Earlier this month marked the 10th anniversary of Kanye West’s first album drop, The College Dropout. For me, and possibly a few other Collegiettes out there, this was an introduction to hip hop music at the ripe age of nine. In ways, I’ve grown up with Kanye as my life soundtrack, going through an emotional roller coaster and finding myself as he did with his unique artistic choices over the years.
Kanye is truly one of a kind. He spent years producing, writing raps on the side. People didn’t believe in him and he had to fight for the recognition. With this fight, his true personality shone. A narcissist, Kanye refused to let anyone stop him. While he’s had his moments (Taylor Swift at the VMAs anyone?), his seemingly insane behavior stems from having to convince people he was worth their attention, and it turns out he was.
With musical masterpieces like The College Dropout and his follow up albums, Kanye immediately broke through the glass ceiling so many rappers face and changed his sound multiple times. Without fail, his music changes to fit where he’s going in life and portrays it in a way that everyone loves. No one can forget the lyrics to “Runaway” because everyone relates to them flawlessly. His magic comes in that no two albums will ever sound the same.
Yeezus, and an earlier release 808s and Heartbreak sonically have nothing in common. Yeezus is full of hatred and harsh tracks like his single “Black Skinhead.” 808s utilizes autotune for the first time as well as showing Kanye’s true despairs of love. The one thing they share is my adoration. I fell in love with Kanye when I watched an interview from a 2002, pre-album release, and saw his hunger for success and desire to prove himself to everyone. He’s adorable, talking about how nervous he is to show Jay-Z, his mentor, his new tracks. Anyone would love someone so passionate, and while the world may have changed, that trait hasn’t gone anywhere.
I would’ve dragged anyone who could go to a Kanye concert, and the last time he toured was when I was 13. You can imagine the face my mom made when I asked to go see him with my retainer gleaming. Naturally, I missed the show. I didn’t let it slip by the next time it came around and nearly cried in Boston in November as I watched him perform his life’s work. I take extreme pride in the fact that I knew the lyrics to every single song he performed. It was then that I realized that he’s an artist, a performer, and a visionary. Egotistical? Absolutely. Possibly psychotic or deranged? It happens to geniuses. More talented than anyone I’ve ever heard in every aspect? More than likely.
Kanye’s only been around for ten years, and with plans to add to Yeezus, release a G.O.O.D. music album Cruel Winter, and talks of another Hov and Ye collaboration, it doesn’t sound like anything is stopping him. #praiseyeezus