By Andrew Levengood, Staff Writer
In 2004, Kanye West burst onto the hip hop scene with his debut album, The College Dropout.
Since then, his relationship with the media and society has been tumultuous at best. But somehow this producer, rapper, and singer has managed to become one of the best selling and easily the most recognized member of the twenty-first century hip hop culture. How can Kanye West while being a crazy, self-obsessed, narcissist who thirsts for undivided attention maintain such a hold on not only the world’s attention but also its pocket?
Through the history of music and art people who dare to push the limits and break the boundaries of the acceptable and the fanatical have always found a way to command the thoughts and feelings of the general public. It is not out of the ordinary for an innovative and impractical artist to have issues with public perception, but some do more than that; they inject themselves into the everyday lives of ordinary people. Kanye West has himself in the minds of not only displeased youth but also soccer moms, teenage girls, and college dropouts or anyone who flips through MTV, TMZ, or watches the Today Show.
Kanye West has been a demonstrative, angry, and misunderstood person for the majority of his career. This is most likely caused by his problems coping with fame and personal tragedies felt by his inner circle. But despite the public disdain and the overall lack of respect shared between the media and Kanye West, he has proven to be a genius producer with his new album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
In support of this new masterpiece, Kanye released a short 30 minute film surrounding the music of the album and its unusual back story. When viewed on the surface, this film embodies the thoughts of a confused and somewhat insane artist who has lost his connection with what is and what isn’t. But when further examined, this album embodies the thoughts and feelings of a musical genius who is searching for someone to understand not only his insanity but also his genius.
From the opening track Dark Fantasy, to the final track Who will Survive in America, Kanye produced a quality that the hip hop genre has never seen. The layered vocals of various choir singers add to the staunch rapping of Kanye West. Throughout the album, Kanye employs the best the hip hop genre has to provide from Kid Cudi to Pusha T, Jay-Z, the Dream, Drake, Chris Rock, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, and singers such as John Legend, Elton John, Fergie, Ryan Leslie and Alicia Keys.
There is an age old saying “there’s a fine line between genius and insanity.” I feel there is no line and that they go hand in hand. Kanye West is one of the craziest people in the music industry, but he’s also one of the greatest artists of the twenty first century. Kanye West has achieved massive success because he is a genius through and through, despite his faults.
