This is just another sad example of a Kanye West fan with no rational sense....
Pharrell was around for how long? Backpack rap was around for how long? All these things he didn't invent were a long for quite some time. He's who changed the game. Not just sonically cause Pharrell did that, not just clotihing wise cause plenty did that as well. He took things to a level pharrell didn't reach, and no other artist who did it before him took it either. He changed the youth, despite what's going on in his city. He made that sub-genre, the main stream. The positivity that those artist brought to the game, he broke through to the masses. So he is a cultural leader, he made it acceptable to not be a thug. He made it so kids can be positive, and not be different. There's certain aspects you just can't speak on, but anyone in touch with the youth sees the cultural effect. Of course that's not in all areas, because as I said his city hasn't changed much.
I don't know where this came from, so I just copied it to hit a few points.....
Pharrell.....he's still around. You didn't notice?
Backpack rap, still around. Just cause dude wore a backpack doesn't mean he ever really made "backpack rap" by the way. "Touch The Sky" is no backpack rap record.
Sonically Pharrell did that. Clothing wise plenty did as well. So...what exactly am I giving him credit for?
Dog, are you joking with the "level Pharrell didn't reach"? What level is that
So he changed the youth....but not in his own city? Where then? I live in NY. I see maybe 10% of kids "changed" by Kanye. Kanye wears Foams?
So that last line....again, he's changed so much...except his OWN city. Brilliant. That alone speaks volumes yet you type **** like that out without realizing the ridiculousness of your words.
Because if you "look at specifics", which someone accused me of doing like it's a bad thing, you can't actually qualify or quantify any of this. De La Soul made it cool to not be a thug once. Beastie Boys. Q Tip. Fresh Prince
Those artists have ALWAYS existed. You don't look at them as "cultural leaders". Nor should you. Look at them as great artists/musicians.
Nothing more. Same way you should look at Kanye. But some of you want him to be much more than he really is.
Public Enemy may have been the only "cultural leaders" from that era. Look at the difference between their content and Kanye West's. Look at how many people wore Black Medallions because of them. Their pro-Black, pro-education message was CLEAR, Maybe THAT'S part of the reason why his hometown is still a mess. Because he has no such clarity in his message.
Now I said Jay is a cultural leader because of what he's accomplished outside of music. The Samsung deal. The Made In America shows. The Budweiser campaign back in the day. The S. Carter Reeboks. Clothing line. One of the first rappers to really build a label and turn that info a business (management etc) that still exists to this day.
If there is a leader who's accomplishments you should follow, that's the guy I'm checking for.
It's crazy to me that some of you are looking at musicians who pretty much just do music or ball players, with little to no message that isn't self serving, as the people reshaping Black (or ethnic) identity in America. Something I am literally a product of. Since before any rappers I can remember.
Not the access to better education. Not that leading to better jobs. Not the cultural changes that have been happening for decades now. No one's even mentioned Puffy, who from a business standpoint has done a lot of what Jay did, and suited up well and wore designer ****. Because you don't like Puffy. But y'all LOVE Kanye!
The fact that you put so much belief in a musician achieving CULTURAL, not PERSONAL (as in he effected you) change and leadership is laughable. At least this particular musician.