Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, fashion designer, and entrepreneur. Raised in Chicago, West first became known as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the early 2000s, producing hit singles for artists such as Jay Z and Alicia Keys. Intent on pursuing a solo career as a rapper, West released his debut album The College Dropout in 2004 to widespread critical and commercial success. He went on to explore a variety of different musical styles on...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionRapper
Date of Birth8 June 1977
CityAtlanta, GA
CountryUnited States of America
Because when you keep on diminishing art and not respecting the craft and smacking people in their face after they deliver monumental feats of music, you're disrespectful to inspiration, and we as musicians have to inspire people who go to work every day, and they listen to that Beyonce album and they feel like it takes them to another place.
My goal, if I was going to do art, fine art, would have been to become Picasso or greater.
Great art comes from great artists. There's a bunch of people that are hurt that still couldn't have made the album that was super-polarizing and redefined the sound of radio.
I try to get as close to a childlike level as possible because we were all artists back then.
Thirty-three-years-old, still creating art. It's rage, it's creativity, it's pain, it's hurt, but it's the opportunity to still have my voice get out there through music.
The concept of commercialism in the fashion and art world is looked down upon. You know, just to think, 'What amount of creativity does it take to make something that masses of people like?' And, 'How does creativity apply across the board?'
If I was just a fan of music, I would think that I was the number one artist in the world.
I've been connected to the most culturally important albums of the past four years, the most influential artists of the past ten years. You have like, Steve Jobs, Walt Disney, Henry Ford, Howard Hughes, Nicolas Ghesquière, Anna Wintour, David Stern.
The creatives, they want to connect with people. These artists, the clothing designers, they want to connect with people the same way that music gets to connect with people. But the cost of silk is too expensive. And they won't lower their quality levels. So I can spend $2 million on a record and give it out in a democratic way. They could spend all their time making the greatest dress in the world, and it's just impossible to hand-make that many.
I will die for the art & what I believe in. The art ain't always gon' be polite.
Creative output, you know, is just pain. I'm going to be cliché for a minute and say that great art comes from pain.
I'm the No. 1 artist in the world right now ... I am the No. 1 human being in music.
I am a pop artist, so my medium is public opinion and the world is my canvas
An artist's career doesn't happen in the cycle of one week of news. An artist's career happens in a lifetime, and if you're a true artist you're willing to die for what you believe in.