This past Saturday, my friends and I attended “Watch the Throne,” the Kanye West and Jay-Z concert that is on its last leg of the national tour. While I have always been a fan of these two artists, I had no idea the extent of enjoyment I would get from watching them perform. Together, they were extraordinarily entertaining and
talented in their performances.
One thing that struck me as interesting during the concert was some of Kanye’s lyrics. Sure, I’ve listened to his music a million times before. However, I never really processed exactly what he’s saying. It was during his performance that I realized how many times this artist has publicly stirred controversy.
The song “New Day” on Jay-Z and West’s new album is a message to their unborn sons, vowing to help them avoid the mistakes they have made in their lives. West, in particular, touches on the time that, while trying to raise money for New Orlean’s own Hurricane Katrina, he stated, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people.”
The rapper is well-known for his outspoken nature, from sparking controversy on Twitter regarding abortion laws to awards shows, such as the time he usurped the spotlight from Taylor Swift, after she won the award for Best Female Video. West claims, during interviews regarding his actions, that he is so straightforward because he truly cares about these issues.
One of West’s songs, “Runaway,” can be regarded a “victim empowerment” type of ballad. Here, West acknowledges his faults, accepts his blunt personality, and embraces it. While much of what the rapper argues can be controversial, at least he is true to himself.