Summary
Early Career and Background
This Rolling Stone article profiles
Kanye West shortly after the release of his debut album
"The College Dropout", which had already sold over a million copies. Written by Touré, the article portrays West as a successful producer-turned-rapper who was earning between $75,000 and $100,000 per track for his production work, including Alicia Keys' chart-topping "You Don't Know My Name." Jay-Z, who had worked with West on the 2001 hit "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)," praises West's creativity, noting that his music stands out in an industry where many artists sound similar.Born in Atlanta as the only child of Donda West, an English professor at Chicago State University, and Ray West, a pastoral counselor, Kanye's parents divorced when he was three. He moved to Chicago with his mother, with whom he developed an extremely close relationship. His mother describes being his biggest fan, purchasing multiple copies of his album rather than accepting free ones. His father indicates they maintained contact despite what Kanye described as a "strained" relationship.
Education and Musical Development
West began rhyming in third grade and developed an interest in designing video games in seventh grade, which led to his fascination with sound programming. Despite taking honors classes in high school, West was already selling beats for $50 to $200. His artistic talents earned him a one-semester scholarship to the American Academy of Art in Chicago, but he was reluctant to take out loans for further education.Following his mother's career path, he attended Chicago State University at a reduced cost but remained disenchanted with formal education, even taking piano lessons which he later considered a waste of money. After a semester and a half, he dropped out, convincing his mother it was the right decision by telling her, "Mom, all my life I've had the professor in the house." Three years later, while still living with his mother, his production work caught the attention of an A&R representative at Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records.
Musical Style and Public Image
The article characterizes West's music as soulful, often built on speeded-up R&B samples. Unlike many hip-hop artists like Jay-Z and 50 Cent who project invincible personas, West is described as belonging to "the De La Soul family tree" – a rapper unafraid to be intellectual, playful, and vulnerable. Common, a longtime friend from Chicago, praises West for showing his human side and creating music that's "pure and honest."West describes himself as "the funny version of Dead Prez" and "the rap version of Dave Chappelle," suggesting he uses humor to address serious topics. His lyrics explore the Black experience, college life, and personal shortcomings. In
"All Falls Down", he raps about past-due bills and spending problems, stating, "We all self-conscious, I'm just the first to admit it."
Personal Style and Identity
The article highlights West's interest in fashion (he dreamed of becoming a fashion designer as a child) and his newly acquired wealth, evidenced by his luxury loft in Hoboken with a spectacular view of Manhattan and expensive furnishings like a buffalo-leather couch with kangaroo-fur pillows. A significant portion of the article focuses on West's purchase of a $25,000 diamond Jesus pendant with blue eyes from Jacob the Jeweler, a popular jeweler among hip-hop artists. Despite stating his belief that Jesus was Black, West keeps the blue-eyed pendant for aesthetic reasons, creating tension when Jay-Z later criticizes this choice. West develops an explanation that it's "Grandma's Jesus" to justify wearing it.
Relationship with Jay-Z and the Music Industry
The article describes the relationship between West and Jay-Z as having "something of a father-son bond," with West looking up to Jay-Z as a "father figure" who offers guidance about the music industry. The article concludes with West performing at Kean University in New Jersey, where students enthusiastically rap along to his intelligent but anti-college lyrics, ironically embracing his message that questions the value of higher education.*There may be errors on this page.
