‘Yeezus’ is proof that hip-hop can take any form. His influence proved to be so powerful that many in the street followed suit in following more upscale trends. Kanye Omari West, a person belittled against and a person subjected to a life of racism and hate. Photo:Kanye West x Nike Air Yeezy 2 - Nike. In July, 2009, Kanye released a collection of three shoes he designed for Louis Vuitton, and the sneaker game was officially rocked to its core. Kanye burst onto the hip-hop landscape by crafting a signature hip-hop production sound by chopping and speeding up old soul music samples, but he quickly graduated to releasing footwear for Louis Vuitton … Kanye famously wore GIVENCHY leather skirt/pants and hoodie for the 12-12-12 concert for Hurricane Sandy relief, which raised more than a few eyebrows on the streets and some questioning whether Kanye was still connected to the ‘hood. Kanye West passion, creativity, intelligence determination, and ego have made him a cultural juggernaut. Kanye West’s exercise in minimalism was polarizing to some, but uncompromising in its sonic mission. Kanye could play the role of spoiler, even if he is not able to get on the ballot in all states. Since his weekly free track promotional approach, others blatantly copied the idea like Nicki Minaj’s “Pink Fridays” and “Lloyd Bank’s “Blue Fridays.”. It let people in the mainstream see a side of rap music that focused on universal problems and thoughts, not just material desires. Virgil Abloh’s appointment at Louis Vuitton marks a new high for West and for streetwear. For a second image, Kanye gets the Kate Moss treatment with a serpentine heart/skull character wrapping its tail around a suited Mr. West. Putting this disclaimer in as I have received comments along the lines of, “How can you glorify a person who believes in [xyz].” It’s not that deep. Juice WRLD, Travis Scott, Drake and so on have all cited Kanye as a major influence for their style of music, Juice in particular, named 808s to be one of his favorite albums. His spread of influence in different outlets of entertainment and culture has created an impact in American society. Kanye had some choice words on his way out the door from Nike. For his 5th studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye’s album cover duties went to a Basquiat and Haring contemporary, George Condo. Earlier that year, Condo lent his work to three skate decks for Supreme and kept up his momentum with the 5 “Artificial Realist” covers he designed for what ended up being Kanye’s most highly-acclaimed collection of songs. Photo:"Graduation" Album Art by Takashi Murakami (Left)"My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" Album Art by George Condo, No one does promotion quite like Kanye, who has repeatedly harnessed the Internet age tools in order to generate hype. The shoe boasted visible influences from the elephant print and sole of the Air Jordan III to the lacelocks of the Air Jordan VI, and it an instant hit, and the secondary market saw record highs in sneaker prices. For the Yeezus tour, however, Kanye flipped the minimal approach into an avant garde, multi-sensory barrage. On the record, he delivered a collection of samples that provided the album with a clear soul influence, using songs from The Jackson 5, R&B group Bobby Blue Band and soul artist David Ruffin. “We Don’t Care”, “School Spirit” and the various skits littered throughout the album speak to Kanye’s experience of dropping out of college and his negative feelings towards higher education. The first non-athlete with a Nike shoe deal. As this quote from Kanye in 2013 can attest to, his views about his legacy within popular music remain as grandiose as ever. Just think about whatever you’ve been through in the past week, and I have a song about that on my album.” This stance of appointing himself in direct relation to the listener, as opposed to the drastic divide many of the bling-era rappers painted, represented a substantial change in how relatable a successful rapper could be. I am Axl Rose, I am Jim Morrison, I am Hendrix. Born on June 8th, 1977, Donda West, West’s mother, always knew he was destined for greatness, but did she know her son … Following the album’s release, there were many interpretations of what new genre to place the album in, such as electropop, synthpop and experimental pop. West insisted that Walmart and other retailers would ban the cover. Claudia Hahn “Two Words” tackles social issues and “Jesus Walks” reflects on religion’s place within the modern age. His performances during the Watch the Throne tour were marked with performances of “N***as in Paris” as many as 11 times in a row. Another supposed date passed in December, leaving most with no hope. It is not an endorsement of his political beliefs, or anything else related to his personal life. Kanye influences all of us, but who influences Kanye? Whatever the truth may be, we again saw the artistic mind of Kanye at work with covers that matched the albums’ brooding tone. In an interview, Drake confirmed Kanye’s impact by stating: “I [have] the utmost respect for Kanye West. Kanye West has developed an unrivaled sphere of influence. With subsequent colorways sending collectors and fans into a frenzy (Atlanta’s boutique, Standard, had some line-up for 5 days for the black and pink model), the hype was the highest ever seen for any sneaker in recent memory. After giving Louis Vuitton bags a touch of his trademark whimsical, comic-inspired illustration in 2003, Murakami became a popular figure beyond the art world. Hip-hop in the early 2000’s revolved around the so-called ‘Timbaland sound’, a style that favored beats with scattered drums and digital keyboards. I also respect Kanye as one of the best rappers of all time. So while Kanye may be pushing boundaries, his popularity has served as a means to influence civic issues related to race. Write on Medium, How Kevin Durant Turned The NBA Upside Down, Licence to be Bad: How Economics Corrupted Us by Jonathan Aldred, How Income Tax Brackets Work and Why Going Up a Tax Bracket Will Never Earn You Less Money, Damn, they don’t make ’em like this anymore, Kakeibo: The age old Japanese art of saving money, Kanye West: We Won’t Ever See The Old Ye Again, Another artist who has become a superstar by using this formula is, In further showing the impact of Kanye’s genre-bending ways, on his latest album. When 'The College Dropout' leaking early turned out to be the best thing that could … Predictably, even the tour merch got its due of hype and caused controversy among those who questioned the use of the Confederate flag. With each new photo of someone in the Nike Air Yeezy, blogs responded with multiple posts, and by the time the actual date in April 2009 drew near, people had lined up for days to purchase them. The biggest rap artist of the time, 50 Cent, followed this formula nearly perfectly. […] I was like, ‘Yo, fuck it, that shit crazy,’ and I ran with that sound.”. He has been cited as a direct influence by artists and musical groups outside of hip-hop including English singer-songwriters Adele and Lily Allen, R&B singer-songwriter Daniel Caesar, New Zealand pop artist Lorde, American electropop singer Halsey, Rock bands including Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, MGMT, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Fall Out Boy have cited West as an influence to their music. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. And in Kanye's case that means a veritable treasure trove of photo evidence testifying to his influence, via image after image—after image—of his every internet-shattering outfit. Most pairs still sell for between $3,000-$6,000 after the initial hype spiked a few prices over the 10k mark. Among the likes of legendary artists such as The Beatles, Miles Davis, Marvin Gaye and Bob Dylan, Kanye West was given a place with 808s & Heartbreak being selected as one of the most influential albums ever. Lately, the two seem to go hand in hand. After toppling the rap game, Kanye quickly parlayed his influence to the fashion and sneaker arenas. The impact of Kanye and 808s & Heartbreak can be seen directly in the years following the album’s release. Discover the bands and musicians that influenced Kanye West. Lupe Fiasco, a spiritual successor to Kanye in many respects, saw his 2006 album Food and Liquor peak at #8 on the Billboard 200. Noel Gallagher Talks Kanye West, French Spoken Word Influence on New Album “As it was going along, I was going, ‘This is amazing. Learn more, Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. The use of these sounds helped to create a moody, atmospheric record that pushed the boundaries of what could be considered hip-hop. These expertly-crafted shoes, as expected, came with luxury price tags, ranging from $1,140 to $860 at retail. Hip-hop in the early 2000’s tended to follow a defined set of rules. Both sides promoted their albums heavily, and the sales battle … Kanye West has written a defining legacy by simply being his own person — using the soul samples he grew up on as a springboard to becoming an artist who will be remembered and discussed for generations to come. Kanye’s 2007 album Graduation was pit up against 50 Cent’s album Curtis, as they were both slated to be released on the same day. But by incorporating more soulful samples into The Blueprint, the album’s production sparked a shift back to more sample-reliant sounds within the hip-hop industry. 0. October 29, 2010 . In this era, there seemed no place in the mainstream for observation on topics such as religion, family, prejudice and materialism; that is until Kanye stepped into the void. The winner? Our deep dive into the band's iconic 1969 song "21st Century Schizoid Man" continues, as we trace its influence on everyone from Yes to Kanye West. Although Kanye has been criticized for his antics throughout the years, many people including myself have tried to point out and focus on the greatness of his music rather than his political stance. Few figures have had the impact on so many varied sectors of culture as Kanye West. Japan’s own Takashi Murakami designed the album art for Graduation in 2007. And none of us can deny his vast influence in music and fashion. The first track, “Power” landed with immediate impact in late August, 2010. In 2009, when news hit that ‘Ye would partner with Nike for his own model, first seen during his Grammy performance, instant internet mayhem ensued. Explore, If you have a story to tell, knowledge to share, or a perspective to offer — welcome home. Kanye brings fine art to the hip hop album cover. When ‘Ye wore the Black/Pink model on stage at Coachella on Halloween, fans snapped photos of the model, and people gobbled up news of the second iteration of the Yeezy. adidas has seen an uptick in interest in many circles, and even in the resale market, so when the adidas Kanye models do eventually drop, will that push adidas even closer to bridging the gap with the boys in Beaverton? Introduces a new generation of consumers to luxury goods. With the release of Kanye’s Nike’s making the TV news, it wasn’t long before peripheral items like backpacks and lace tips lifted from the Yeezys made their way into lookbooks and eventual releases from other brands. The models were named for members of the Kanye inner sanctum, the Don (manager Don “Don C.” Crawley), the Jasper (Ibn Jasper, Kanye’s long-time barber), and the Mr. Hudson (fellow GOOD music artist). Kanye’s third album, Graduation, was made to be anthemic. In this way, Kanye’s claims of having his name mentioned among the likes of Axl Rose, Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix do not seem nearly as outlandish as they might initially appear. With heavy synths and vocal chants it was very evident that Kanye West was becoming not only a heavy influence in hip-hop, but modern music in general. While this may be a radical notion to some, Kanye West is a creator whose name deserves to be mentioned among these artists, as an innovator, tastemaker and arguably the most influential artist of his generation. It’s easy and free to post your thinking on any topic. For years, Kanye West has served as a public icon, noted not only for his music, but for his political stances, beliefs, and fashion. It’s blasphemous — to rock & roll, and to music.”. […] To even think they could tell me where I could and couldn’t go is just ludicrous. Condo later suggested that West had intentionally designed a cover that he knew would be banned to stir the pot. Kanye’s live show, especially for his latest album, Yeezus, catapulted him yet again into the public eye and certified him as a man whose talents extend beyond the mixing board. A year after the Murakami-crafted cover for Graduation, Kanye tapped New Jersey’s own Brian Donnelly, better known to the world as KAWS, for help with the iTunes-release design of his 808s and Heartbreaks album. In my personal view, one of the biggest reasons why Hip-Hop has become such a prominent genre throughout the years is because of its sheer number of sub-genres and the constant evolutions it goes through. “Welcome to Heartbreak” offers a regretful account of the chase for a superficial life and how fame can leave someone still feeling empty. The Undeniable Influence of Kanye West Kanye Omari West, an icon of hip-hop, pop culture, fashion and music in general. His imprint on hip-hop music can be traced through his albums and reflected in the work of some of today’s biggest stars, including Drake, The Weeknd, J. Cole and more. The rise and rise of Kanye West’s influence on fashion. Mark Lepage. Kanye’s debut album, The College Dropout, had its greatest impact in changing the rules of what a hip-hop artist has to be like. Moreover, some celebrities rocked this trend like Paris Hilton! West’s close friend Riccardo Tisci, who just crafted three models of the Nike Air Force 1 in two different colorways, is the creative director of GIVENCHY, a label you’ve heard in tracks from Jay-Z (“Picasso Baby”) and Kanye (“Looking for Trouble”--a GOOD Friday release). “All Falls Down” offers a nuanced view on the nature of consumerism. His meteoric rise to fame is a case study in a finely-tuned equation involving hubris, hype, and controversy. As can be seen by his inclusion to a list like this, along with his countless accomplishments from records sales to Grammy wins, Kanye’s impact remains undeniable. The music on 808s relied heavily on the use of the retro Roland TR-808 drum machine and the outright auto-tuning of Kanye’s vocals, with writer Andy Kellman stating that album featured, “[…] dense drums, lengthy strings, droning synths and somber piano.”. However, breaking so many different rules of the genre did not go over well with every listener. Much of his work is influenced by and features African American musicians who helped define musical genres. This time, there were no boutiques with Yeezy-themed release parties and no RSVP systems or raffles. This perspective left a big mark on hip-hop music at the time — it popularized the concept of a socially aware rapper in the 2000's. Kanye West disrupted the status quo of hip-hop style with the grace of a bull in a Givenchy store. After toppling the rap game, Kanye quickly parlayed his influence to the fashion and sneaker arenas. © 2021 Freshness Creative Corp., All Rights Reserved. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Yeezy has emerged from the music industry and now reigns his own industry with other titles, such as entrepreneur and fashion designer. Kanye West’s music career has seen him play a variety of roles on stage and behind the scenes, including that of critically-acclaimed music producer. Shares. For the Graduation album cover, and for the promotional materials that precluded the album, Murakami used the same varsity-jacketed Kanye bear as the central character of the “Good Morning” video from the album. Kanye.”, With the release of 808s and Heartbreak in 2008, Kanye took his career to a new terrain, leaving behind the soul of College Dropout, the orchestration of Late Registration and the radio-friendly pop of Graduation, to embrace a cold and electronic soundscape. In referring to the album’s lyrical content and his character, Kanye once said, “My persona is that I’m the regular person. November marks the 10th anniversary of what many consider to be Kanye West’s magnum opus and the greatest hip-hop album ever produced — “My … Photo:Kanye West's Yeezus Tour - Splash News/Purple Magazine. This article is more than 2 years old. 1451 Words6 Pages. Along with the performance itself, Kanye managed to re-invigorate the merch market with limited-edition Yeezus Tour shirts. Share Tweet Flip. Kanye burst onto the hip-hop landscape by crafting a signature hip-hop production sound by chopping and speeding up old soul music samples, but he quickly graduated to releasing footwear for Louis Vuitton and Nike. While there had been many examples of socially aware rap before the release of Dropout, it had never before occurred where a hip-hop artist had appeared so emotional and confessional on a full-length release. To design the shirts, ‘Ye enlisted the help of Wes Lang, an artist who has designed for the Grateful Dead and has works in the MoMA, to craft 80s metal-inspired illustrations of a skeleton bedecked in a hooded Confederate flag and a Native American skull. Immediately after his first show, there was a veritable deluge of cell phone video footage showing a mountain on stage, a full Maison Martin Margiela wardrobe, including multiple bejeweled masks, choreographed orgies, intense visuals, indoor snow, and even a white Jesus. Many quickly realized that the Red October was Kanye’s last Nike sneaker, and it quickly became clear that there were no restocks. Prior to the release of Graduation, Kanye had a friendly sales battle with 50 Cent, whose album Curtis, was released on the same date. Kanye’s highly personal brand of storytelling and ability to touch on so many topics was a big departure from other hip-hop giants during his era (50 Cent, The Game, Ludacris, etc.). Kanye and 50 Cent went back and forth with one another in advance of the date, bragging about whose album would sell more. On a Sunday afternoon in early February, to the surprise of absolutely everyone in the sneaker game, Nike sent out a tweet that the “Red October” was available for sale, and the shoe sold out in a flash. The shutter shades. Few figures have had the impact on so many varied sectors of culture as Kanye West. Kanye West arrived at Auckland’s Westin Hotel in December 2008 looking exhausted, at the end of every possible rope. Kanye West’s 2008 album, '808s & Heartbreak,' turns ten years old this week. January 2011: Kanye West and Jay Z Commision Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci to Design the Album Artwork For Watch The Throne. While no official images have yet released from the collaboration, there have been rumors of up to 20 pairs already designed. On a few radio interviews, when asked about the Red Octobers, he became angry at not receiving royalties like Michael Jordan and reported that the powers that be at Nike told him, “We can’t give you royalties because you’re not a professional athlete.” Miffed by the Nike execs, he left and signed with adidas. The Undeniable Influence of Kanye West. In early 2011, there were scattered blog posts that appeared across the Internet showing a new model of the Air Yeezy (later known as Nike Air Yeezy 2). Kanye received his first big break in 2001, producing songs for Jay-Z’s most critically acclaimed album The Blueprint. On his second studio album, Take Care, Drake continued the trend of emotional vulnerability and spoke on his relationships with friends and family, failed romances and the emptiness of fame; all issues that Kanye had spoke on in 808s.