Blame Game

File:Chris Rock 1995.jpg to appear on the song.]]

"Blame Game" was recorded in Oahu, Hawaii, where most of the sessions for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy took place.Callahan-Bever, Noah (2010-12-12). [http://www.complex.com/CELEBRITIES/Cover-Story/kanye-west-project-runaway Kanye West: Project Runaway] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228123251/http://www.complex.com/CELEBRITIES/Cover-Story/kanye-west-project-runaway |date=2010-12-28 }}. Complex. Retrieved on 2010-11-30. West opted to work with more familiar songwriters to maintain artistic privacy and keep a low profile after several of his publicized controversies.Rodriguez, Jayson (2010-05-25). [https://web.archive.org/web/20110224025010/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1640340/kanye-wests-power-producer-explains-how-song-happened.jhtml Kanye West's 'Power' Producer Explains How Song Happened]. MTV. Viacom Retrieved on 2010-11-30. West recorded the song with vocalist John Legend, a frequent collaborator of his since West's 2004 debut album The College Dropout.Serpick, Evan. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110930054329/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/kanye-west/biography Kanye West]. Rolling Stone Jann Wenner. Retrieved on 2009-12-26. During an appearance on Ustream, West announced that Legend was set to appear on a song from his currently upcoming album, titled "Blame Game". During the announcement, West cited "Blame Game" as his favorite song from the album, which was at the time unfinished.Asward, Jem. (2010-11-04) [https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kanye-west-talks-up-new-album-in-live-chat-20101104 Kanye West Talks Up New Album in Live Chat]. Rolling Stone Jann Wenner. Retrieved on 2009-12-26. The song developed from Legend and West's brainstorming, which also led to several other tracks, including "All of the Lights".Staff (2010-10-18). [http://www.rap-up.com/2010/10/18/kanye-wests-biggest-collaboration-yet/ Kanye West's Biggest Collaboration Yet]. Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine Retrieved on 2010-11-28.{{cite web|last=Crosley|first=Hilary|title=John Legend Talks Kanye West's 'Eyes Closed'|url=http://rapfix.mtv.com/2011/01/05/kanye-west-eyes-closed-john-legend-surfaces/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108050559/http://rapfix.mtv.com/2011/01/05/kanye-west-eyes-closed-john-legend-surfaces/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 8, 2011|date=2011-03-20|publisher=MTV Rapfix. Viacom|access-date=2010-10-07}}

West asked comedian Chris Rock to appear on the song. Rock, a fan of West's, mused that he was more than happy to collaborate with West, and said, "you'd be amazed at how many people want to work with you if you just ask, if you just make a call." He had previously collaborated on other hip hop songs, such as with rappers Ludacris, Ol' Dirty Bastard, and Ice Cube on the track "You Ain't Gotta Lie (Ta Kick It)".Koroma, Salima (2011-03-07). [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.14319/title.chris-rock-shares-sentiments-about-kanye-wests-blame-game Chris Rock Shares Sentiments About Kanye West's 'Blame Game']. HipHopDX. Retrieved on 2010-11-27. Rock described his collaboration with West as exciting in nature, commenting that he was always open to working on unusual ventures. In an interview with The New York Times, Rock went into detail about the composition of the song:

I did that quicker than I read scripts that they offer me money to do ... 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.{{cite news|last=Caramanica|first=Jon|date=March 3, 2011|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/06/theater/06rock.html?pagewanted=all|title=Chris Rock in Stephen Adly Guirgis's Play on Broadway|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=2012-04-27}}

The song is partly inspired by West's relationship with model Amber Rose.Weiner, Jonah (2010-11-22). [http://www.slate.com/id/2275730/ Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy]. Slate. Retrieved on 2011-01-29. West originally met Rose in 2008, and they subsequently developed a romantic relationship,{{cite web|last=Carney|first=Annie|title=Amber Rose – a star is 'shorn'|url=http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/music/amber_rose_star_is_shorn_3iq9BW9LdjZ0ozQ7tpmeMN|date=2011-03-20|work=New York Post|access-date=2010-10-07}} before having a dramatic break-up in 2010; Rose cited allegations of adultery.Staff (2012-01-12). [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/12/amber-rose-cries-while-di_n_1202182.html Amber Rose Cries While Discussing Kanye West In An Interview] The Huffington Post. Retrieved on 2011-01-29. Rose also said that West had written the song about their relationship, commenting that West "talked reckless about me on his album".

"Blame Game" uses the composition "Avril 14th" by Aphex Twin (Richard D. James). According to James, after he was sent an early version of "Blame Game" with a heavily timestretched sample of "Avril 14th", he offered to rerecord the piece at a different tempo; West's team replied with "It's not yours, it's ours, and we're not even asking you any more", and tried to avoid paying for its use. The final "Blame Game" may have used a rerecorded version of "Avril 14th" rather than a sample, and James received credit.{{Cite news|last=Michaels|first=Sean|date=2014-08-26|title=Aphex Twin: Kanye tried to get away with not paying for Avril 14th sample|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/aug/26/aphex-twin-kanye-west-avril-14th-sample-blame-game|access-date=2019-04-19|issn=0261-3077}}

The use of the Aphex Twin sample may have been inspired by a song for the SNL Digital Short 'Iran So Far'. Saturday Night Live (2013-08-14). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoS8DrrlnTQ Iran So Far - SNL Digital Short]. Retrieved 2025-04-21. Genius.com (2018). [https://genius.com/The-lonely-island-iran-so-far-lyrics Iran So Far lyrics - About]. Retrieved 2025-04-21. The song first aired in episode 625, September 29, 2007 during Saturday Night Live season 33, in which West was the musical guest and also appeared in a sketch co-written by Akiva Schaffer of The Lonely Island. In a 2024 episode of The Lonely Island and Seth Myers Podcast, Schaffer argued that "'Blame Game'" is the exact same basic beat of ‘Iran So Far,’ and Jorma Taccone, who produced the track, agrees that "I think I influenced Kanye.” The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast (2024-09-02). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyotOiyMPY4 Episode 23: Iran So Far Away]. Retrieved 2025-04-21. McNab, JM (2024-09-02). [https://www.cracked.com/article_43436_snl-writers-thought-kanye-was-ripping-off-their-sketch-when-he-interrupted-taylor-swift.html "‘SNL’ Writers Thought Kanye Was ‘Ripping Off’ Their Sketch When He Interrupted Taylor Swift"]. Cracked.com. Retrieved 2025-04-21.

{{Listen|pos = right

|filename = Blamegamekanye.ogg

|title = "Blame Game"

|description = A sample featuring West repeatedly confessing "I can't love you this much" over the soulful, cello-driven production.

}}

"Blame Game" is built on the piano composition "Avril 14th" by Aphex Twin.{{Cite web|title=Aphex Twin Speaks on His New Album, Being Sampled by Kanye, More|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/56459-aphex-twin-speaks-on-his-new-album-being-sampled-by-kanye-more/|access-date=2019-04-19|website=Pitchfork|date=25 August 2014|language=en}} The song begins with a minute long introduction sung by Legend.{{cite web|author=|title=New Music: Kanye West featuring John Legend and Chris Rock; Blame Game |url=http://www.rap-up.com/2010/11/09/new-music-kanye-west-f-john-legend-chris-rock-blame-game/|date=2010-11-09|work=Rap-Up|access-date=2011-07-27}} "Blame Game" has a lush, cello-driven production with predominant piano. After Legend's introduction, West raps his verses in a highly melodic manner, almost singing his lines. West's forceful delivery expresses hurt and contempt.Embling (2010-11). [http://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/Kanye-West-My-Beautiful-Dark-Twisted-Fantasy Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy | Music Review | Tiny Mix Tapes]. Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved on 2011-04-30. The song's soulful sound juxtaposes West's angry lyrics: "been a long time since I spoke to you in a bathroom, ripping you up, fuckin' and chokin' you".Kellman, Andy (2010-11-21). [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-r2055009/review|pure_url=yes}} Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy]. Allmusic. All Music Guide Retrieved on 2010-11-21. He subsequently raps less antagonistically and repeatedly confesses "I can't love you this much".

West's vocals are substantially manipulated throughout the song from "naturally clear-sounding and ominously pitched-down as it pans back and forth", as they are slowed down, sped up, edited substantially, and altered in various ways, giving the song a brooding, ominous mood.{{cite web|author=Beringer, Drew|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2027712|title=Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|work=AbsolutePunk |date=2010-11-22|access-date=2012-03-17}} Pitchfork writer Ryan Dombal wrote that this effect "bottoms out with a verse in which Kanye's voice is sped up, slowed down and stretched out ... The effect is almost psychotic, suggesting three or four inner monologues fighting over smashed emotions."Dombal, Ryan (2010-11-21). [http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14880-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/ Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy]. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved on 2010-11-21. AbsolutePunk's Drew Beringer commented that the vocal altercations gives the sense of the "multiple personalities and paranoia he tries to overcome."

On "Blame Game", West attempts to call his past lover, but he receives a call back instead and he hears a conversation between her and Chris Rock, who begins an extended monologue approximately five minutes into the song.Kot, Greg (2010-11-17). [http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2010/11/album-review-kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy.html Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy]. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved on 2010-11-17. Chris Rock performs a vulgar, profanity-ridden sketch in which he compliments his lover's dress sense and sexual technique, and asks her who taught her these skills.Grischow, Chad (2010-11-23). [http://music.ign.com/articles/113/1136440p1.html Kanye West: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Review - Music Review at IGN] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401122744/http://music.ign.com/articles/113/1136440p1.html |date=2012-04-01 }}. IGN. Retrieved on 2011-04-30. Each time he asks, the answer is the same: "Yeezy taught me." Rock proceeds to thank 'Yeezy', stating that he will support him by buying the album and threatens to 'shoot a bootlegger'. Rock finishes the skit by telling West's past lover that "Yeezy taught you well".Barber, Andrew (2012-12-07). [http://www.complex.com/music/2012/07/the-100-best-kanye-west-songs/blame-game Kanye West f/ John Legend & Chris Rock "Blame Game" (2010)]. Complex. Retrieved on 2010-11-30. Andy Gill of The Independent commented that a similar "alliance of aristocratic piano and cello with less rarefied elements underpins 'Blame Game', a brutal rumination on West's sexual appetite".Gill, Andy (2010-11-19). [https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-def-jam-2137791.html Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy]. The Independent. Retrieved on 2010-11-19.Vidal, Dan (2010-11-23). [http://www.urb.com/2010/11/23/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/ Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306162855/http://www.urb.com/2010/11/23/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/ |date=March 6, 2012 }}. URB. Retrieved on 2010-12-08.

"Blame Game" received mostly positive reviews. The Village Voice{{'}}s Sean Fennessey said that it is "not the flashiest or most forward-thinking song on the album, but certainly the most earthbound. And therefore the most important."Fennessey, Sean (2010-11-17). [http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-11-17/music/kanye-west-finally-unraveled/ Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021144431/http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-11-17/music/kanye-west-finally-unraveled/ |date=2012-10-21 }}. The Village Voice. Retrieved on 2010-11-17. Chicago Sun-Times writer {{interlanguage link|Thomas Conner (journalist)|lt=Thomas Conner|de|Thomas Conner}} complimented Rock's "hilarious, X-rated spiel" and cited the song as the best example of West's ability "to contrast the light and dark pieces against each other, the profane and the sacred", writing that it utilizes "Legend's soft, pretty voice to sing a smooth, troubling refrain."{{interlanguage link|Thomas Conner (journalist)|lt=Conner, Thomas|de|Thomas Conner}} (2010-11-21). [http://blogs.suntimes.com/music/2010/11/cd_review_kanye_west_my_beauti.html Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019235105/http://blogs.suntimes.com/music/2010/11/cd_review_kanye_west_my_beauti.html |date=2012-10-19 }}. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved on 2010-11-21. Rolling Stone writer Rob Sheffield called it one of the funniest of West's career, a "confessional" song where he "honestly struggles to figure out why he has to be such a douchebag."Sheffield, Rob (2010-11-22). [https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-20101109 Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218061924/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-20101109 |date=2010-12-18 }}. Rolling Stone Jann Wenner. Retrieved on 2010-11-11. Steve Jones of USA Today cited the song as the album's pièce de résistance that "plays out with growing hostility over John Legend's moody piano work."Jones, Steve (2010-11-22). [https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2010-11-22-kanyereview22_ST_N.htm Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy]. USA Today. Retrieved on 2010-11-22. Nitsuh Abebe of New York mused that the song successfully showcased a "gloomy and elegiac" presentation.Abebe, Nitsuh (2010-11-12). [http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/11/filthy_rich_kanye_wests_royal.html Filthy, Rich: Kanye West's Royal Fantasy]. New York. Retrieved on 2010-11-12.

David Browne of Time called it "that rare, effortless fusion of penthouse-boudoir R&B and hip hop grit", but was ambivalent about its segue "into an interminable, decidedly unfunny skit in which a guy keeps asking a woman how she learned such mind-boggling bedroom moves."Browne, David (2010-11-17). [https://web.archive.org/web/20101120053820/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,2031708,00.html Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy]. Time. Retrieved on 2010-11-18. In contrast, Kitty Empire of The Guardian felt that "comedian Chris Rock is hilariously foul-mouthed at the end of Blame Game."Empire, Kitty (2010-11-19). [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/nov/19/kanye-west-review Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy]. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2010-11-19. Becky Bain of Idolator called the song epic, but felt that Rock's appearance served as a detriment to the song, writing; "we'd kill the last two minutes with Rock's unfocused, not-as-funny-as-we-think-it's-supposed-to-be rambling, but otherwise, this is quite a beautiful track."{{cite web|last=Bain|first=Becky|date=2010-11-09|url=http://idolator.com/5682822/kanye-west-john-legend-blame-game|title=Kanye West Gets Caught In The "Blame Game" With John Legend And Chris Rock|publisher=Idolator. Buzz Media|access-date=2012-04-27|archive-date=2012-07-11|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711060750/http://idolator.com/5682822/kanye-west-john-legend-blame-game|url-status=dead}} "Blame Game" charted on South Korean Gaon Chart at position 81.

The song was also featured in Runaway, a 35-minute music video directed by West set to music from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/954875/kanye-west-premieres-35-minute-long-runaway-video-in-london|title=Kanye West Premieres 35-Minute-Long 'Runaway' Video In London|date=2010-10-07|first=Mariel|last=Concepcion|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2010-10-23}}{{cite web|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|title=Kanye West Screens 'Runaway' In London|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649493/20101007/west_kanye.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009205418/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649493/20101007/west_kanye.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 9, 2010|date=2010-10-07|publisher=MTV. Viacom|access-date=2010-10-07}} After a traumatic dinner sequence, the song is played during a tense moment between West and the phoenix.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2010-10/11/gq-music-kanye-west-runaway-review/runaway-plot-details|title=100 things Kanye taught GQ: Everything that happens in Runaway|date=2010-10-12|first=Andy|last=Morris|work=GQ|access-date=2010-10-23|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018055237/http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2010-10/11/gq-music-kanye-west-runaway-review/runaway-plot-details|archive-date=2010-10-18}} At the Vevo Presents GOOD Music musical presentation, the song was performed by both West and Legend together. The two performed a few songs together before Legend performed his own single "Ordinary People" separately.{{cite web|last=Kaufman|first=Paul|title=Kanye West Brings G.O.O.D. Music, Jay-Z To Texas For SXSW|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660297/kanye-west-jay-z-good-music-sxsw.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110323005237/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660297/kanye-west-jay-z-good-music-sxsw.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 23, 2011|date=2011-03-20|publisher=MTV. Viacom|access-date=2010-10-07}}

A planned music video for the song was going to feature an appearance by Amber Rose, however she declined the offer.Coleman, Vernon (2012-07-07). [http://hiphopwired.com/2011/06/07/amber-rose-turned-down-role-in-kanye%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98blame-game%E2%80%99-video/ Amber Rose Turned Down Role In Kanye's ‘Blame Game' Video]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006114230/http://hiphopwired.com/2011/06/07/amber-rose-turned-down-role-in-kanye%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98blame-game%E2%80%99-video/ |date=2016-10-06 }}. HipHopWired. Retrieved on 2010-11-30. Rose commented that she passed on the video because she "just felt like Chris Rock's part was disrespectful", believing that the song painted her in a negative light. Another reason for her declining to appear in the video because of her then-current relationship with rapper Wiz Khalifa, feeling that appearing in an ex-boyfriend's musical venture would be disrespectful to Khalifa. West told Rose that both "Blame Game" and the Runaway film were partially inspired by his relationship with her.Staff (2011-07-01). [http://www.contactmusic.com/news/amber-rose-turned-down-kanye-wests-blame-game-promo_1222361 Kanye West - Amber Rose Turned Down Kanye West's Blame Game Promo]. Contactmusic.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-30.

Credits adapted from liner notes for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010).{{cite AV media notes|title=My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|others=Kanye West|publisher=Roc-A-Fella Records|id=B0014695-02|type=CD liner}}

• Kanye West – composer, producer, primary artist
• John Legend – composer, featured artist
• Chris Rock – additional vocals
• Mike Dean – additional production, bass, composer, mixing, piano
• DJ Frank E – composer, producer
• Richard D. James – composer (sample)
• Salma Kenas – additional vocals
• Chloe Mitchell{{cite web|url=http://earstyle.net/2011/06/30/spotlight-meet-chloe-mitchell/|access-date=11 March 2013|title=chloe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910025614/http://earstyle.net/2011/06/30/spotlight-meet-chloe-mitchell/|archive-date=10 September 2012|url-status=dead}} – composer (poem)
• Andrew Dawson – engineer, mixing
• Ryan Gilligan – engineer
• Phil Joy – engineer
• Anthony Kilhoffer – mixing

{{Reflist|3}}

• {{YouTube|Jg5wkZ-dJXA|"Runaway" full-length film}} (34:33)

{{Kanye West songs}}

{{John Legend}}

{{Chris Rock}}

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Category:2010 songs

Category:John Legend songs

Category:Kanye West songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Kanye West

Category:Song recordings produced by Mike Dean (record producer)

Category:Songs written by DJ Frank E

Category:Songs written by John Legend

Category:Songs written by Kanye West

Category:Songs written by Mike Dean (record producer)

Category:Breakup songs