The shutter shades. The Undeniable Influence of Kanye West Kanye Omari West, an icon of hip-hop, pop culture, fashion and music in general. Kanye’s third album, Graduation, was made to be anthemic. I am Axl Rose, I am Jim Morrison, I am Hendrix. Kanye puts himself in the same breath as Axl Rose, Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix; icons who have permanently shaped the sound and direction of their respective genres. During the lead-up to the drop of Kanye’s 5th album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, a series of free weekly songs called “GOOD Fridays” were distributed to build momentum for his GOOD Music (Getting Out Our Dreams) roster of artists and the forthcoming release. “Slow Jamz” acts as a tribute to great soul artists of the past, while “Through the Wire” goes over Kanye’s real-life experience of a near fatal car crash. Kanye West is a rap legend. You guessed it! “Welcome to Heartbreak” offers a regretful account of the chase for a superficial life and how fame can leave someone still feeling empty. 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. 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. 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. This time, there were no boutiques with Yeezy-themed release parties and no RSVP systems or raffles. A look at Kanye West’s influence on hip hop before the release his new album by Liam Sharp October 1, 2019 “Jesus is King” is set to drop…at some point 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. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. 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. Discover the bands and musicians that influenced Kanye West. 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. Many remember seeing the lifestyle, music, and fashion blogs explode when it dropped. Many quickly realized that the Red October was Kanye’s last Nike sneaker, and it quickly became clear that there were no restocks. 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. Nike even brought the thick forefoot strap onto other models in what were obvious Yeezy spinoffs. His spread of influence in different outlets of entertainment and culture has created an impact in American society. It is not an endorsement of his political beliefs, or anything else related to his personal life. Claudia Hahn 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. The rise and rise of Kanye West’s influence on fashion. Kanye West passion, creativity, intelligence determination, and ego have made him a cultural juggernaut. 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. 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. For a second image, Kanye gets the Kate Moss treatment with a serpentine heart/skull character wrapping its tail around a suited Mr. West. In an interview, Drake confirmed Kanye’s impact by stating: “I [have] the utmost respect for Kanye West. Photo:Kanye West x Nike Air Yeezy 2 - Nike. As writer Del F. Cowie states, “[Blueprint caused] the reign of the digitally cold keyboard-driven production style [to be] dislodged as the predominant sound.” The Blueprint helped cause a revival in the use of samples as the basis of production, and Ye was a big reason why. GOOD Fridays yielded a total of 15 releases, three of which ended up on the album--”Power,” “Devil in a Blue Dress (though the album version cut Rick Ross’ verse), and “So Appalled.” Other tracks appeared on later West releases, like “The Joy,” which was a bonus cut from Watch the Throne. 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. 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. 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. 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. “Love Lockdown” describes a relationship which does not meet expectations and has to be ended, while “Robocop” likens a woman to a fictional human cyborg who is too controlling. 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. 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. It let people in the mainstream see a side of rap music that focused on universal problems and thoughts, not just material desires. Photo:Kanye West's Yeezus Tour - Splash News/Purple Magazine. The Easy Guide To Kanye West’s Fashion Influence Shutter Shades. For the Yeezus tour, however, Kanye flipped the minimal approach into an avant garde, multi-sensory barrage. Hip-hop in the early 2000’s tended to follow a defined set of rules. The first track, “Power” landed with immediate impact in late August, 2010. Condo later suggested that West had intentionally designed a cover that he knew would be banned to stir the pot. With an early release date postponed and rescheduled to June, the release again showed the unstoppable combination of Kanye and Nike. Kanye West's Influence The Most Influential Man In Music. Read why and how right here. “All Falls Down” offers a nuanced view on the nature of consumerism. 1451 Words6 Pages. 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. Kanye went against this tradition and opened up the boundaries of hip-hop to include tales of being heartbroken, of pining over an ex, of wondering if you can ever get it all back together. Kanye and 50 Cent went back and forth with one another in advance of the date, bragging about whose album would sell more. 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. 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. 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. When asked about the song, Drake’s longtime producer Noah “40” Shebib said, “That shit was so impactful to hear him spilling his heart over that kind of production. 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. Japan’s own Takashi Murakami designed the album art for Graduation in 2007. We all know that Kanye West has influenced everyone from Drake to Chance The Rapper, but where does ‘Ye draw his inspiration? “Two Words” tackles social issues and “Jesus Walks” reflects on religion’s place within the modern age. All these songs challenged the conventions of hip-hop in a way that was even more unprecedented and riskier than College Dropout. And none of us can deny his vast influence in music and fashion. He is a risk taker who is not afraid to cause controversy and denounce society norms. With connections to Vuitton and GIVENCHY (who is under the LVMH umbrella), and regularly seen rocking upscale sneakers like the Balenciga Arena, Kanye is instrumental in bringing the looks of Milan and Paris closer to Harlem and ChiRaq. While no official images have yet released from the collaboration, there have been rumors of up to 20 pairs already designed. The first and probably most important influence on what became Kanye West's trademark sound was probably his parents' record collection. 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). In today’s world, it’s important to have a balance between speaking out and filtering what you talk about, especially when you have an influence on millions of people. Even though Kanye rapped on nearly every song, people felt uncomfortable labelling the album as a rap record, showing just how different the sound was for its time. 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. Kanye West’s 2008 album, '808s & Heartbreak,' turns ten years old this week. 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. 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 … Noel Gallagher Talks Kanye West, French Spoken Word Influence on New Album “As it was going along, I was going, ‘This is amazing. Kanye needed to be on [Beauty Behind The Madness], because I feel like I’m going through what he’s been going through — reinventing himself and pushing boundaries.”. 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. “808s and Heartbreak […] got mixed reviews but is one of the most important bodies of work of my generation. His influence proved to be so powerful that many in the street followed suit in following more upscale trends. 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. Most pairs still sell for between $3,000-$6,000 after the initial hype spiked a few prices over the 10k mark. Controversy, a specialty of Mr. West’s, arose from the album cover that showed an armless nude white phoenix straddling a black man. Few figures have had the impact on so many varied sectors of culture as Kanye West. For years, Kanye West has served as a public icon, noted not only for his music, but for his political stances, beliefs, and fashion. “Man, I’m the #1 living and breathing rock star. The not-so-glassy glasses soon became a must-have among fans. Few figures have had the impact on so many varied sectors of culture as Kanye West. These expertly-crafted shoes, as expected, came with luxury price tags, ranging from $1,140 to $860 at retail. 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. […] I was like, ‘Yo, fuck it, that shit crazy,’ and I ran with that sound.”. Since his weekly free track promotional approach, others blatantly copied the idea like Nicki Minaj’s “Pink Fridays” and “Lloyd Bank’s “Blue Fridays.”. 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. The biggest rap artist of the time, 50 Cent, followed this formula nearly perfectly. 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. The traditional rules within hip-hop tended to denounce any artist that connected even a little with their sensitive side, with there being huge pressure to maintain a sense of street cred by appearing ‘gangster’. Explore, If you have a story to tell, knowledge to share, or a perspective to offer — welcome home. 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). […] To even think they could tell me where I could and couldn’t go is just ludicrous. 0. West insisted that Walmart and other retailers would ban the cover. The first non-athlete with a Nike shoe deal. Introduces a new generation of consumers to luxury goods. Virgil Abloh’s appointment at Louis Vuitton marks a new high for West and for streetwear. Lupe Fiasco, a spiritual successor to Kanye in many respects, saw his 2006 album Food and Liquor peak at #8 on the Billboard 200. Regardless, by creating an album with such an inventive sound that pushed hip-hop to new limits, Kanye created a piece of work that set the standard for the next decade of hip-hop music. In 2013, with the releases of the “Solar Red” and “Pure Platinum” pairs a year behind, information slowly emerged that a pair called the “Red October” would arrive, and after a series of rumored release dates and Nike tweets, the year ended with many thinking the release would be forever shelved after announcements in November that he would be leaving Nike. Kanye brings fine art to the hip hop album cover. In his music video “Stronger”, Kanye wore an accessory people were not familiar with. 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. Another supposed date passed in December, leaving most with no hope. 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. Kanye West disrupted the status quo of hip-hop style with the grace of a bull in a Givenchy store. 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.). It’s easy and free to post your thinking on any topic. While his latest album, Yeezus, boasted ultra-minimal album art, his previous covers featured works from artists cut from many different cloths. 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. Steven describes Kanye West's ultimate goal and most powerful toolTwitter: https://twitter.com/HightowerSteven However, breaking so many different rules of the genre did not go over well with every listener. The Undeniable Influence of Kanye West Kanye Omari West, an icon of hip-hop, pop culture, fashion and music in general. On “Heartless”, Kanye laments of a past women who had been cold and unfeeling. ‘Yeezus’ is proof that hip-hop can take any form. Kanye received his first big break in 2001, producing songs for Jay-Z’s most critically acclaimed album The Blueprint. Drake Says Kanye West Is 'The Most Influential Person' On His Sound 'He knows how to utilize great sounds and great music,' up-and-coming rapper says. © 2021 Freshness Creative Corp., All Rights Reserved. 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. October 29, 2010 . 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. After toppling the rap game, Kanye quickly parlayed his influence to the fashion and sneaker arenas. Moreover, some celebrities rocked this trend like Paris Hilton! Shocking to many at the time, Graduation ended up out-selling Curtis by 266K copies within the first week. Kanye West’s exercise in minimalism was polarizing to some, but uncompromising in its sonic mission. 15 years ago, Kanye West's debut album 'The College Dropout' changed the landscape of hip-hop. His meteoric rise to fame is a case study in a finely-tuned equation involving hubris, hype, and controversy. 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. When 'The College Dropout' leaking early turned out to be the best thing that could … Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. 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. 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 … Kanye Omari West, a person belittled against and a person subjected to a life of racism and hate. Metacritic, a website which averages out music reviews to attach a numerical score to albums, gave 808s the lowest score of any Kanye West album to date, with critics questioning the depths of personal misery displayed on the album as well as the barren soundscape as a whole. For his 5th studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye’s album cover duties went to a Basquiat and Haring contemporary, George Condo. The early 00’s in rap is often referred to as the ‘Bling Era’; a time when the music of the genre had to have the Timbaland sound, the lyrics glorified expensive lifestyles and nearly all artists had to uphold a tough persona in order to be taken seriously. 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. 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. Kanye Omari West, a person belittled against and a person subjected to a life of racism and hate. The hype for the release was fueled by Kanye himself, as he wore multiple colorways, some of which have never been released, before the drop. From West’s earliest days as a public figure, his sense of fashion has been central to his persona—one that has shifted … Kanye West is a rapper, singer, songwriter and producer from Chicago, who over the past 15 years has emerged to be one of the most influential artists of all time. KAWS got the call to rework Kris Yiengst’s original cover design of a crumpled heart, which is torn apart in the retooled KAWS’ version. Nike capitalized on the Yeezy line by co-opting his solar red colorway on other models like the Air Foamposite Pro, Air Force 1, Roshe Run, and Air Max 1. The Wicked Witch of the West put a … I’d even go as far as to say he’s the most influential person as far as a musician that I’d ever had in my life.”. It’s blasphemous — to rock & roll, and to music.”. Lately, the two seem to go hand in hand. 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 influences all of us, but who influences Kanye? Much of his work is influenced by and features African American musicians who helped define musical genres. The winner? As this quote from Kanye in 2013 can attest to, his views about his legacy within popular music remain as grandiose as ever. Mark Lepage. “Takeover” was ranked as the 51st best song of the 2000’s and is widely recognized as one of the most important rap songs ever. In a 2014 feature, The Rolling Stone created a list attempting to find the 40 most groundbreaking albums of all-time within popular music. Taylor Swift is not the first person to feel the wrath of Kanye West, and if past behavior is any indication, she won’t be the last. I don’t know squat about fashion, but I respect it as an art. Shares. Today, they fetch much more 5 years later on the secondary market--between $3,000-6,000 for models in new condition. Nothing seems to better illustrate Kanye West’s thirst for change, penchant for reinvention and influence than his relationship with fashion. Kanye West arrived at Auckland’s Westin Hotel in December 2008 looking exhausted, at the end of every possible rope. 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. I also respect Kanye as one of the best rappers of all time. Kanye had some choice words on his way out the door from Nike. While Kanye cannot be credited as the only cause of the soul-centric sound (producer Just Blaze also played a huge role), he did produce 4 tracks on the 13-track project, including the classic Nas diss track “Takeover”. Born on June 8th, 1977, Donda West, West’s mother, always knew he was destined for greatness, but did she know her son … As author Kirk Walker Graves writes, “[The] album is something of a self-pitying monologue performed in the dark, a grief counseling session with no grief counselor.”. Though the 1939 film adaptation is better known, in the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz we learn that the Tin Man character was once a human lumberjack. 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. Share Tweet Flip. Kanye could play the role of spoiler, even if he is not able to get on the ballot in all states. The Undeniable Influence of Kanye West. 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. But even his detractors can’t ignore the raw talent and innovation that go along with his name.