Always on Another Level

Kanye don’t play when it comes to doing things different

A fashion show….at Madison Square Gardens? Models as mannequins? Naomi “Always Damn Fine” Campbell? Releasing your highly anticipated album as the background music? Streaming it on your friend’s service in over 700 theaters and 23 countries? It’s all pretty large.

Let me say this — I’m no artist. When I say that I mean, if someone throws something abstract up at me — let’s say a haiku about starfish…I’m at a lost of words. When I look at dance, I can only say if I like it or not. And, well everyone has an opinion.

I’ll say that I just don’t understand Kanye. I don’t understand the clothes. I don’t understand the music. I don’t understand his angst.

What I do understand is that as a people, we have a small box that we put around what expression we define as “Black.”

And Kanye’s not scared. He’s not scared to try something different. And all of this — is really different for a producer from South Chicago. No one thought that he could rise above that. And then when he became a rapper, he said he had to fight tooth and nail to become a designer. He jumped from Nike to Adidas. All the while putting out three seasons of clothing and shoes.

He Started Different

Them College/School titled albums…some other stuff. He could have ran that for his whole career, EPMD did. He would be on Student Loans Paid now. And just as I finally signed up with Graduation (I wasn’t totally sold on Kanye before that — sue me), He changed it up.

That 808s & Heartbreaks was like a 180 degree change from the albums that landed Kanye his fanbase. No sample-heavy songs. No hard raps. He was singing; autotune singing. Strolling around with that block/heart pinned on and that faux hawk. One would think that he would be afraid of loosing people. Instead, in the eight years since 808s release, this album has become the model for the singing challenged from the OVO to the ATL.

Note: His mother passed away in 2007. Aside from his 2005, “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people” comment, his behaviour wasn’t any more erratic than the average rapper.

Midas Touch

I ain’t never did it. But I saw people lined up. April 2009. People fought, borrowed, and stole to get a pair of the Air Yeezys, Kanye’s collaboration with Nike. Try to cop a pair now and you’ll pay between $1,400 to damn near $5,000 on everyone’s favorite reseller, eBay.

Those were followed by the Yeezy Red October jawns…again, people wasn’t playing on getting a pair of these. That red was so magnetic (for some folk) and other shoe brands put out their own all-red kicks. I saw a pair of these on eBay for $20gs….no, really.

What do you think that does to a person’s ego?

Kanye wanted a percentage. Nike said, “hell no.” He took his services to Adidas and it is through them that he’s put out his last two clothing lines.

Yeezy Season 3

“I really appreciate ya’ll coming and supporting this event.” Kanye ended the show thanking the fans for “supporting the frame of mind,” and then debut a preview of his video game, “Only One”dedicated to his mom. “Do you know how hard this is?” He asked the enthusiastic audience.

I had no intention on watching the Fashion Show, despite seeing people post about it on Facebook and Twitter. But when I read about it being in Madison Square Garden…I had to tune in….and tell as many people as possible.

I have my opinions. But I’ll keep those. It’s 2016. All I can say is, Kanye is unafraid. He’s unabashedly an artist. Not imitating any of his peers. A self proclaimed genius — I don’t know if that’s measurable. What is measurable is whatever he does, people tune in — whether it’s to hate or to support regardless of the quality. This spectacle was no exception.

“I just want to bring as much beauty into the world as possible,” He proclaimed as the show wound down. His heart is in the right place, that much can be said. Whether he’s remembered as someone who did that remains to be seen. Whatever he does, people are sure to be watching.