Or he could be using the sample to state how he feels like black people are stuck in a vicious circle of materialism and pettyness. That is a recurring theme in the album

I wonder how many people listening to the track are unaware of the history and meaning behind the sample being used. I'd argue that it's a vast majority.

Perhaps, so. That however, for me, is where the problem lies. I fail to see how being stuck in a cycle of materialism = being lynched.

Certainly both are negative, but to hugely different degrees.

I had no idea about the history of the sample but after reading more about it I definitely feel a bit uncomfortable with Kanye's use of it. Although tracks like "New Slaves" make me think he isn't totally blind to important racial issues so I suppose it's fine. Just a bit unnerving.

It is a bit in poor taste to me that he used that sample to complain about his GF. I think one of his more conscious raps would have suited the sample better like New Slaves. Blood on the Leaves is still the best song on the album IMO.

Omg I never knew the context of Strange Fruit, so insightful

It's not offensive, given he didn't desecrate the message of "Strange Fruit" like Lil Wayne blatantly disrespected Emmett Till on "Karate Chop". But I was thinking the same thing when I heard BOTL, a song that poignant should only be sampled if he's gonna discuss the same topic (racism) as the original song, something that would be very fitting on this album. Wasting it on something that's kinda meaningless does a huge disservice to the song, IMO.

It's probably not meant to mean materialism = being lynched. I think he might be highlighting the sheer contrast between the problems of blacks during the mid 1900s and the materialistic problems of today that are ever-present in the lyrics of some these songs on urban radio.

Or we could be looking to much into it. I'm not really sure.

Yes I said this from the first time I herd it, but was afraid the bamas would come after me so I never said anything. The sample is disgusting to me. Its a song that is dear to me. Kanye makes me sick to my Stomach but people act like this daft is some kind of philosopher.

It offended you, it didn't offended other people. Stop stereotyping people with that **** you're talking about "good beats" because if you go to the Yeezus thread most people will agree that Yeezus is Kanye's worst album lyrically. Blood on the Leaves is one of his best lyrically on the album and maybe on his entire discography. Kind of ironic for the mediocrity of the lyrics as a whole of Yeezus. He made some good points in the song. It was rather seen in some kind of metaphorical wording rather than putting it on the low like what pop stars do. It wasn't subliminal. The message of the song is important but it isn't disturbing. It was the reality that he didn't want people to forget.

1Exactly.

I'm a huge kanye fan but that whole album is on the offensive side. Blood on the leaves is my favorite song from the album though.

Yep, very poor taste. I really like the song, but he could've easily used another sample.. one that doesn't have such a big emotional/historical attachment to it.

(and as a side note, he should've clipped the last minute of the song off. That autotuning riff type **** ruined the ENTIRE song.)

That's how I take it and New Slaves as well.

Really, I think the line directly comparing keeping his affair secret to apartheid makes this a pretty open and shut case, at least for me.

That's an excellent point and very true in the album. However he does also reinforce materialism often and with his music in general so it's hard to say. I feel like he has all these contrasting views and perceptions that come out at different times. It's interesting and compelling.

I don't think there's any inherent contradiction in partaking in something you recognize to be a negative, potentially destructive cycle considering everybody does to some degree at some point.

Actually it makes the message even more profound. That's a good point, ima search up all these new lyrics and think from this perspective. It's interesting.

Perhaps you misunderstood - I'm certainly not stereotyping anybody.

When I mentioned the "I don't care about the offensive lyrics, because it has a great beat!" point of view, it was directly referencing the reply in this thread where someone said exactly that. I never said all Kanye fans thought that at all. In fact, I'm very careful not to make generalizations and stereotypes, so I'm not sure why you think I did.

Some interesting points of view on this last page here. Thanks everyone for sharing! Sure is a complex issue, that's for sure.