To a 20-something in the early aughts, cramming Four Lokos (RIP, original formula) before heading to a sticky-floored dive bar, Kanye West and his music may have had a certain appeal.
At that age and maturity level, petulant whining can sound revolutionary. But then, ideally, you grow up.
That’s certainly my story. And that maturity is pretty enlightening during the innumerable instances in which West, who formally changed his name to Ye last year, clamors for the public’s attention in deplorable ways. I have too much self-esteem to idolize Ye because I do not respect him creatively or intellectually. I’ve come to recognize he upholds his facade of brilliance in what seems to be an effort to mask his own self-hate and self-loathing.
Ye’s most recent controversy, involving his donning of a “White Lives Matter” shirt at a recent fashion show, has shown that in abundance. And of the countless responses to the troll attempt, I’ve found only one to be of intense interest: a quote from Wanda Cooper-Jones, the mother Ahmaud Arbery.
“As a result of [West’s] display ‘White Lives Matter’ started trending in the U.S., which would direct support and legitimize extremist behavior, [much] like the behavior that took the life of her son,” Cooper-Jones relayed through lawyer Lee Merritt, Rolling Stone reported. “That is the thing that Wanda and families like hers continue to fight against.”
That struck a chord with me because it speaks to a belief I’ll hold until the end of my days: Ye’s legacy of racist hatemongering will deservedly eclipse his legacy as an artist.
That was front of mind as I read about Ye siccing a swarm of hateful social media followers on a Black woman, Vogue editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, who criticized his “All Lives Matter” statement.
This really is a man who, according to his own words, sees Donald Trump as a father figure.
You’ll remember: Trump has used this tactic against several Black women. That includes Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, a mother-daughter duo who served as election workers in Georgia until Trump sicced his rabid followers on them, falsely accusing them of helping steal the 2020 election from him.
Interestingly, a publicist linked to Ye allegedly tried to force a confession to the allegations out of one of the women, according to Reuters. (A spokesperson for Ye has denied that the publicist was associated with the rapper at the time of alleged incident.)








