“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. 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. I don’t know squat about fashion, but I respect it as an art. I am Axl Rose, I am Jim Morrison, I am Hendrix. Kanye West's Influence The Most Influential Man In Music. 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). “Two Words” tackles social issues and “Jesus Walks” reflects on religion’s place within the modern age. After toppling the rap game, Kanye quickly parlayed his influence to the fashion and sneaker arenas. Both sides promoted their albums heavily, and the sales battle … 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. We all know that Kanye West has influenced everyone from Drake to Chance The Rapper, but where does ‘Ye draw his inspiration? Kanye Omari West, a person belittled against and a person subjected to a life of racism and hate. 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. “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. Lupe Fiasco, a spiritual successor to Kanye in many respects, saw his 2006 album Food and Liquor peak at #8 on the Billboard 200. Whatever the truth may be, we again saw the artistic mind of Kanye at work with covers that matched the albums’ brooding tone. Kanye could play the role of spoiler, even if he is not able to get on the ballot in all states. 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. So while Kanye may be pushing boundaries, his popularity has served as a means to influence civic issues related to race. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Virgil Abloh’s appointment at Louis Vuitton marks a new high for West and for streetwear. It let people in the mainstream see a side of rap music that focused on universal problems and thoughts, not just material desires. “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. Kanye West’s exercise in minimalism was polarizing to some, but uncompromising in its sonic mission. Along with the performance itself, Kanye managed to re-invigorate the merch market with limited-edition Yeezus Tour shirts. 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. Another supposed date passed in December, leaving most with no hope. The Undeniable Influence of Kanye West Kanye Omari West, an icon of hip-hop, pop culture, fashion and music in general. This time, there were no boutiques with Yeezy-themed release parties and no RSVP systems or raffles. 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. 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. As Guardian writer Rosie Swash put it, “[The sales competition] highlighted the diverging facets of hip-hop in the last decade; the former was gangsta rap for the 2000's, while West was the thinking man’s alternative. Condo later suggested that West had intentionally designed a cover that he knew would be banned to stir the pot. 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. 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. 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.”. Predictably, even the tour merch got its due of hype and caused controversy among those who questioned the use of the Confederate flag. 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.”. 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. 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. Kanye received his first big break in 2001, producing songs for Jay-Z’s most critically acclaimed album The Blueprint. 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.). “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. 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 Omari West, a person belittled against and a person subjected to a life of racism and hate. 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. Introduces a new generation of consumers to luxury goods. Much of his work is influenced by and features African American musicians who helped define musical genres. Photo:Kanye West's Yeezus Tour - Splash News/Purple Magazine. For a second image, Kanye gets the Kate Moss treatment with a serpentine heart/skull character wrapping its tail around a suited Mr. West. 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. ‘Yeezus’ is proof that hip-hop can take any form. Since his weekly free track promotional approach, others blatantly copied the idea like Nicki Minaj’s “Pink Fridays” and “Lloyd Bank’s “Blue Fridays.”. 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. […] I was like, ‘Yo, fuck it, that shit crazy,’ and I ran with that sound.”. 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. Kanye West passion, creativity, intelligence determination, and ego have made him a cultural juggernaut. 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. 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. 15 years ago, Kanye West's debut album 'The College Dropout' changed the landscape of hip-hop. Controversy, a specialty of Mr. West’s, arose from the album cover that showed an armless nude white phoenix straddling a black man. West insisted that Walmart and other retailers would ban the cover. 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 brings fine art to the hip hop album cover. 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. Kanye West’s 2008 album, '808s & Heartbreak,' turns ten years old this week. 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. It is not an endorsement of his political beliefs, or anything else related to his personal life. Learn more, Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. 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. 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. Following the release of College Dropout, another socially conscious rapper Common, found his 2005 album Be peaking at #2 on the Billboard 200, and his 2007 album Finding Forever reaching #1 (Common had previously never had a top 10 album). Few figures have had the impact on so many varied sectors of culture as Kanye West. © 2021 Freshness Creative Corp., All Rights Reserved. But even his detractors can’t ignore the raw talent and innovation that go along with his name. Kanye had some choice words on his way out the door from Nike. 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’. 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 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. 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. Few figures have had the impact on so many varied sectors of culture as Kanye West. Nike even brought the thick forefoot strap onto other models in what were obvious Yeezy spinoffs. 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. Steven describes Kanye West's ultimate goal and most powerful toolTwitter: https://twitter.com/HightowerSteven Photo:Kanye West x Louis Vuitton Don's - Sole Collector. 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 and Nike. 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. Kanye and 50 Cent went back and forth with one another in advance of the date, bragging about whose album would sell more. Moreover, some celebrities rocked this trend like Paris Hilton! 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. 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 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. West’s creative approach to vocal sampling, in particular, has become a signature element to a Kanye track. 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. 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. 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. 1451 Words6 Pages. Take Care was produced primarily by 40 and also featured The Weeknd, two artists who have professed their admiration for the way Kanye was able to legitimize atmospheric and emotional rap. Note: This article was written in 2017, simply as a retrospective of aspects of Kanye’s career. Read why and how right here. 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. In his music video “Stronger”, Kanye wore an accessory people were not familiar with. The first track, “Power” landed with immediate impact in late August, 2010. The first and probably most important influence on what became Kanye West's trademark sound was probably his parents' record collection. 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. The rise and rise of Kanye West’s influence on fashion. 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. Kanye’s third album, Graduation, was made to be anthemic. 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. For the Yeezus tour, however, Kanye flipped the minimal approach into an avant garde, multi-sensory barrage. […] To even think they could tell me where I could and couldn’t go is just ludicrous. The use of these sounds helped to create a moody, atmospheric record that pushed the boundaries of what could be considered hip-hop. 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.”, 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. 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.”. The shutter shades. Today, they fetch much more 5 years later on the secondary market--between $3,000-6,000 for models in new condition. 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. 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. As early as Drake’s breakthrough 2009 mixtape So Far Gone, he featured a song with a sample of Kanye’s “Say You Will”, showing that the sound had immediately stuck with him. I also respect Kanye as one of the best rappers of all time. 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. His meteoric rise to fame is a case study in a finely-tuned equation involving hubris, hype, and controversy. And none of us can deny his vast influence in music and fashion. 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. On “Heartless”, Kanye laments of a past women who had been cold and unfeeling. 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. Noel Gallagher Talks Kanye West, French Spoken Word Influence on New Album “As it was going along, I was going, ‘This is amazing. For his 5th studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye’s album cover duties went to a Basquiat and Haring contemporary, George Condo. 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. Kanye West has developed an unrivaled sphere of influence. Discover the bands and musicians that influenced Kanye West. Many quickly realized that the Red October was Kanye’s last Nike sneaker, and it quickly became clear that there were no restocks. 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.”. 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. 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. After toppling the rap game, Kanye quickly parlayed his influence to the fashion and sneaker arenas. 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.