Kanye Omari West: Visions of Modernity

Kanye West’s album, Yeezus (2013), marks a divisive point within West’s career because of its raw and minimalistic sound as well as its unapologetic and antagonistic message. Although West has pushed the boundaries within his previous artistic work and public life, his creation of Yeezus as well as his media-magnified life defiantly operates outside societal expectations and boundaries (Caramanica, 2013; Makarechi, 2013). Through his career as a producer, rapper, singer, director, writer, artist, designer, celebrity, and social critic, West has solidified his position as a facet of American culture. As a black male living in the twenty-first century, West additionally reflects the complex race relations that continue to exist. Following Gilroy (1993), West creates “routes/roots” through his artistic work that map his own relationship to modernity as he makes connections between the past and present to construct his individual and collective identity as a black male. West’s artistic work utilizes his individual agency to create a critical message that envisions possibilities for societal transformation. The power of West’s artistic work comes from his ability to unite aesthetic creations with the cognitive and pragmatic capabilities of his audience. Tyrangiel (2005) makes the point that “In music, West’s juxtapositions make your head nod.