Rabat – Kanye’s career has been nothing short of remarkable, starting with his modest beginnings as a producer and ending with his current stature as a worldwide legend.
However, beyond the glamour and flash, there is a story of metamorphosis and rebirth that has left both fans and critics pondering: What happened to Kanye West?
Kanye West 101
In the past, Kanye was just a fresh-faced producer with a dream and a penchant for oversized sunglasses.
After emerging from the early 2000s lively hip-hop culture, Kanye made a name for himself as a visionary with an ear for ground-breaking tracks.
Some of the most recognizable beats in hip-hop history were created by him, and his solo career took off like a SpaceX rocket.
From “College Dropout” to “Graduation,” Kanye was the poster child for artistic innovation and unapologetic albums.
Sparking controversy with swagger
Kanye’s desire for controversy increased along with his notoriety.
Kanye has no shortage of attention-grabbing disputes and captivating stories to tell.
From his controversial interruption of Taylor Swift at the VMAs to his tense relationship with the media, his notorious outbursts became the stuff of legend.
At the 2009 VMAs, as Taylor Swift tried to receive her award for Best Video by a Female Artist, Kanye West stormed the stage and interrupted Swift, saying, “I’mma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time! One of the best videos of all time!”
The 2009 VMAs incident sparked a rocky relationship between the two stars.
Since then, West and Swift have had several public arguments.
In addition, Kanye and the paparazzi have clashed several times throughout the years, resulting in heated confrontations that were captured by cameras and shared by news outlets.
Nichol Lechmanik, a paparazzi photographer, sued Kanye West in 2023, claiming assault, battery, and negligence.
The legal action started because West was caught on camera grabbing Lechmanik’s phone and throwing it onto the street during a disagreement.
Not to mention that Kanye has expressed publicly his dissatisfaction with the way the media has portrayed him.
Media scrutiny of Kanye’s personal life, including his relationships and mental health struggles, has been relentless.
For example, everyone was discussing the divorce between Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.
Headlines like “Kim Kardashian and Kanye West reach divorce settlement” and “Kim Kardashian Says Kanye West’s Social Media Posts Created Emotional Distress in New Filing” were everywhere.
This makes us ponder: was he always this way or did he actually change?
A commenter on X, formerly Twitter, expressed, “Kanye West never changed. he has always been crazy.”
What happened to Ye?
“I do find him different than he was back then,” said John Legend during his interview on the podcast On With Kara Swisher. “But, you know, I think life happens to people, and I think the death of his mother probably had something to do with this.”
The tragic death of Kanye West’s mother, Donda West, in 2007 had a profound and lasting impact on him.
Donda, who served as both a mentor and a manager to Kanye, was a central figure in his life and career.
After complications from cosmetic surgery, she passed very suddenly, leaving Kanye distraught and struggling with deep loss.
Following his mother’s passing, Kanye’s actions grew more unpredictable, and his public demeanor changed noticeably.
Songs like “Only One” and “Hey Mama” serve as poignant tributes to Donda, offering glimpses into Kanye’s grief-stricken psyche.
Some contend he’s just lost the plot, while others claim he’s a genius ahead of his time.
On Reddit, users established a subreddit named “r/kanye,” entirely dedicated to Kanye, where they engage in discussions about him and his life.
One user initiated a thread with the question, “What happened,” prompting others to share their perspectives on the events surrounding Kanye.
From his unexpected foray into fashion with the now-iconic Yeezy brand to his Twitter tirades that leave social media ablaze, Kanye’s life has become a spectacle unto itself.
The biggest change in Kanye’s story may have been brought about by his highly visible mental health issues.
Kanye has discussed his struggle with bipolar disorder in a number of frank interviews and social media posts, bringing attention to the value of mental health in a field that sometimes glamorizes excess and instability.
In an act that seemed only wild enough that it could have happened in 2020, West shocked both the political and entertainment worlds when he unexpectedly declared his ambition to run for US president.
Not to mention the superstar has supported Donald Trumps presidency on multiple occasions
During an interview with Forbes, Kanye mentioned that he no longuer supports Trump, stating that, “it looks like one big mess.”
Recognized for his audacious declarations and capricious conduct, Kanye’s entry into the political sphere was greeted with a mixture of doubt, interest, and even laughter.
Using the hashtag #2020VISION, the rapper and fashion mogul announced his candidacy for president on Twitter on July 4, 2020.
According to Andscapen a Black-led media platform, narrator Coodie Simmons tries to sum up his nearly twenty-five-year friendship with the artist, towards the end of the third part of “jeen-yuhs,” Netflix’s documentary on Kanye West.
“You might say you miss the old Kanye. But what I’m realizing now is that every part of Kanye makes him who he is,” said Simon. “Even with everything that’s changed, I still see so much of the person that I first put my camera on 21 years ago.”
Furthermore, there is Kanye West’s mental illness.
Ye received a bipolar disorder diagnosis following a psychiatric emergency hospitalization in 2016.
Ever since, he’s talked candidly about experiencing manic episodes and has often used tweets and performances to convey himself.
This admission came after years of erratic behavior and public outbursts, which had often been attributed to his larger-than-life persona and creative genius.
Kanye’s evolution is far from complete.
He keeps pushing the boundaries and upending the status quo every day, whether it’s via his innovative fashion collaborations or his outspoken political views.
Love him or loathe him, you can’t deny the impact Kanye has had on the cultural landscape.
As long as there are cameras flashing and headlines spinning, the saga of Kanye and the media will continue to captivate audiences around the world.
