley, R&B/hip-hop correspondent for Billboard. "People find it so amusing that he takes it so seriously," Crosley says. "If he didn't have the ego, he wouldn't make it as far as he has." Cory Cooper, a noted Elvis historian, says he's impressed with West's goals, but he needs a reality check. "Even though Mr. West has a fantastic idea of what he aspires to become, he nor any other performer, past, present or future will ever accomplish Presley's unparalleled career," Cooper writes in an email. "Elvis stands alone. With all due respect to Mr. West, Elvis Presley is not called 'The King of Rock 'n' Roll' for nothing." No one argues that West is a not a great musician, but Presley was more than just hit records. He not only crossed over into many genres (pop, rock, gospel, country), but he was also a true movie star. "He definitely needs to get himself outside of the hip-hop world in order to be spoken of in the same terms of Elvis," says Chuck Arnold, music critic for People. "I think that's what he's starting to do with singing—well, what you would call singing with the help of technology." Wilbekin agrees. "Elvis had gospel and country music behind him and Hollywood behind him," he says. "Kanye just has hip-hop right now. "He hasn't really done acting, aside from Saturday Night Live." West did have a Hollywood project in the works. He was developing a Curb Your Enthusiasm-like series for HBO. However, it's reportedly been shelved. "I think it was too hard-core for HBO," writer and producer Larry Charles told ComingSoon.net early last month. Billboard's Crosley says with a laugh, "Maybe he's secretly taking acting lessons." We could hear Kanye now: "I want to be the next Marlon Brando." Or as Los Angeles Times pop critic Ann Powers says, West should just be, well, West: "Kanye is excellent at being himself," she says, "and he is unique, so maybe he should be happy with that."
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12-08-2008, 06:07 AM	#3
Zebra 3 Striped Tomato Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 26, 2002 Location: Bay City Posts: 5,812	He first needs to grow some sideburns.
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11-29-2008, 04:06 PM	#2
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	Good luck and yeah right If Kanye West is trying to be the next jerk, he has succeded beyond his wildest dreams.