Behind the Hits: Jamie Foxx and Kanye West on ‘Slow Jamz’ and ‘Gold Digger
Beginnings
Jamie Foxx and Kanye West are two of the most iconic figures in the entertainment industry today. Both have made significant contributions to music, film, and television, but their paths to success couldn’t be more different. Despite their different backgrounds, the two came together to create two of the most memorable songs of the early 2000s: “Slow Jamz” and “Gold Digger.”
Jamie Foxx was already a well-known actor and comedian by the time he met Kanye West. He had won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Ray Charles in the 2004 biopic “Ray,” and had several successful films and TV shows under his belt. Kanye West, on the other hand, was a relatively unknown rapper-producer, but his work on Jay-Z’s “The Blueprint” had gained him some recognition in the hip-hop community.
First Meeting
According to an interview with Jamie Foxx on “The Graham Norton Show,” Kanye West walked into a party that Foxx was throwing at his house. He approached Jamie and told him that he raps and produces for Jay-Z.
Foxx said every artist that comes to his house has to perform. Kanye spit a freestyle and absolutely killed it. Jamie was blown away. Afterwards, Kanye asked if he wanted to hear some of his beats. Jamie was overjoyed because he had a studio in his house for this exact reason. Kanye began singing the beginning of “Slow Jamz” and the rest is history.
Sing it This Way
In an interview with The Guardian in 2018, Foxx went into more detail about how Kanye had a specific idea for how he wanted Foxx to sing the hook for “Slow Jamz.” Foxx explained that Kanye asked him to sing the hook in a way that was different from his usual style.
“He wanted me to sing it more like a hip-hop artist than an R&B singer,” Foxx said. “I’m used to a more melodic style, but he was like, ‘No, you gotta sing it straight, the way I’m singing my verses.'”
Foxx added that he was initially hesitant to sing the hook in the way Kanye wanted, but eventually realized after its release, that it was the right approach for the song.
“He was right, of course,” Foxx said. “It ended up being one of the biggest hits of the year.”
Slow Jamz Impact
In 2004, “Slow Jamz,” was top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart and stayed there for 22 weeks. Needless to say, the song was a massive success, earning Kanye his first number-one hit.
In a 2015 interview with “The Breakfast Club,” Foxx talked about the impact that “Slow Jamz” had on his career. He said that the success of the song helped him transition from being known primarily as a comedian to being taken seriously as a musician.
Despite their different backgrounds and styles, they were able to work together to create a unique and memorable track that blended elements of hip-hop and R&B. And even within that collaboration, Kanye’s unique vision and guidance had an impact on the final product.
Making Gold Digger
“Gold Digger” was another massive hit, becoming one of the biggest songs of 2005 and earning both Foxx and Kanye Grammy Awards. The song’s catchy chorus and clever lyrics about a woman who only wants a man for his money struck a chord with audiences and cemented Foxx and Kanye’s status as two of the most talented and innovative artists of their generation.
In a 2005 interview with MTV News, Kanye explained that he had the idea for the song after hearing Ray Charles’ “I Got a Woman.” He said he wanted to create a modern version of the song that talked about contemporary issues, such as women who were after men’s money.
Kanye also revealed that he initially had trouble getting the sample clearance for “I Got a Woman,” but eventually got permission from Ray Charles’ estate after explaining the concept of the song.
As for Foxx’s involvement, he has spoken about how he came up with the “She take my money” hook. In an interview with Billboard in 2017, he said that he was inspired by a woman he knew who was always after his money. He came up with the hook as a humorous way to describe the situation.
Foxx has also praised Kanye’s production on the song, saying that he was impressed by how Kanye used the sample from “I Got a Woman” to create the beat.
“He flipped it in a way that it became new again,” Foxx told Billboard. “That’s what Kanye does, he’s a genius.”
Watch their legendary VMA performance in 2005 HERE
Wrap Up
The success of “Slow Jamz” and “Gold Digger” paved the way for further collaborations between Foxx and Kanye. The two went on to work together on several other tracks, including “Digital Girl” and “Touch the Sky,” and continued to support each other’s careers in the years that followed.
Their partnership has given us some of the most memorable songs of the early 2000s. “Slow Jamz” and “Gold Digger” not only showcase the incredible talent of these two artists but also demonstrate the power of collaboration and the magic that can happen when two creative forces come together.
Create an account and post your thoughts on this article to our activity page!