Kanye West's Shift from Music to Fashion and the Ignorant Response from the Hip Hop Proles

In an interview in the January/February issue of Details Magazine, Kanye West expounds on his status within his generation, style, personal drive, the importance of titles, his interest in fashion, and just being himself.

West uses language and anecdotes that cause heads to turn just as easily as his clothes do for those who are unaware. Kanye West speaks in absolute terms referring to himself as "one of the greatest rappers in the world", a "superhero" and confirming his belief that he is "the voice of this generation". Emphasizing the point he eloquently states, "If not me, then who?"

Many, including African Americans from the Hip Hop generation, take these words as those of a delusional man boasting beyond credentials. For example, comments left on Black Planet.com are saturated with men and women criticizing West for his confident crowing. YOURNAWTEEGIRL writes:

SOMEONE PLEASE TELL KANYE HE IS TRULY NOT ALL THAT
HE NEEDS TO GET OFF HIS OWN NUTS…FAST

I’VE NEVER BEEN A BIG KANYE FAN AND THE MORE THIS MAN SPEAKS THE MORE IT SOLIDIFIES MY DISGUST FOR HIM ‘Dude, that’s so good it’s almost…gay.’”??? WTF AS IF THE WORLD DIDN’T THINK YOU WERE GAY ENOUGH AS IT IS

These comments are in response to five quotations taken out of context. I doubt many who replied took the time to read the articles. The quotations remain equally provoking within context, but the point of the author appears to be one of degradation rather than objective analysis of what Kanye West is saying in the interview.

People upset by Kanye's hailing himself the greatest would be best to keep in mind that Black expression of individual greatness has always been a part of song. From Aretha Franklin saying "I am the Queen", to James Brown's "I'm Black and I'm Proud", to Dead Prez calling out "I'm African/And I know what's happenin'". It's the same type of offense that people took when Ali called himself the greatest.

We've always been a braggadocios people, and with good reason. We accomplish much. Kanye West as an individual has accomplished much and he has every right to raise his voice in self praise, especially if we won't do it for him. We should echo that praise and not try to diminish the merit in what he has done.

Regardless of how we judge West, he tells us he doesn't care. Just like Redman taking everything in stride, rapping tongue-in-cheek that people say "My first name must be He Ain't Shit" and "My middle name must be Fuck You", Kanye tells us bluntly that he'll be serving "A" material, no matter what we think, in all that he does because he's dedicated to excellence.

Kanye West describes multiple drives and says he rerouted the same type of energy that will send a young man to a club at 3am searching for sex into developing music. That's why he was signed to Roc-a-Fella. That's why he was able to develop four incredible albums with wide appeal.

This same appeal will no doubt find its way into Kanye Wests clothing design. Sneakers ran down the runway in Paris hold unparalleled potential as West finds himself following Marc Jacobs who he describes as the Jay-Z of the fashion world.

I'll be waiting to see what this music great comes up with. I expect no less than excellence from him.

Kanye West Speaks Out Against the Treatment of Black People

I hate the way they portray us in the media. You see a black family, it says, "They're looting." You see a white family, it says, "They're looking for food." And, you know, it's been five days [waiting for federal help] because most of the people are black. And even for me to complain about it, I would be a hypocrite because I've tried to turn away from the TV because it's too hard to watch. I've even been shopping before even giving a donation, so now I'm calling my business manager right now to see what is the biggest amount I can give, and just to imagine if I was down there, and those are my people down there. So anybody out there that wants to do anything that we can help -- with the way America is set up to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off, as slow as possible. I mean, the Red Cross is doing everything they can. We already realize a lot of people that could help are at war right now, fighting another way -- and they've given them permission to go down and shoot us!

NBC has quickly distanced itself from West, while some American commentators attacked his comments.

So Kanye West says the President is slow to help, the war in Iraq is taking resources that could be used in New Orleans and permission has been given to shoot black people in New Orleans.