What makes a man mortal? Is it the inevitable damnation of life or the promise to avenge fate by leaving behind legacy? {All Falls Down} Despite death being guaranteed, a particular man knew what wasn’t and with this knowledge began a quest to become the greatest he could be. In saying so, has managed to defy the odds with the borrowed time he has on this planet, however, the journey it took to find this will nearly cost him his life. Kanye Omari West is 44 right now and within his 15 plus years of being a cultural icon, won some of the highest awarded accolades in the music world. He’s obtained 21 Grammys, over a dozen #1 hits on billboard, 7 platinum albums and hundreds of more awards that followed. His legacy continues through sound and sneakers, crafting some of the most influential music of our era by breaking barriers with his unique sound choice and punchy verses, but with the ego driven persona he’s accustomed to today, has caused many conversations to be brought up about mental health in American society, sacrificing legacy for impact. Despite controversy, he’s still praised for his role in paving the way for many hip-hop and pop artists we know today, ultimately solidifying his name in the history books… but how? okay. America, ya'll have to see me, ya'll have to get used to this face ain't that what (???) say? Delete that! "Get used to me" Then you don't see him next year. Before exploring the man behind the mask we need to start from the beginning and discover how he found his will to become the best. Kanye West was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 8th, 1977. His parents were heavily active in society during the time with his mother, Donda West, being an English professor and his father, Ray West, being apart of the Black Panther activist group. The credibility Kanye had from birth came with it’s perks but even though he could take pride in his parents heritage in favor of promoting of black excellence, didn’t mean they went without family imperfections. Ni.. Is you snoring in my class? Wake up Mr. West! Wake up Mr. West! Before Donda worked at CSU she went through a divorce with Ray in 1980, forcing her to move to Chicago with her toddler son. A year later in ‘81, she met Kanyes stepfather, Ulysses Blakeley, or ‘Bucky’ for short. Bucky would babysit 4 year old Kanye when Donda took work in India for a few months and within a year of knowing the man, had his full trust in taking care of her son. Given these times were financially difficult, Donda went with her gut instinct no matter the circumstance. She had a deep love for Kanye and made sure she taught him to always speak his mind no matter the situation he was in, shaping much of his mindset from here on out. A young Kanye would move from apartment to apartment until Donda and Bucky settled on a house together. This would be the house Kanye now recognizes as his childhood home. But again nothing could be simple for Donda when her and Bucky split after a four year relationship. Bucky signed over the house due to his mutual love the two, remaining in close contact, but little did Bucky know, he helped raise a boy who’ll eventually reshape the world. Nothing lasts forever but be honest babe hurts but it may be the only way Sometime in ‘87 Donda was offered an opportunity to teach in Nanjing, China, moving there for a year with 10 year old Kanye. The Chinese curriculum was different, landing him in 3rd grade instead of 5th and having be tutored by a Zimbabwe instructor. He’d often show defiance to other teachers by speaking his mind, often landing him in trouble but he didn’t care about Chinese mannerisms, just a respect for the art and culture that came with it. When he got back to the states, the next few years consisted of playing basketball, listening to music, and the love for video games. At 13 he got an Amiga computer to create video games but he took more of an interest in the audio instead of the actual games themselves. {Good Morning} At 14 he got his first sampling keyboard, charging buyers $50 for the beats he’d create. He was inspired by James Brown, Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, and The Beastie Boys but when he wouldn’t sell out his beats he’d improvise by cutting hair at the local barber shop. In freshman year, being as confident as he was, told his gym teacher he would be signed soon but once he became a senior his gym teacher asked him exactly what he said all those years ago. Kanye had a lot going through his mind after graduating from Polaris High School in ‘95 and with his fully completed home studio, created a group called Kon-Man Productions. Donda supported Kanyes aspirations when she put in a good word to a woman she worked with, the mother of a producer named No I.D. who’ll eventually go on to mentor Kanye in audio production. In the meantime, Kanye got accepted to Chicago State University to major in English, the same school Donda worked at, however, this wouldn’t last very long. He dropped out knowing the risks involved to pursue a career in rapping but it was the skills of his production that landed him in higher places. With his signature sound in flipping soul samples began the come up to a cultural shift in early 2000’s hip-hop. From the clothes he’d wear to the topics he’d rap about solidified him as the next wave in being a generation defining artist who the world now knows as: Kanye West. Good morning! Good mornEEang! Good morning! Good morning! I was always a rapper is just it was a chance .. that.. Lemme word this very well because you might wanna use this as a quote and I don't wanna be slurring over it.. okay. I was always rapping and it just so happened that really really phenomenal rappers got to rap on my beats before I got a chance to! So that pushed me into the classification of a producer. But I'm a rapper from the heart like I've got something to say, you know what I'm saying? And people be like: Yo whatchu finna rap about? You never sold crack outcha house, or put a gat to a mouth and put your fist to your spouse. So how you gon move the crowd? I bet a thousand thatchu get booed out. {Heart Of The City} Listen. First the fat boys break up now every day I wake up Somebody got a problem with Hov' Whassup y'all n*ggas all fed up cause I got a little cheddar And my records moving out the sto'? In the late 90’s, No I.D. taught Kanye how to speed up samples along with other various production techniques. In ‘99, Ye and his rap group, ‘The Go-Getters’, released an album called ‘World Record Holders’ but it didn’t get him anywhere even under the release of a small management firm. Kanye was smart enough to know his chances of blowing up were slim if he didn’t stand out and most importantly.. have a platform to stand from. As his beats improved he began to exploit confidence in his words which forced him into a mindset needed to shape his character. During the same year as his joint album release, gained some credibility when he produced songs for Foxy Brown and Goodie Mob. {This Can’t Be Life} A year later, No I.D. would put him in contact with an A&R named Joshua “Hip-Hop” Kyambo who took a liking to the young talent and managed him under the label, Rock-A-Fella Records. Hip-Hop put him in contact with the rapper, Beanie Sigel, who was under the same label as well. In the year 2000, Kanyes signature sound that is soul sampling, found it’s way to hip-hop legend, Jay-Z, who rapped over one of his beats making it onto his fifth studio album ‘The Dynasty'. But even a Jay-Z writing credit wasn’t enough to keep the lights on that inevitably led to his eviction the same year. Kanye and Donda moved to Newark, New Jersey, which drove Kanye into survival mode forcing him to work harder for himself and most importantly, his mother. After an arranged studio session with Beanie Sigel to demo more beats was the bad news that his album was already completed, however, Beanie was under Jay-Z’s Rock-A-Fella label. So I'm playing Beanie some beats and he get to smiling like "yeahhhh this hot" but he had to go so I don't know, he had to go somewhere for his birthday. So then Hov came in. I remember he had a Gucci hat on like um the fisherman joint and Hip-Hop, my manager, who definitely saved my life uh was like "yo play that one beat for Hov" and it came on. "dun dun duunnnn" and he was listening to it like "oooh this crazy right here" and then it got to the chorus and the chorus was like "Ain't no love in the heart of the city, dun dun dun dun dun dun dun" Where's the love? Ain't no love, in the heart of the city I said where is the love? Ain't no love, in the heart of town This was Kanyes chance to open the door he had his foot in for years, managing to impress Jay with the nuance of his soulful instrumentals that made it on his sixth studio album, ‘The Blueprint’ in 2001. When everyone realized this album was one of Jay-Z’s most iconic is when Kanye West became the biggest rapper in the worlds official producer. He was finally making money and supported his mom from here on out. In 2002 Ye got signed to Rock-A-Fella as an official producer making more songs for Beanie Sigel and working with new artists like The Black Eyed Peas. This was a huge step in Kanyes career, becoming comfortable with the income he produced from the credits of these big named artists, including Jay Z as well. He finally had it all: money, a stable home for his mother and a rented Lexus he could submit as a tax write off. All of this was great but his dream of becoming a rapper was shadowed by the success he found in producing, however, his mindset would soon change at the cost of surviving a devastating incident. In October of 2002, Ye had came from a studio session with Ludicrous when a vehicle cut him off, forcing his Lexus into head on traffic and nearly taking his life. Reconstructive surgery consists of restoring normal appearance and function to body parts that’ve either been disease ridden or bones that’ve been badly shattered. In 2002, Kanye Wests jaw was wired shut in order to heal properly. This moment alone awoke him for the need to control his legacy, otherwise his inevitable fate would’ve given him one to forget and for Kanye West, dying without a legacy was unacceptable. Ain't no love, (Take em to church) in the heart of the city. My n*gga, where is the love? Ain't no love, in the heart of town {Through The Wire} Yo, Gee, they can't stop me from rappin', can they?
Can they, Hop? Through the fire, (I spit it through the wire man) to the limit, to the wall For a chance to be with you, (Too much on my heart right now man) I'd gladly risk it all (I'd gladly risk it all right now) Through the fire, through whatever, come what may (This a life or death situation man. Ya'll dont understand how i feel right now man) (It's your boy, Kanye to the…) (Chi-Town, what's goin' on?) even through the fire With a horrified Donda West followed a bill that Kanye didn’t have insurance for which meant all debts came out of pocket. Nonetheless, he took this experience as a lesson and created the beat, ‘Through The Wire’, his first single. In the song you can hear him rap while his jaw was wired shut, barely being able to get out his lyrics, and without knowing the backstory to this song you’d probably never notice it. In 2004 Kanye had the girl of his dreams, his mom a home, and officially signed to the biggest record label in the world as a solo artist. Right down to the wire, even through the fire {Gold Digger} She give me money Now, I ain't sayin' she a gold digger but she ain't messin with no broke n*ggas Now, I ain't sayin' she a gold digger but she ain't messin with no broke n*ggas Given he now has a platform to stand from and the addition of a direct friendship with a hip-hop superstar, was his stratum to fame, but it was his patience that grew his integrity to create the most authentic music for his legacy and newly obtained fans. Kanye completed his first studio album, ‘The College Dropout’, and got the best producer in Roc-A-Fella records, to make his instrumentals, himself. Oh my god! It's so unfair. Once you all see this video it's the best thing you ever seen in your life. I swear to god! This right here is the good life! {Good Life} I go for mine, I got to shine Now throw your hands up in the sky! The College Dropout wasn’t normal hip-hop though. It was the transition from 2 decades of boom bap rap to soulful pop inspired tracks that made this album a classic. Hip-hop in the day was always showcased to be about the harsh natures and struggles of African American lifestyle and although songs like Tupac’s, 'Dear Mama' and Biggie’s, 'Hypnotize' broke those barriers, Kanye carried it into the new era by transforming the sound we hear now and succeeding the sound some classify as old head hip-hop. ..things in life aren't free the good life! It feel like Atlanta, it feel like LA, it feel like Miama, it feel like NY, summer time shy! AHHHH!!!! Now throw your hands up in the sky! 2004 to 2007 became the trilogy of albums that’s themes were inspired by years of doubt via school teachers, peers, and the entire expectation of the American social class, which made something new out of the culture, yet remained true to the outcast nature of hip-hop. His instrumentals carried weight with his signature sound of soul samples to his orchestrated violin climaxes that complimented his ability to make his presences known as the hottest new rapper in the game. With Kanyes confidence and angst took it to new heights in tracks such as: ‘Through The Wire’, ‘All Falls Down’, ‘Jesus Walks’, ‘Touch The Sky’, ‘Gold Digger’, ‘Good Morning’, ‘Stronger’, ‘Good Life’, ‘Can’t Tell Me Nothing’, and ‘Flashing Lights’ throughout 2004’s ‘The College Dropout’, 2005’s ‘Late Registration’, and 2007’s ‘Graduation’. But Kanyes new take on an era defining sound was more than soul samples and orchestra instruments. {Stronger} Work it, make it, do it, makes us
harder, better, faster, stronger N-Now th-that that don't kill me Can only make me stronger I need you to hurry up now ‘Cause I can't wait much longer In several tracks he’d implement synth keys and a variety of electronic sounding melodies along with auto tuned vocals which became the sound many recognize the 2000’s with. Man, I've been waiting all night now That's how long I been on ya Work it harder, make it better His wardrobe consisted of bright polo shirts that would capture the theme of these three albums, influencing much of the fashion choices during the decade. Because of his music, story, and clothing choice, he became the greatest rapper during this time period but before the seal of approval could be given, decided to play apart in the competitive sport that is hip-hop. 106&park Clash Of The Titans baby, it's finally a thing! [Cheering] Now Kanye is coming out a little later. But right now... please give a official warm welcome to a hip-hop titan, someone you also know as Curtis. Ya'll show some love for Mr. 50 Cent! (50!) Before Kanye dropped his third studio album, ‘Graduation’ in 2007, he decided to move his release date to 50 Cents. At the time, 50 was already one of few who dominated the industry and was solidified as one of the greatest during the early 2000’s. The contrast between the two artists differed immensely with 50 being the pinnacle of what hip-hop should be and Kanye being what hip-hop was destined to become. But little did the mass know the criteria to rap didn’t always have to mean being gangster, selling drugs, and starting from the bottom. It was the appeal of the success story that made him so relatable and when Kanye 'came on the scene, made him no different than a hungry Jay Z or Tupac. I-I-I'm never nervous If I win I win, If I lose I win. I-I-I'm here on, I'm like, I'm standing. I'm next to 50! I'm next to you right here! My big brother just came out! It's a moment for me right now! This was the opportunity to show hip-hop another side and this started with the “Clash of Titans”. The event alone built enough hype that no album has ever seen and marketing wise, favored both feuding artists. Busy Bee vs Kool Moe D, Biggie vs Tupac, Jay Z vs Nas and now the college dropout in a pink polo vs New York's top gangster suited in kevlar. But this time it wasn’t a normal hip-hop competition. Like Kanye hasn't said anything disrespectful or express any discomfort to the success I've been having. So It's not actual beef. It's just being competitive, you know? As far as hip-hop is concerned. The competitive nature of it is something different. The competitive nature of hip-hop became a face off in retail for the first time ever. Which album would sell more? Who will come out on top to dominate the other? Which body of work would overall be the better product? Although it was a friendly competition it was almost guaranteed 50 would win given the commercial domain and resume he had to back him; but it’d be evolution that’d triumph what is and the chances of winning were in favor of Kanye given the advantage of his skill in production and the nuance of a vulnerable rapper. After first week sales and the results were in, Kanye swiftly outsold 50 by over 200,000 units. This win alone became a monumental shift in the culture being the change from street rap to pop rap, paving most of what we hear in todays music. Donda couldn't have been more proud of her son and Kanye fulfilled his promise to build himself a legacy worth telling but little did he know this was just a fraction of it and his legacy would come at a cost. When I had my accident I found out at that moment nothing in life is promised except death. If you have the opportunity to play this game of life, you need to appreciate every moment. A lot of people don't appreciate their moment until it's passed. [Audience Clapping] I know, I know every, I know everybody asked me the question. They wanted to know what I would do if I didn't win. [Audience Laughing] I guess we'll never know. [Audience Cheering] {Jesus Walks} You know the one I always tried to get you to do Kanye and you never did it. What? You said: I walk through the halls of the school and it's cool to be known by many for my rapping ability but what about the brothers who ain't got it like me? Making money off the trade, you can say they got it made. The drugs are on the rise but it's not a big surprise. I see something something. [Rapping Together] I see no soul in the young brothers eyes. I said, I rhymed Harvard with reward? Yeah, you said something. That's a good rhyme right there. You did! I said Kanye keep on going, that's a million dollars. I remember everything you would do. I said "that's a million dollars." Yeah, and we still ain't made a million yet. [Both Laugh] Though the halls of the schools and it's cool to be known by many for my rapping ability [Rapping Together] but what about the brothers who ain't got it like me? Making money off the trade, you can say I had it made. Drugs are on the rise and it's not a big surprise, you see no soul in a young brothers eyes. Um. -hard by the streets, but the streets are kinda hard... but here's another fact that we can't disregard, black on black is a stab in my back, it really hurts my soul when I hear about that.. ohh? Agh! Wait a minute, I almost had the words too! {Say You Will} Our new development since the plastic surgery death of hip-hop artist, Kanye West's mother. The doctor who performed the surgery had appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show as an expert a few years ago, however, as Action News has confirmed, he has a questionable medical and legal record; that's the doctor. All of this comes as the autopsy on Wests mother is going on right now. [Fading News Cast] Why would she make calls out the blue? -the singer was in London preparing for an upcoming tour when he got the devastating news: Donda- Now I'm awake, sleepless in noon -complications of breast reduction and tummy tuck surgery- Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Don't say you will. -tells celebrity website TMZ.com, that he did nothing wrong- Unless you will. Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! -That's why you've got gynecologists doing liposuction- -people sometimes forget, these are serious operations with potentially life threatening side effects- I pray you will! Grammy winner Kanye West is gonna sing a special song for us, before you, tell us a little about this song. Well, It's a song I wrote for my mother back in 2000. It's one of my favorite songs and I saved it for the opportunity to be on the Oprah Show and perform it for her. [Audience Awes] {Hey Mama} Donda got to see her son make something of himself but his success was so much more than the outcome of celebrity treatment. By 2007, he became the pinnacle of the new era in hip hop and his mother got to shape a legend who’ll define generations to come. Two months after the ‘Clash of Titans’ event was the horrific news of Dr. Donda West’s passing but an actual cause of death remains up for debate to this day. She had passed away a day after liposuction but in what would be trialed as a post op surgery gone wrong may have been more than what was initially believed. The man who greenlit the surgery was known for multiple misconduct accusations but given Dr. Jan Adams was a celebrity, his DUI charges and other incidences went without career threatening punishments. I got a DUI. Very stupid, my fault. Out with a couple of friends on mine and I'm driving them home; not a good decision and I take responsibility for that. Doesn't have anything to do with medicine, It has to do with holding doctors to a higher standard and I think that's more than reasonable. He was one of a kind surgeon with 8 years of training, 15 in the field and his own television show, but it wasn’t until her death was he labeled an alleged murderer, ruining his reputation as a man to trust under the scalpel. According to Jan Adams, he recommended Donda to stay at the hospital for recovery but insisted she had her nephew watch over her given he was a certified nurse but this claim alone was his word against a deceased woman's who couldn’t fend for herself. Her nurse wasn't there. Her nurse was gone to a baby shower rather than taking care of his Aunt. But Donda’s nephew claims all allegations from Adams were false, however, a 911 phone call seemed to reveal that her nephew, in fact, wasn’t there to help her, and had passed away because her bed wasn’t raised by 30 degrees. This lady shouldn't be dead. All you had to do is sit her up and every nurse on the planet knows that. {Street Lights} Let me know Do I still got time to grow? Things ain't always set in stone After months of finger pointing, the real victim left standing was Kanye who never got a definitive answer on how she passed so he decided to blame himself, knowing the accolades he acclaimed and the passion he dedicated his life to, paid for her inevitable fate to arrive sooner. This was one of many breaking points for Kanye, he knew his mom wouldn’t want him to break but instead celebrate her life by continuing to be her greatest accomplishment and inspire generations to come. -I appreciate everything and I know you're really proud of me right now and I know you wouldn't want me to stop and you'd want me to be the #1 artist in the world and mama, all imma do is keep making you proud. We run this. {Welcome To Heartbreak} By 2008, Kanye had a track record no other hip-hop artist has ever had given he introduced soul and electronic sounds to hip-hop, however, this would only be a portion of what made him an inspiration with the release of his fourth studio album, ‘808’s and Heartbreak’. The way he portrayed every aspect of an era, without his mother, was a blend of his electronic instrumentals and distorted, filtered vocals that suggested he was depressed, trapped, and alone yet the juxtaposition of melancholy entwined with the hope he used portray in songs like: ‘Jesus Walks’ or ‘Hey Mama’; songs that would feel like a nostalgic bittersweet ending. The track ‘Welcome To Heartbreak’ is a good example of this. The instrumentals melody dips in the middle but towards the end, picks itself back up and loops while the drums carry on the same pattern. The chorus sung by: Kid Cudi, summed up, delivers the same message, that message being: ‘even in your darkest days you must carry on.’ And my head keeps spinning, I can't stop having these visions, I gotta get with it- But these aren’t even the biggest songs on the album, with songs like: ‘Love Lockdown’, ‘Amazing’ and ‘Heartless’. In the night I hear 'em talk, the coldest story ever told- In spite of the little details and melancholic vibe, '808’s and Heartbreak' became another one of Kanye’s groundbreaking achievements, given Kanye solidified 808 drums that redefined what makes a beat “rap” even to this day. {Love Lockdown} This new melancholic Kanye hid behind shutter shades, ray bands and the success of his new album. 2007 was a difficult year for him especially after finding out his dream girl that Donda wanted him to marry, cheated on him. Although it was an on and off relationship it still added to the stress he was already going through in 2008, leaving him in question about who he could trust and without a woman to unveil his pain to meant the pain stayed with him. Donda West’s legacy was her ability to teach and what she taught Kanye was to speak his mind and have faith in a creator. But even with the belief that she resides in heaven, disregards the fact that there was no definitive answer on how she passed. That on top of the endless court battles and global career meant Kanye never got to properly mourn his mother, leaving him with his legacy to continue in honor of her. [Audience Cheering] So singing the world premiere of 'Hey Mama', Kanye West! [Audience Cheering] {Hey Mama} I want everybody to put your hands together like this [Audience Clapping] I wanna talk about a friend of mine who's kinda special. Hey mama! AGHHHH OUUUH! I wanna scream so loud for you, cause I'm so proud of you and I'm- lemme tell what I'm about to do. Hey mama! {POWER} 2010 began a new decade in music, which meant a brand new album: ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’. His fifth studio album brought back his confidence in a new light, this time, expressing exactly what the albums title meant. No one man should have all that power the clocks ticking I just count the hours But as pivotal as this album was great, songs like: ‘So Appalled’ and ‘Monster’ tested new artists lyrical ability, while songs like: ‘POWER’, ‘All Of The Lights’, and ‘Runaway’, brought new anthems to the 2010’s decade. {Otis} But this type of egotistical lyricism portrayed in the music was the way he justified the doubt he overcame throughout his journey. This kind of behavior carried out in 2011’s ‘Watch The Throne’, a joint studio album with fellow rapper, mentor, and older brother, Jay Z. Uh, I invented swag Poppin' bottles, putting supermodels in the cab Several songs set the bar for collaborative tracks like: ‘No Church In The Wild’, ‘Otis’ and ‘Ni**as In Paris’. Who's that? ‘Watch The Throne’ invented the possibility of modern day black culture to be subjected to foreign lifestyle and luxury expressed in the track titles, to the demolition and remodel of a $350,000 Maybach. Ya'll got the Maybach, I'm on the Maybike! AHHHAHA You ain't 'customed to going through Customs, you ain't been nowhere, huh? And all the ladies in the house, got 'em showing off I'm done, I'll hit you up maña-, nah But as classic as this team up was, Kanye and Jay’s relationship couldn’t have shined more throughout this project from the back and forth rapping, to the verses in question of how their kids will perceive them when they’re old enough to listen. -Scream it! Uh! Okay, you telling me 'cus Mos Def and Kweli don't buy jewelry that they are more hip-hop than Jay-Z? Or what's quote, unquote real hip-hop? I feel like my album.. the perspective that imma speak from, I feel like imma bridge the gap or imma be one of the people that help bridge the gap with hip-hop. 'Cus imma talk from the perspective of just being honest like yo, um.. I've always said if I rap, I say something significant but now I'm talking bout money, hoes, and rims again. {The New Workout Plan} -Move yo ... go berserk By 2013 the variety of rappers Kanye’s inspired, is tremendous. The sub genre of soulful rap became who we now know as J. Cole I want to see you workout for me Woah yeah Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do, yo Ay, we've got a good thing
Don't know if Imma see you again But not only the soulful aspect of Kanyes sonic spectrum made a reach, with artists like Travis Scott, taking inspiration from the darker, auto tuned thematics of his sound. -Kids sing! Kids sing! -And the kids sing. Even artists like Pusha T and Kendrick Lamar found their sound from Ye. Yeah, Kanye changed this life for me, I'm still an old school Gemini Although Kanye inspired every rapper to this day, he never truly felt his legacy was threatened by his progeny and his spot in leading the next generation was set in stone. Ahahaha I be like um I'm finna get on this TV and put it down I ain't finna let these lightskin dudes come back in style. Hol' up, hold my phone Set in stone.. until Drake Remember? Motherf*cka neva loved us! Me and Hov would've never made 'Watch The Throne' if this n*gga wasn't putting pressure on us like that. There were many reasons why a Ye and Jay project was inevitable. The idea of two of the biggest rappers who happen to be best friends, making a joint album together, would be a milestone for the culture but this reason being one of many, suddenly became the reality that Kanye felt threatened. I'm not sure if I'm still sleeping from the morning or if this is like I'm dreaming about how this is working out but who knows where this goes. Maybe we do music now! Ya know? like we were supposed to. Ya know? Maybe we just start talking more. From a physiological standpoint, Ye admitting Drake being the reason ‘Watch The Throne’ happened, must’ve made him feel humble given the albums success, however, by putting himself in a defensive position in submission against a new artist, meant Drake now had credentials from an OG to grow beyond him and without realization completely gave him the floor to do so. But luckily for Kanye, Drake ended up saying: Y'all make some noise for the god that is Kanye West! By this point in Kanyes career, he’s been labeled as egotistical, self driven, and out of touch with reality but in this clip of Drake reinforcing his position as the best to do it, exposes Ye’s true feelings in this moment, a break in the marathon, a sigh of relief. You mention names like Jay, Wayne, Kanye, like those guys are just gods to me you know? It's just crazy to ya know, be on that stage with him and, ya know, share that moment. We got to stand there together. We did the *laughs* We had the pose going on and everything it was crazy like it was one of those moments that it just. What I loved about it was it was organic. Probably the most important moment in my life to date, ya know? Because at the end of the day, ya know, I do look up to Ye. Ya know? He's a major influence, if not the biggest influence in my career. Ya know, he's been a mentor to me even though we didn't talk like how me and Puff talk or how me and Wayne talk, ya know? Kanye has just mentored me through his decisions and I study the game, overall, I study him, ya know? Very closely. Remember? Motherfucka? Remember? Worst Behavior. Kanye couldn’t risk a rapper who just put an entire city on the map, to take his spot in being the next biggest artist in the game because in doing so meant a disservice to the one true reason why he remains faithful to his craft. A disservice in losing his spot. A disservice to the guilt he feels for his mothers death. Anything in life that you put your mind to you can do. The world is your oyster, that's all I tell people; and I really have a grasp of that being that I nearly died. I-I- It's this and it's Heaven. Why are you on Earth especially if you're not incarcerated. If you- If you- You gotta take advantage of this. I'll be 60, 70, 80 years old, still doing conferences; still doing what I can to help young kids. Whether it's in music, whether it's film, whether it's just motivation. Kids that don't have fathers, like I feel like I'm a father to a lot of people; my music speaks to them; as a male role model, to a lot of kids that don't have a father. Now that I see that I'm successful, it's my responsibility to help as many people as I can. {I Am a God} I am a god I am a god I played 'Good Life' and he was like "Who's that singing right there, I like that voice" it was my voice! He gassed me up! Next thing y'all know y'all have me "In the night I hear em talk" it was like "Michael Jackson told me I can sing! F*ck all ya'll!" The thing I respect about him is he is the same person. Like he interrupted our studio session and stood on the table and started rapping; and we were like "Could you please get down?" Kanye doing that is just him being Kanye; being the genius that he is. He was "No, I am the savior of Chicago!" I was like.. [Audience Laughs] "You didn't have a record.." I've been blessed to know Kanye West before he became 'The Kanye West'. -and I got a call, "Yo come to New York" I was like "Aw man" from like Ye. I do look up to Ye, major influence, if not the biggest influence in my career. Just like being there for me man like really mentoring, ya know, really believing in me. Kanye is, I think, responsible for a lot of hip-hop being about the inside rather than the outside. He's Kanye. He done brought the world great music for a long time and will continue to do so, so. I am a god Hurry up with my damn massage Hurry up with my damn ménage Get the Porsche out the damn garage There was a point in time where Kanye was humble enough to make what he said inspiring but it got to a point where he had changed the game so much that he used his critical acclaim against himself, forgetting the difference between passion and ego. As human beings we all have an ego. After all, the definition in psychology means “the part of us that gets modified by the direct influence of the external world” or, as an example, how Kanye reacted to proving everyone wrong who doubted him. So when he got up on stage in 2009 and ruined one of Taylor Swifts first big wins, how come he didn’t lose fans? [Crowd Cheering] -and the Moonman for the best female video goes to: Taylor Swift! [Audience Applauds] Thank you so much! [Audience Applauds] I always dreamed about what it would be like to maybe win one of these someday but I never actually thought that would happen. Uhh I sing country music so thank you so much for giving me a chance to win a VMA award, I.. [Audience Applauds] Yo Taylor, I'm really happy for you, imma let you finish but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time! [Audience Stunned] One of the best videos of all time! [Audience Boos] I-I- I was standing on stage and I was really excited because I had just won the award and then I was really excited because Kanye West was on the stage... and then I um.. then I wasn't so excited anymore. [Audience Boos] Hey Taylor, are there any hard feelings towards him? I- I don't know him and I've never met him so- -so were you a fan before? Yeah. He's Kanye West.. Are you still a fan? I take it now- Ya know I just, I don't know him and I don't wanna start anything because I just, ya know, I had a great night tonight. Everyone is talking about this Kanye West thing aren't they? Incase you're lucky enough to have missed it, Kanye West interrupted a young singer named Taylor Swift while she was- President Obama, calling Kanye West a jacka*s! I can name you 10 or 15 people that he wouldn't have gone up there and taken that mic away from but he did it with a 17 *19* year old girl because he could! [Audience Boos] It was so echoey in there. At the time I didn't know they were booing him doing that. I thought that they were booing me. For someone who's built their whole belief system on getting people to clap for you... The whole crowd booing is a pretty formative experience. With Taylors uncalled for embarrassment meant more eyes on Kanye West, and in a way, was a smart marketing move that gained him attention. But nevertheless, attention that stemmed from the erratic behavior of stealing somebody's moment which should never be an option out of respect for a passionate artist. Some have said if it was anyone but a 19 year old woman, Kanye wouldn't have done this. In the comments below, let me know what you think. Would he if it was anyone else? I wish he would come take one of my awards so I can black his eye. [Audience Laughing] In front of everybody. Yeah, you might not have put up with it the way she did. By 2013 Kanye was with his finance, Kim Kardashian, who was at the time, carrying his first daughter. While she was on the brink of labor, Kanye had released his sixth studio album, 'Yeezus', which in his words “was an exercise of drums and mixes rather than a record of hit records”, but to fans it was a sign of disappointment that signified a loss of sight in what he stood for in the hip-hop community. Songs from ‘On Sight’ to ‘New Slaves’, illustrated a new sound from Ye via distorted techno instrumentals that threw off many fans during a first time listen. To put in perspective, you’ve been a long term Kanye fan who just came off the 'Cruel Summer' hype and you’re getting ready to play his long awaited album then: {On Sight} Nevertheless, Kanye manages to somewhat save this beat with his punchy one liners and flow. One last announcement No sports bra, lets keep it bouncin' but still, this wasn’t what fans were used to him making, mirroring how he made new waves in his previous records, but the reason why his fanbase was so divided in the first place was because this: {On Sight} -was a sound that people couldn't identify with and with the new artists he’s inspired making a come up meant he had competition regardless of status. uh, you know um 'Yeezus', I just felt frustrated and usually I would start the album with like: 'Blood On The Leaves'. I know everybody would even like the album more if I did that but I felt so frustrated in the way I've been marginalized and held back- Why do you feel so frustrated? You say that a lot, like why- I- I remember you from being outside the studio trying to get people to hear you rap; you was a great producer but nobody believed you was a rapper and then it seems like you got to a point where everybody's loving the way that you rap; now you just seem like you're more frustrated. Do you like- Do you not like how the reception that 'Yeezus' has gotten? Cus I- thats- I don't- I didn't like the album at all and I was a Kanye West fan but 'Yeezus' was wack to me. Yeah, that's great. That's great. So what were you saying? But I got her back home and put my d*ck in her mouth! On sight! On sight! uh huh! uh huh! But it wasn’t just the music that birthed the question of Kanye’s limit in being a creative, it brought up the question of his mental state as well. In his interviews he went from nervous outbursts.. George Bush doesn't care about black people. -to You ain't got the answers! You ain't got the answers Sway! Hilariously, his ego has always been a staple in his character as a person, stemming from his mother telling him to always speak his mind no matter the situation, and although this advice may have be great when applied in some scenarios, in others it just wasn’t. I'm standing up and I'm telling you I am Warhol. I am the number one most impactful artist of our generation. I am Shakespeare in the flesh; Walt Disney, Nike, Google. Now who's gonna be the Medici family and stand up and let me create more? Or do you wanna marginalize me till I'm outta my moment? -Or why don'tchu empower yourself and don't need them and do it yourself? How Sway? -Take a few steps back to go fow- -You ain't got the answers man! You ain't got the answers! But Kanye. You ain't got the answers! You ain't got the answers Sway! Kanye. I've been doing this more than you. Doing what more than me? You ain't got- C'mon chill out bro. You ain't got the answers! Kanye Relax. You ain't got the answers! Bro relax, I'm asking you a question. You haven't been doing the education! Bro- You haven't been doing the education! Kanye. Hol up, wait, hol up, hol up Kanye, hold up. Lemme- Lemme finish my question dawg. Man beca- no man! Lemme hear the question man. You don't have the answers. I'm asking you for the answer! IT'S A QUESTION! [Sigh of Frustration] Why is it that you can't? You have money for the investors- I just told you! I lost the money because I did not have the knowledge about how to do it the right way. -Okay so you don't have money! So you don't have the money to do it! That's yo answer! You ain't gotta turn up man! This ain't no f*cking show man -Naw but- I'm talking to you as a homie! It’s okay to have an ego but when abusing the power he acclaimed in a self proclaimed manor, he ultimately lost touch with reality, distancing himself from the community that he loves but why exactly? His sudden outbursts and outrageous remarks couldn’t be a byproduct of proving haters wrong and becoming everything he set out to be.. could it? -possible and I know when they hold me down, my B.S. meter is at an all time high, ya know what I'm saying? -Yeah but you accomplishing so much! What- -Yeah- Like wha- what's-? They say- Man you gotta let- They wanna hear him talk man! No no offense- -naw naw- -They want this man to throw them blows man! -naw naw- They waiting for it! They waiting for Charlamagne to tap these gloves and go at Ye! So let's go! Lets go! -Like to me it seems like you're such a walking contradiction cus you'll denounce the corporations but then you'll get on stage and say you need Nike and Adidas to back you; that makes no sense to me. One hundred percent! Kanye later goes on to say how we’re mentally enslaved to corporations and suggests his music is the gateway to a new way of thinking and my take on that.. Well he’s right. Corporate America became our countries problem when corporations had the ability to persuade our legislative branch, and although that's another conversation for later Kanye was well aware of this as a celebrity. But it’s not the conversation he’s having that’s the issue, I feel like I'm one of the more important people, ya know, in pop culture right now! One of the only people with an opinion! -it’s the way he submits himself in these conversations as being a modern day biblical figure You don't think I would be one of the characters of todays modern bible? and all because Nike wouldn’t give him creative control over a sneaker deal, hence the semi activist, egotistical Kanye West we began to shy away from. Something different to the way these billionaires run the world and we not a part of that. It's a new form of cotton that we all picking. We all- You communicating radio everyday; I'm commuting uhh music everyday but what I'm tryna tell y'all is, ain't none of us are free. Ain't none of us billionaires if billionaires- Billionaires, they don't care; they do whatever- But you don't have to be a billionaire to be free Ye! Stop acquainting freedom to money my brotha! Where does that mentality come from? It come- {Black Skinhead} [Verbally Frustrated] There's only one Steve Jobs, ya know what I'm saying, and now there's only one Kanye West and I'm just like Steve. Why do you talk so much about money nowadays, man, I used to look at you as like a real revolutionary. You know what, real revolutionaries didn't need money to change the world? Malcolm X wasn't rich, Martin Luther King Jr. wasn't rich. Like I don't understand why everything is about money and stuff to you now. Cus you need product. You need to own something to have a voice at this point cus I'm telling you- But you already got a- You don't need to own something to have a voice, Ye, you had a voice when you on stage and you said George Bush don't care about black people you was using your voice; you don't need money to have a voice. I- I can use my voice but what happen if y'all don't buy no other albums? Then that voice people gon say "Oh he like Arsenio Hall and he was turning up too much and now you fired" but when you got money, can't nobody fire you. No, you know what makes me buy your albums? The great music you produce. You know what makes me not buy your albums? This new narcissistic, egotistical personality you got; that's what turns me off and makes me go: "I'm not going to his show, I don't want him around, I don't wanna buy his record. 'Yeezus' still had some dope tracks, like “Black Skinhead” and “I Am A God” but regardless the album didn’t prove fan service to the OG Ye fans nor was it enough to keep him from trying to prove himself in these interviews. By this point Kanye did have a god like complex to him given his status in this genre was at an all time high but even though his resume gave him the credibility to say so didn’t mean he was close to releasing the Oakland Gangster in Sway, almost creating Through The Wire Pt2. ya feel me? {Black Skinhead} But it was the way he’d carry himself, almost as if the people in his circle were yes men, or in other words, people who agreed to all of his ideas instead of giving their opinion on the matter which in return created a product that couldn’t properly be executed and making his ego even bigger. As long as I'm rapping I'm #1. -and because of this his god like persona exceeded his ability deliver a well thought out message, in return, leaving him far from the title of #1; a spot he used to hold so tightly. At the end of day everything you see over the past 10 years, in music, that's a piece of me. That's what I have influenced. I ain't at LIV like Drake every weekend, when I hear uh 'Language' I'm like: "Man I love that", ya know? If he had wrote that for me I woulda said it but do I feel that way? Nah I feel like what I'm saying on 'Bound 2'. I feel like what I'm saying on 'New Slaves' and that may or may not connect with people on the same level as uhh ' Worst Behavior'. It's Drake season now! If you're a genius why do you feel the need to tell everybody, why don't you just show and prove by actions and deeds and not words and lip service? I came here to Charlamagne tha God to talk directly to the people so y'all could understand what I'm dealing with so y'all get some clarity. -But people don't care about your rich n*gga problems. Those are rich n*gga probelms. The fact that the fashion designers won't accept you, Nike won't accept you, we don't care! We just want Ye to make great music! That's what Ye does for the people! He gives us great music that helps us get through our lives! {FourFiveSeconds} You may have heard about this, Kanye is thinking about running, [Audience Cheers] for speaker of the house. [Audience Laughs] Aye, good morning Kanye. Shut the f*ck up. Yo did you just? [Paparazzi Laughs] Aye, you mad at Jim- Did you just stop my garage? How's it going Kanye? Don't say nothing to me man, like stop asking me questions. You out in front of my house at 4am talking about how's it going? It's not going good, y'all tryna take money outta- To make money off us, that's how it's going. It's 4am! It's 4am! Relax. Whatchu mean relax? You know we like you. Shut the f*ck up! It's 4am you blood sucking mosquito! You left a bag right there Kanye. [Angry Engine Sounds] Hey! Hey! I'm telling you to stop right now! If I go to jail tonight promise you'll pay my bail See they want to buy my pride But that just ain't up for sale Actually someone's emotions, ya know, that I stepped on and it was very- It was just- It was rude, period. And, ya know, I'd like to apologize to her in person. Lemme ask something, I was fortunate enough to meet your mom and talk with your mom a number of years ago, uhh what do you think she would've said about this? Um. Would she be disappointed in this? Would she give you a lecture? Yeah. {Famous} I don't blame you much for wanting to be free I just wanted you to know For all my Southside n*ggas that know me best I feel like me and Taylor might still have s*x Why? I made that b*tch famous (Godd*mn) I made that b*tch famous Aye, aye, aye, stop, stop, stop it. Aye, aye, radio f*ck you! [Audience Cheers] Radio f*ck you! [Audience Cheering Intensifies] I know it's a lot of real n*ggas working at radio. Real people that can't play what they wanna play because they been paid to play that bullsh*t over and over and over! {Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1} In 2016, Kanye made a comeback with his 7th studio album, ‘The Life Of Pablo’, named after painter Pablo Picasso, drug lord Pablo Escobar, and Saint Paul, the writer of several books of the New Testament. Beautiful morning, you're the sun in my morning babe Nothing unwanted The title of this album sums up Kanyes current mindset, being stuck between philosophy, the artistry of hip hop, and the swaggered out lifestyle that comes with it. The unusual album cover pivots from his simplistic and narrative driven covers, instead, settles for a more chaotic mash up of these three ideas and with his brain working in a cognitive condition meant he had to get some things off his chest. {Freestyle 4} -because they've been paid to play that bullsh*t over and over and over! We love Drake! Drake is great, he a great artist! But Frank Ocean is great too! [Audience Cheers] But you know who the greatest of all of us? Who do y'all think? (Kanye?!) Nope! (Taylor?) Kid motherf*cking Cudi! [Audience Cheering Intensifies] Radio f*ck you! This 17 minute long rant got him pulled off stage and sent to a hospital for evaluation, eventually getting diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He dissed politicians, accused his closest friend of going to send shooters at him, took shots at Drake and DJ Khaled for their song going #1, and hated the fact his music wasn’t being played like it used to, ultimately wasting his fans money after they waited over an hour for him to arrive.. I've got the vision bruh. That is what I have been blessed with! My vision! I'm not always gonna say things the perfect way, the right way. But imma say how I feel. Get ready to have a field day press! Get ready! Get ready! [Audience Booing] Cus the shows over. [Audience Booing] -but the one horrific thing that came out of this bipolar episode was the reveal of his political stance that smeared the entire culture across the canvas. Obama couldn't make America great cus he couldn't be him to be who he was. [Audience Booing] (Sing Kanye! Just sing bro!) (Shut the f*ck up!) Black men have been slaves! Obama wasn't allowed to do this! AAAGGGHHHHH!!!! and still win! He had to be perfect! But being perfect don't always change sh*t bruh! This is the way of thinking to "Make America Great Again!" [Audience Booing] {30 Hours} A day after evaluation this happened and since then, people started to lose faith in the hero who saved them. A betrayal in the man we fell in love with. You know why I went to visit him the first time? Uuummmmmm Right after the election? Yeah, and I took the tweets down and everything? Yeah. Cus I was drugged the f*ck out bro! I was drugged out! I was addicted to opioids; two days I got off of opioids I'm EERRRRRRRT! I'm in the hospital. Right? I'm taking two- Aye, everyone listen to this please! Two days before I was in the hospital I was on opioids! I was addicted to opioids, I had plastic surgery because I was tryna look good for y'all! I got liposuction! Right? And they gave me opioids! Right? And I started taking two of em and driving to work on the opioids! Right? And there was talks amongst my camp like: "Ye's poppin'- Ye's poppin' pills", right? So when they hand it to me- This to me, he say: "You know this is used to kill genius?", right? So I didn't take it. Two days later I'm in the hospital. I was taking two pills a day at that time. When I left the hospital guess how many pills I was given? Seven! I went from taking two pills to taking seven! So the reason why I denounced- Why I dropped those tweets and everything, cus I was drugged the f*ck out bro! And I'm not drugged out- This- These pills that they want me to take three of a day, I take one a week maybe; two a week! Y'all have me scared of myself, of my vision! So I took some pills, so I wouldn't go to hospital and prove everyone right. {FML} In the older years of Pablo Picasso, his perception of the world differed immensely from his youth. The self portraits he’d compose at a young age compared to those in his older years revealed a lot about his mindset as he aged. At 18 his work was methodical, structured, relatable on a universal level but when he was 90 his self portraits became twisted, unethical, unnatural yet puzzling. Given Kanyes ‘The Life Of Pablo’ was inspired by the man, might’ve meant Ye could've related in some sense. From being the hottest new rapper to becoming a man twisted by fame, fortune, and worst of all legacy. But the legacy he forged himself came at a cost of wanting more for it. A hunger for change that caused an unthought out message for peace. A peace between both sides. And although this sounds great and all Kanye just didn’t know how to execute what the hell he saying. When you hear about slavery for 400 years, for 400 years? That sounds like a choice! Like you was there for 400 years and there's all of y'all?! They wish I would go ahead and fuck my life up Can't let them get to me And even though I always f*ck my life up Only I can mention me How many people felt something that I said today? Raise your hand if you felt something that I said today? Do you feel that I'm feeling- Do- Do you feel that I'm being free and I'm thinking free? [TMZ: Mixed Emotions] I actually don't think you're thinking anything. I think what you're doing right now is actually the absence of thought and the reason why I feel like that cus Kanye, you're entitled to your opinion; you're entitled to believe whatever you want but there is fact and real world, real life consequence behind everything that you just said and while you are making music and being an artist and living the life that you've earned by being a genius, the rest of us in society have to deal with these threats to our lives. We have to deal with marginalization that has come from the 400 years of slavery that you said, for our people, was a choice. Everyday we have to walk into that truth while you choose to say things, that to be honest with you dawg, are nonsensical. You wanna think freely? That's fine. I'll come back your free thought with my free thought because mine is grounded in a reality that I have been given and the reality that I am going to change but I'm not gonna do it by pretending that the enemies are on the same team as me; and frankly I'm disappointed, I'm appalled, and brotha, I am unbelievably hurt by the fact that you have morphed into something, to me, that's not real. That's the way I feel. Stand on all the coffee tables you wanna stand on! [TMZ Applauds] Say whatever you wanna say but don't throw a stone then hide your hand like the rest of us are just gonna swallow it. Ye, be Ye. I'm off it. Forever. Do you but remember, the life that I live is as a real person, an actual person. {Wolves} In the coming years Kanye would go on to express more disturbing rants and actions via the media with some being twitter rants about his wife and others such as a banned Ellen episode. During the same time as the slave comment, Kanye released a music video that took inspiration from Vincent Desiderio’s “Sleep”, a 2008 painting illustrating a dozen and a half individuals sleeping in a bed together. The music video showed the same thing but out of celebrity wax figures. Among the few were Donald Trump, Taylor Swift, Bill Cosby, wife Kim Kardashian and Kanye himself. Despite Kanye suggesting it was “art”, as controversial as this video was disturbing, it became apparent this was Kanyes way of staying in the headlines. By 2018 the inevitable feud between Ye and Drake had exploded, stemming from past beefs between other artists and the ever growing jealousy Ye had towards Drakes accomplishments. Drake, the f*cking #1 bachelor in the world that can f*cking rap anybody into a trash can that lives four blocks down the street from my wife and like basically fucks all of her friends This would’ve been another ‘Clash of Titans’ event but with Kanye being the OG and Drake being the newcomer, however, surprisingly to most, Ye didn’t want to compete. Some could argue he was an aging rapper against a younger one, hence the Pusha T involvement during this time period but at the time Ye was already feuding with his biggest competitor yet... himself. I wanna take this moment right now to say that I'm sorry for the one-two effect of the MAGA hat into the slave comment and also I appreciate you guys giving me the opportunity to talk to you about holding onto me as a family and this just proves how much love- ya know and sometimes I think people don't feel the love when I say: "I can still feel the love", because I come home to Chicago and I hear three Drake records and I don't hear Ye records; and one thing that I got from the TMZ comment is it showed me how much black people love me and how much black people count on me and depend on me and I appreciate that. First and foremost I- I received your apology so much that it almost brought tears to my eyes [Tears Up] because as a black woman that's what we miss from you Kanye. Like seriously, like I was really emotional this year with some of your actions just from a black perspective so I really receive your apology and I appreciate it because you are in a position that not everyone gets to be in; and like I said, when you speak the whole world listens and your voice is so powerful that you have the ability to make true changes that can affect the African American Community. So I just appreciate your apology and that is why I sit from this position when I say "my people." [Sniffles] I just feel that way. {I Thought About Killing You} I don't mean to cry, I really didn't mean to cry but [Sniffles] [Sniffles] you're just- You're so important, god- God has blessed you with this ability that when you speak change can happen and- and I- and I- and I respect your viewpoint cus maybe I'm not veer that. I respect when you say you're about the human race and that is absolutely right but as an African American woman, I see things that my people, black people, go through every single day so I have to fight and speak for them. I just feel that way. [Sniffles] With a continuation of released albums, some being loved and others not so much, Kanye faces his mental illness head on, addressing it in his 8th studio album, ‘Ye’. The cover art illustrates a conglomerate realization of everything that has been happening to him mentally. It reads, “I Hate Being Bi-Polar, It’s Awesome”. In the first track he admits how much he loves himself, yet contemplates suicide, along with taking his family and you with him. Later that year Kanye and one of his favorite inspired artists, Kid Cudi, created ‘Kids See Ghosts’ which in its short length, redefines what mental illness is in the eyes of those who dismiss its existence. {Kids See Ghosts} The cover art was created by Takashi Murakami, the same man who created the artwork for ‘Graduation’, coming full circle. This new Kanye is healing from the burden of past mistakes, and throughout the countless missteps he’s taken, doesn’t disregard that he’s trying to get better via how he knows best, his music. In 2019 Kanye went from calling himself a god to his 9th studio album, ‘Jesus Is King’, a humbled record about his love for his creator. However, critics and fans alike, didn’t like this album so much but this time Kanye didn’t seem to care given it was made in purpose of his love for god and the life he’s given him. This album was disregarded by many, yet needed to be made to complete his journey as a rapper. This chapter of his life was finally complete. {Every Hour} There's a new Kanye West that your going to see that's gonna be better because of this mental health situation; and is gonna be better cus of this TMZ situation and Don (*Don C*) is actually... Well he's actually in town right now because- I just told him I need him.. to be there for me so sh*t like this don't happen to me cus it's.... Now I got to return the hug. [A Cry For Help] That's what families for! That's what families for! You came home! So you're family. By 2020 Kanye followed up on a promise to himself to run for president of the United States which surprisingly gained a lot of support from fans and fellow celebrities. The talks of running had been in his mind since 2015 and to Kanye this was the perfect time to start his campaign, however, his 2020 debut campaign rally became a ruse against himself with the support of everyone who showed up, not exactly knowing what was happening. In 2020, abortion should be legal but the option of maximum increase should be available. Everybody that has a baby gets a million dollars or something in that sense. [Audience Laughs] Every black man on charge of marijuana will be free in 2020. Nope, no, see that's the problem I heard you the first time. (I gotchu!) No you don't got me. [Audience Shocked] God got me! God got me! [Audience Shocked] I am not on the board at GAP and that has to change today or I walk away. [Audience Woos] You are the black person that was sent here, like at TMZ, to f*ck my rally up! [Audience Cheers] You are what the guy Van (*Van Lathan*) did to me at TMZ! Do you wanna be that same person? And yo face is covered so we don't even know who you are! [Audience Shocked] Even if my wife were to divorce me after this speech she brought North (*first daughter*) into the world even when I didn't want to. She stood up and she protected that child. You know who else protected a child? (Your mom!) (Your mama!) My mom! [Audience Speaks] My mom saved my life! My dad wanted to abort me! My mom saved my life! There would've been no Kanye West because my dad was too busy. [Audience Shocked] (Kanye, we love you!) There would've been no North West [inaudible cries] (We love you Kanye!) (You're here for a reason Kanye!) I almost killed my daughter! I almost killed my daughter... Then they said to me: "You can't! You can't tell them bout the stories! You're gonna lose your GAP deal!" They made me put a GAP deal over my daughter! They made me put an Adidas deal over my daughter... [Audience Speaks] They gonna run- They gonna run this. They gonna try to tell you that I'm crazy, the world's crazy! [Audience Cheers] I love my daughter. Kanye is one of the biggest hip-hop artists in the world but unfortunately has the most problems dealing with fame. 'The giant in the mirror' was more than a story told by his mother but his reality in the world grounded by a fairy tale life of his making, and this was his cry for help, yet nobody is helping him. {Closed On Sunday} if you're reading this thanks for watching! <3 Ye says "find god" and thou shall when student producer arrives to the studio late - 11/17/21 Being a celebrity is a blessing and a curse. From maintaining an image to strangers assuming your chosen loved one wasn’t right for you. Your mind shifts into a state of daily defense that conquers who you were whilst being broken down if not careful enough. I wonder if Kanye has ever asked himself if Kanye West is still Kanye because at the end of the day a part of him died when his mother did and I believe since then he’s slowly started to lose himself in his reality and responsibility to uphold his legacy in honor of her. A legacy that wouldn’t have been possible without her. In July of 2021, a GOOD music representative by the name Consequence, tweeted: “we’re looking for a Drake release date” thus beginning the rollout for Kanyes 10th studio album, ‘Donda’. With the album title paying homage to his mother, ‘Donda’ became the spiritual reboot for OG fans and new alike. This competitive nature was similar to the ‘Clash of Titans’ event in 2007; a clash between album sales but with a 14 year time gap, Drake had created a resume big enough to be considered one of the greatest as well, winning Billboards: ‘Artist of the Decade’ and proving to be a fair match for the man he formerly looked up to. {God Breathed} The only difference between now and then is the two successes despise each other and hoping to find an angle in the chess game that's the industry via: public opinion, fake love, and a lot of behind the scenes pillow talk and backstabbing. Almost as if all the sneak dissing, fake love and celebrity drama led to this very moment, and for Ye, meant a chance at a new victory. To prove who was still on the throne by winning in sales and proving that he could still make her proud, however, Ye had some contemplating to do. September the 3rd would be the release date of both feuding artists competing albums but given Drakes a decades old artist who appeals to the masses meant Kanye had to work around an undeniable loss in sales. Out of pure speculation, there was no way Kanye didn’t know he would lose in this ‘Clash of Titans’ scenario. In order to succeed Drake meant he had to reflect on the Ye V. 50 moments and realize he’s not the new comer anymore. He had to accept this by trading the loss of first week album sales for public opinion. Drake has never had a big history of album rollouts or in other words, being able to let the body of work exist before releasing it. The extent of his rollout releases have been commercial ad promos, to tours and even carving a heart his hair that signifies a new era in his music, but nevertheless still manages to destroy everyone else in first week album sales and break records from artist like Michael Jackson to The Beatles. Kanye has serious competition. The hype generated around this feud meant people were picking sides and fast but one thing he could do differently from Drake was a specified rollout of his album prior to it’s release. A rollout that paid homage to his mother and reminded him of the boy who had a dream in the south side of Chicago. {Hurricane} All lights out for me All lights out for me Lightning strikes the beach The theatrical events that were the ‘Donda’ listening parties became more then just concerts. It was Kanyes return after years of mental stresses, fighting demons, and the mourning of his mother, ultimately becoming greater than who he was in attempt at redemption and forgiveness from the fans. This concert was unlike any other, from proposing to his now ex wife to lighting himself on fire, his ascension into the sky was unforgettable and with the recreation of his childhood home shown to those who’ve bought a ticket, got to experience the rollout of a lifetime. Take a moment and picture those amazing stadium speakers blasting: Don't let me drown! I know you won't The listening sessions at the Mercedes Benz Stadium helped boost audience attention by recruiting the newest and best to lay verses on the album gaining their respected fans open ears. Not only did the new school populate the track list but the return of ‘The Throne’ became monumental step in Ye and Jay making amends over the 2016 Sacramento rant adding to the awe of this experience. This legendary rollout made Kanye "culturally loved again" and impacted the youth almost 20 plus years into his commercial career but it wasn’t just the rollout that made the music amazing. {Praise God} It was the humble, down to earth lyrics and 808 slapping, gospel instrumentals that brought Kanye back to his roots. From songs like: ‘Off The Grid’, ‘Hurricane’ and ‘Praise God’ fill the listener with an undeniable energy, however, there are some that go deeper gospel and 808s. {Come To Life} In February of 2021, Kim Kardashian West filed for divorce after six years of marriage, telling her family she couldn’t be who Kanye needed her to and how they're happiest when further apart. On the song ‘Come To Life’, contains some of the most universally, relatable lyricism I’ve heard in awhile. The song refers to the recent split between the celebrity couple when Kanye breaks down how he feels in his relationship. The repeated flow of the section played mirrors the process to insanity stemming from Kanye’s frustration, anger and unavoidable sadness that he’s losing his wife, the last woman he can go to for comfort. As the song title suggests he asks the listener a rhetorical question, that being from the perspective of your deathbed or right now, did you ever make your dreams come to life? He asks knowing all of his did yet still deals with the heartbreak and the ever looming fate that is our deaths. Even though the introduction provokes Christian faith in a hopeful light, Kanyes effortless lyricism puts a dark spin over the church organs, concluding that no matter how big he gets, his fate is hopeless but still manages to make hope shine through this dark truth. (and maybe they'll come to life!) This is what the ‘Donda’ album is about! Being vulnerable to your darkest truths in light of his mothers angle. The woman who continues to be his rock till this day. Sadness setting in again ‘Donda’ released a week before the expected September 3rd release date for both artists. Opinion wise, he gained the advantage given all Drake had done for his rollout was delay his album and carve a heart in his hair but sales wise, Drake took 1st place as usual, leaving Kanye in 2nd for the first time in his competitive history. Regardless, this didn’t mean Kanye’s legacy was ruined, it meant Kanye continued making music for the culture he grew up with; music that his mother would be proud of. He didn’t need to remain #1 nor did he need to prove himself. He only felt this way because he took responsibility for her passing and in doing so, set himself up for self destruction by taking the responsibilities of a god instead of accepting a mortal mans limits. Drake did beat Ye in first week album sales but public opinion often swayed to Kanyes music due to the sheer scale of this rollout and sincerity in his voice. But competition aside the music was crafted in honor of Donda West and I wouldn’t see why this album could be just that. Her life was worth it because Kanye was able to become what she knew he could be and now that she’s succeeded in her accomplishments, can finally move on in her sons mind, hopefully leaving him at peace with her passing. I'm just soaking in all the shoes. I uhh like- Look at all these. Look at these designs. Look at these ideas all together. The protos, the- the- the versions that you've seen in actuality and the versions that never quite made it. To be able to see inside of this- There's, ya know, this is an infinite amount of words in front of you. All of em have a spirit. They're all of the family- It's not one bad shoe- Any of these shoes that even didn't make it 20 years from now you'll look up and that shoe would be, ya know, worth to the numbers guys, ya know? Look from this, put yourself in the center. Just walk right here, you can step on some of these. Come to the middle. Don't worry about stepping on em, I know the maker! Haha! How do you feel? Still. Patient. And blessed. {Donda} Forever, ever Can you hear me? Yeah Forever, ever Forever, forever, no In October of 2021, Kanye officially changed his name to Ye, an abbreviated version of his birth name but also a commonly used word in the bible which means 'you.' The meaning behind this was to signify a change in who he is, an ever evolving artist who wants to do better every chance he gets. Ye isn’t about himself anymore, he’s about everyone and his recent music reflects that. I’ve never believed he had a different end goal just different ways of executing it; but I can’t help to believe that the end goal is a new world under his philosophy, something not everyone wants to accept. It seems like the activist in Kanye stemmed from corporations marginalizing him as a public figure with power who has no idea how to run a business but little did corporate America know, the Yeezy brand became Yes first billion dollar business officially making Ye the second billionaire rapper, with the first being his big brother Jay Z, ultimately proving them wrong. The passion Ye has for art reaches beyond just music and sneakers but in the fashion world as well. With the passing of Virgil Abloh this year meant Kanye's rumored to be taking over the creative director role at Louis Vuitton, a step in a direction he’s been headed towards since 2013. The ‘Clash of Titans’ event brought up the conversation of what made a rapper a rapper but if it wasn’t for Kanye, many artists nowadays wouldn't have been able to thrive, let alone exist. Drake and Kanye recently made up but instead of behind the scenes, did it publicly to show the world they’re ready to put their beefs behind them in attempt to free Larry Hoover. The joint concert was one of a kind, one that felt impossible, but within a short few months of their albums releasing, made it happen! You could argue that their beef was faked but… But on the topic of beefs, Kanyes true enemies were two things, TMZ and himself. The Charleston presidential rally was an absolute disaster, all 63 minutes of it. I think the White House is a milestone he’s given up for now and instead wants to pursue a new chapter in his life, a chapter he still sees with Kim and with the fans. Although his bi-polar disorder doesn’t define him, it made the situation at TMZ worse. This is the part where I wish Kanye wouldn’t pay the press any mind when they’re clearly eating this sh*t up! Eve made Adam eat a apple and then it became illegal to be naked. It's in the bible... I'm a christian. But even with all the wacky things he’s said, Kanye has always been an activist for African American communities given his parents played roles during times of segregation, however, the pressures of losing popularity to new artists, being roasted by the first black president, getting denied by Nike to have creative control over his shoe, and the lack of value in women surrounding his life, left him under a type of pressure no one could handle so easily. Nevertheless, he shouldn’t be demonstrated as a lunatic, just as another mortal human being with flaws that happens to have a vast amount of public persuasion in modern America. His legacy speaks for itself simply by saying, “If it wasn’t for Kanye West:” which in itself, opens a conversation that's hard to debate against. But Kanye West shouldn’t only be known as the greatest to do it. He should be known for being able to use your imagination as a gateway to mental freedom throughout each body of work, via: nostalgia, introspective, ill minded, or boastful emotions because at the end of the day, it wouldn't matter whose opinion determines a victor when it’s the genius of his madness that created his legacy and now... yours too. But we know that at the end of the day, everything that’s happened for Kanye was because of one person, and if it wasn’t for her, Ye wouldn't be Ye nor would we love him now more than ever, despite his questionable moments. Honestly, I think it’s safe to say... the man just misses his mother. {Hey Mama} I know I act a fool but I promise you I'm going back to school I appreciate what you allowed for me, and, uh I just want you to be proud of me hey mama I'm finna let it shine I'm finna take y'all back to them better times I'm finna talk about my mama if y'all don't mind I was three years old.. .. and then we lost our home.. Hey mama AGHHHH OUUUH! I wanna scream so loud for you! Cus I'm so proud of you and uh Lemme tell you what I'm about to do! Hey Mama!
