![1. You may think you have your own opinion of Kanye, but he actually controls it: How many people LOVE to harp on about how much they hate Kanye, and what a terrible, arrogant and overrated artist he is? The thing is, Kanye's entirely responsible for that opinion. It's all on him. He doesn't want people to like him. He doesn't give a fuck. As he said in Yeezus opener 'On Sight':]()
1. You may think you have your own opinion of Kanye, but he actually controls it: How many people LOVE to harp on about how much they hate Kanye, and what a terrible, arrogant and overrated artist he is? The thing is, Kanye's entirely responsible for that opinion. It's all on him. He doesn't want people to like him. He doesn't give a fuck. As he said in Yeezus opener 'On Sight': "How much do I not give a fuck?/Let me show you right now 'fore you give it up."
![2. He made rap avant-garde: Pretentious? Maybe. But is Kanye ever boring? Nope. Each of Kanye's albums has possessed a complex and individual aesthetic which truly underlines the record's sound and vision. The futuristic, cartoony, Japanese artwork of Graduation highlighted the record's electro leanings perfectly, whilst the religion-referencing, politically-commentating Yeezus campaign has been a delightfully dark and sinister summarisation of the album's content.]()
2. He made rap avant-garde: Pretentious? Maybe. But is Kanye ever boring? Nope. Each of Kanye's albums has possessed a complex and individual aesthetic which truly underlines the record's sound and vision. The futuristic, cartoony, Japanese artwork of Graduation highlighted the record's electro leanings perfectly, whilst the religion-referencing, politically-commentating Yeezus campaign has been a delightfully dark and sinister summarisation of the album's content.
![3. He takes touring to a whole new level: Whilst most rappers make do with a few henchmen and minimal staging, Kanye has grander ideas. His Yeezus tour has more ambition and attention to detail than all of his rivals and newcomers combined - it isn't a rap gig, it is a rap spectacle.]()
3. He takes touring to a whole new level: Whilst most rappers make do with a few henchmen and minimal staging, Kanye has grander ideas. His Yeezus tour has more ambition and attention to detail than all of his rivals and newcomers combined - it isn't a rap gig, it is a rap spectacle.
![4. He finds inspiration in the weirdest places: The influence behind his latest opus Yeezus? A lamp.]()
4. He finds inspiration in the weirdest places: The influence behind his latest opus Yeezus? A lamp. "This one Corbusier lamp was my greatest inspiration," he admitted in the lead-up to Yeezus. Who knew a lighting fixture could be the incentive behind the likes of 'New Slaves' and 'Blood On The Leaves'? We dare you to think of any other rapper who would admit their biggest inspiration was a piece of furniture.
![5. Kanyeisms: Kanye isn't the best rapper out there - technically or lyrically. However, contrary to popular belief he DOES have a sense of humour. Just two examples of his endlessly quotable, utterly priceless lyrics:]()
5. Kanyeisms: Kanye isn't the best rapper out there - technically or lyrically. However, contrary to popular belief he DOES have a sense of humour. Just two examples of his endlessly quotable, utterly priceless lyrics: "She said can I get my friends in the club/I said can you get my Benz in the club?/If not treat your friends like my Benz park their ass outside til the evening ends' ['Send It Up']. 'Got a light-skinned friend look like Michael Jackson/ Got a dark-skinned friend look like Michael Jackson' ['Slow Jamz'].
![6. He's outspoken about social issues and politics: Who can forget the infamous]()
6. He's outspoken about social issues and politics: Who can forget the infamous "George Bush doesn't care about black people" incident? Kanye has never been one to stay quiet about the important things, from decrying the fashion industry as racist to condemning the news coverage of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. "If you see a black family, it's looting, but if it's a white family they are looking for food," he said.
![7. His albums frequently set the bar for the genre:]()
7. His albums frequently set the bar for the genre: "I'm ahead of my time, sometimes years out/So the powers that be won't let me get my ideas out" Yeezy opined on his Late Registration cut 'Gone'. And it's true. For example, The College Dropout sparked a craze for soul samples, and 808s & Heartbreaks' emotive lyricism paved the way for more honest, self deprecating rhymes in hip hop. His most recent album, Yeezus, has already started to spawn multiple pale imitations.
![8. He supports new talent: Kanye's GOOD Music label has harvested and encouraged the talents of artists such as Kid Cudi and Big Sean. Kanye also has an ear for the next big thing in terms of production, signing Hit-Boy [Drake, ASAP Rocky] and Hudson Mohawke [Pusha T, Drake] to his GOOD Beats roster.]()
8. He supports new talent: Kanye's GOOD Music label has harvested and encouraged the talents of artists such as Kid Cudi and Big Sean. Kanye also has an ear for the next big thing in terms of production, signing Hit-Boy [Drake, ASAP Rocky] and Hudson Mohawke [Pusha T, Drake] to his GOOD Beats roster.
![9. He's not shy about believing in his abilities as a musician: Does Kanye's confidence in himself make you uncomfortable? Ask yourself why, because we completely welcome a musician who tells us he's amazing and then lists WHY he's amazing, as opposed to the faux-shy, humble posturing of artists today. Zzzzz.]()
9. He's not shy about believing in his abilities as a musician: Does Kanye's confidence in himself make you uncomfortable? Ask yourself why, because we completely welcome a musician who tells us he's amazing and then lists WHY he's amazing, as opposed to the faux-shy, humble posturing of artists today. Zzzzz.
![10. He constantly reinvents himself: Not one of Yeezy's album sounds the same. He's taken us from the sample-heavy, soul tinged sounds of debut The College Dropout to the industrial searing electronica of Yeezus via the 80s inspired, auto-tune minimalism of 808s and Heartbreaks.]()
10. He constantly reinvents himself: Not one of Yeezy's album sounds the same. He's taken us from the sample-heavy, soul tinged sounds of debut The College Dropout to the industrial searing electronica of Yeezus via the 80s inspired, auto-tune minimalism of 808s and Heartbreaks.