Blame Game

Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This John Legend featured song finds West doling out blame over a deteriorating relationship. It samples the melancholy piano groove from cult electronic musician Aphex Twin's 2001 cut "Avril 14th."

    According to Aphex Twin, aka Richard D. James, West and his team approached him about the sample, then cut him out of the equation. "Is it a sample?" he asked Pitchfork. "I actually don't know what it ended up being in the end, I'm so slack. I know that he tried to f-----g rip me off and claim that he'd written it, and they tried to get away with not paying."

    "I was really helpful, and when they first sent it to me," James continued. "I was like, 'Oh, I can re-do that for you, if you like,' because they'd sampled it really badly and time-stretched it and there was loads of artifacts. I was like, 'I'll just replay it for you at that speed if you want.' And they totally didn't even say 'hello' or 'thanks,' they just replied with, 'It's not yours, it's ours, and we're not even asking you any more.'"
  • The song was co-produced by DJ Frank E (real name Justin Franks), who is an American DJ and record producer from Denver, Colorado. Frank E's résumé also includes production credits for Madonna, Flo Rida, T-Pain, Chris Brown, Travie McCoy, Sean Kingston, Nelly Furtado, Justin Bieber, B.o.B, Eminem and Enrique Iglesias. There are other names as well but we guess you get the idea that he has an impressive CV.
  • The song features a cameo from Chris Rock. The American comedian told The New York Times that he jumped at the opportunity as soon as the collaboration was presented to him. "I did that quicker than I read scripts that they offer me money to do," he said. "I thank [Kanye] so much it probably freaks him out. Especially at this late date, to get on something, the album of the moment, that stuff is priceless. You can't put a price tag on that. I felt invigorated by it. I've still got my fastball."
  • Other rap songs Rock has previously appeared on include Ol' Dirty Bastard's joint "Recognise," off his 1999 N---a Please record and Ludacris' track "Everybody Hates Chris' off his 2008 album, Theater of the Mind.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In Songs

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In SongsSong Writing

Songs where something goes horribly wrong (literally or metaphorically), and help is needed right away.

Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger

Kelly Keagy of Night RangerSongwriter Interviews

Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger tells the "Sister Christian" story and explains why he started sweating when he saw it in Boogie Nights.

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.

Matt Sorum

Matt SorumSongwriter Interviews

When he joined Guns N' Roses in 1990, Matt helped them craft an orchestral sound; his mezzo fortes and pianissimos are all over "November Rain."

Yacht Rock!

Yacht Rock!Song Writing

A scholarly analysis of yacht rock favorites ("Steal Away," "Baker Street"...) with a member of the leading YR cover band.

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)Songwriter Interviews

The co-writer/guitarist on many Alice Cooper hits, Dick was also Lou Reed's axeman on the Rock n' Roll Animal album.