Watching the Throne: A Lyrical Analysis of Kanye West

Praise God by Kanye West

Decades ago, Gwendolyn Brooks wrote a poem that would become part of a legendary speech from Donda West in 2007—and would later become a guiding light for Kanye West when making music in 2021. Praise God wouldn't exist without Brooks, a famous Black poet from Chicago whose words spoke to Kanye at an incredibly difficult time in his life. And by dissecting the lines in this song and her poem, we can gain crucial insight into the Donda narrative.
If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community.
You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is an in-depth-yet-entertaining dive into the lyrics and narrative artistry of Kanye West's music. We go track by track through Ye's discography, revealing the narrative and poetic techniques he uses, tracking his growth as a storyteller, and illuminating the narratives behind each of his albums.