By Jack Howorth and
Jack Allen
Arts Editor
Editor-in-Chief
Kanye West is one of the most, if not the most, inspiring and influential musicians ever to shape the genre of hip-hop.
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the young producer honed his musical talents as he produced songs and albums for artist such as Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, T.I. and many other hip-hop icons. Any avid music listener would recognize that Kanye West has evolved into perhaps the most prominent hip-hop/rap artist alive today.
Although there are other rappers in the game who arguably have better flow, there is no one else with the same background as a skilled producer who truly understands what goes into making a great song.
West’s ability to combine vocals with beats and have them complement one another, rather than clash and overpower each other, leads him to create not only musically balanced songs, but musically balanced albums time and time again.
The moment West stepped into the limelight with his own voice, he graced us with “Through the Wire,” inspired by West’s near-fatal car crash. By his first album, “The College Dropout,” West was already a seasoned pro. To this day, songs on “The College Dropout” like “New Workout Plan” have influenced artists; just ask J Cole.
West’s third album, “Graduation,” feels like a well-deserved gloating album. “Good Morning,” “Champion” and “Stronger” start the album off strong; all three are memorable songs to this day. However, West remains consistently excellent throughout. Without listing literally every single track on the album, each and every song succeeds at not only impressing musically and lyrically, but also at becoming nothing short of iconic.
Although West is not exactly political, his more recent album, “Yeezus,” does address some serious issues. “Bound 2” makes a poignant statement about how blacks are seen in the media, showing images of the media’s portrayal of the classic “white” American frontier juxtaposed with himself, a black man, in the middle of it.
This is a testament to the fact that Kanye West is socially aware and has grown to embody more than the average hip-hop/rap artist.
Although the direction in which West will grow remains uncertain, as his ability to provide new and surprising elements to his work is a part of his artistic abilities, we can be certain that he will continue to transform hip-hop for years to come.
To this day, Kanye West remains in his prime and is still growing as an artist.
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