The Life of Kanye: Power in the Hip-Hop Industry and American Pop Culture
Article: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-passion-of-kanye-west-20060209
Kanye West is a polarizing figure in the hip-hop scene. His musical ability is unquestionable: each of his 8 studio albums have gone platinum, earning him a total of 21 Grammy Awards However, critics argue that his arrogant and often rude persona projects an image of narcissism. In analyzing West’s success as a rapper and pop cultural icon, it is evident that West’s ability to make connections with promising young musicians as well as established artists helped his musical career blossom. Furthermore, his divisive personality actually contributed to his ability to succeed as a modern celebrity.
Yeezy, as he is known informally, began as a producer in Chicago in the mid-90s. After several successful hits and prominent features, West got his “big break” producing Jay-Z’s comeback album The Blueprint. After recognition working as a producer with Jay-Z and other stars including Alicia Keys, Twista, and Ludacris, West released his enormously successful debut album The College Dropout. In his early career, West was clever to network with other powerful musical icons and not necessarily garner immediate rewards as a rapper. As the article describes, Jay-Z’s Roc-a-Fella records signed him initially not as a result of his musical talent but because they did not want him to join a different label. This is similar to a bargaining situation in which Kanye West’s outside options literally allowed him to get a higher reward. After the birth of his own label, G.O.O.D. Music, West signed now famous musicians including Kid Cudi, John Legend, and Desiigner. Such connections have made him very much a center of the hip-hop collaboration network and facilitated his continued success. The addition of various outside options have increased Kanye’s between-ness earlier in his career and dependence more recently, enabling his relative power in hip-hop to continue growing.
In addition his musical power, it can be argued that Kanye West’s public actions, though controversial, have enabled him to become a more powerful player in the grander scheme of American culture. These actions further draw him into the spotlight, allowing influence that he otherwise may not have had. High profile outbursts such as one against George Bush following Hurricane Katrina and one against Taylor Swift at the MTV VMA Awards have familiarized many Americans with West’s unique personality even if they didn’t know about his music. West’s fame itself does not necessarily lead to power, but his platform certainly elevates his influence on American culture, as evidenced by the popularity of West’s fashion labels. In the context of power in social networks, West wields an added influence that stems from his decision to put himself in controversy, effectively leveraging his status for attention and, subsequently, success. Since his debut in 2004, West has remained an icon of pop culture and consistently produced critically acclaimed music.