West at MoMa, via Wikipedia.
Who is Kanye West?
Ye (born Kanye Omari West; June 8, 1977) stands as an American luminary in the realms of rap, vocals, songcraft, music production, and the world of fashion. Hailing from Atlanta but nurtured by the vibrant streets of Chicago, West emerged as a visionary producer under the Roc-A-Fella Records banner during the early 2000s. He etched his name in the annals of music history by crafting chart-topping singles for an array of illustrious artists, all while cultivating a production style deeply rooted in the sonorous tapestries of vintage soul music.
Driven by an unwavering desire to carve his path as a solo rap luminary, West unfurled his debut studio opus, "The College Dropout" (2004), which earned both critical acclaim and commercial triumph. In the same year, he birthed GOOD Music, his very own record label. West's musical odyssey unfolded as he ventured into uncharted sonic territories, weaving orchestral compositions, the ethereal allure of synthesizers, and the transformative tool of autotune into masterpieces like "Late Registration" (2005), "Graduation" (2007), and "808s & Heartbreak" (2008). His fifth and sixth opuses, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" (2010) and "Yeezus" (2013), further solidified his status as a creative force, eliciting both critical acclaim and commercial triumph.
West's sonic evolution continued with "The Life of Pablo" (2016) and "Ye" (2018), where he explored an even broader musical palette. In "Jesus Is King" (2019), he embarked on a spiritual journey, infusing his artistry with Christian and gospel influences. His tenth offering, "Donda" (2021), made waves in the music industry, achieving commercial success while sparking mixed critical reactions. West's expansive discography also features two full-length collaborative albums: "Watch the Throne" (2011) with Jay-Z and "Kids See Ghosts" (2018) with Kid Cudi.
A titan in the music world, West boasts over 160 million records sold and has clinched 24 Grammy Awards, along with 75 nominations, marking him as one of the most Grammy-decorated artists of all time—tied with Jay-Z. His accolades extend to the Billboard Artist Achievement Award, a remarkable three Brit Awards for Best International Male Solo Artist, and the esteemed Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. Six of West's albums found their place on Rolling Stone's prestigious 2020 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, with the same publication acknowledging him as one of the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time. He shares the joint record (with Bob Dylan) for the most albums (4) topping the annual Pazz & Jop critic poll. Time magazine has honored him as one of the 100 most influential individuals in the world in both 2005 and 2015.
Beyond his musical prowess, West has established a prominent footprint in the fashion landscape. Collaborations with esteemed brands such as Nike, Louis Vuitton, Gap, and A.P.C. have yielded innovative clothing and footwear collections. Notably, his leadership of the Yeezy collaboration with Adidas has reshaped the sneaker culture. Additionally, he serves as the founder and head of Donda, a creative content company.
West's unreserved expressions and viewpoints have garnered significant media attention. He has frequently found himself enshrouded in controversy due to his social media activities, public appearances at award ceremonies, and outspoken commentary on the music and fashion industries, U.S. politics, matters of race, and historical perspectives like slavery. His Christian faith, high-profile marriage to Kim Kardashian, and mental health have also served as focal points of media scrutiny. In 2020, West embarked on an independent presidential campaign that championed a comprehensive life ethic, albeit without electoral success. In 2022, he faced widespread condemnation and suffered the loss of numerous sponsorships and partnerships, including those with Adidas, Gap, and Balenciaga, following a series of highly controversial statements, including Holocaust denial.
West in Portland in December 2005 as a supporting act for U2 on their Vertigo Tour, via Wikipedia.
Music, fashion and art
Kanye is undeniably an individual who consistently defies expectations. He has not only triumphed in the realm of music with a multifaceted and occasionally groundbreaking discography but has also left an indelible mark in the fashion industry. Beyond these accomplishments, he stands as an avid collector of art. It's worth noting that he pursued studies in painting, even as he embarked on the unconventional path of a college dropout. Many of his albums bear covers adorned by the creations of celebrated artists such as Takashi Murakami and George Condo. Just as in music, Kanye's prowess in the realm of art lies in his remarkable talent for selecting accomplished collaborators. Thus, when he ventures into the realm of art videos to showcase his musical prowess, he frequently does so in tandem with some of the most eminent art film directors in the field.
West on the Yeezus Tour in 2013, via Wikipedia.
Takashi Murakami
Graduation cover album
The collaborative synergy between the American rapper Kanye West and the acclaimed Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami marked a significant milestone in both their respective careers.
Murakami assumed a pivotal role in shaping the artistic direction of West's album, "Graduation," and he even lent his creative talents to design the cover art for the album's accompanying singles.
Often hailed as "the Warhol of Japan," Murakami's distinctive artistic style is characterized by whimsical creatures that initially exude a friendly aura, yet harbor underlying elements of darkness and surrealism.
The genesis of the West-Murakami partnership took root when the rapper made a visit to Murakami's Kaikai Kiki studio during a brief sojourn in Asaka, Japan.
The album's artwork stands as a captivating embodiment of Murakami's association with the post-modern art movement known as Superflat, which draws its inspiration from the realms of manga and anime. The creative process was marked by continuous collaboration, with West consistently sharing fresh ideas with Murakami and his team through email correspondence.
The result of their combined efforts is a visual masterpiece awash in vibrant, pastel hues, with its focal point being the anthropomorphic teddy bear mascot known as "Dropout Bear."
Within the album's liner notes lies a narrative thread that follows Dropout Bear on a journey through the trials and tribulations of student life, encompassing transportation mishaps and the foreboding presence of a rain cloud. The storyline culminates with Dropout Bear triumphantly reaching his graduation ceremony at a fictitious college institution nestled within the futuristic cityscape of Universe City. Murakami conveyed his desire to be enveloped by the creative whirlwind that West conjures through his music, and the artwork for "Graduation" impeccably mirrors that sentiment.
Such was the acclaim for "Graduation" that Rolling Stone bestowed upon its cover art the honor of being ranked fifth among the best album covers of the year. Notably, Murakami subsequently animated his designs in a captivating three-minute music video for the album's opening track, "Good Morning."
Kids See Ghosts cover album
On April 22, 2018, Kanye West unveiled artwork by Murakami related to their forthcoming album through a Twitter post. This revelation confirmed the album's title as "Kids See Ghosts." The image, rendered in black and white, featured two caricatures that unmistakably represented West and Kid Cudi, standing alongside a smoky, enigmatic figure. The album title itself was presented in a distinctive spray paint-style font. The only elements that deviated from this monochromatic scheme were the Japanese characters, an autograph, and a sunflower. In his tweet, West aptly captioned the artwork with "Murakami vibes."
Takashi Murakami shed light on the creative process, explaining that he and his team, along with West and his associates, followed a rather rudimentary plan. They collaborated on sketching various concepts on paper. Interestingly, West proposed the idea of personifying a bear and a fox to symbolize himself and Kid Cudi, respectively. It's worth noting that Cudi initially suggested representing his persona with a dog. However, after reviewing an early sketch, West was adamant that a fox more accurately encapsulated Cudi's essence.
On June 6, 2018, Kid Cudi took to Twitter to share Murakami's artwork for the album, which closely resembled the art previously revealed by West. Murakami disclosed that the background image of Hokusai's "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji" served as the foundation for the artwork.
The cover art, awash in pastel hues, presents a hallucinatory tableau. It features a spectral figure riding atop a peculiar, sperm-shaped creature adorned with menacing teeth and haunting eyes. This eerie duo soars through a mystical forest backdrop, set against the backdrop of a looming mountain. The album title, "Kids See Ghosts," perpetuates the spectral theme that West had initiated with the release of "Ghost Town" and further continues with the album's track "Freeee (Ghost Town, Pt. 2)."
Durante il tour di Yeezus, via Wikipedia.
George Condo
In the year 2010, Kanye West released his album, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," which garnered an astounding level of critical acclaim. Amidst the overwhelming praise, there were few who dared to voice any semblance of criticism, and even then, they did so cautiously, perhaps fearing repercussions from Kanye himself. One of the notable critiques came from Rolling Stone's Rob Sheffield, who boldly asserted that "nobody with even a modicum of sanity could have conceived this album." It's a sentiment that resonates deeply. Kanye is renowned for his relentless work ethic, to the point that in 2016, he faced hospitalization due to dehydration and sleep deprivation, resulting in temporary psychosis. In a single word, one might describe him as a maverick, and his taste in art certainly mirrors that description.
For "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," West made a distinctive choice by commissioning the contemporary artist George Condo to craft the album's cover art. The collaboration unfolded at Condo's studio in New York, where the two visionaries convened to absorb the album's sonic essence. Subsequently, Condo translated this auditory journey into a series of up to nine paintings, ultimately selecting the ones that best encapsulated the album's essence for the final cover art.
This endearing, albeit slightly reminiscent of the movie "Black Swan," ballerina serves as one of the five alternate covers included with the album. Following Kanye's decision to entrust George Condo with the album's cover art, their collaboration led to multiple visits to Condo's studio as they brainstormed potential artistic concepts.
During one particularly inspirational session, they found themselves immersed in the song "Runaway." It was at this moment that Condo's wife, Anna, shared a slow-motion video clip featuring the graceful French dancer Sylvie Guillem in her mesmerizing performance. This image left an indelible imprint in West's creative psyche, and he spontaneously expressed his desire for a magnificent ballerina painting. The idea, as he put it, was akin to a ballerina raising a toast, symbolizing a celebratory gesture even to the so-called "scumbags." The rest, as they say, is history.
This particular cover art harmonizes seamlessly with Condo's signature approach known as "psychological cubism." It serves as a visual representation of the multitude of facets that coexist within the enigmatic persona of Kanye. Here, we glimpse the embodiment of his God complex, his identity as a rapper, the maestro producer, the artist, the visionary fashion designer, the role he plays as Kim K's ex husband, and the profound responsibility of fatherhood to North and Saint—all encapsulated within a single, profoundly disquieting image.
Examining this artwork is akin to entering a room where Kanye himself resides—an experience that's disconcerting, even unsettling, and occasionally jolting, yet, above all, undeniably enthralling.
The rationale behind this painting becomes evident when we consider a direct statement from Kanye himself: "I am Warhol. I am the most influential artist of our generation. I am the living embodiment of Shakespeare, Walt Disney, Nike, Google. Now, who will step forward as the Medici family and empower me to create further? Or do you intend to confine me until my moment has passed?" Kanye's self-perception is well-documented, and it transcends the boundaries of conventional self-assuredness. His belief in being "Shakespeare in the flesh" serves as the key to deciphering this artwork, reminiscent of the tragic King Lear.
However, in this case, the tragedy takes on a different form—Kanye's narrative is not one of demise and familial downfall but rather a self-imposed exile of sorts. It echoes elements of Shakespearean drama while charting its unique course. In truth, West simply had an affinity for the idea of a Shakespearean narrative in his art.
On a tangential note, one may wonder if Kanye genuinely believes that he requires the support of a Medici-like patronage, given his substantial net worth of $145 million.
As you can observe, this cover essentially mirrors the one mentioned previously, with the notable omission of the decapitated head element. Could this deliberate alteration be alluding to Kanye's conviction of invincibility and, perhaps, even immortality? While the exact meaning remains shrouded in ambiguity, one thing is certain—it is intrinsically linked to Kanye's colossal ego.
In fact, it's a recurring theme that virtually every facet of Kanye's creative endeavors bears the indelible imprint of his immense self-regard.
Condo himself: "She embodies a fragmentary essence, straddling the realms of a sphinx, a phoenix, and a haunting specter, akin to a harpy." In stark contrast, Kanye appears to inhabit an obscure, dilapidated backroom of a Chicago blues club frozen in a time warp reminiscent of the 1970s, casually sipping a beer. It's a portrayal so far removed from the Kanye West we know that it evokes a visceral reaction—almost a primal scream of sorts.
It's safe to say that this artistic composition pushes the boundaries of conventional cover art, inviting contemplation and, undoubtedly, some raised eyebrows. But who, indeed, can cast judgment? The verdict ultimately came from the likes of Wal-Mart, iTunes, Spotify, and eventually, the entire United States, as it faced bans across these platforms.
In Kanye's typical fashion, he unleashed a torrent of tweets, expressing his frustration and incredulity: "So Nirvana can feature a naked human on their cover, but I can't showcase a PAINTING of a creature with absent limbs, a polka-dotted tail, and wings." However, this controversy was, in fact, a meticulously orchestrated publicity stunt. It's whispered among insiders that when West commissioned these works from Condo, he explicitly sought something provocative enough to provoke a ban. Classic Kanye, wouldn't you agree? Condo, for his part, willingly embraced the spectacle, recognizing that it would only serve to elevate the profile of his artwork. And elevate it did—sales skyrocketed to half a million copies within the first week, propelling the album to the pinnacle of the charts.
To facilitate album sales, a crucial step was taken—namely, the censorship of the artwork, driven by concerns over its potential to disturb young audiences. Curiously, in this effort to safeguard the sensibilities of children, the focus zeroed in on censoring the visual representation while Kanye's lyrical content remained untouched—a quirk that underscores the intriguing idiosyncrasies of our world.
"My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" marked just the beginning of the collaborative journey between Condo and Kanye. In a subsequent venture, they embarked on a creation (or some might argue, a deconstruction) that revolved around an Hermes Birkin bag, an extravagant gift for Kim Kardashian during Christmas in 2013. Condo lent his artistic touch, crafting his interpretation of "The Judgment of Paris." However, instead of Paris adjudicating the fairest among Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena, the purse became the stage for Kanye to assert his judgment regarding the prettiest entity between a nude Kim and two eerie apparitions. The verdict was unequivocal, though the resulting bag sparked a maelstrom of criticism, evident in the impassioned and rather contentious comments section on Kim's Instagram.
In sum, Condo and Kanye's collaborations have consistently raised eyebrows, provoking both curiosity and amusement. During an interview addressing their collaboration on "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," Condo tantalizingly hinted at the prospect of future joint endeavors between the two. The anticipation of ensuing drama is met with high expectations.
Kanye West at Coachella Festival in 2006, via Wikipedia.
Kanye West's Teenage Artwork
Kanye West's early artistic creations from his childhood may one day find themselves gracing the walls of a museum, as an art collector has reportedly acquired the entire collection.
As reported by Page Six, entrepreneur Vinoda Basnayake was deeply captivated by the rapper's teenage drawings and paintings when he encountered them on an episode of "Antiques Roadshow" in April 2020. This encounter inspired him to embark on a determined quest to locate and procure these artworks for his personal collection. A source, who accompanied Basnayake during the recent acquisition of West's artworks, shared with the publication, "Kanye’s cousin possessed this treasure trove, a collection that had originated from Kanye's student days at Polaris School in Chicago." While the collector remains bound by a non-disclosure agreement regarding the purchase price, it's worth noting that when the portfolio was initially appraised on the PBS program, its estimated value ranged between $16,000 and $23,000.
The collection comprises artworks dating back to 1995, a time when Kanye West was merely 17 years old. It encompasses a variety of mediums, including pieces rendered in graphite, gouache on board, and scratchboard. In an episode of "Antiques Roadshow," appraiser Laura Woolley shed light on West's remarkable artistic journey, remarking, "By the age of 17, he had already undertaken studies at remarkable artistic institutions." She highlighted the rapper's rich educational background, which included stints at prestigious establishments such as the Hyde Park Art Academy, the Art Institute of Chicago, Nanjing University in China, and the Polaris School for Individual Education. Woolley further expressed, "I believe these pieces underscore his exceptional artistic talent."
Recently, Kim Kardashian, West's ex-wife, took the opportunity to remind fans of the musician's artistic prowess. This came in response to widespread skepticism on the internet regarding the authenticity of a painting that Kim asserted was crafted by their seven-year-old daughter, North. In response to the skeptics, the reality star shared a photo of the very same artworks now residing in Vinoda Basnayake's private collection. On her Instagram Stories, she captioned the post with, "Throwback to some of her dad's artwork from when he was a kid," accompanied by a DNA emoji, suggesting that the artistic talent indeed runs prominently in the family.
Selena Mattei
