- Monster (Kanye West song)
-
"Monster" 
Single by Kanye West featuring Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Bon Iver & Nicki Minaj from the album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Released October 23, 2010
(see release history)Recorded 2010 Genre Hip hop, horrorcore Length 6:18 Label Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam Writer(s) Kanye West, Shawn Carter, William Roberts, Onika Maraj, Justin Vernon Producer Kanye West Kanye West singles chronology "Runaway"
(2010)"Monster"
(2010)"Start It Up"
(2010)Jay-Z chronology "Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)"
(2010)"Monster"
(2010)"H.A.M"
(2011)Rick Ross chronology "Live Fast, Die Young"
(2010)"Monster"
(2010)"Swagger Right"
(2010)Nicki Minaj chronology "Check It Out"
(2010)"Monster"
(2010)"Right Thru Me"
(2010)Bon Iver chronology "Come Talk to Me"
(2010)"Monster"
(2010)"Calgary"
(2011)"Monster" is the third official single from Kanye West's fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. It features Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Justin Vernon of indie folk group Bon Iver, and Nicki Minaj.[1][2] The song was first released as a free download through West's "GOOD Friday" initiative, in which the rapper showcases a new unreleased song for free every Friday until the album's release.[3] It was officially released on iTunes on October 23, 2010.
The video has been criticized for its portrayal of women.
In October 2011, NME placed it at number 53 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[4]
Contents
Background and composition
The single contains snapping synth-splashed beats as each performer takes their turn rapping over the track.[5] Nicki Minaj contributed 32 bars to the song[6] and recorded the track in Hawaii, after writing it on the plane-ride there.[7] Rapper & collaborator Rick Ross praised Nicki Minaj's verse by stating "That was the day Nicki Minaj earned my respect as a lyricist. Before that day she was a great entertainer, but for me to get in the studio with my own two eyes and see her write her verse, I knew that was gonna be one of the greatest verses of this year."[7]
Critical reception
The reviews for "Monster" were extremely positive, most critics complimenting Minaj for delivering a stand-out verse.[8] Becky Bain of Idolator stated "With five distinct artists all strutting their stuff (and/or vying for attention?), the one who shines the brightest (and the loudest) is hands down Mrs. Aubrey Drake Graham and possible Twitter prankster, Nicki Minaj."[8] Sara D. Anderson of AOL gave the song a positive review, complimenting each artist on their contribution.[9] Anderson stated "West provides the catchy hook, Indie folk rock outfit Bon Iver frame the song; a hoarse, yet full-bodied layered verse introducing a 'Thriller'-like spook setting. Rick Ross introduces hip-hop's intimidation. Jay-Z even legitimately compares himself to 'Sasquatch, Godzilla, King Kong, Lochness, Goblin, Ghoul, a zombie with no conscience,' but it's Nicki Minaj's verse that has people talking. Varying not only her vocal delivery, Minaj effortlessly changes personas mid-lines."[9] Chris Ryan of MTV Buzzworthy positively reviewed West, Jay-Z and Minaj as the stand out rappers in the song, stating "On car stereos, computers and in clubs all over, nothing got more burn than 'Monster,' his new beastly posse cut. Kanye spits about his presence being a present to us all, Jay-Z comes through with what might be his strongest verse in years, and that's where Nicki comes in, more than holding her own against the bad boys."[10] The song was named the "Collaboration of the Year" 2010 by Hip-Hop news website HipHopDX.[11] Nicki Minaj's verse for the song was named "Verse of the Year" by the same website.[11]
Live performances
The song was performed at Jay-Z's and Eminem's "Home & Home" concert in the new Yankee Stadium.[12] It was performed by Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj and Kanye West.[13] Kanye West wore exactly the same outfit he did for his 2010 MTV Video Music Awards performance and his subsequent Saturday Night Live performance, as well as at many of his other performances, a red suit accessorized with his gold Egyptian god Horus necklace and his signature red Louis Vuitton Don shoes.
West and Minaj performed the song live on August 2, 2011 at Britney Spears' Femme Fatale Tour at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, New York.
Music video
The music video was directed by Jake Nava and officially released on June 4, 2011 on West's official website. A promotional trailer (for the music video) was released online December 8, 2010.[14][15] An unfinished version of the video leaked on December 30, 2010.[16] The finalized edit of the video was released on the rapper's website on June 4, 2011.[17]
Controversy
Main article: Misogyny in hip hop culturePrior to its release the video has drawn criticism for its depiction of violence against women and misogyny. The nearly six-minute clip shows dead women dangling from the ceiling on chains and West holding a woman's severed head. Jay-Z raps with a semi-nude, lifeless woman in heels splayed across a couch and Nicki Minaj interrogates her alter-ego the "Harajuku Barbie" with the latter strapped to a chair. West rearranges the bodies of the lifeless women on the bed and places one woman's severed head on his lap. This handling of the female corpses has led psychology professor Mikhail Lyubansky to argue that the lifeless women are depicted as sexual objects. Lyubansky states:
[The] video not-so-subtly suggests that complete female passivity, lifelessness, and even death are erotic [...] Monstrous men - the ones who treat women as inanimate objects - are sexually attractive, which means that, by extension, monstrous behavior on the part of men is sexually attractive, while, for women, what's sexually desirable is passivity, lifelessness, and death.[18]
Daphne Bramham of the Vancouver Sun asks: "What's entertaining about women in lingerie hanging by their necks on chains? What's artful about images of drugged, unconscious women about to be sexually assaulted?"[19] The unreleased video was received by American activist Ann Simonton with an Internet petition seeking the preemptive removal of the full video from broadcast or promotion, criticizing the video as glorifying sexual violence against women.[20] Some commentators have pointed out that all the dead women are white and all black women are portrayed as part of the monster theme.[21] Ta-Nehisi Coates wonders "what would have become of John Mayer, had he cut a video with dead black women strewn about and invoked black women throughout his lyrics in the manner Kanye does." Coates conludes that the problem is "boring racism, boring sexism".[22] However, Brandon Soderberg of Spin argues that the video was simply a "surreal response to hip-hop misogyny" and a "knowing provocation".[23]
In response to the criticism prior to the video's official release, West added a disclaimer: "The following content is in no way to be interpreted as misogynistic or negative towards any groups of people. It is an art piece and it shall be taken as such."[20] Drew Grant of Salon.com argues that the disclaimer does not excuse West's misogyny or absolve him from any responsibility.[24]
Notable covers
Since Monster was released, there have been several covers, remixes, and mash-ups recorded and performed. UK based singer/songwriter Rocco La Bête performed the song in its entirety, and released an in-studio music video on YouTube featuring himself on guitar, bass, and lead vocals, along with André Brown on drums. Massachusetts based band Kids On A Hill are known for their mashup of Minaj's verse with Kool And The Gang's "Jungle Boogie," which they played while opening for B.O.B. and Pretty Lights at The Mullins Center in Amherst, Massachusetts in April of 2011.[25]
Charts
Charts (2010) Peak
positionCanada (Canadian Hot 100)[26] 43 UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[27] 146 US Billboard Hot 100[28] 18 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[29] 30 US Rap Songs (Billboard)[30] 15 Radio dates and release history
Region Date Format United States September 21, 2010 Rhythmic radio[31] Urban radio[31] October 23, 2010 Digital download[citation needed] See also
References
- ^ Posted 10/19/10 (2010-10-19). "Kanye West Reveals Which G.O.O.D. Friday Tracks Are On Fantasy - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1650356/20101019/west_kanye.jhtml. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
- ^ "Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!". FMQB. http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16691. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
- ^ "Kanye West > Good Fridays > Monster Download". kanyewest.com. http://kanyewest.com/GOODFridays/download?dl=monster. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
- ^ http://www.nme.com/list/150-best-tracks-of-the-past-15-years/248648/page/10
- ^ "New Music: Kanye West f/ Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, & Bon Iver – ‘Monster’". Rap-Up.com. 2010-08-27. http://www.rap-up.com/2010/08/27/new-music-kanye-west-f-jay-z-rick-ross-nicki-minaj-bon-iver-monster/. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
- ^ "Nicki Minaj Talks ‘Monster’ Verse, Drake Marriage, & Dating". Rap-Up.com. http://www.rap-up.com/2010/09/07/nicki-minaj-talks-monster-verse-drake-marriage-dating/. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
- ^ a b "Rap-Up TV: Rick Ross Says ‘Monster’ Made Him a Nicki Minaj Believer". Rap-Up.com. 2010-09-16. http://www.rap-up.com/2010/09/16/rap-up-tv-rick-ross-says-monster-made-him-a-nicki-minaj-believer/. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
- ^ a b "Kanye West And Jay-Z’s "Monster" Track Features Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross & Bon Iver | Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on". Idolator.com. http://idolator.com/5609121/kanye-west-jay-z-nicki-minaj-monster. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
- ^ a b Posted on Sep 1st 2010 8:00AM by Sara D Anderson (2010-08-20). "Kanye West, 'Monster' Feat. Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross - New Song". AOL Radio Blog. http://www.aolradioblog.com/2010/09/01/kanye-west-monster-jay-z-nicki-minaj-rick-ross/. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
- ^ "Song You Need To Know: Kanye West, Featuring Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj And Bon Iver, ‘Monster’ » MTV Buzzworthy Blog". Buzzworthy.mtv.com. 2010-08-30. http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2010/08/30/kanye-west-monster-jayz-nicki-minaj/. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
- ^ a b "The 2010 HipHopDX Year End Awards | Discussing Lil' Wayne, Drake & Many More Hip Hop Artists". HipHopDX. 2010-12-13. http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/editorials/id.1633/title.the-2010-hiphopdx-year-end-awards. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
- ^ Reid, Shaheem (2010-09-14). "Jay-Z, Eminem Joined By Kanye West, Beyonce, Others At Yankee Stadium - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1647790/20100914/jay_z.jhtml. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
- ^ "Star Spotting: Jay-Z, Kanye West And Nicki Minaj Have A Monster Night At Yankee Stadium » MTV Buzzworthy Blog". Buzzworthy.mtv.com. 2010-09-14. http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2010/09/14/jay-z-kanye-west-nicki-minaj-yankee-stadium/. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
- ^ "Kanye West 'Monster' music video teaser shows models, scantily clad and apparently dead". Nydailynews.com. 2010-12-08. http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2010/12/08/2010-12-08_kanye_west_monster_music_video_teaser_shows_models_scantily_clad_and_apparently_.html. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
- ^ dayandadream. "First Look At Kanye West’s "Monster" Music Video Video". Vodpod.com. http://vodpod.com/watch/5078716-first-look-at-kanye-wests-monster-music-video. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
- ^ "Video: Kanye West f/ Rick Ross, Jay-Z, & Nicki Minaj – ‘Monster’". Rap-Up.com. 2010-12-30. http://www.rap-up.com/2010/12/30/video-kanye-west-f-rick-ross-jay-z-nicki-minaj-monster/. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
- ^ http://adwiin-music.com/2011/06/05/video-kanye-west-monster-feat-rick-ross-jay-z-nicki-minaj/
- ^ Lyubansky, Mikhail. "Did Kanye West Create A Monster?". Huffington Post, January 13, 2011.
- ^ Bramham, Daphne. "Let's label this depravity for what it is: misogyny". Vancouver Sun, January 15, 2011.
- ^ a b Ann Simonton (23 April 2011). "Love Hurts". Truthout. http://truthout.org/love-hurts.
- ^ Peterson, latoya. "Black Monsters/White Corpses: Kanye’s Racialized Gender Politics". Racialicious.com, January 18, 2011.
- ^ Coates, Ta-Nehisi. "On White She-Devils", The Atlantic, January 03, 2011.
- ^ Soderberg, Brandon. "In Defense Of Kanye West's "Monster", Spin, June 18, 2011.
- ^ Grant, Drew. "Kanye West's "Monster" video: Warning does not excuse misogyny", Salon.com, June 06, 2011.
- ^ The Daily Collegian, April 14, 2011. Dan Gigliotti, "Kids On A Hill to Open Spring Concert'. Amherst, Massachusetts. http://dailycollegian.com/2011/04/14/kids-on-a-hill-to-open-spring-concert/
- ^ "Kanye West Album & Song Chart History" Canadian Hot 100 for Kanye West. Prometheus Global Media.
- ^ "CHART LOG UK: NEW ENTRIES UPDATE". zobbel.de. 4.12.2010. http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/101204cluk.txt. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
- ^ "Kanye West Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Kanye West. Prometheus Global Media.
- ^ "Kanye West Album & Song Chart History" Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Kanye West. Prometheus Global Media.
- ^ "Kanye West Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Rap Songs for Kanye West. Prometheus Global Media.
- ^ a b Navjosh (September 21, 2010). "Kanye West Releasing ‘Monster’ As Single". pp. Hip Hop N' More. http://hiphop-n-more.com/2010/09/kanye-west-releasing-monster-as-single/. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
Discography The College Dropout Late Registration Graduation 808s & Heartbreak "Love Lockdown" • "Heartless" • "Amazing" • "Paranoid"My Beautiful Dark
Twisted Fantasy"Power" • "Runaway" • "Monster" • "All of the Lights" • "Lost in the World"Watch the Throne
(with Jay-Z)"H•A•M" • "Otis" • "Lift Off" • "Niggas in Paris" • "Why I Love You"Featured artist "Talk About Our Love" • "The Food" • "I Changed My Mind" • "The Corner" • "Go!" • "Number One" • "Extravaganza" • "Number One" • "Wouldn't Get Far" • "I Still Love H.E.R." • "Pro Nails" • "Finer Things" • "American Boy" • "Put On" • "Stay Up! (Viagra)" • "Swagga Like Us" • "Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing in the Line for the Bathroom)" • "Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)" • "Go Hard" • "Knock You Down" • "Kinda Like a Big Deal" • "Walkin' on the Moon" • "Ego" • "Supernova" • "Maybach Music 2" • "Make Her Say" • "Digital Girl" • "Run This Town" • "Forever" • "Whatever U Want" • "We Are the World 25 for Haiti" • "Erase Me" • "Start It Up" • "Hurricane" • "E.T." • "Marvin & Chardonnay"Other songs "I'll Fly Away" • Hey Mama" • "Us Placers" • "Good Morning" • "Champion" • "Big Brother" • "Welcome to Heartbreak" • "See You in My Nightmares" • "Dark Fantasy" • "Gorgeous" • "So Appalled" • "Devil in a New Dress" • "Blame Game" • "No Church in the Wild" • "Who Gon Stop Me"
Book · 
Category · 
PortalJay-Z singles Reasonable Doubt In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter The Dynasty: Roc La Familia The Blueprint The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse The Black Album Kingdom Come American Gangster The Blueprint 3 "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" · "Run This Town" · "Empire State of Mind" · "On to the Next One" · "Young Forever"Watch the Throne
(with Kanye West)Collaborations As featured artist "I'll Be" · "Money Ain't a Thang" · "Heartbreaker" · "4 da Fam" · "The Best of Me (Remix)" · "Fiesta (Remix)" · "Guess Who's Back" · "What We Do" · "Frontin'" · "Crazy in Love" · "Dear Summer" · "Go Crazy" · "Get Throwed" · "Déjà Vu" · "Upgrade U" · "Umbrella" · "Lost+" · "Mr. Carter" · "Money Goes, Honey Stay (When the Money Goes Remix)" · "I Wanna Rock (G-Mix)" · "XXXO" · "Hot Tottie" · "Monster" · "The Dark"Soundtrack singles "Who You Wit" · "It's Alright" · "Girl's Best Friend" · "Hey Papi" · "La-La-La" · "Brooklyn Go Hard"Other songs "In My Lifetime" · "Renegade" · "Jockin' Jay-Z (Dopeboy Fresh)" · "Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)" · "Power (Remix)" · "Who Gon Stop Me" · "So Appalled" · "No Church in the Wild" Book:Jay-Z · Category:Jay-Z songs · Portal:Hip hopRick Ross Discography Albums Compilations Collabrations Singles "Hustlin'" · "Push It" · "Speedin'" · "The Boss" · "Here I Am" · "Mafia Music" · "Magnificent" · "All I Really Want" · "Maybach Music 2" · "Super High" · "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)" · "Aston Martin Music" · "You the Boss" · "I Love My Bitches"Featured singles "Holla at Me" · "We Takin' Over" · "I'm So Hood" · "100 Million" · "Cash Flow" · "Out Here Grindin" · "You're Everything" · "Welcome to the World" · "What It Is" · "Sun Come Up" · "Champion" · "Fed Up" · "Put Your Hands Up" · "All I Do Is Win" · "Monster" · "Rap Song" · "Welcome to My Hood" · "Swagger Right" · "Can a Drummer Get Some?" · "Hustle Hard" (Remix) · "John" · "Tupac Back" · "I'm On One" · "Anything (To Find You)" · "That Way" · "Fly Together"Other songs "Make It Rain" (Remix) · "Foolish" (Remix) · "Hello Good Morning" (Remix) · "Devil in a New Dress" · "The Way You Love Me" · "She Will" (Remix)Related articles Triple C's · Maybach Music GroupNicki Minaj Discography Studio albums Mixtapes Playtime Is Over · Sucka Free · Beam Me Up Scotty · It's Barbie Bitch! · All Pink Everything · Nicki MonroeSingles "Massive Attack" · "Your Love" · "Check It Out" · "Right Thru Me" · "Moment 4 Life" · "Roman's Revenge" · "Did It On'em" · "Girls Fall Like Dominoes" · "Super Bass" · "Fly"Featured singles "5 Star" (Remix) · "Up Out My Face" · "My Chick Bad" · "Lil Freak" · "Knockout" · "Hello Good Morning" (Remix) · "Get It All" · "BedRock" · "Bottoms Up" · "2012 (It Ain't the End)" · "Letting Go (Dutty Love)" · "Monster" · "I Ain't Thru" · "Raining Men" · "The Creep" · "Where Them Girls At" · "Y.U. Mad" · "Fireball" · "You the Boss" · "Make Me Proud" · "Dance (A$$)" (Remix)Other songs "Up All Night" · "All I Do Is Win" (Remix) · "Dark Fantasy" · "Till the World Ends" (Remix) · "Turn Me On"Concert tours Related articles Book:Nicki MinajBon Iver Justin Vernon · Michael Noyce · Sean Carey · Matthew McCaughan Studio albums For Emma, Forever Ago · Bon Iver, Bon IverEPs Blood BankSingles "Skinny Love" · "For Emma" · "re:Stacks" · "Blood Bank" · "Calgary" · "Holocene"Featured singles "Monster" · "Lost in the World"Related articles Singles "Power" · "Runaway" · "Monster" · "All of the Lights" · "Lost in the World"Non-single tracks "Dark Fantasy" · "Gorgeous" · "So Appalled" · "Devil in a New Dress" · "Hell of a Life" · "Blame Game" · "Who Will Survive in America"See also The College Dropout · Late Registration · Graduation · 808s & Heartbreak · Watch the Throne Categories:- 2010 singles
- Kanye West songs
- Jay-Z songs
- Rick Ross songs
- Nicki Minaj songs
- Songs produced by Kanye West
- Songs written by Kanye West
- Songs written by Jay-Z
- Songs written by Nicki Minaj
- Music videos directed by Jake Nava
- Misogyny
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