Kanye West – The Good, The Bad, and The Creative Genius?

Let’s play a little game.  When I say a word you tell me the first thing that comes to mind. Ready?

Me: California

You:

Me: Twelve-time Grammy Award winning and critically acclaimed American Rapper

You:

Me: Kanye West

You: Egomaniac, Racist, or worse?

I recently posted a link to Kanye’s SNL performance of “Power” on my Facebook page with the following statement, “Kanye may be a jerk, but he is still a creative genius!” Within minutes of my post my inbox began to blow up with comments saying I was crazy for liking him, and statements stating how awful of a person he is. I even had a very dear friend jokingly tell me he was going to un-friend me on Facebook because some of his friends can see what I’m posting and he wants no connection to that nonsense. This fiasco got me thinking, is Kanye West really a racist egomaniac or is he just another victim of a judgmental media tirade?

Before we dive headfirst into this heated debate I think it’s important to know more about the man in question. Kanye Omari West was born June 8, 1977, in Atlanta, GA, but spent most of his life in Chicago, IL living with his mother Dr. Donda West. Kanye’s childhood was for the most part normal.  Other than the divorce of his parents at age 3 and the move from Atlanta to Chicago, it was rather uneventful. He took an interest in computer software at the age of 14, and began his career in music by chance when he found himself more interested in the music programming side of his video game writing software. He was so fascinated with how the program worked he decided to save up enough of his allowance and buy a sampler, which to this day continues to be a major part of all his music.

Kanye is known for his unique combinations of sampling and the layers of hi hats and snares he uses. It’s not just sampling though, he uses a lot of counter melodies and the use of an ASR-10 Keyboard, MPC 2000XL Midi Production Center and a Gemini PT 1000 Turntable doesn’t hurt either. Kanye encompasses so many aspects of so many great producers, and he’s often openly discussed his influences. You can’t forget his powerful lyrics, unique voice, untouchable music videos and live performances. Brillant!

As a twelve-time Grammy Award winning and critically acclaimed American Rapper, a force to be reckoned with, in and outside of the music industry, and a mouth that tends to speak without restraint, it’s easy to see why Kanye may have become an easy target for the media and gossips alike.  He has been at the forefront of a mass media frenzy that never seems to let up. So big in fact, it’s even managed to work its way past Secret Service Agents and out of President Obama’s mouth, after a poorly timed, very public mishap at the 2009 VMA’s involving teen pop star Taylor Swift. Even if you are a huge Swift fan and hate Kanye, you do have to ask yourself, why did he do it? Is Kanye really as horribly self-absorbed as people claim him to be, or is there simply more to it?

Kanye recently sat down with Access Hollywood to promote his new album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and talked about the premiere of his 35-minute short film Runaway last week. During the interview Kanye discuses his opinion on the lack of true representation of current music trends by the committees running major awards ceremonies like the VMA’s and the Grammy’s. Kanye says, “I pinpoint the Grammys and the VMAs because they have to take responsibility, because they mean something to us. Little kids, 6 year olds that are singing in front of the mirror. They’re also thinking about their Grammy speech; they’re thinking about when there will be a VMA so these people, whoever run them… they have to take some responsibility to say what really happened in culture this year because we’re marking it down.”

He remarks that Taylor Swift, Dixie Chicks, Ray Charles and Herbie Hancock are the last four albums of the year winners. I don’t know about you, but personally I don’t own a single one of these albums, and I listen to more music than almost anyone I know.

Anyway, back to Kanye. He mentions Justin Timberlake’s FutureSex/LoveSounds, Gnarls Barkley, and Usher’s Confessions. Which by the way I own all three and I’m more of a rock ‘n roll girl, so maybe Kanye really is on to something here. Why are so many great artists being over looked each year, and why are the same ones always winning? I swear I will break something if I have to hear Taylor Swift sing a whiney breakup song off-key again, and I’m not a violent person by any means. Why are there so few super giants (Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift) and so many extremely talented baby bands that are destined for desk jobs?

Self-absorbed? Maybe. Has an ego? Yes. But a racist, coldhearted, bad man? I think not.  Kanye may be bad with timing, and even a little forward with his choice of words, but at least someone stood up and said something about the drastic downfall of the “quality” in mainstream music. And most importantly he got the entire nation talking about it. The effect these giant awards ceremonies have may seem like nothing right now, but they have a huge effect on how current art, music and cultural trends of today will be perceived tomorrow. One hundred years from now our grandchildren will look back and remember the chart topers and award winners, not the indie bands/artists that have had real profound effect on our culture. I refuse to let Taylor Swift represent my generation’s contribution to music.

Back to the ego factor… Why is Kanye getting all the abuse when you have artists like John Lennon who said, “My band was bigger than Jesus.” Noel & Liam Gallagher, the Oasis brothers, who spent most of the 1990’s claiming they were the best band in the world and boasting how they saved British rock from ruin. Or, what about Gene Simmons, who will slap a Kiss logo on just about anything. Michael Jackson dubbed himself “The King of Pop.” And Prince, where do I even start? These are some of my all time favorite artists too, so don’t think I’m bashing the greats for no good reason. Isn’t Rockstar 101 based on ego, sex and drugs? If so, why is everyone singling out Kanye?

Could his self-importance be exactly what’s needed to withstand all the media bashing?  This reminds me of the recent film I’m Still Here by Casey Affleck and Joaquin Phoenix, where they portray the downfall of one of Hollywood’s rising stars (Phoenix), and how quickly the media turns on him and black lists him. It raises the question, why are we all so quick to judge? We (the majority of Americans) don’t personally know their inner workings or the day-to-day life of these stars, yet we are so quick to judge when they make one faulty move. Haven’t you ever done something you regret doing, said something you shouldn’t have, or felt like you could break down right on the spot? These stars are humans just like you and I, faults and all, the only difference is we don’t have to face the media and a daily basis. I think Kanye explains it best himself in his new video Runaway, when he says, “I found bravery in my bravado.”

As for racist, sexist or homophobic, Kanye is not. He has been outspoken in accepting homosexuals, while many in the rap community remain critical of that lifestyle. He has had many appearances on The Ellen Show in which she welcomes him with open arms every time. A few years back Kanye was accused of being racists for his comments about former President Bush not caring about blacks after an almost nonexistent national response to Hurricane Katrina. In a Nightline interview Terry Moran asked Kanye about the comments he made.

TERRY MORAN: In the heat of the moment it came out. Reflecting now, do you still believe George Bush doesn’t care about black people?
KANYE WEST: I mean, I have a hard time believing George Bush cares about anyone. So … Sidebar — black people also.
TERRY MORAN: Will you say that again?
KANYE WEST: No. It’s already been said.

During the interview Kanye also mentions the double standard in how African-Americans can use race as a weapon, and points a finger at the media for portraying him in a negative light. “People are always like, ‘we like his music, but we don’t like him.’ And I’m like, ‘Well, duh, I get to edit my music,’” he said. “The press,” he continued, “is editing me. So they’ll make you think I’m one way and they’re not showing you I’m a well-rounded person.” Kanye finished up by saying “the criticism only feeds my music.” After the interview Terry called Kanye “‘carnivorously appetitious’ in his inquisitive quest for knowledge.”

Okay, even if you forget about everything I’ve just said, and look past all the stories behind the man, the fact is, we love his music! We eat it up! Music is nothing short of an expression of the soul. A true artist can’t hide behind his lyrics, his lyrics are who he really is inside. Even the almighty Jay-Z is willing to recognize Kanye for his talent and continues to keep him as a close friend. If Jay-Z and so many of our favorite rappers and producers are willing to stand by his side, Kanye can’t be all bad, right?

After the incident at the VMA’s, the death of his beloved mother, a painful breakup, and an onslaught of hate mail and death threats, Kanye took some well deserved time off. He has returned refreshed, and ready to be on top again. He plans to continue to “keep it real,” while he works his magic turning out hit after hit and even finding time for obscure collaboration with artist like Bon Iver for the track “Lost In The World.”

“Lost In The World” – Kanye West Feat. Bon Iver

At the end of it all you have to ask yourself one more question: do you hate him because he really is all the bad things people claim him to be, or is it because he has built the empire we all desire, yet love to hate. A little like McDonald’s or Wal-Mart. So take a minute next time, before you judge a complete stranger, and say horrible things, do a little research, you might be surprised by what you find.

“I can’t let my message be deterred by someone’s ignorance.” ~ Kanye West