a stadium when tickets start at around $200 and all he’s going to do is show up two hours late and head bop to a recording of his music? Only one comes to mind: Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West. He has that special something that gets fans on board with whatever he’s promoting, whether it’s music, footwear, fashion, audio devices or a presidential campaign. Despite the controversy he engenders, no one can deny he’s the embodiment of hype. Ye, who was born in Atlanta and grew up in Chicago, first got in front of the public on Channel Zero, an underground hip-hop showcase on Chicago Public Access television. The program’s host, Coodie Simmons, went on to direct the Netflix docuseries Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy about Ye’s life as an artist, record producer, businessman and fashion designer. The three-part series opens when Ye was working as a producer for Roc-A-Fella and trying to prove himself as a solo artist and rapper. It brings out his human side, portraying him as a relatable person who struggled to land a record deal. Viewers are privy to his close relationship with his mother and suffer with him as he grapples with bipolar disorder in an unsympathetic environment. But the documentary, released in January, is just one reason Ye’s name is in the headlines. Aside from writing and producing songs for the likes of Jay-Z, Janet Jackson, Ludacris and Alicia Keys, Ye’s own 10 studio albums have Ye’s followers put him at the forefront of hip-hop. on Twitter Last year alone, he won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album and was named songwriter of the year at the BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards. After Ye’s 32-track album Donda garnered mixed reviews and drew complaints about “incomplete” production last year, he released a follow-up titled Donda 2. But a few days
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Kanye West made his name in rap 20 years ago. Since then, he’s become a mogul who influences fashion, politics and pop culture. by KENDALL POLIDORI PHOTOGRAPH: REUTERS
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