Hip-Hop/R&B

Kanye West

Kanye West, who’s more familiar than most with controversy, says he feels as though people look at him like Hitler.

West was the headline act at the Big Chill music festival Saturday night. In the middle of his performance, he let loose about being misunderstood and under appreciated.

“I walk through the hotel and I walk down the street, and people look at me like I’m (expletive) insane, like I’m Hitler,” he said. “One day the light will shine through and one day people will understand everything I ever did.”

Apparently, there were a few boos from the crowd in response to his passionate speech.

He also took the opportunity to defend the music video for his song “Monster,” a video that features cannibalism and girls hanging from their necks. I can’t pass judgement one way or another about a video I haven’t seen, so mum’s the word.

“Who saw the video before it got banned, before they took it down and before women’s groups starting saying that a person that lost the most important woman in his life is now against women in some way?” asked West, referring to the 2007 death of his much-loved mother Donda West.

“Michael Jordan changed so much in basketball, he took his power to make a difference. It’s so much (expletive) going on in music right now and somebody has to make a (expletive) difference,” he said.

He closed his show on a positive note, however, by paying tribute to Amy Winehouse.

West said he met the late singer a few years ago during Paris fashion week. He paid tribute to her with snippets of Winehouse’s “Tears Dry On Their Own” and “Back to Black.” He said it was “beautiful” to meet the performer and that she was “amazing.”

As you well know, I am and have always been a fan of Kanye West’s music. As a song writer, the man is a freaking genius.  I also think he’s possibly the best rapper of all time.  He has charisma, style, talent, passion, and is a professing Christian.  He also had big, big love for his mom – all traits that, as a Kanye West fan, I choose to dwell on.  If when he does or says things that I think are out of line, I don’t mind saying so.  A few past fiascos left me speechless!

However, I honestly don’t see the big deal with this most recent comments.  He’s saying how he FEELS – how can that be considered inappropriate. He knows how he feels better than anyone else.

As for the video… most videos are becoming more like movies – it’s the direction in which they’re moving.  Let the person who never goes to see a horror flick or never watches a detective drama cast the first, second, and third stone.

Kanye West is who he is – always has been, always will be. Whether a person likes him or not is their own call – and most people feel passionately about whichever side their on.  But, come on, let the bashing and nitpicking stop.  Look at what he said, he says he feels like people look at him like he’s Hitler.  It’s how he feels.  Don’t get mad at him for how he feels, get mad at the people who cause him to feel this way!