Welcome to Fantom Island, where iLL-Literacy's legend finds its habitat. If you've happened upon this portal, may we be as bold as to assert that nested in you is a healthy curiosity. Whether you were drawn here by the Slanted i at this page's 1-o-clock, the quick flash of during loading, or simply because you have a click-happy finger – you've arrived. HihowRUhi?
The peculiar thing about Fantom Island is that it is but a mirage – an Imaginary oasis isolated in the confines of our brainwaves. We shall gradually reveal morsels of our folklore here, so please visit often. To return, simply bring your Imagination as your passport.
Fantom Island
WEDNESDAY WORD: Facebook likes Kanye West
Within the spoken word community, poets like to bash the rappers who went on Def Poetry Jam and spit their song verses acapella. And yes, most of the time they were pretty wack. However, I’ve always had a silent respect for Kanye West‘s contribution to spoken word. From putting on J. Ivy and Malik Yusef, to bringing vocal emphases to emceeing that were once reserved for spoken word, Yeezy may sound better over beats – but at the same time his verses translate off beat much better than most rappers out there.
These videos of Kanye’s visit to the Facebook headquarters tickles my heart because of how low-fi they are. They remind me of our college gigs where we ended up in noisy student unions tripping over folding chairs and competing with the sound of the coffee grinder. During those moments, our discouraged selves would dream of the day we’d hit auditoriums with hi-def sound and lighting. To see Kanye go from the Glow in the Dark tour to spitting off-mic on top of a lunchtable is quite humbling. Sometimes with the Word, doing it this up close and personal is more effective than any performance at Madison Square could ever be. This is talent.
More after the jump.
