Kanye West: Life of the Progressive Hip-Hop Star

945 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Impact of hip hop

as Author Ben Sweetland once said, “Success is a journey, not a destination.” Kanye West has been an icon in American hip-hop culture for over a decade. His music, fashion line, producing skills, and flamboyant personality has influenced many people for generations to come. Coming out of Chicago, many people in the music industry didn't even think Kanye had a chance to become a figure in hip-hop, but his hard work and persistence paid off. Kanye started off his music career as a producer. He produced music for the likes of major artists such as Common and Jay-Z. His first major breakthrough came from producing Jay-Z’s “The Blueprint”— which is certified 2x platinum. Kanye believed he could be a successful rapper as well, but music executives didn't believe he had it in him. That all changed when Roc-A-Fella records signed Kanye to their label, and gave him a chance to shine as a rapper. Kanye’s background, critical analysis, and importance all shows that he has become one of the most important characters in American hip-hop culture to this day. Kanye Omari West was born in Atlanta, Georgia on June, 8 1977. His mom and him soon relocated to Chicago, Illinois after his parents divorced. Kanye spent all of his youth life in Chicago. He spent his time during the school year with his mother, who was an English professor, and spent summers with his dad, who was an award-winning photographer then turned church counselor. “I was taught to think on my own growing up, that’s what a lot of black kids don’t get” (Newsmakers 2). During his time in high school he became friends with producer No I.D., who was working with the rapper Common prior to him becoming famous. This is where Kanye got his beginnings in the producing industry. Kanye wen... ... middle of paper ... ... hard work and perseverance helped him accomplish his goal of become a major hip-hop star. Once he first got his shot at being a hip-hop star with the release of his first album, everyone began to see the real side if Kanye. His flamboyant fashion sense and outspoken personality has shown us the real side if himself. Like him or not, his music has inspired and touched the lives of many aspiring hip-hop artists which makes him one of the most influential characters in America. Works Cited "About Kanye West." MTV Artists. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. "Kanye West Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. "Kanye West." PEOPLE.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. Trickey, Erick. "Kanye West." Newsmakers. Detroit: Gale, 2006. Student Resources in Context. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. "World Biography." Kanye West Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013.

Show More
Related

  • Lupe Fiasco: Expragic Trickster In Hip-Hop Music

    1104 Words  | 3 Pages

    Every hip-hop/rap generation a lot new fresh upcoming aspiring rappers who wishes to go down in hip-hop culture as one of the greatest. Some of them are merely one hit wonders; others go on to silicify their mark in the Hip-Hop culture becoming great artists. In the year 2006 the hip-hop world was introduced to a future superstar by the named of Lupe Fiasco. Lupe Fiasco has become one of hip-hop fastest rising superstar ever since releasing his first album. Although many listeners find some of his music very controversial, yet Fiasco is one of the few artists whose music teaches people about current events that the world has turned the blind eye to, and Lupe lyrical trickster, story teller.

    Read More

  • Jay-Z Bio

    369 Words  | 1 Pages

    Jay-Z was born Shawn Corey Carter on December 4, 1969. He grew up in the infamous Marcy projects in Brooklyn with a sister and a brother. You would think that just growing up on the Marcy projects would be hard enough on a kid, but at the age of twelve, Shawn’s parents got a divorce. Shawn then attended the Brooklyn High school with two of today’s better known rappers, Biggie Smalls and Busta Rhymes.

    Read More

  • Johnny Cash and Luke Bryan

    2023 Words  | 5 Pages

    Glickman, Simon. “Johnny Cash.” Newsmakers. Detroit: Gale, 1995. Student Resources in Context. Web. 13 Feb. 2014.

    Read More

  • Research Paper On Tupac Shakur

    1070 Words  | 3 Pages

    Through all his family and education issues, he standup himself to become a well-known hip-hop artist according to his history background. From all his released a couple albums and then was offered to be some movies. He make some songs and music videos with them that made it big on the Billboard charts. For example, in this movies and albums called, “Power respect Juice” (1992), “Bullet”(1996), “Gang Related” (1997), “ all eyez on me”(1996),”Greatest Hits”(1998), and “Until the end of time”(2001), according to all these released, he won prizes from music and artist industry, people can recognized him. Tupac was became rich and famous and he is not showing off his own style. This showed that this is him and who he really is. People following his beliefs because he treated people equally and judged people equally. This is a big difference from him and other hip-hop artists. He has a lot of self-values that people are influenced about

    Read More

  • Controversial Kanye West

    1560 Words  | 4 Pages

    The controversial artist Kanye West has always attempted to make known what he thinks, no matter if he has to be disrespectful or graphic in his illustrations of said topic. So it wasn't a real surprise when he chose to focus his energy into reveling to the American public horrors happening that had a direct connection with the beloved diamond stone. West's 2005 music video “Diamonds from Sierra Leone” shows the corrupted underground diamond trade in the African country, Sierra Leone. From this groundbreaking video, West showed the devastated lives those who worked on the mining rivers live. However upon further investigation into the issue of diamond workers in Sierra Leone there emerged the true source of the situation, a violent conflict between the government and rebel leaders. Due to this conflict the entire country was thrown on a downward spiral. This downward spiral eventually resulted in the people longing for the conflict to stop and for the country to come together as one again. The people of Sierra Leone want to forget about the events that transpired during their civil war, however the more we look and attempt to learn from what happened, the better we set ourselves up for the future. West's video only depicts one side of a multifaceted struggle of the diamonds in Sierra Leone, however from this one side the public is encouraged to research more into the conflict themselves and uncover the truth behind the diamonds that we so desperately love.

    Read More

  • Kanye West: Successful, Paid, Dropout

    1402 Words  | 3 Pages

    Rapper, producer, fashion designer, and actor; what does Kanye West not do? Ever since 1999, West has been using the world as his personal show to exploit all his talents. A person like this must have gone to a great university and gotten a great degree. Truth is, he didn’t. Actually, he never even graduated and was automatically considered a dropout who would never make it anywhere. Through College Dropout, Late Registration and Graduation, and his personal lifestyle, Kanye West demonstrates that in the 21st century, a self-made man can break the status quo.

    Read More

  • Kanye West

    596 Words  | 2 Pages

    He may just seem like another rapper to you but if you actually listen to his lyrics you can see he’s not like any rapper out there. His name is Kanye West and he was born in Chicago Illinois. He grew up in the “ghetto” and learned to appreciate life. He didn’t learn to really, truly appreciate life until October of 2002. Driving back to his hotel late one night after a recording session, the new-coming rap/hip-hop artist was involved in a devastating, near fatal car accident. The crash left him with a broken jaw in three places and an appreciation for life. Just weeks after being released from the hospital he recorded his first major hit, “Through the Wire,” with his mouth still wired shut. He records every song like its going to be his last song and that makes every song better than the last. He’s not only a rap artist but also a producer. He has been responsible for being behind songs like Jay-Z’s Izzo, Girls, Girls, Girls, The Takeover, and 03 Bonnie and Clyde.

    Read More

  • Kendrick Lamar

    606 Words  | 2 Pages

    Kendrick Lamar is a wonderful american rapper. His contributions to society is through his poetry and throught his throw tragic past. Kendrick Lamar achieved worldwide success when he dropped his album in 2012 named Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, and became a symbol of a new West Coast hip-hop generation.

    Read More

  • Hip Hop Misogyny Essay

    1751 Words  | 4 Pages

    Previously I hinted above about his sexism and misogynistic ways, but now I will go in depth. Hip hop misogyny has been reignited since the history of Dr. Dre’s abuse appeared again with the debut album Straight Outta Compton. The history behind misogyny has dated back decades and has gained even more pushback due to artist like Rick Ross, Drake and Kanye West. These rappers have created songs that dehumanized women from them stripping, making money, and slapping them while having intercourse. However, Kanye West gained a great amount of pushback due to his Yeezus album that greatly dehumanized, influenced sexisim and exhibited a great amount of anger towards women. The release of Straight outta Compton created a huge controversy behind sexism and abuse as it should. Dr. Dre’s beating of Dee Barnes then created a dialogue within the media due to the huge success of the movie. The creator of Straight Outta compton then made a statement after her bragging on how successful the movie was. Ava DuVernay states “I saw the cavalier way that women were treated in hip hop spaces early on. To be a woman who loves hip hop at times is to be in love with your abuser. Because the music was and is that. And yet the culture is ours. From depictions of the origins of ‘Bye Felicia’ to watching Cube bring his wife Kim to business meetings. That’s hip hop. A curious thing”. The statement was a post made on Twitter and The Daily Beast brought it to our attention. Dr. Dre contribution to this movie shows how misogyny within hip hop has become a thing even greater than NWA. The movies and his contribution fits perfectly within hip hop because it created dialogue. Not only dialogue but as I previously stated recent artist who has come in contact with West Coast members, Dr. Dre and got their flow from NWA all have misogynist characteristics in their music. Kendrick has created music on his recent album

    Read More

  • The Undeniable Influence of Kanye West

    1461 Words  | 3 Pages

    Kanye Omari West, an icon of hip-hop, pop culture, fashion and music in general. Kanye Omari West, a person belittled against and a person subjected to a life of racism and hate. Born on June 8th, 1977, Donda West, West’s mother, always knew he was destined for greatness, but did she know her son would turn out to be the Kanye West, a man lacking the respect he deserves for transforming a big part of the music we listen to on this very day? West came onto the scene in the late nineties but didn’t release The College Dropout until 2004, an album that took everybody by surprise. Kanye West changed the gangster filled rap genre by releasing his positive, soulful debut album, changing the way rappers dress, and paving the way for a whole new style of introspective lyrics and soul-inspired rap production in the mainstream.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Kanye Omari West

    2615 Words  | 6 Pages

    Kanye Omari West, rapper, producer, professional celebrity, and with an ego to match, has forced himself into the limelight of the music industry. Kanye West has made a lasting impression on all of those around him, whether it be a good one or bad. With seven full length albums, a multimillion record label company, and a successful fashion business all under his belt, it’s fair to say that Kanye has done his fair share of creating. Over the last twelve years Kanye went from a young Chicago kid just trying to get his flows off, to one of the most decorated musicians of all time. With over 20 Grammy’s and 3 of his albums ending up on the Rolling stones “500 greatest albums of all time”. He has continuously created, entertained, and spoken his mind for years. Whether it be “George Bush does not care about black people” or “Taylor imma let you finish, but Beyoncé had

    Read More

  • West's Passion Towards The Disregards Of Antisocial Personality Disor

    986 Words  | 2 Pages

    For an example prior to becoming a rap artist he was a producer who dreams where crushed time after time because no one wanted to view him as a rapper. At that time the rap industry only excepted African American men that embodied gangster mentalities and provoked anger. Although West was African American he was a college drop out with exceptional articulation that lived in the suburbs and the son of a professor. He often was ridiculed because how he would dress, his mentor and now a longtime friend has said that Hip-Hop would not except his “white boy” image (). All these characteristic was not acceptable in the culture that West was a part of and kept him in the shadows of Hip-Hop. This may have cause him anxiety towards those within his circle or even towards the music culture. He may often experience depression from the fear of acceptance or from internal beliefs that he is not acceptable. Furthermore, acceptance issues can also be rooted from his relationship with his parent’s. His mother was a single parent that was disappointed when he chose to drop out of college and his father was often distant and harsh towards

    Read More

  • Essay About Tupac

    776 Words  | 2 Pages

    At first look, Tupac may not appear to be versatile to a man who had just heard Shakur's fight rap, but Tupac was one of the most versatile rappers in the industry. In the event that you track back his career back to when his name was originally MC New York, you will see the various rap styles he really had. Melodies like Young Black Male are altogether different from his more well known tunes like Dear Mama and California Love. He covered such a wide point of view and there were various sides to him, yet the best part about him generally was that he was a person.

    Read More

  • Tupac: The Best Rapper Ever

    532 Words  | 2 Pages

    When you hear the name Tupac Amaru Shakur (2pac) you think of a rapper maybe a “Thug”. But Tupac just didn’t rap he was also a Poet. There is much more to his life than him rapping. Tupac positively affected society with his words in his songs and by singing. He was more than just a rapper.

    Read More

  • The Effects of Hip Hop on Today's Youth

    1578 Words  | 4 Pages

    Hip- hop is a standout amongst the most compelling musical sorts on the globe. There are rappers everywhere that know what amount of an impact their music can have. Some entertainers attempt to utilize that force of impact to do great (Ruiz INT).

    Read More

More about Kanye West: Life of the Progressive Hip-Hop Star

Open Document