The table talk on Monday soon turned from the topic of the music that fuels our lives to a discussion on Kanye West. Throughout his span as an artist, you can say that he’s had his ups and downs. From controversial comments to starting a church, Kanye West has been all over the place. But the question is: has he done enough to be truly respected artist? While Kanye may say crazy things that many of us don’t believe, there is a fraction of people who take what he says to heart. So when he decided to move from hip-hop to gospel, I wondered if his fans would follow with him and if what he says will have an actual impact. Many of us ended up confused because we don’t know what his next steps will be. Will he continue going down a religious path or will he transition back into rap? Will he continue to support Trump or will he consider switching to a party that is more encouraging of diversity? These questions make it hard to decide if Kanye can really be respected. Some of the words that have come out of his mouth have been harsh and aggressive, but if he really is turning over a new leaf, I think people will be able to take him much more seriously. However, if his unwavering support for the Trump Administration continues, it will be hard for a lot of the younger generation to take his side. So overall, I don’t know if Kanye West is a respected musician. I admire his work and enjoy listening to his music, but it’s hard to separate his work from his personal beliefs. If Kanye can prove that he has changed and if he can garner interest from the millennial and gen Z groups, then, yes, I do believe that he will be regarded in a different light.