Kanye West is a classic story of “living long enough to see yourself become the villain”. A lot of (black) people are familiar with the Chicago native’s grassroots and how he began incorporating those stories into his raps.
To those of you who have just recently been introduced to Mr. West around 2010 (or post Kardashian)
you know nothing. But for the people wondering
how did the gritty, Chicago native went from “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people!” to wearing a MAGA hat, conversing with Donald Trump in the White House?
Let’s talk about it!
Now i’m not going to get into how Kanye was relentless in paving his way to be more than just a producer, but a rapper as well. How he’d break out in unsolicited raps and rhymes amongst the rappers he’d be producing before and they (including Jay Z) never took him serious (as a rapper). Mr. West always had an ego and there’s no denying that Kanye is not only undeniably talented, and creative (look into the beats that he produced, and how he’s make a sample un recognizable in a sonically beautiful, raw way), but an intelligent business man as well. Before I get into this topic I think it’s important to reiterate Kanye West was raised in Chicago (born in Atlanta, migrated to Chicago with mother at 3 years old), so he is very socially aware of struggles that comes along with being Black (and the benefits that comes with being a man as well whether y’all want to admit it or not). Another important thing to remember is the sad passing of Kanye’s mother in 2007, due to post operative complications from cosmetic surgery. A little teenie, tiny thing to note;
- he dated the beautiful Alexis Phifer from 2002-2008,
- (Brooke Crittendon (2006)), he’d go on to pursue
- Amber Rose in 2010 and go on to date and marry
- Kim Kardashian (2012-2021)
Now…..
Now I feel like a lot (if not all) of Kanye’s issues (and self hate) that he has today he brought upon himself knowingly. I am NOT saying mental illness had nothing to do with it, but I do believe Kanye has consciously made decisions knowing the consequences that statistically happens often from said actions, but disregarding it cause he’s Kanye West (despite the odds). After the passing of his mother we witness a very public shift in the artist we know as Kanye West.
TW: Backstory
*the present would not exist as we know it without the past, and the story just wouldn’t make sense without it*
After his third studio album Graduation (released in 2007), he followed up with 808s and Heartbreak in 2008. Arguably one of his most influential albums since his debut album (in my opinion). The album ends with the track titled “Pinocchio Story”. He’s rapping about the dark disastrous side of fame over the cheering of an oblivious audience. His voice cracks with emotion while singing. There’s a lot of mourning in that album. Not just the mourning of his mother, and long term relationship with Alexis, the mourning of himself as well.
Now, 808s and Heartbreak was followed up with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy in 2010. In my opinion this album not only made the shift in Kanye West obvious, but I believe this album was him fully embracing that shift. He knows he’s different and will never be the same. He’s no longer the young 20 something year old from Chicago. He is the every so talented and influential Kanye West. Fame is a greedy, hideous, transformative monster, that disguises itself as fulfilled dreams, riches, and happiness. This album is him succumbing to the shift. He’s merely a egotistical man trying to survive in his new reality he now lives in.
Now back to the present.
Kanye has been going on a downward spiral for quite some time now. With it recently became noticeable to the public, i’m sure the spiral began way before.
His obsession with Kim’s look, and dressing her in stockings and nudes (porn brain rot very evident)
his endorsement of publicly known racist, classist, misogynist Donald Trump
his post divorce rants about Kim and his children,
his anti-Semitic remarks
his ignorant remarks about the enslavement of Africans in America (mind you the enslavement of Africans did not just happen on a national/continental level, but it was a global effort and practice)
his new look alike boo Bianca (also outside exposed like an unclothed manakin in a Saks Fifth display window).
So what recently killed hindered the rapper’s creativity? It has been chalked up to many things; mental health, his mother’s death, self hate, Kim Kardashian, his porn addiction, and just the tortured soul of a genius (lmao). But, now
a new contender has been added to the list. Nitrous aka laughing gas.
A story broke saying a couple of days go accusing celebrity dentist Thomas Connelly for getting the rapper hooked on nitro gas in an effort to diminish Kanye’s mental capacity and extract millions from the rapper. Now I know this story will make you want to laugh, but let’s look at the dentist.
Now not to discredit the man’s credibility as a dentist just off of a couple tattoos, and stylish, flashy outfits…... I mean it is 2024 and he is self employed after all (he also is a tattoo artist and is know to tattoo patients while they’re out unconscious). However these claims come from none other than Milo Yiannopoulos, Kanye’s former chief of staff (for 2 years shy of 10 years). Now i’m not saying Milo is 100% creditable and doesn’t have anterior motives BUT this is too specific of a lie to just dismiss it ass complete bologna. It seems the relationship was first discovered (by Milo) from a titanium mouthpiece that was commissioned for Kanye at $850,000. The ex employee also goes on to say Thomas Connelly (the dentist) would supply Kanye with nitro gas for recreational use for $50,000 a month. Milo seems to believe that the dentist didn’t expect his superior dentistry skills to retain Kanye as a client, but instead his dependence to the nitro. Milo also goes on to say he is not the only one who has beared witness to this. Other employees of Kanye have not only seen, but voiced concerns with his erratic, inconsistent behavior. Milo recalls seeing 3 large gas canisters in Bianca’s (Ye’s fiancé) apartment, to which Thomas says the canisters are empty and always have been empty (if this response isn’t fabricated why the hell did you give him gas canisters at all??)
But, whatever just another fake story from an ex employee, right? Well here is where things get interesting. 3 months earlier there was a short video on Kanye with a face mask on, presumably indulging in nitrous gas.
The post can still be seen on Reddit today.
Now this is a lot to take in like
1. Why is Milo just now coming out with this
2. I was today years old when I learned you can get hooked on laughing gas
3. Kanye is a porn addict (I knew this I just like to shame it any chance I get)
4. The dentist makes a living off putting jewels in Black men’s mouths……..
This is too much lmao, but if you’re interested you can read Milo’s affidavit on his Twitter. The dentist’s Instagram can be found here.
What are y’all thoughts? This is too specific for me to just believe these accusations came out of thin air and not based on at least a sliver of truth. But man people do be lying. If true this is very sad to hear, and see. Kanye is his own worst enemy, but the people around him ain’t no better either.
Me and my mom (a Chicago native) have always said that his spirit started to decline after his mom’s sudden passing. Like you said, Kanye always had a big ego but he LOVED his mom a lot, and a passing without warning fucked him up bad. I don’t wish that on anybody. But that still doesn’t excuse his wild and weird behavior afterwards.
Now this laughing gas… this is my first time hearing about this situation. I wouldn’t be surprised if these allegations were true.
Ugh, I recently saw that info about the nitro gas the other day and after seeing that dentist....chileeeee lol. but Obviously, I'm from the outside looking in but it seems like since his mom passed, his mental health has gotten worse and worse. I do believe musically he has produced/written amazing tracks in his career. I don't want to diminsh the brillance there but I haven't listened to anything from him since "The Life of Pablo" because all his antics, comments about slavery, being buddy buddy with Donald Trump & wearing MAGA hats is nasty work. It's clear that he has a ton of "yes men/women" in his circle and it doesn't seem like he's doing anything to take care or get help with his mental disorder, which is sad. It's wild to see because like you said, this is the same man who was on national tv talking about GWB doesn't care about Black people.