In addition to making hit records and wearing funky sunglasses, Kanye West is also very good at helping other celebrities gauge just how famous they are. It’s called the Kanye Famous Test, and it’s quite simple: if Kanye West sees you in a public place, mistakes you for an innocent civilian, and forces you to listen to his new material (presumably to get the commoner perspective), you are not yet Kanye Famous. Jenny Lewis? Apparently not Kanye Famous.
Now comes word that the rapper is testing out new material on strangers he happens to meet in airport lounges. So says Rilo Kiley singer Jenny Lewis, who bumped into the rap megastar at an airport a couple of weeks back while she was en route to performing at the Democratic Convention. “We missed our flight and had to wait a couple of hours in the lounge,” says Lewis, whose second solo album, Acid Tongue, is scheduled for release on Sept. 23. “I noticed Kanye West was waiting for the same flight. He looked over and said, ‘Excuse me, would you mind listening to my new track?’ And so he put his headphones on my head and I listened to two of his new songs. He had no idea who I was. I guess he was doing research.”
The most surprising thing about this whole story? Kanye West was flying commercial.
Kanye West’s airport encounter…with Jenny Lewis? [Hollywood Insider]
Sept. 2007 Paste mag cover profile of Kanye. First sentence: “Kanye West flies commercial.”
[www.pastemagazine.com]
Mmmmmm…Jenny Lewis. I’d eat her up with chopsticks.
The most surprising thing about this whole story? Kanye West was flying commercial.
He was out of fuel for his private jet obv.
@Reidicus: I knew canceling my Paste subscription back in August of ‘07 was a bad idea!
I think a lot of people don’t know who Jenny Lewis is. I wish I didn’t.
@tim_loves_cats: Boooo!
TV On The Radio, however? Kanye famous:
[www.kanyeuniversecity.com]
Different levels of fame on the Kanye Famous Test: “Back When I Was Ghost Producing For D-Dot,” “Right After ‘Izzo’ Came Out,” “When I Was Just The Other Guy In A Twista Video,” and “Post-Grammys.”
As far as I’m concerned, the most recognizable member of Rilo Kiley will always be the guy who used to be on Salute Your Shorts.
@Kate Richardson: Any word on how short her pants/skirt/dress/skorts was/were? I’m sure Mr. West would have factored that in when assessing her reaction.
Oh Kanye…you so CRAZY!!
@Maura Johnston: or at least his ghost-blogger likes them. is kanye famous like the krusty stamp of approval?
When he figures out who she is, I expect pictures on his blog.
@Marth: Have you not heard of a glorious film called The Wizard, starring Jenny Lewis, Wonder Years guy, and some other kid?
Ben Seaver is pissed that Kanye was talking to his girl.
@tim_loves_cats: @Marth: Holla. Pinsky FTW.
@enriquez the water bottle: “Califooooornia?”
i.e., yes. But somehow the idea that the other guy was in Salute Your Shorts was always far more mind-blowing to me. That, and Rilo Kiley never really interested me to the extent that his Elected side-project did.
@Marth: Eh, The Wizard is closer to my heart, but, yeah, the Salute Your Shorts thing is odd.
The most surprising thing about this whole story? Kanye West was flying commercial.
That that don’t kill him, will only make him stronger.
I revisited Troop Beverly Hills recently…it still holds up.
I too am surprised, and kind of bummed, that he was flying commercial. I loved the episode of Entourage when he let Vinny Chase and the boys hitch a ride on his private jumbo jet, but I guess it was too good to be true.