Kanye West - The Man Who Can't Be Stopped

For better or worse, Kanye West is a true force to be reckoned with.
He is without a doubt, one of the most interesting, powerful, and influential human beings that has shaped music and pop culture like only a few have ever done. And I’d argue that he may also be one of the most controversial to have ever lived. Strangely enough, perhaps well surpassing Michael Jackson and the King of Pop’s own battles with an unwanted image he was often associated with.
But I think Kanye has taken it further than anyone before and for what it’s worth, I believe it’s important to recognise and analyse his current infamy if you will. While most would likely say his career has taken a dramatic and dizzying downfall of late, and for very good reasons, I would argue that in any other sense, Kanye West has never been so prevalent and on the mind of almost anyone in both the music industry and pop cultural space.
There are a literally hundreds, if not thousands, of posts from people who eagerly awaited his album release of Vultures, with just as much attention on his personal life being examined in the news and trashy tabloids. It’s almost like no matter what he does, whatever scandalous things he says, Kanye West is a man who cannot be stopped.
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Who is Kanye West?
Ye (/jeɪ/ YAY; born Kanye Omari West /ˈkɑːnjeɪ/ KAHN-yay; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, record producer, singer, songwriter, and fashion designer. One of the world's best-selling music artists with 160 million records sold, West has won 24 Grammy Awards, the joint tenth-most of all time and most awarded for any hip hop artist jointly with Jay-Z. His other accolades include a Billboard Artist Achievement Award, a joint-record three Brit Awards for Best International Male Solo Artist and the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
West's first six solo albums-The College Dropout (2004), Late Registration (2005), Graduation (2007), 808s & Heartbreak (2008), My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), and Yeezus (2013)-were included on Rolling Stone's 2020 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list with the same publication naming him one of the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time. He also released the collaborative albums Watch the Throne (2011) with Jay-Z, Kids See Ghosts (2018) with Kid Cudi, and Vultures 1 (2024) with Ty Dolla Sign. West holds the joint record (with Bob Dylan) for most albums (4) topping the annual Pazz & Jop critic poll. Time named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2005 and 2015. As a fashion designer, he has collaborated with Nike, Inc., Louis Vuitton, Gap Inc., and A.P.C. on clothing and footwear and led the Yeezy collaboration with Adidas.
West's outspoken views have received significant media coverage. He has been a frequent source of controversy due to his conduct on social media and at awards shows and public settings, as well as his comments on the music and fashion industries, U.S. politics, race, and slavery. His Christian faith, high-profile marriage to Kim Kardashian, and mental health have also been topics of media attention. In 2020, West launched an unsuccessful independent presidential campaign that advocated for a consistent life ethic. In October 2022, he was widely condemned and lost many sponsors and partnerships-including his collaborations with Adidas, Gap, and Balenciaga-after making a series of antisemitic statements, including praising Adolf Hitler and denying the Holocaust.
West was born on June 8, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia. After his parents divorced when he was three years old, he moved with his mother to Chicago, Illinois. His father, Ray West, is a former Black Panther and was one of the first black photojournalists at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Ray later became a Christian counselor, and in 2006, opened the Good Water Store and Café in Lexington Park, Maryland, with startup capital from his son. West's mother, Donda C. West (née Williams), was a professor of English at Clark Atlanta University and the Chair of the English Department at Chicago State University before retiring to serve as his manager.
West was raised in a middle-class environment, attending Polaris School for Individual Education in suburban Oak Lawn, Illinois.
And if you’re still reading this - hello.
This video is made through Fair Use under copyright law for the purposes of education in criticism or review; as well as parody or satire. www.copyright.gov/title17/92c www.copyright.org.au/ACC_Prod

[@finaltouch998]

This was a beautiful piece on Ye. Once you put Beg Forgiveness in the background I started crying. Ye is the only artist that brings that emotion out of me. Only Ye music can make me cry.

[@YeTism]

There was no one like him before him and there will never be another like him.

[@barry4649]

Tupac the only one really

[@motioninart]

agreed

[@thesenseiabrahams]

He reminds me of Napoleon

[@houragents5490]

The Great Man theory is true

[@DerrickVanderspoon]

And for that fact, that there will never be another one like him again, I am eternally thankful.

[@neilk]

Hey man, this randomly showed up in my suggested and I am so glad I stumbled upon this video. Not only did you articulate my own thoughts concerning Kanye better than I've been trying to, you gave me literal chills with that second half. Sharing some of my own thoughts, I think Kanye's recent peak of controversy is one of the most interesting case studies when it comes to separating the art from the artist; it raises a ton of important questions about where we collectively draw the line versus individually. I'm of the belief that relatively speaking, the worst Kanye has done is say a bunch of really ignorant shit and when compared to his contemporaries, there has been zero history of any actual truly heinous action. I don't think he is intentionally anti-semitic either; when you get into the nitty gritty of it all, I think the problem is more so rooted in Kanye's incredibly poor communication of his belief of Black Israelite ideology (mind you an ideology that a number of rappers have endorsed including Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, and Jay Electronica), his excessively literal interpretation of the biblical message of "love everyone," (in reference to his "I love Hitler" statement), and his addiction to controversy. Despite this, I will never deny his behavior being worthy of criticism along with the consequences that have followed as a result, they are deserved. The association with Nick Fuentes and Milo Yiannopoulos are probably some of the most questionable things Kanye has done and I understand how this, along with what can be deemed as hateful rhetoric, can lead to some never wanting to consume his art again. However, I think that this crowd of intentional non-listeners are somewhat ignorant to how the concept of controversy has been the driving force of Kanye's entire career, even to his detriment. In an extreme sense, I view his entire career as one utterly fascinating instance of performance art contextualizing the addiction to tearing oneself down in order to use the ensuing fallout to build themselves back up to reach even greater heights. It's a vicious cycle that has gotten progressively worse over the recent years when it comes to the damage done, but has arguably brought him more fame than ever. Now, is this something that should be encouraged? I don't think anyone can really answer that except Kanye himself, especially when considering just how vital this cycle is to his success. Like it or not, Kanye is truly one of a kind, and to me is a reminder to focus on the individual rather than society's obsession with black and white labeling. The man has been unapologetically himself since day one and this is precisely the reason he's been such a cultural juggernaut. I believe he once said in an interview, "if you're a fan of Kanye West, then you're a fan of yourself." It's the sheer self-belief, confidence, and willingness to push virtually every single cultural boundary within Kanye that has gotten him to where he is today. It doesn't excuse his actions, but it contextualizes them in a way that makes him akin to someone like Kobe Bryant, both of whom serve as reminders that any height can be reached. Maybe this is all some sort of elaborate cope for me to continue consuming a supposed bigot's art, but even if that was the case, that should not be a reason to ostracize. In the words of the man himself, "name one genius that ain't crazy."

[@TheComedyHistorian]

Great video. Kanye is my generation’s artist, and I’ll listen to his music no matter what. I don’t have to agree with every word or idea that leaves his mouth. He’s an incredible artist who’s been producing great music since he was just a young man, and with the release of Vultures he’s shown that he’s not washed and that there’s plenty more where that came from

[@CultureColours]

People are so scared of getting cancelled they can't even talk about it without prefacing it with "I in no way support or agree with what he does"

[@motioninart]

to an extent, but it's also sharing an opinion that's more to the point of why you need to add that preface

[@nickberkawitz6451]

Kanye has said horribly racist hate speech. I think the creator wanted it to be clear he isn't praising those specific comments.

[@RADIOACTIVEYOUTH]

@@nickberkawitz6451if that’s considered hate speech than Kanye been saying hate speech his entire career 😅🤷🏾‍♂️

[@DerrickVanderspoon]

I mean, I think it’s a pretty important distinction to make when the public figure whose art you’re discussing is a mentally ill narcissist who’s been going in racially charged tirades and saying that he “sees good things about hitler”. It’s like doing a video essay on Rosemary’s Baby, where it’s not technically a must, but it also doesn’t exactly hurt to mention that while the movie is excellent and extremely influential, Roman Polanski himself is still a sexual predator and a tremendous pos. It’s just one of those things that you probably should mention.

[@cigarr3870]

Brave video seeing how many people come out of the woodwork to hate the guy. It's not easy to seperate art from artist, and I do believe his music is art.

[@motioninart]

glad to hear it. it's a difficult subject. hopefully I've captured the nuances in an objective way. And I do resonate with your last sentence and I think it's important to remember that.

[@SuperTuna23]

You would think Ye’s a mass murderer that spread hate the way he’s talked about today, It’s odd.

[@helenaasousa]

kanye is the never ending stream of consciousness. Congrats! Your vid is thought provoking & very well made. I enjoyed!

[@rocketcat086]

These vids have been goin hard fam

[@motioninart]

glad to hear it

[@mysteries_117]

I'm glad Kanye still making albums regardless of what people are saymng

[@rakeemkoroma2398]

he knows his role and he plays his role, reminds me of Anakin Skywalker or Leto III from Dune, they both brought down an old order of things that stagnated society, and through horrible actions were key in a new way for society, giving us more opportunities by removing what was holding us back

[@nikkirobertson2341]

This is exactly what he is trying to do.

[@w1zent91]

Kanye isn't racist. Are people not allowed to call out a specific group? Of course he could have worded it better, but like you mentioned, he didn't do anything illegal. Great breakdown.

[@redherring777]

Its not racism because ashkenazi jews are not a race, when people act "anti-semitic" its almost exclusively towards ashkenazi jewish business men and very rarely other much less powerful ashkenazi jewish people that are just like the rest of us. Its clear that kanye doesnt hate ashkenazi jews as a whole, hes missing a lot of historical context as to why most business men in america and europe are ashkenazi jewish and he seems to be taking a lot of this stuff from Jay-Z and Ice Cube. The main problem with what kanye was saying in 2022 was that he was historically incorrect about most of what he said, if he knew more about history he probably would've just been spreading the Christian message and I wouldn't have a problem with what he was doing then.

[@DerrickVanderspoon]

I mean, it’s kinda hard to say he’s not racist when he said he sees good things about Hitler you shithead.

[@madetomiwaolayinka419]

This is a masterpiece!!!!!!!

[@EnsonBarker]

This hits close to home, for some reason, all of my anger has been channeled through this album. W video.

[@RADIOACTIVEYOUTH]

Majority of people haven’t done enough research on the origins of the nazis and their party leader to even objectively claim what ye said was hate speech. Majority of people just follow the narratives and social media indoctrination instead of forming their own opinions. I stand with Kanye cause he understands this and doesn’t submit to peer pressure and speaks his truth. The thing about truth it’s very divisive.

[@Alexander-xk2nb]

Absolute fucking banger.

[@Noche559]

Who needs CNN when we have you. Well done lad.

[@hexon8013]

W video

[@ThaAlfaMale]

It’s Christianity. His own interpretation of it perhaps. “Love your enemies”. A seeker/philosopher that’s fundamentally influenced by the bible can easily reach these conclusions. Christ’s message was one of love. Everyone, even the worst amongst us has value, hence Mr. Moustache does too, in spite of his well documented catastrophic failings. Society has become everything it once criticised the church of: self-righteous and puritanical. It’s because of his status and following that he’s being held to a different standard and the anarchist within rebels against that…how does the vitriol being thrown at him make the incensed any better? Where is the moral high ground in a mud fight? By whose standards and what source of transcendence do they self-anoint? “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” … He’d better remain vigilant and careful. One crucial slip up is all they need.

[@ThaAlfaMale]

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”/“When you begin a journey of revenge, start by digging two graves: one for your enemy, and one for yourself.”/“You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. ' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also”.

[@YeFansMalaysia]

Mr moustache apart from awful thing he do. He achieved a lot throughout his career. People should study and analyze what he achieve. Ye is not wrong, he also move forward with the doctor that he blame cause his mother death, love everybody.

THIS VERSION OF KANYE WILL LEAD MUSIC INTO A NEW ERA.

[@TheComedyHistorian]

“The only rapper compared to Michael.” -Yeezus

[@kieransenra5996]

fantastic video

[@YeFansMalaysia]

What is ye saying is true, very true. He did many questionable things since the very first day, Once he cross that "one" line. Ooh he must be cancelled. You cant cancelled him, he already said long before this, he is cannot be cancelled. Yes, we the fans, one of three reason he still here and fighting. In 10 years, you know he is right. He is always ahead of time.

[@ajsjbf832huidsnaji]

This video perfectly explains the song beg forgiveness, like the line “I still wake up with murder on my mind” is him still wanting to be controversial and hurt people.

[@younggod3906]

🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐

[@pourladentelle]

I honestly Kanye is tg greatest ever since Michael Jackson!

[@ericaolive]

i don't think kanye is playing a character at all. i think he's a deeply insecure man who dabbled in casual antisemitism, and decided he has to make it his whole personality. i think a lot of the hate he spreads is played up for shock value, but saying this is a character is giving him way too much credit

[@Damnitookyobitch]

discounting his psychological disorder is weird af to me

[@ericaolive]

@@Damnitookyobitch you're right. i should've mentioned his psychological disorder. kanye needs help, but his whole fanbase is rewarding his poor decisions. in king, he says "bipolar, antisemite, and i'm still the king." this breaks my heart cuz kanye can change his antisemitic and white supremacist beliefs, but relating it to his bipolar disorder shows us that he doesn't belive he can change. simultaneously, i've heard so many fans of his repeat the phrase "seperate the art from the artist." if you truly belive this phrase, then you do not care about kanye's wellbeing. kanye is in the middle of a mental health crisis, and y'all are taking front row seats

[@thesenseiabrahams]

I think he just doesn’t give a fuck & says whatever the fuck he wants to say 😂

[@user-se2hh5xw2o]

kanye and insecurity are 2 things I would never think I'd hear being put together

[@SandiBrite-ef2bw]

Love Ye❤️🔥🐐👑❤️🔥🐐👑 #KanyeWest #Vultures1

[@kyussfan6]

There nothing “goat” about this “man.” He’s just really good at pressing buttons and clicking preset knobs on a computer.

[@adityadewan1617]

I miss the old Kanye

[@DTheAustralian]

Straight from the go Kanye

[@yogijaya2897]

WE ❤ The One and Only KANYE WEST This was an excellent production and I'm overjoyed on this lonely and sad Valentine's Day 24 since My Beautiful Shotta passed away. Please #PayAttenton to what this creator says ,which I also say daily several times, about how YE gave the most Christian Values words spoken since CHRIST Himself...and now they wanna call him some thing else. Don't believe the headlines; Listen to YOUR HEART and your SOUL will follow. Hopefully your a$s will too. I m.so.imlressed by this video and will be sharing around the world. I'm so glad you overstand and innerstand what this Man has done,.and continues to do. Ye knows his platform and will NOT waste any time getting the job done!!! Much Love from ⚓ LawDawg

[@footballdesk4417]

I love the new Kanye. The no jews Kanye.

[@kanyesouth9397]

Chop up the beats kanye

[@redherring777]

Soon vultures kanye will be the old kanye since tlop is generally considered old kanye now, you guys need to stop being blindly nostalgic consumers

[@rile7648]

No way this isnt sarcastic (written before watching)

[@FjKGKjF]

A.I Kanye is not relevant anymore : A.I beats, A.i vocals. Miss the old Ye'.

[@cranklabexplosion-labcentr8245]

He’s one of the most influential NSBM artists out there. HAIL FROM SWEEDEN!

[@subtoewe4088]

Yo how is Sweden to you I’m trying to go hopefully to stay even

[@barbzch]

Yikes! This is Motion In Art's season 4 to his TD critiques. Vapid flowery words for a Paris Hilton type pop guy who build his fame on Takashi Murakami imagery, and karaoke over a butchered Daft Punk track. There is nothing interesting about worship of/and submission to old money. Gucci, adidas, nike, whatever, who cares. It's the world according to the most mundane set of rules. It's advertising.

[@D4n1t0o]

Those first 14 seconds are insane given we're talking about a guy famous for doing nursery rhymes over beats he makes on his computer and going on schizo rants.

[@DamTheKid]

Get friends loser

[@YeTism]

This is a boomer ahh take

[@D4n1t0o]

@@YeTism Your username 👀

[@YeTism]

@@D4n1t0o yes 🗿

[@cigarr3870]

Reductive take from a midwit.

[@Zavonofcats]

Ye ain't wrong tho.

[@MrGageHarrison]

Yea, just some casual antisemitism is okay, right? Let me guess, you’re not Jewish

[@DOM-rt8ht]

@@MrGageHarrisonnobody cares Kanye is the goat

[@rwh6867]

@@DOM-rt8ht braindead zombie

[@redherring777]

Hes spread historical fallacies before though

[@younggod3906]

@@DOM-rt8ht🐐🐐🐐

[@DD-zh4by]

The most overrated artist of all time.

[@r99716]

bladee > kanye

[@blinky.5078]

Truee3

[@cranklabexplosion-labcentr8245]

Literally anyone > kanye

[@kyussfan6]

Viper the rapper >>>>>>>>> kanye​@@cranklabexplosion-labcentr8245

[@RadzHexz]

Bladee is alright, but nowhere near as prolific as ye. Sad how much lunacy he's leaned into tho

[@r99716]

@@RadzHexz the only good song Kanye's ever made was Flashing Lights. the best thing he's ever produced was his tweet about waking up next to a water bottle on an airplane, that was pure gold