Kanye West: A Study in Fearlessness, Creative Ambition, and Egomania

You remember the kid from Chicago that Dame and Jay found to produce for the rest of the Roc? The one back in the studio right after a car accident with his jaw half wired shut? The one striving to be successful rapping because everyone said he could only ever make it as a producer? Yeah, that's the Kanye West we fell in love with. If you haven't noticed, that kid is hard to recognize in the borderline 2013 version by the same name. He's a deliberate attention whore - in a relationship with a beautiful but talent-less attention whore famous for her sex life - who's wearing Confederate flags, calling himself a God, and vocally challenging everyone from fashion moguls to the Obamas. He seems constantly upset and at times seems to be losing his grip on reality. I never thought I'd say this: but I'm starting to understand him. Not saying I agree with him, or can even vouch for all of his bullshit, but I think I get it. He's acting out in a combination of anger and envy for those who possess the true power and freedom he wants; I read an interesting article referring to this as a Frantz Fanon complex (here's the article, http://ourlegaci.com/2013/12/02/kanyes-frantz-fanon-complex/). Just the way producing was not enough for him when he wanted to rap, hip hop culture itself is not enough for Kanye now. His experimental creativity agency DONDA, named for his deceased mother, is an embodiment of his desire to be an all-around creative genius without bounds;  we're talking music, fashion, art, cinema, marketing, technology, the works. He states that his calling is to leave a creative imprint on the world as significant as that of Walt Disney, Steve Jobs, or Michelangelo. He also thinks Kim Khardashian is the new Marilyn Monroe. That being said, he's on a crusade to increase his global profile to force the hand of those - especially in the fashion and footwear industries - who he believes seek to pigeonhole and marginalize his influence because they can't control him. He doesn't want to be Jay-Z or Russell Simmons running "urban" clothing labels, he wants to be the neo-Marc Jacobs or Ralph Lauren with the power to sell anywhere to anyone at any price as he feels. He's gotten his feet wet in the industry (designing shoes and clothes) just enough to encounter the glass ceiling stopping him from. His focus has switched to getting as much attention, money, and power as he can attain so that no one can ever deny him ANYTHING ever again. Hell, he doesn't care what anything thinks or listen to anyone (except Jay-Z sometimes) now, but he seeks the power that billionaires (or maybe secret societies) possess so that he can bring any idea of his to fruition without needing anyone. Even as rich and fearless as he is, he's already lost $13 million and can't afford to keep misfiring without backers. So to get there, he's frequently pushing whatever bounds exist to stay in the spotlight even when he's not making music; because his relevance is powerful. But that's where it can go off track. It goes as blasphemous as trying to make Confederate flags fashionable or bringing Jesus out on stage. Or something as fearless as wearing women's clothing or giving an album cover vile cover art of his darkest fantasy. Or as ego-maniacal and brash as taking to radio waves calling for fashion protests of those who denied him meetings to "stifle his influence" and claiming he and Kim should be getting all the fashion-related attention the Obamas get. I think he frequently misfires and goes way overboard. How the fuck you really gonna put Kim and Michelle Obama in the same sentence? Michelle is the first lady while the first time I saw Kim it's because she was just the pretty girl spit-shining Ray J's dick on a sextape. Oh word, people are supposed to get over their feeling towards the Confederate flag because you made a song called "New Slaves" and said it's ok? Really nigga?  But rather than dismissing him as a lunatic, I'm trying to see the bigger picture of what he's trying to achieve. He's a dreamer with all the passion imaginable to chase it and I"ll always admire that. He just has to refine his technique. For the record, I hope he creates the imprint he seeks to, I'd love to see what come out of it.

Stop Me When I Stop Lying: Catching Up

Every once in a while, my life gets complicated and I get slack posting on events in real time when they happen the way I should. I'm not apologizing, just explaining. If u were expecting an apology, get over it, you still reading this, ain't u? But I digress, here's a quick rap up of how I feel about some of those issues:

• Kanye, Kanye, Kanye. SMH. I still deeply respect his music, creativity, entrepreneurship, and his boldness (only to a point though). In terms of his personality, I've lately decided that he's not just another cocky celebrity, he's become an all-out blasphemous, attention whore for whom I'm losing the ability to take serious. You're Yeezus and bring Jesus out on stage? You're a God? Really? You've decided that since you made a song called "New Slaves", you can re-purpose the Confederate flag as your own? Really? You're offended that Vogue has chosen Michelle Obama for their cover over your wifey who was shot to stardom by a sextape with Ray J?  Really? You felt that North West was the best name for your daughter? If they make Versace straight jackets, that may be a good fashion move for you; add a confederate flag pin if it makes you feel better. I loved you: your passion, your story, and everything. What happened to you? 
• I've decided that Drake is the in the category of ppl who I admit are good at what they do but whose personalities I can not stand. Just cuz u roll with street cats now doesn't mean u're hard? "Started from the Bottom" fa real? Weren't you a child actor from a middle class fam? "No New Friends", really? Name 2 famous rapper you were friends with in 2007? I guess "Started from the Middle" and "Some New Friends" didn't sound as appealing. And quit starting fights in clubs if you're gonna hide behind Meek Mills when hands start flying. That's why they call your album emotional...
• Although I give her credit for somehow being the catalyst that put twerking back in the spotlight, I can not call what Miley Cyrus does twerking because she has no lower half meat (ass, thighs, hamstrings, etc.) to shake. Eat some steak, do some squats, and holla at me. I'm waiting for reports of footage of Miley either taking or sucking some Black dick; I'd bet money, it's coming. She's already pseudo-twerking, making naked music videos, and doing drugs with rappers, it's the natural next step. Stay tuned...
• Ladies, I'll say this once and keep it brief: Olivia Pope is a well written character on an entertaining show, not a role model. Treat her that way. Don't think YOU can operate without morality or integrity in your personal and professional life and turn out wildly successful and immaculately dressed like her. From the reactions I get from women when I make a "Scandal" comment, you would think I punched a nun in the face or something by not idolizing her too. Chill with that.
• Fuck the Falcons (division rival). Fuck UGA (in-state college rival). I'm glad both of their seasons have been disappointing. Period.
• And yes, finally, the Miami Dolphins "bullying" scandal. More information will inevitably come out on both sides continuing to thicken the plot. But my main point about it is this: In a work environment like the NFL, stand up for yourself. I'm not saying you have the right to hit someone in the face if they piss you off, but walking out on your team is not a good answer. In a league full of hazing and verbal abuse (for lack of a better word) I think Richie Incognito went overboard with each and I don't feel sorry for him getting punished. I don't know how far he overstepped I don't know how much is normal in the locker room. Who's responsibility is it to put your foot down and let him know where the line is? Martin's. Grab Richie and the offensive line coach and have that "Come to Jesus meeting" behind closed doors; get it out and understood. They'll respect you for that. But just walking out on the rest of the team makes it look like you're not mentally tough enough for the uniquely mentally and physically demanding work environment you've chose. Go work for Wells Fargo if you can't handle it. Please believe, the opposition is gonna say plenty to get in your head on the field for the rest of your NFL career. I hope you don't try to sue them too...

More coming soon. Just cuz my shit talking was tardy didn't mean it wasn't coming. Stop Me When I Start Lying...