Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Paranoid (Kanye West song)

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Released
  
March 24, 2009

Label
  
Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam

Genre
  
Synthpop

Format
  
Digital download, CD single

Recorded
  
2008 Glenwood Studios (Burbank, California) Avex Recording Studio (Honolulu, Hawaii)

Length
  
4:37 (album version) 4:45 (new mix) 3:25 (video version)

"Paranoid" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kanye West, released March 24, 2009 as the fourth and final single from his fourth studio album, 808s & Heartbreak (2008). The song was co-produced with Jeff Bhasker and Plain Pat, while co-written by the three along with Consequence and Kid Cudi. The original version of the song, which appears on the album, features English singer-songwriter Mr Hudson, who had recently been signed to West's GOOD Music record label.

Contents

Release

A remix featuring Rihanna was recorded in the Fall of 2008 and was supposed to be sent to US radio on January 20, 2009 as the album's third single, however, the release was canceled. Eventually, the album version featuring Mr Hudson was sent to radio stations instead on March 24, 2009 as the album's fourth single, shortly after the release of the album's third single, "Amazing". "Amazing" was sent for adds at Rhythmic/Urban radio only, while "Paranoid" was sent to Mainstream Top 40 radio.

Another remix, featuring Big Sean and Kid Cudi, was released shortly after the album.

Chart performance

"Paranoid" debuted on the Billboard Pop 100 chart at number ninety-six on March 21, 2009. It has since peaked at number sixty-one on the now defunct chart. On the issue date of July 20, "Paranoid" debuted on the Australian Singles Chart at number ninety.

Music video

The music video for "Paranoid" was directed by Nabil Elderkin and along with "Amazing," filmed in Hawaii. During a brief interview at the Tribeca Film Festival, West revealed he had cast Rihanna as a lead in the video. West said the following about working with Rihanna: "Yep, she's my Paranoid girl in the video. She’s an amazing talent though. Collaborating with her is always a pleasure!" Island Def Jam chairman L.A. Reid presented a version of the video during an Island Def Jam Event in New York City on May 20, 2009. The music video leaked online on May 27, 2009. The next day, West clarified on his blog that the video was an unfinished version and posted screenshots of the final version. In an interview that took place the following day, Elderkin stated that the leak was merely an early rough cut. In terms of visuals, Elderkin had originally wanted to design the video in an artistic style reminiscent to that of A Clockwork Orange, but West subsequently opted for an abstracted noir concept instead. The video's premise is rooted in fantasy, as it centers around Rihanna's paranoid state of mind causing her to experience a surrealistic dream sequence. Meanwhile, West appears in some scenes in his human form and also his wolf form during the dream sequence. On June 3, West released the finalized version of the music video on his blog, just hours after premiering an unreleased video for "Spaceship." Mr Hudson doesn't appear in the video.

Live performances

While showcasing artists signed onto his G.O.O.D. Music imprint, West performed the song live alongside Kid Cudi and Mr Hudson at SXSW on March 21, 2009. West provided a solo performance of the song in Denmark on July 2 while headlining the Orange Stage at the Roskilde Festival. Kanye performed "Paranoid" in Hyde Park, London on July 5 serving as a headliner for the second and final day of the 2009 Wireless Festival. West and Hudson performed the song together again during a concert held at the iTunes Festival in the London Roundhouse on July 7.

Track listing

Digital single

  1. "Paranoid" (New Mix) – 4:45
  2. "Paranoid" (Music Video) – 3:24

Versions

  • Album Version – 4:37
  • New Mix – 4:45 (slightly different beat than the Album Version)
  • Video Version – 3:25 (shortest version of the New-Mix)
  • Personnel

    Information taken from 808s & Heartbreak liner notes.

  • Songwriters: Kanye West, Patrick Reynolds, Scott Mescudi, Dexter Mills, Jeff Bhasker
  • Producers: Kanye West, Jeff Bhasker, Plain Pat
  • Recorders: Andrew Dawson, Anthony Kilhoffer
  • Mix engineer: Manny Marroquin
  • Assistant engineers: Christian Plata, Erik Madrid
  • Keyboards: Jeff Bhasker
  • Background vocals: Kid Cudi
  • References

    Paranoid (Kanye West song) Wikipedia