Dillon Camp – Staff Writer

“I’ma let you finish.” -Kanye West

Certain people get a pass to act however they want— Steve Jobs, Madonna, Elton John. They’ve earned rights beyond the rules of common courtesy. If they were omniscient, they could be considered deities. From the pool of iconic tastemakers who have changed the way pop culture functions, none emulate the iconic pompous ego of Kanye West.

I personally applauded when Kanye infamously interrupted Taylor Swift at the VMA’s in 2009 (my apologies to the entirety of my high school). If I was Kanye West, I probably would have said worse. Because I could. Because I would be Kanye West. I’d probably run off the stage with the Moonman and personally deliver it to Beyoncé, record a new album with Jay-Z and purchase a few designer franchises all on the same night.

I think you get the general idea. Kanye’s the first to admit that his ego surpases the size of Jupiter. And why shouldn’t it? Kanye West, young, fabulous, enormously talented, collaborated with some of the most iconic pop artists of our time and has redefined what hip-hop means to a generation by lyricalizing political, religious and social commentary in a way comparable to the likes of Bob Dylan. Plus he’s the father of Kim Kardashian’s future child.

“Power”­­­­— a word encompassing Kanye’s unadulterated and rightful fame. After an album that seemingly downplayed his balloon-like ego with humane lyrics and less aggressive beats, “808s & Heartbreak,” West bounced back into the unflattering spotlight two years later with his single “Power” off of his fifth album “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.” The album placed him back on the top of the hip-pop caste. Less than a year later, West collaborated with Jay-Z in creating possibly the best hip-pop record in decades, “Watch The Throne.” Of course, from Kanye’s collaborative song “Mercy” to his collaboration with Louis Vuitton, the throne clearly belongs to West.

Society perceives West as an egomaniac, especially in a culture that mistakes pride for arrogance. Ultimately, West has proved himself prideful because he is a powerhouse who shifts cultural tectonic plates and continually stirs the pot of controversy through his work.