During a three-hour van ride departing the desert set of Kanye West’s ”Touch the Sky” video, EW’s Karen Valby asked the rapper, ”Do you ever allow yourself to just be dull and quiet? Just zone out with a good book?” He replied, ”No, I don’t. I feel like I’m too busy writing history to read it.” Valby’s Q&A with West in the forthcoming issue (EW’s West cover story will be the one that doesn’t have him posing as a tortured Jesus Christ) is full of such pronouncements, but while it’s become commonplace to snicker at West’s grandiose opinion of himself, let’s give him his due.
First, his near-universal critical acclaim, eight Grammy nominations, and multiplatinum sales suggest that his self-regard isn’t entirely unwarranted. Second, when he does screw up, he’s his own harshest critic. Of his two disappointing videos for ”Heard ‘Em Say,” he says, ”’Heard ‘Em Say’ is my favorite song of all time that I ever did! So why couldn’t I have had a good video for it? Man, I feel like I sent my gifted child to a bad school.” Of the high standard he sets for himself, he says, ”When I’m working, when I’m creating my gifts for the world, I want it to be good. I’m like the guy in The Aviator. They already made a movie about my life story.” (Reminded that Howard Hughes ended up lonely and insane, West says, ”Well, I hope I can avoid that part.)
Does West live up to his own boasts? Should he just shut up and make music, or has his unchecked outspokenness become as essential and entertaining as his performances?
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Is Kanye West’s ego merited?
NO
Sure, If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will. However, proceed with caution, big egos, come with even greater elation at the prospect of you failing. It never hurts to inspire good karma, via a little modesty.
It’s all about image and style with Kanye. He’ll be hot and at the top of his game for a few years and then will be un periodico de ayer. Kanye knows that and is milking the fame for everything it’s worth while he can. He could be like Madonna, Sinatra, and the Stones, successful for the whole career. OR he could end up like James Brown did. Here’s the painful reminder:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/mugshots/jbrownmug1.html
THAT’s why Kanye is trying to live it up now. He knows a low point and a “behind the music” special are sooner than anyone expects.
I don’t feel his ego is merited, but you’re not going to get noticed sitting on your hands, either. Especially this day and age.
Ep Sato suggests West could be like Madonna and have a lengthy carerr, but it isn’t as if Esther wasn’t know for her hubris early on. Wasn’t she the one who said she wanted to “Rule the world” when Dick Clark asked her where she saw herself in 5 years? Wasn’t that back in 1984?
I don’t have a problem with Kanye talking about how great he is, just because I think he IS great. If there ever comes a day where his mouth overshadows his musical talent and achievements, then I will no longer be a fan. That day has not come yet, in my opinion.
What I do have a problem with is his putting others’ efforts down in order to boost himself. Maybe he thinks he was the best new artist of 2004 and feels he can complain about it, but how should the winner feel? Don’t try to steal others’ victories. Also that Jesus cover is just lame and has been done, better, by Tupac.
Kanye’s ego is his thing. The central artistic conflict in his work is his ability vs. his expectations of that ability. It’s that disparity that makes him so significant. The question isn’t weather his ego is merited it’s weather it is an effective artistic tool. And with two classic(ish) albums spent walking the line between overt boasting and self deprication, I think he’s prooven it a worth while artistic platform.
Will it get old soon? This seems likely.
Kanye’s ego was more merited on his first album. While we’re on egos, will someone please tell Jamie Foxx that we are all aware he was on the Gold Digger track, and we don’t need to be reminded every time the guy is on a talk show, if he sings “she takes my money” one more time, I’m gonna YAMO burn this place to the ground.
”’Heard ‘Em Say’ is my favorite song of all time that I ever did! So why couldn’t I have had a good video for it? Man, I feel like I sent my gifted child to a bad school.”
That was the quote how he was his own harshest critic and, dare I say, down to earth? Comparing a music video with a child’s education?
I can’t stand Kanye. Anything he does musically is overshadowned by his extremely unmerited ego. It’s a very thick, blurred line in the music industry between arrogance and the confidence one needs to succeed and be heard, and yet he still manages to cross that line by miles.
PS~ I agree with whoever said Jamie Foxx needed to stop reminding everyone on Gold Digger. That was such a perfectly horrific combination of egos it’s almost amusing.
I love the guy, and respect his music…but he isnt Jesus, nor has he yet to make history. You’re a pop star – please keep it down, your ego is irritating.
I don’t like his music, but aside from that, who wants to be around or listen to an egomaniac? It’s not attractive. Kanye West isn’t the only one with that problem. Seems like a lot of rappers like to talk about how great they are. Singers in other genres and actors and more common people are boastful and prideful, too, but it seems especially endemic to rappers.
He may be egotistical, but he’s also sensitive and intelligent, unlike a number of celebrities.
He dared to take a stand against homophobia in hip-hop, and he should be applauded for that. Promoting tolerance for gays and lesbians is commendable. He didn’t have to do it – and he did.
He also says a lot of things that are on people’s minds. Maybe his criticism of President Bush was too implusive and brash, but at the time, that was what a lot of people were thinking – right or wrong.
As for the posing for Jesus Christ photograph, let’s remember Madonna did that 14 years ago for Entertainment Weekly.
He is egotistical
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West is undeniable talented. And his outbursts and boasts were refreshing when he first came out. But now they have become his schtick and the schtick is getting tired.
Kanye’s such a fresh MC, I don’t care if he is egotistical. I’d rather him be coceited as all hell than him make mediocre music about ‘grillz’ and the legions of thick hoes he conquers, like most “MCs” these days. Anyways, is anyone still surprised at what he says anymore? Why is this still even a topic?
As for the Rolling Stone cover, I’ll be sure to pick up a copy for myself.
First off, kudos to Nathan for the 40 yr old virgin reference…i can’t ever heard michael mcdonald the same again!
2nd, i applaude people for having confidence rather than a lot of the faux self-deprecation act a lot of celebrities do, BUT i do think it’s becoming a bit overkill, but i don’t think he’s going anywhere anytime soon.
no comment on the kanye as jesus cover.
Is Christianity completely devoid of the concepts like humility and humbleness? You say Jesus Walks w/ you. Well, maybe he should whisper in your ear about humbleness and modesty. Or maybe you should study some Eastern religions, you know the ones that denounce materialism and egoism. Might bring much needed depth to your work.
Was Kanye’s ego this bad before he released his first album? He releases 2 CDs and now he thinks he’s Jesus Christ. He needs to stop reading his press and yank his swelled head out of the clouds. His people like him that will come crashing down hard.
KANYE WEST HAS GOT TO SHUT UP. He makes me exasperated just looking at him.
Holy, Led Zepplin! kanye! Icarus called, and he wants his wings back.
Kanye West isn’t making history; he’s living a footnote. Let’s all meet back here in 2026 and watch Kanye on “New Hollywood Squares” or “Where Are They Now?”.
I hate kanye, i have to admit, i use to like his music but now hes trash and so is his ego!
First, Kanye’s music is highly overrated by critics and press desperate to crown a new musical genius and to sell issues.
Second, the press calls him “socially conscious.” His lyrics only scratch the surface and are compromised by his objectification of women and self-conscious allegiance to gangster culture (Rocafella).
In interviews, he certainly doesn’t live up to his alleged social concerns. When he does interviews, does he seem more concerned with these issues or about promoting himself? Kanye’s interviews not only compromise his music, but make one wonder if he makes songs like “Jesus Walks” and “All Fall Down” because he cares or because he just wants to be different and lauded for being so.
His gay commments are commendable. They sound like they’re a revelation 20 years behind a lot of us, but, frankly, that’s the speed of the hip-hop community.
As for Foxx, he needs to let Ray Charles go and move on. Foxx only sings the opening of that song, anyway. The rest is a Ray Charles sample!
I don’t mind Kanye’s music. I just hate it when he shoves his self-proclaimed ‘awesomeness’ (for lack of a better word) down everybody’d throats.
You know how you watch someone do/say something stupid… and get mortified FOR them? That’s me with Kanye West.
I am a fan of Kanye West, and to make a long story short, y’all are just hating. For those who talk on and on about his ego, the thing about Kanye’s music is that he shows how imperfect we all are through his conflicting music. He talks about materialism and all that while later talking about going to Jakob the Jeweler. That’s how most of us/people are, we talk a lot of game about this, or say this and that is wrong, yet we all stray from our “preachings”. Kanye is human. He’s slightly egotistical and quite brash, but he’s also very talented and intellectual. But I know most of y’all will keep on hating, because as Kanye says “Hater n****s marry hater b****es and have hater kids.”
It’s amazing that Kanye can call him self socially conscience and say that George Bush hates black people (don’t get me wrong I don’t like George bush) but at the same time he promotes the enslavement of our people by flashing diamonds which are mined by tribes of Africans that to this day are still being enslaved on their own land by companies like DeBeers. Where’s his outrage about that?
It goes back to the old saying, “no one likes a showboat.”
Sorry, how sad are you if you look up to someone who is a self-centered idiot. You can say his lyrics are socially conscious. It’s ironic that when he gives interviews or opens his mouth to a media outlet, the subject matter is all about him. Why doesn’t he give credit to other artists in rap, or moreover in the music industry. Everyone else, like Maroon 5 and Bono of U2 took time out of their Grammy speeches to give him props. Seems like they were just trying to pacify this feeling of self-centeredness that surrounds Kanye. But when Kanye gets the pulpit, he proclaims that he is essentially the greatest thing ever. It’s hard to look up to someone like that. Then he wonders why people have problems with him. And thats not “hating on.” That’s the way a lot of people see him. Prove us wrong if that’s not the case.
Plus he can’t sing worth a crap.
And – rapping INS’T singing. It’s just rhyming with a beat.
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i mean i like kanye hes ma fav. rapper..
but nuthin wronng wit his ego…i mean u either gonna like him or ur gonna dislike him..