BAVUAL The African Heritage Magazine Fall 2022

Page 88

THE HUSTLE

Don't Hate the Player, Hate the Game

KANYE WEST The Rise and Fall of Ye By Kristen Jones Rising from middle-class Chicago, Ill., to the lap of luxury in Beverly Hills, Calif., would seem like an impossible dream for most people, but for rapper, music producer, fashion designer and influencer Kanye West, it was a reality. Although the 45-year-old star quickly rose to nearunimaginable heights, recent controversies have even more quickly brought him down, costing him heavily both socially and financially. According to Forbes magazine, West, whose previous net worth was in the billions, is a “billionaire no more.” So, what happened? What led to this giant star’s epic fall? The Beginning Born in Atlanta, Ga., in 1977, West moved to Chicago at the age of 3 with his mother, Donda West, after she divorced his father. They then briefly lived overseas when his mother taught in China. His love for the arts bloomed early, and he released his first musical endeavor in the third grade and began making musical compositions in the seventh grade, eventually selling them to other artists.

He soon achieved recognition for his

dollars in a short time. He is among the

abilities and is often credited with

top best-selling digital artists in history,

revitalizing JAY-Z's career with his

according to the Recording Industry

contributions to JAY-Z’s 2001 album

Association of America (RIAA).

The Blueprint. As his career was in full swing, however,

On Oct. 23, 2002, while he was driving

his mother passed away in 2007,

home from a California recording

possibly due to complications following

studio after working late, he fell asleep

cosmetic surgery. During this traumatic

at the wheel causing a head-on crash

time, many began to question the young

After graduating from high school, West received a scholarship to attend Chicago's American Academy of Art in 1997 and began taking painting classes. Shortly afterward, he transferred to Chicago State University to study English. He soon realized, however, that his busy class schedule was detrimental to his musical work, and at age 20, he dropped out of college to pursue his musical dreams.

with another car. The crash left him

artist’s mental health, and some say that

with a shattered jaw, which had to be

the grief and pain still affect him today.

Big Breaks West, who changed his name to Ye in 2021, got a big break in 2000 when he began to produce for artists on Roc-AFella Records.

BAVUAL

88

wired shut with reconstructive surgery. Sunday Services

While recovering from his injuries,

More than a decade later, on Jan. 6,

West recorded his debut studio album

2019, West started his weekly "Sunday

The College Dropout, which went on to

Service,” which is basically a Christian

gain critical acclaim and launch his

worship meeting that includes

career. The album won several awards,

unstructured prayer and nontraditional

including a Grammy for Best Rap Album

music. The meeting includes variations

in 2005; was certified four times

of his and others' songs and has been

platinum; and led West to continue

attended by multiple celebrities

making more studio albums, collect

including the Kardashians, Charlie

more awards, and earn billions of

Wilson and Kid Cudi.

FALL 2022


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.