David Crosby On Kanye West: “He’s An Idiot And A Poser”
How many more old white dudes are gonna say Kanye West doesn’t have any talent? Say what you want about his ego, his spontaneous, unruly public persona or even his wife (although I love you Kim), but pretending like he’s not talented is starting to feel like the last refuge of scoundrels. (Especially scoundrels named Gallagher.) David Crosby — founding member of one of my favorite bands, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young — is the latest to join the ranks of Kanye haters in a recent Twitter Q&A. Isn’t this line of thinking just getting old?
Here’s Crosby on Kanye:
“@JADoss23: @thedavidcrosby opinion on kanye's music, impact as an artist?”
Music ?.. He's an idiot and a poser….has no Talent at all
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) March 3, 2015
Then here’s Crosby on Billy Joel:
“@Matt__Hurd: Hey, @thedavidcrosby how do you feel about Billy Joel? (Lol)”
Very talented cat , writing , singing playing
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) March 5, 2015
He could just say he doesn’t like hip-hop, or he doesn’t think rapping and producing is a talent in the same way that playing songs about New York on the piano is, right? Rockism is alive and well!
Anyway, Crosby had plenty of other opinions, both negative and positive, on his contemporaries. Here’s a few more:
“@JSpellCT: @thedavidcrosby how do you feel about Jason Isbell's music – his wife helps out on this one https://t.co/97sMRkvKEL”
Like him
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) March 5, 2015
“@clag40: @thedavidcrosby Do have a fave Beatles song David?”
Why think of just one
There are a hundred great Beatle songs
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) March 4, 2015
“@bbaha7486: @thedavidcrosby do you like the music of @Wilco?”
Yes I do
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) March 4, 2015
“@loutre_lampe: @thedavidcrosby what do you think about Clapton? Ever met/played with him?”
I think he's wonderful
Maybe even better singer
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) March 4, 2015
“@lapinblanc9: @thedavidcrosby @steviblood Why do so many people ask you about Jim Morrison?!”
I didn't like him and many people did
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) March 4, 2015
“@sweitzerbrian: @thedavidcrosby you ever listen to Phish? They're pretty awesome
https://t.co/dIcTSDOtPI”
Sorry ..I don't agree
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) March 4, 2015
“@jacghp: @thedavidcrosby how do you rate Jimmy Page?”
Totally freaking great
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) March 4, 2015
“@mkinsures: @thedavidcrosby as a fan of music, what was the last live show you were at where you were blown away by the performance?”Steely
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) March 3, 2015
“@Varvi1: @thedavidcrosby are you a Nick Drake fan?”
Yes
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) March 3, 2015
“@Dickbotte: @thedavidcrosby do you like Paul McCartney?”very very much…one of the best ever
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) March 3, 2015
“@EricJohnsonKOMO: @thedavidcrosby Three words to describe the genius of Brian Wilson, please.”
Innocent, brilliant,inspiring
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) March 3, 2015
“@BestBergerEver: @thedavidcrosby Did you ever work with Mike Love?”
Have not
Would not
Not a good person
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) March 3, 2015
“@GonzoLives54: @thedavidcrosby do you consider the kinks one of the great bands?”
Yes great records
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) March 3, 2015
“@jeffwpope: @thedavidcrosby Would you ever sing with the Fleet Foxes?”
Sure
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) March 3, 2015
“@HancockTerry: @thedavidcrosby thoughts on Mumford and Sons? Seen 'em live?”
Like them
Have not seen them live
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) March 3, 2015
“@peeven_stalmer: @thedavidcrosby @JADoss23 she's really good, you should listen: https://t.co/4NxihbhSgC”
I like her
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) March 3, 2015
Even when he has negative opinions about other musicians — the harshest of these probably being about Mike Love — never once does he call their talent into question or insult their intelligence. At least Paul McCartney gets it; I’ll comfort myself with that.
[Photo by Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images.]