Music

[Life Is Beautiful 2014]

In defense of Kanye West

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Chris Morris

Spare us your caterwauling about Kanye West. Hate him or love him, the selective festival participant is Life Is Beautiful’s musical “get” and, believe it or not, the most acclaimed act on the bill. He’ll come to Downtown with an enviable arsenal of hip-hop chestnuts ... and should he bless attendees with a track or two from his upcoming album, it’ll give LIB the national headlines it has yet to garner—as would whatever bonkers production pieces he might trot out or epic rant he’ll inevitably launch. Which, disingenuous dissenters, is exactly what you want. Both fans and the peanut gallery will comprise an audience eager to be shocked, outraged, bowled over and/or entertained. Having seen West perform on four other occasions, I can tell you: He’s capable of doing it all.

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