Last night, The Kanye West Show made a pit stop in his hometown of Chicago to premiere his 40-minunte mini-movie/music video, Runaway, which is an “artistic expression” of music from his upcoming album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Kanye hosted the screening in a private room at the Icon Theater featuring an open bar and words from Kanye before and after.
The film, which was shot in Prague over the course of four days a few months ago, features Kanye starring as some guy named Griffin, with Selita Ebanks as his almost-naked co-star. Obviously, this wasn’t his first premiere of the flick as Ye’s also had Runaway screenings in London, Paris and Los Angeles, so I’m sure you’re familiar with a lot of the specifics by now: Kanye acts, Selita Ebanks is a bird/Phoenix creature, Nicki Minaj narrates, there are French subtitles, lots of explosions, etc. Well, in true FSD fashion, I’ll give you my review in brief thoughts and bullet points. The rest of the world can catch the premiere Saturday night on all MTV properties as well as BET at 8pm EST.
So without further ado….FSD Watches Kanye West’s Runaway:
– Runaway kicks off with Kanye driving some expensive looking foreign car (I don’t know shit about cars, sorry) with quite possibly the dopest Kanye West song of 2010 playing in the background. In fact, it was so dope that afterwards when Don C asked me how I enjoyed the film, I immediately asked him about that song, The joint is the albums title track and is produced by The RZA, No ID and Kanye West. This track, the little bit I heard of it, blows away anything I’ve heard from the G.O.O.D. Friday series. He opens it up with “Back in Chicago I had dreams of Murciélago’s” or something like that. This track has me geeked to hear the rest of the album. Look out for this one…
– Kanye finds the perfect 10 that is Selita Ebanks, in full bird costume, laying on the side of the road. Good lord! If I ever get rich and famous (doubtful!) I’m going to hire a Victoria’s Secret model to hang around me all day naked with wings on, too. Kanye, you ARE a genius for that one. Seriously, she appears throughout the film in this fashion. You could sit through any program with her in it, even MTV’s Teen Mom.
– The imagery is extremely vivid and the colors are crisp and bold. This and the cinematography immediately made me think of Belly, so it’s no surprise that Hype Williams was involved in the project. Vanessa Beecroft, who was the Art Director of the film did a great job scouting locations and arranging the scenes. Everything “popped” very well.
– As a friend of mine remarked, Kanye could’ve made a movie about two pigeons racing and people would call it “genius”, which is true. Kanye definitely pushes any and all boundaries, but some of this flick will just have you scratching your head. I guess if I had the funny money Kanye had I’d make a completely bizarre abstract piece like this as well. Why not? During the song “All of the Lights”, which is scheduled to be Kanye’s next single and features 11 different artists (Elton John, Alicia Keys, John Legend, etc.), a marching band appears in full-on Beefeater attire in parade mode, with a giant Michael Jackson paper machete head on a stick. Then Ku Klux Klan members appear seemingly out of nowhere, all while Kanye and his Phoenix watch while fireworks pop in the background. Wild, wild stuff.
– Sidenote: Shout out to the dudes in the row in front of me who were in full Rosewood garb and bobbed their heads and danced throughout the entire film. E xcited doesn’t describe how keyed up these guys were.
– Kanye keeps his Phoenix at his futuristic pad where she spends her time playing with a lamb, a bunny and a deer in the backyard. At times the Phoenix appears to be bored and confused and Ye tells her not to believe anything she sees in the media. Message!
– One of Runaway’s final scenes, a dinner party, featuring white androgynous servants was fresh as well. Kanye remarked that this scene took them 20 hours to shoot. It features Kanye entering the dinner party with his Phoenix while all of the dinner guests are visibly uncomfortable with the “bird” in the room. Everyone is gossiping and judging the lady who is different from the norm, even though she’s the most beautiful person in the room. Message!
– During the meal Kanye gets up from the table to play the lone piano in the corner and goes into his hit, “Runaway”. While he hits those opening keys, about 50 ballerinas run in and begin dancing. Sorry folks, no Pusha T here. However, we are treated to the extended version of the song. And who doesn’t like to watch ballerinas dance?
– The final scene at the dinner table, which features Kanye’s bird upset about another bird, includes my second favorite song in the film. I’m not sure what that track was, but it’s absolutely official.
– After the film Kanye came out to address the crowd. He said his Q&A sessions in London and Paris lasted for hours, so he was just going to hit a few bullet points. He explained that “Runaway” was his Thriller and with this he’s continuing to push the culture – and not just hip-hop or black culture, but culture in general. Kanye said that he’s so free and comfortable with who he is that he’s going to do what he feels is right no matter how the public reacts.
– He thanked the crowd and all in attendance and noted that a lot of people in the audience helped him get to where he is today. Don C, John Monopoly and Happy Lewis (the Hustle family), GLC, Really Doe and countless other friends were in the crowd to support their old friend. It was a pretty cool moment.
– I can see what Kanye doesn’t premiere more of his work in Chicago as people don’t know how to act. Afterwards, Kanye even remarked “I knew I was back home when everyone began talking throughout the silent parts”. Ha!
– Kanye said he and the entire G.O.O.D. Music camp are pushing to change music and have abandoned the “Here’s another hit. Barry Bonds” rhyme pattern that Kanye claims he and Big Sean made famous. I agree, that flow has been beat to death.
– I loved Kanye’s story about how he once had to sneak into a Wu-Tang Clan show at the Congress Theater and now he can call up RZA and ask him for drums anytime he’d like. He followed that up with “no one man should have all that power”
-Quite possibly my favorite quote from Kanye was his FINAL quote of the evening where he talked about being from Chicago and overcoming a lot of the stigmas and issues within the City. He said it’s great to be from a place like this and having to go out of your way to prove yourself because “they never see you coming”. Indeed, Ye. Indeed.
Big thanks to my homie Howard Campbell at Def Jam and Marc Moran at Superfun for putting on such a dope event. Definitely one of the best I’ve ever been to in Chicago.
(Well Damn) Gucci Voice….
Great Write up! Definetly looking forward to the debut on Saturday. Man I’m wondering if it will be better to watch it online because if Selita is damn near naked, you know they gonna blur that out on regular tv; I ain’t trying to miss them tasty pasties! Ya Digg!
Thanks for the info big homie.
Kanye West as Griffin?
cmon son…. LMAO
Man! Real Talk, all I could think about after was that first song….
Shit sounds like one of the hardest joints he’s ever done.
that opening track was dope…spent all night looking for it – no avail…looking forward to see if anyone has any more info on it
Got my attention.
Damn this seems like a special event. Too bad Kanye didn’t reach out to the young artist in chicago an invited a few? aww my bad instead of inspiring young black talent or gracing them with his presents.. he rather support 25 ballerinas and destroy chicago hiphop artist! But its cool… i just sit back learn. If you new better you’d do better.
who was invited?
I heard some punk was drunk off his ass, and kept interrupting Ye. Confirm or deny?
i repeat androgynous and fresh should never be used in the same sentence! Don’t discrace hiphop with that type of bull shit! Its not pushing the culture it would be destroying…bringing it down to a lower level…Who from chicago would write shit like this? awww my bad your from indiana! Stop it slime! This slimy ass website! Andrew…
@you already know u are the epitome of angry blogger kid……..lol
im just misunderstood… lol i might be a angry blogger… but u callin me a kid when your 5’2 and promote your music thru the cartoon network… is especially ironic. smh
careful, holt might try and tongue kiss drive-by you if he sees you on the street.
btw, he’s not a blogger, he’s a poster/commenter. congrats on being the headliner at the blue oyster bar, holt.