Black Skinhead

“For over 15 years, Kanye West’s success is a testament to his undeniable musical talent. That success has also been coupled with his infamous opinions, thoughts and boisterous public acts. Ironically, his most recent opinions, thoughts, and public acts have pushed his career to the point of irreparable harm.”

Kanye West, my favorite rapper of all time, is a Black skinhead.

Kanye West’s 2013 Yeezus album contained a track entitled “Black Skinhead.” At the song’s release, Kanye West had just started dating Kim Kardishan. The song is a clap back against those who are anti-interracial relationships and against racism as a whole. Despite the strong message on “Black Skinhead” and other tracks on Yeezus, many casual Kanye fans were left confused and questioning not just his music, but his mental state. Fans couldn’t get past the loud rap metal sound, random stoppages of songs and direction, and the general unorthodox flow of the album.

My thoughts are twofold. I thought of the “Black Skinhead”  track, while concluding thoughts on Kanye’s recent trip to the oval office. A meeting he appeared wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, a hat as of late that seems to be permanently attached to his head, to show admiration and support for President Trump.

First, the term “skinhead”. Skinhead is a term most generally associated with a faction of White power. Young and angry white men from the rural South and Midwest. The term “Skinhead” actually originated in England in the late 1960s. It was used to describe those who were anti-establishment, anti-conservatism, anti-government. While using influences of both the music and culture of Jamaica in conjunction with strong political stances, they became the founders of the punk rock movement that would take place in the late 1970s. The term was soon hijacked by racial extremists who spun the anti-movement into one being anti all non-White Christian people.

My second examination is of the music of Kanye West. A music that had millions amazed by his samples, his catchy song lyrics, and rap music not infused with the typical telling of violence and drugs. Yet, Kanye’s music was the anti-drugs and violence rap, rather conscious rap with a designer made outfit with 800-dollar sunglasses. However, recent albums and songs have left people confused and wishing for the artist of former years to return to his glorious form.

Enter Trump meeting.

During the meeting with Trump last week, Kanye brought up some valid points. He talked about former crime boss and now community reformer Larry Hoover’s prison sentence, he warned Black voters to not have an unwavering allegiance to the Democrat party, and spoke on the prison pipeline effect on the Black community.

The problem with anything Kanye might say going forward is his message has been hijacked… by Kanye West himself. As with the White power skinheads using the term skinheads, the original meaning of the term being the anthesis of what White power skinheads stand for, Kanye’s love for all things MAGA creates an immediate dismissal of his stances. None of his stances with true value are in line with MAGA, in fact, MAGA is the enemy of Kanye’s message.

Kanye, my favorite rapper of all time, is a Black skinhead.

Like white power skinheads who spew nothing but the purest formula of baseless opinions there is, Kanye’s messages are void of actual substance and facts. They’re a collection of issues with strong feelings attached to them, yet his thought process of said issues are concluded using a process void of truth and experience. Much like a skinhead.

Kanye’s antics have alienated his fanbase beyond disappointment, but utter sorrow and shame for him. He’s increasingly being shunned from everyone… from fans to fellow rappers, athletes, and celebrities in general.  Wishful thinking has led me to think like a fan of a sports team hoping their team makes the playoffs and holding out until being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, I still hold out hope that Kanye is merely trolling us. A hope I fear reality doesn’t want anything to do with.