TEXT BY HAZEL SHAH, ELLIE FITTON, TYLER VARNER AND KARINA KADAKIA
K
anye West is the greatest artist of all time. Well, according to him anyway. Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, Kanye Omari West, who is known for his eccentric and egotistical persona, has made his mark in everything from rap to high fashion. Throughout his career, West has always been considered a controversial figure. However, his recent actions regarding advocacy for the Trump administration and cultural viewpoints have instilled a new level of astonishment among his supporters and spectators. This behavior has harmed both his reputation and relationships with fans, family and friends, while also threatening to alter his legacy forever. Emerging in the early 2000s, West produced and released a number of albums and chart-topping singles. His career first took off after the release of “The College Dropout” in 2004, which sold a total of 441,000 copies and secured the No. 2 spot on Billboard’s top 200 album list. West had found his way into the limelight, and he doesn’t plan on stepping out anytime soon. Less than a year after his debut, West walked away with two awards, one for Best Rap Album and another for “Jesus Walks” as Best Rap Song. West continued to build his fame by creating more entertaining and captivating music that was beloved by his listeners. West’s next album was called “Late Registration” and included one of his most well-known songs to this day: “Gold Digger,” featuring Jamie Foxx. This album immediately became a hit among fans across the nation, as well as beating his previous album by reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s best album list. Following this album release, West proved that he was not just a gifted musical artist, but a capable influencer in the
fashion industry as well. In September of 2005, West announced his line of Pastelle Clothing, which led to the eventual collaboration with multi-billion dollar company Adidas and the founding of the successful Yeezy brand collection. One of his most popular products, the Yeezy 750 Boost “Light Brown”, was a $544.00 shoe that sold out within minutes. Featured in multiple shows in New York Fashion Week, his apparel collections awarding him the image of a well-respected figure in the design industry. In 2006, West’s undeniable talent and passion for music showcased in the cover story of Rolling Stones magazine. This granted West the publicity needed to propel his career, where he produced and released more albums that would continue to reach No. 1. His next popular album, “Graduation” was released on September 11th and sold 950,000 units in the first week. By 2008, West had fully established a high status as a performer and also gained prominent fame around the world. In November, he released his fourth album, “808s & Heartbreak.” The album featured lyrics that provided deep insight into West’s personal life, including details on his previous relationships, as well as the recent loss of his mother. Soon after “808s & Heartbreak” in 2010, West released arguably his best-known album to date: “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.” This contained several hit songs including “Runaway,” “All Of The Lights,” “Devil in a New Dress” and many other fan favorites. This album earned West another Grammy for Best Rap Album. What many fans and listeners did not anticipate, was that this album served as a representation of the end of an era in West’s music career. Fast forward to 2018, the name “Kanye West” has been shortened to “ye”, and his classic 2000’s old-school rap sound is now fundamentally shifted into one that is primarily unorthodox and brutally honest. In his recent song release “Lift Yourself,”
THE
BALLAD of
I miss the old Kanye / straight from the ‘Go Kany
“I hate the new Kanye / The always rude
22 • MUSIC