Let's Talk About... Kanye West

Some topics are more difficult to discuss than others. Due to the uncharted circumstances we find ourselves in, it’s easy to discourage discourse instead of tackling these divisive subjects in an effort to reach logical and reasonable conclusions. I value having constructive environments and platforms which encourage learning, communication, and understanding, which is why I’m starting this series on my blog. “Let’s Talk About…” will cover a wide variety of topics which, at times, can appear difficult to navigate and comprehend. I’m going to try to articulate my perspectives as clearly as possible, which will hopefully simultaneously further your understanding on the different subjects I’ll be covering. To kick things off, I’m going to be discussing Kanye West, mental health, and the perpetuation and enablement of toxic behavior. Let’s get into it.

I find it necessary to begin by stating that, generally, I’m a pretty big fan of Kanye West. I grew up listening to all of his albums to the point that he became, and still is, my most listened-to artist on Spotify of all-time. At his best, Kanye West is a trend-setting and creative genius who uses his platform to advance progressive ideas and provide a voice for the voiceless. But it has been a while since we’ve seen Kanye’s best. Over the past few years, it’s clear that Kanye’s behavior and perspective have both changed, as his public statements, interviews, and album rollouts have become more manic and unpredictable. This downward trend has reached a boiling point recently, as Kanye declared a presidential bid and seems to have had an emotional breakdown at his recent South Carolina campaign rally. Kanye claims to battle Bipolar Personality Disorder, and recent events would hint that this self-diagnosis may be accurate. While many are looking to make light and jokes out of this situation, I’ve begun to realize that there is nothing funny here. This is the springboard for a necessary discussion about mental health we need to have in this country.

Mental health issues can present themselves in a variety of ways. Happiness and sadness aren’t the only two emotions associated with Bipolar Personality Disorder; things can become manic, unstable, and strange as they have recently with Mr. West. Let’s also not forget that Kanye was involved in a severe car accident years ago which could have caused a traumatic brain injury which could be contributing to these recent episodes. Kanye has claimed he stops taking his prescribed medications when working on a new music project, which he seems to be currently after promoting his supposedly upcoming album DONDA. Instead of those around him stepping in and getting him help, their complicit nature has silently encouraged these behaviors and actions. I’m not nullifying Kanye’s responsibility — he needs to seek help for himself, too — but often times, those struggling with mental health issues have lost perspective on their circumstances and are not in the right mindset to seek the help they need. We need to make healthcare accessible for everyone who needs to address mental health issues, and remove the stigma and shame surrounding seeking help. The company Kanye has situated himself with haven’t helped him recover, and the twenty-four-hour news cycle has continued to perpetuate the headlines which only aggravate the situation.

A former reality TV-star and debatably successful businessman (but not really) became president in 2016, and it seems that many now believe that the most prestigious office and job in the world is up for grabs for anyone to claim. Instead of immediately disregarding Kanye’s announcement of a presidential candidacy, social media and the mainstream news gave this story much more credibility than it deserved from the jump. Kanye’s supposed platform isn’t substantial, it’s built on verifiable misinformation and untruths, such as the recent claim that Harriet Tubman didn’t actually free slaves. These outlandish comments gather press and attention which I used to chalk up as a botched album rollout to increase first-week sale numbers, but now believe are an unknown cry for help from a deeply troubled man dealing with serious mental health issues.

This whole situation is developing, complicated, and sad. Just as soon as Kanye seemed to be on the right track joining Black Lives Matter protests, donating two million dollars to related causes, and claiming to have thrown away all of his Trump apparel, things just get worse again. I sincerely hope that Kanye seeks help, gets treatment, and reinvents his image, returning to the sort of artist he used to be. It’s looking less and less likely that this will happen, though, which disheartens me. What do you think of Kanye West as an artist and public figure? What do you think will happen next with him? Let me know. Thanks for reading.