Let's Be Real, Kanye Is The Most Important Artist Since Mike

[Hugs]

Musically I'm going to say Pharrell. Dude is like the modern Prince overall.

Anti-conformist: fitted clothes, trucker hats, skater style, to my knowledge the first who wore the thick framed glasses.

The Revolution vs N.E.R.D

Strong at plenty of instruments, not just a production board.

Hits throughout career.

Kanye and Prince both share the always pushing forward attitude than Pharrell doesn't have.

 

[Bomberman]

Kanye and Prince both share the always pushing forward attitude than Pharrell doesn't have.

Pharrell wasn't forward-pushing?

NERD was considered "way out there" for a hip-hop producer, especially at that time.

 

[CouldntBeMeTho]

How else would I know Immortal Technique?

Black on Both Sides is probably my favorite rap album OAT, but the better question is what has MJ done for the black community besides his meaningless songs about love and partying (not counting They Don't Care about us). I agree than Kanye is more Prince than MJ due to not being fully accepted by the mainstream and playing by his own rules, but let's not act for a second that MJ's music has more meaning than Kanye's.

the difference is, no one tries to hold up MJ as some socially conscious black man

 

[CouldntBeMeTho]

http://www.nme.com/news/kanye-west/76822

interesting, I can't do anything except that. although that article doesn't say how they plan to do it, and how far they are with their goal. so ill believe it when I see it. that's the type of shyt im talking about tho

 

[CASHAPP]

@Hugs lets remember the wide range of social issues Michael was talking about on both "Dangerous" and "History"

 

[Hugs]

Pharrell wasn't forward-pushing?

NERD was considered "way out there" for a hip-hop producer, especially at that time.

He was but he's regressed considerable from a trend setter to a trend follower.

 

[Hugs]

the difference is, no one tries to hold up MJ as some socially conscious black man

But you would have to be conscious to make songs like that. That's the difference between Kanye and Jay-Z.

 

[CouldntBeMeTho]

But you would have to be conscious to make songs like that. That's the difference between Kanye and Jay-Z.

would you also have to be conscious to make songs like "I Am A God?"

hurry up with my damn croissant

 

[Hugs]

Kanye, like a lot of rappers. talks about a variety of topics. Unlike most popular rappers, he talks about "conscious stuff" more than most.

Still waiting on those songs, tho

 

[CouldntBeMeTho]

Kanye, like a lot of rappers. talks about a variety of topics. Unlike most popular rappers, he talks about "conscious stuff" more than most.

Still waiting on those songs, tho

what songs? conscious rap is almost dead, so putting a 5 year limit on it is asinine. you already knew that tho

 

[Animal House]

Tupac was talking about making another political party for minorities, meanwhile Yeezy talking about making leather jogging pants for fags...

 

[BAMBA]

The "sped up chipmunk" shyt was popularized by RZA a good 10 years before anyone knew who Kanye was:





Kanye came into the game as a bootleg RZA....the beats he played for Jay were literally meant for Ghost....and by his own admission he modeled "The Blueprint" after "Supreme Clientele".

So nah....you can say he extended the life of that trend, but he didn't originate shyt.

Fred.

 

[hex]

Kanye directly mentioned RZA/Wu as his inspiration, but you raise a good point. Marley Marl is one of RZA's inspirations, and maybe I'm remembering wrong but gave/sold him some equipment back in the day.

Fred.

 

[Oceanicpuppy]

Man, LL it did all, why are there no LL stans on here? nevermind he's more of a ladies man rapper.

 

[iliketurtles]

King yeezy got cacs in they feelings, can't wait for the next classic