And I see nothing wrong with that especially far as the goal or a part of it being to open doors for black people. How can black people imagine getting far in this country, world, when we don't have black people breaking the glass ceilings and breaking boundaries for us, going beyond just rappers and entertainers like weve been for eons? Yeah we get praised for having talent and what not but thats it. Like Dr. Umar said, black people like Jayz are our financers. We can't really afford to lose them. So give them some leg room to grow and dominate as much as they can on behalf of black people. Like a Trojan horse.
My father was bipolar. He only got better at the end of his life because he'd burned all his professional bridges and lived a humble, quiet, steady life away from the power and money his manic charisma attracted when he was younger. Money and power are the most desirable and most destructive things to someone who is prone to manic episodes. Everyone's different, but I can't imagine Kanye will get better so long as he is in the public eye. For his own sake, I hope he finds some way to strip it all away. Thanks for such a thoughtful and thought-provoking video. Kanye's fall from grace is heartbreaking, I'm happy videos like yours can turn it into something we can learn from.
This is true. I am bipolar. The best thing for us is to live quietly, like you said. But when you are an artist like Kanye, being medicated could mean losing the creative spark, and that’s hard to give up. And the feeling of mania is hard to resist.
As someone with bipolar, I’m so grateful no one has handed me a mic during a manic episode… and meds aren’t some easy fix. I’ve tried more than 40 since I was 17, some landing me in the psych ward. When I’m manic, it’s like I have a whole different brain with different values and goals…it really hurts me to see him like this.
I'm thankful for doctor I have anxiety and been diagnosed bipolar my son was murdered April 1,2008 my mother grieved her self to death September 10;2008 I had to by hospitalize too so I'm grateful my meds been working for me since 2008! I'm tired of people saying his mother death sent him over well it's a lot of people who are not rich that seek help and for me he didn't live his mother more than I love my son and my Mama😢
Mi done pree it pon Patreon so I ain't wanna spoil anything but this two part series is THE definitive guide to Kanye's career. Above all; i love how FD took someone who ppl love to hate right now and humanized him with a cornucopia of nuance and empathy. Bravo, big man 👏🏾
Right??? I'm seriously so impressed by that clip, especially coming up with those words on the spot like that. Not mean or angry, just honest and hurt and rightly critical... Yeah major props to that guy.
You're talking about Van Lathan. He's on a bunch of popcasts right now - a really funny, smart man. Oh and he won an Oscar last year. 'Telling you - one talented brother.
@@RCSDominoToppling Well, you're basically right...but one thing I would say is that I'd be willing to bet that the main reason why he was able to say such powerful and thought-provoking words (in everyone besides Kanye, if his facial expressions are anything to go by lol) seemingly off the top of his head is because it wasn't _really_ off the top of his head. In that, all the stuff he said, I feel like he'd been contemplating those thoughts for a WHILE, those thoughts were probably stewing in his head for weeks or more, being someone working at TMZ, it's not far fetched for him to legitimately think about "What would I say to Kanye West if I had the chance?" and then suddenly the chance presented itself and he just unleashed all the stuff he'd been stewing on for who knows how long. Cuz the speech patterns, the steadily increasing speed of his voice and steadily increasing shakiness of his voice as the passion for what he's saying starts to become more difficult to contain, his increasing fidgetiness as he speaks, all reminds me of myself wbeb I'm unloading a monologue of shit that I've been holding in for a long time. I get the same way.
Only discovered your channel relatively recently and I've been catching up, absolutely love all of your videos! Sad to say, this one has aged particularly well.
@@MichelMawon4982 I was never into Kanye, he was always this weird ego guy to me. Delving into this series really put things into perspective. The raw grief he voiced in that moment was humanizing. He's everything everyone accuses him of being, but he's also in pain. No excuses, but sympathy still.
I have bipolar disorder. It is very confusing and I see very similar patterns between Kanye and myself. The nature of bipolar disorder is that it sort of takes you through the entire grieving process in a short period of time. Bipolar disorder is associated with creativity because of the sheer number of times a person suffering will have their mood go down, struggle with it, overcome it and finally push through to the other side and accomplish amazing things. Everyone around you is like "so everything is going great, awesome". Then out of nowhere I end up in the psyche unit of a hospital. I can't count how many times my family has essentially said, "I thought you were over this by now". The condition of bipolar disorder is the cycle, and as far as I know it can only be managed through stress reduction. When you overcome grief, it makes you feel strong, like watching a sad movie with a positive ending. If you go through these cycles rapidly, on and off for several days at a time, you accumulate a collection of conflict and resolution stories. "I struggle over this thing, I overcame it. Then I struggled over this other thing and I overcame it. Then another and another...". It can be both illuminating and deceiving because there is some truth to the growth we gain when we cycle, as though we are really learning lessons about our lives. So for the first 10 years of bipolar disorder you basically think you are just learning life lessons the hard way. After a while it veers into the delusional territory because the veneer of growth and wisdom starts eating away at you. You notice the remarkable consistency of these cycles in spite of everything good and bad that happens, and you finally accept that you have a disorder so that you can find a balance between the highs and the lows.
I have my own issues and I have lost family and loved ones to BPD. I'm not a professional but medication helps to "control" the peaks. As your body changes with age so does the dosis required. I know the adaptation period feels bad and hinders your hability to function normally but afterwards you go back to being yourself. Take care, if I were religious I would pray for you, as I am not, please believe that this stranger sincerely wish you the best.
I also have BPD, I have type 1. I had my first psychotic manic episode earlier this year. I am on meds now and I don't plan on getting off them. Maybe I'll try going lower on the antipsychotics, we'll see. I say it's like you experience the critical moments of life that all people experience in a microcosm. The best thing you've ever experienced followed by deep depression. I find creativity really helps. I love writing and it really helps me sort through my emotions. And like you said, stress is key. I don't plan on giving a fuck for the rest of my life. If stress is what triggered this in me, then stress isn't worth it.
I just feel 😐 about this comment. While I do agree respecting trans people is important and a no brainer, I was expecting the top comment to be more relevant to what the video was talking about. I’m not sure if I have a problem with this being the top comment.. but I did see it and feel like “oh that’s all you got from the video🙄” But also I understand that people make random comments all the time and that’s fine.
One thing I wish you would have touched on is him openly being opposed to seeking psychiatric help because he thinks that would have a detrimental impact on his creativity. He seems to buy fully into the "suffering creates art" stereotype, which I think is _immensely_ damaging.
Fellow Chicagoan Jeff Tweedy is a great example of how false this trope is. I can't tell which albums Tweedy made while he was suffering. They're all pretty awesome. Certainly suffering and redemption are human experiences that can give an artist material to work with, but there's no evidence that doing that work while unhealthy is any kind of advantage.
@@JaredCzaia David Lynch is someone I respect a lot for completely rejecting the suffering artist stereotype. With him as a director there's the added layer that by all accounts he is very concerned about making sure actors feel safe when they are playing out horrific situations.
Nahh but you also have to look at the realistic fact that Certain medication‘s can have a harmful effect and cause further imbalance with a persons mental illness and make their lives even harder or disrupt what they’ve already know so you can feel free to look up those stories but I assure you there’s plenty of times where people have came out to reveal that when they have gotten the psychiatric help or medication it only made things worse for them it mental health not better. Kanye is one of those people.
I've always been hesitant to use the like "separate the art from the artist" phrase because it's not quite accurate to what I ever wanted to say. "None of us chose to be affected by the art of these flawed and problematic people. And now we are collectively suffering for that very human and very honest connection that we made with art because that arts creator is awful" Is simply the fucking best way to phrase it I've heard So thank you for the video and also thank you for this, because it's something I've been struggling to say for years.
I get the phrasing and I agree with it 100% as a general statement but I don’t understand how it applies here, I don’t see how Kanye, the greater of this art is awful in any way he’s such a good person, now anyways I could see someone making that argument during like the yeezus era of Kanye but even then if you watch this man’s interviews he’s such a good guy he just has mental problems and the whole media and many many people hate him and I think that has an effect on him but he’s certainly not an awful person
I initially watched your Lauryn Hill video because she was a artist who genuinely touched me and was a huge influence on my partner. I clicked on Part 1 of this because I've always heard stuff about Kanye, but only really experienced his music and heard about his life secondhand from people in the know. I didn't expect to be catapulted back into my room, trying to reconcile how injured and hurt I felt by my bipolar brother, with how much pain I could see in him and how much I wanted to help him. I don't feel comfortable commenting on the racial or spiritual aspects of any of this, as a white Jewish guy it's completely not my wheelhouse, but I can comment on what it's like loving someone with bipolar disorder who is spiraling. The best thing to happen to my brother was a period of isolation and introspection, living on his own and combining, yes therapy and medication, but also with attempts to both apologize, and at the same time be heard by those in his life without them seeing him as a threat. It's so hard because there's not a strict victim/villain dichotomy, you *hurt people* in your manic episodes, but often because it feels like being an exposed nerve ending. That moment where he screams about his daughter, and the, I believe genuine apologies he made, yeah maybe he's got healing in him. That said... the best lesson *I* learned was to just have boundaries. There's nothing you can do to really help someone in a manic period, so you just protect yourself while constantly signaling that you will be there when they come back down to earth. Thank you, man (I don't know if FD is your preferred name on the internet?), just subscribed and also joined your Patreon. Can't wait to dig into your older videos, you've got a smart, empathetic, and principled voice.
While you're not wrong, the problem with Kanye is that he's a wealthy artist who never has to really deal with the consequences of his actions. Most people get help when it's clear that their condition is literally harming their lifestyle. Kanye is rich enough that he'll be okay for the forseeable future even if he's spiraling, and he has an army of clout chasers, dick riders and simps who will tell him that everything he's doing is genius. In order for someone to apologize they have to be willing to be introspective. Kinda hard to do when it's clear that Ye doesn't believe he's wrong.
Holy shit the TMZ dude checking him was one of the realest moments I’ve ever seen. I’ve never seen that clip before but if that didn’t make Kanye stare at the ceiling that night and reconsider some things then I don’t know if anything else ever will.
@@simmiewilliams5970 Kanye will be remembered for his music and contributions to art, not his net worth. TMZ guy himself will not be remembered by many, but that moment of being given the harshest reality check imaginable is probably memorable, unless Kanye is so far gone in an ego spiral that he can’t even fathom the possibility of being wrong, which at this point I’m considering is actually the most likely scenario.
This is the thing though, he's sick. And I understand some people didn't get that back then, but I'm just not sure how much he can reflect on his actions while in a state of mania. Which just makes this so sad to me. I don't know much about Kanye or his music in general, so these videos were all very informative. And my takeaway was just how unfortunate this all is. Mental health issues ruin people. It is amazing he's come so far but it's also so sad how much he's clealry been placed under a spotlight in moments he shouldn't have, when he needed was help. I know what it's like to experience something similar because of my own disability and I hope he gets the help he needs is able to function whole again. Because when you're stuck in those moments it's really like walking through a dream world where you are left knowing something is wrong but aren't able to pinpoint what it is or stop the emotions and actions that roll through regardless. People try to talk to you and you hear them and understand them and maybe even agree but then your brain just won't let it stick. And you know it's happening, too, you literally recognize you agreed with them a moment ago and are now disagreeing and it's because something is wrong but you can't stop it a moment later. And then you wake up to the consequences of reality and it's like, dang what happened? That wasn't me, but it also literally was. Anyway, I hope he get help. These videos made me so sad hahaha.
@@rei3707 My mum is bipolar, and from speaking to her about her manic episodes (and I'm not saying this is true of everyone with bipolar disorder) there are parts which she does not remember. They are things she said to me which are REALLY out of character for her and sometimes very cruel, and it seems to be mostly those parts she doesn't remember. So it's possible Kanye might not even remember that incident, even if he was to watch the video of it happening.
I have a full-time job, four kids under the age of 11, and a couple of hobbies. Yet I often turn on this man’s channel and wake up an hour later thoroughly enriched. Many thanks- proud to be a Patreon supporter!
1:11:03 - "We're at the point now where, no matter what community you have an affinity for, a musician/writer/comic/artist that you loved or was instrumental to your upbringing - you are now struggling with your support for that artist because they are flawed or possibly even monstrous. Everybody's dealing with this shit now." That hit me deep.
Just watched the whole thing. Kanye and hip hop were one of many cultures I missed growing up - I know it's tough to identify as a Kanye fan now, but I wanted to let you know you gave a newcomer a new appreciation for what Kanye did, regardless of his current situation. Thanks for your work.
This is the same disillusionment we tend to have about our parents. Because we grow with them, we begin to see their flaws and shortcomings, and learn they they are just human. The problem is, these musicians/writers/comics/artists became the "psuedo parent" in many peoples minds. They were the ones who LIVED UP to those young naive Ideals. They were the ones that we allowed ourselves to believ in unconditionally, because their art validated us. But art is just the best of what they release. They, like our parents, are just human, and are just as, if not more, flawed. This is a second shattering. One of the reason people seem so jaded and apathetic online. We realize everyone has shitty aspects, so we damn the whole species, instead of focusing on the positive and trying to be better ourselves.
As a wrestling fan, I absolutely LOVE how you've integrated kayfabe into this. This idea of kayfabe goes deeper too, all the way into the realm of politics too. It's why I say Wrestling is a true art form that captures life in a way other forms of art/entertainment just can't capture.
as someone who really likes drag queens and the campy absurd ironic parodies of life that it is, i respect wrestling. its like drag, but for idk strong physical people? where regular drag is like the feminine version? i think they play similar roles for sure (except i like mine better of course cause there is dresses and makeup). the fights and shade and drama is still there. we still have villans and underdogs, but we call them different names. if i wasnt half asleep writing this i could name them (debatable) but i just really think they are similar in levels of theatrics and i appreciate wrestling as an art form, i really do
@@salemsmith7085 You’re not wrong. I started to go around comparing lots of “performance activities” to pro wrestling. But I think the simpler comparison is actually theater. Everything is related to theater, which at its roots has big, broad characters involved in dramatic/tragic stories (and comedy as well). Wrestling, the drag scene, politics: all of these have the old character vs. performer divide but just blur the lines to some degree for increased entertainment/effectiveness.
As someone who knows absolutely nothing about wresting beyond the stars, it's a very great concept that can easily be used to explain a lot of concepts, definitely stealing it haha
The reason Kanye turned after his mother died wasn’t just grief. IMO. I believe it is because his mother kept his meds in check. Kept his health in check. She was the only person he would listen too. I believe his girlfriend, wasn’t able keep him stable. Thus she left.
@@rejectionisprotection4448 I don't know about with the girlfriend, but yeah some people with a severe mental illness do end up needing more family support into adulthood, unfortunately. I have bipolar disorder and function pretty highly and independently, but there's a reason it's counted as a disability.
@@rejectionisprotection4448 ABSOLUTELY NOT!! No. It wasn’t his mom’s responsibility either. If he needs someone to take care of him on that level, then he needs to be in care. There is a huge different between support and dependent care. This is precisely the situation for which conservatorship was designed.
She was there to keep him grounded. His mother made a gigantic impact in his life and was a big part of his motivation towards success. At the peak of that however, was when she passed. Those conflicting feelings of grief and stardom was channeled in his artistry, but not in his health unfortunately.
You ever fuck up so badly, and so often, you wonder if it’s even worth apologizing for because 1. Fear they might not accept your apology anymore (in spite of being genuinely remorseful) 2. Not being sure if you’re able stop yourself from repeating the bad behavior again
Saying I’m sorry means “I promise it won’t ever happen again” if you’re going to apologize, then mean it… otherwise you’re just lying. Do yourself a favor and remove yourself from their life.
@@Toxic_Femininity That’s kind of what I was getting at. A lot of the time people, for one reason or another, are not able to ensure that they can stop themselves from behaving in a way that hurts others. In that case, you’re gonna have to ask yourself if it’s just best to cut ties for their sake.
@@Toxic_Femininity as someone who suffers from borderline personality disorder (similar but still different from bipolar disorder), in the moment of the apology, that is exactly what you want to happen. You WANT to be better, you TRY with all your heart to be better, but just because you mean it & you try, doesnt mean it always works. Growth isn't linear. Personally, I believe as long as the person is showing effort & progress, it shows the dedication to whatever relationship you have with said person (be it romantic or friendship etc.). But with that said, there's a fine line & everyone has different limits to what they can & cannot accept. But I dont think apologies are always meant as "I'll never do x y z again". Sometimes they mean "I acknowledge that you're in pain", "I'll work hard to be better than this".
@@angeliquexo both as someone with lifelong mental health issues and whose friends/loved ones also almost unanimously have their own mental illnesses, i agree with this entirely.
I'd like to add a huge thanks also. F.D.- your perspective on black men have changed my life for the better . My dad was undiagnosed bipolar and suffered from narcissism and drug addiction. he still did so much to ensure that i would be OK in life. he fought so hard but never had the help he needed. Thank you for creating. You are helping more than you know.
This video has aged VERY well. Almost a year on and Kanye releases his White Lives Matter merch🤢. It's scary that this video basically predicted this happening 😅
Funny thing is, America has spent the past decade hyper-focusing on black people being shot by the police while completely ignoring white people who get shot by the police OVER TWICE AS OFTEN (and ignoring every other non-black race also), yet the term "black lives matter" is considered a noble, virtuous, and necessary slogan, while "white lives matter" is labeled as a racist, white supremacy slogan. From where I'm standing, black lives seem to be the ONLY lives that matter anymore, because they're the only lives anybody bothers to discuss. If both of your parents died, and your whole family constantly talked about your mom while never once mentioning your dad, which parent's life would you assume mattered more? And if one of your parents deserved a slogan that their life mattered, which parent would that be? We KNOW black lives matter because that's all anyone ever talks about, or protests about, or riots about. And we know that white lives DON'T matter, because you can't name a single white person killed by police and neither can anyone else, even though it happens more than once per day on average in America. But sure, Kanye is a piece of shit for wearing a WLM shirt. 🙄
@carti vamp67 Kim didnt give Kanye his mental disorder, hes had that forever. If you were a parent youd also not want your child with someone so manic with so many resources
*I honestly don't think people can justifiably speak on Kanye without addressing mental health* I believe alot of his "rambling and rants" stem from his inability to properly articulate his thoughts. Unfortunately in the black community mental health isn't taken as serious as it should be. When it is recognized people tend to use it almost as an "excuse" to deter from his actions/beliefs that are either hypocritical or just plain wrong. Nonetheless *this video was incredibly eye opening and informative* without being judgemental.
this exactly is always my problem with any Kanye talk. A lot of people look at him like the literal devil and he isn't, he's sick. He's also done some reprehensible things that he should be held accountable for. But he's also sick. Except FD, he did awesome talking about this.
So what do we do? recognize that he has mental health issues while also acknowledging he is being a asshole or just give him a pass cause it's not like we can really tell the difference
As a black woman in the fashion and design industry, I really appreciate you for bringing attention to the fact that Kanye was right. It is very hard for Black people in the fashion industry to get places because we are simply barred from doing so. And while yes Black people don’t really care we should because it is our likeness that literally shapes the entire industry but the people who are profiting from it or not us. And seeing as I am younger, seeing him, go and talk on these interviews was the thing that personally solidified that Kanye was different. That he was smarter and bringing like to issues that people don’t like talking about. And yes, maybe the $2000 dollar shoes don’t seem important to the black community that can’t even afford them but we must realize the thousand dollar shoes influence the $60 shoes that we can afford. It’s a trickle down effect. And we should have a role in shaping that because it is our culture that defines the fashion industry but not our faces. And it’s been that way since the 90s. We need to aim higher and not settle for the scraps given to us. If we put a glass ceiling on what we can expect to achieve we’re complacent in our stagnation, for where we are. We are the world so we deserve the world and nothing less.
Dude is worth 6 billion? Ummm WAS. It’s confirmed he’s no longer a billionaire, outright. It didn’t last very long, the powers that be made sure of that, clearly.
@@GhoulbaybieYour point is right; But it just seemed so perplexing that Kanye - with all his independence and passion - was so focused on working with specific mainstream brands.
@@danltigerwhich is exactly what Sway and Charlamagne was trying to tell him back in 2013: if people don't see your vision the way you do then put your own money together to get *something* off the ground to start proving them wrong. I get passion and hunger, but the reality is that no one's gonna hand you the keys to the city on day one just because you say you have great ideas. Cosigns are great and all but business-minded people need to see some evidence that what you bring to the table is going to sell if you insist on them throwing you some buy-in, and sometimes that takes strategic building to show that worth to them bit by bit until it's obvious. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the main reason he got pushed aside recently is that he's probably a bit of a nightmare to work with when things don't go perfectly his way. For some people, no amount of money is worth the stress of working with someone that's increasingly confrontational over creative decisions.
"How many redemptions do we need? How much grace can we give him?" This is, unfortunately, one of the hardest parts of mental illness. The way it not only affects those who have it, but their loved ones as well. I have a long history with this kind of thing, and it genuinely hurts to realize that as a loved one, you can only take so much. That feels selfish and wrong, because you want to see your loved one get better and thrive. But ultimately it is up to THEM to CHOOSE to get better, not you. No matter how much you want them to and try to help them. It's not up to you. It's up to them. And sometimes you need to realize that you cannot lose your own life either, and that you have to make your own boundaries for your own mental health. And other times, as deeply painful and agonizing as it is, you need to realize when it's time to let go. You need to take care of yourself too. You don't have to give up on them, but you should remember that you should not drown with them.
As someone who has dealt with mental health issues for most of my life, I have to say that something that really clicked with me was "mental illness is not your FAULT. You do not have to feel shame for it. But, it is your RESPONSIBILITY. You have to own it and take control of it if you want to protect those around you from it."
only thing I would say is that its not selfish to pursue self preservation in this circumstance. No one should feel like there being selfish because theyre not willing to lose their own mind to save someone else's, esspecially when that person isn't putting in the effort to change. That's not an obligation anyone has to anyone else. Its not selfish to walk away from an attempt at someone else's betterment to honor your own limits.
I was not a fan of Kanye West. These videos have made me respect this man's accomplishments and made me understand the breadth of his influence on music and fashion, as well as the impact of his struggle with his own personal issues. Brilliant work sir.
Indeed. I grew up in an evangelical church so Kayfabe has been repulsive to me since I was a child, so I never gave any of the man's career any of my attention. Hearing a person's personal journey as a fan and as a black man in America it softens me to what he meant to people. Maybe the idea of giving people the benefit and "2nd chances" indefinitely will promote the same compassion to others more generally? Maaayyyybbeee??? And I still think he was probably always a narcissist and a self-interested promoter. I will never understand celebrity culture and American obsessions with wealth, power, and fame.
@@artemismoonbow2475 Serious question I understand the connection between having an adverse reaction to Kayfabe and Christianity. I just don’t understand not having the same adverse reaction to Critical Consciousness.
It goes to say that his influence in fashion is still something that wasn't fully coveted in this video. One major arc of kanye's dive into the fashion industry was his relationship with Virgil Abloh and what would eventually be a very unfortunate situation in their friendship when Louis Vuitton picked Abloh over Kanye to be their creative director. This was a position Kanye had dreamed of for years and was something he was told would be his, but it seemed LV wanted a safer choice in Abloh. I imagine on one hand you would feel happy for your friend but on another it does seem sour to have been cast aside especially when Kanye was a bit of a teacher to Abloh as he introduced him to a lot of influential people of the industry.
My mother has bipolar and if was given a microphone for the whole world to hear when she was manic, and they judged her on that, she was surrounded by people hyping her up and telling her she could do no wrong, that would be a complete car crash. Doesn't mitigate the hurt.
This era of Kanye felt like watching an episode of BoJack horseman where he is spiralling out of control. but he keeps apologising and it’s like no BoJack you need to be better cut the bullshit
In which way has he spiraled out in this era? Literally hasn’t said anything during the album rollout. The only controversy was lp3 Jail listening party. I swear it’s like everyone watching this don’t even know what is going on with Ye right now.
@@caylemanalac1133 If you really watched this whole video, or have been following Kanye at all over the past few years, how can you deny the spiral? Are we marking Donda as a "new era?" The divorce with Kim? The abortion meltdown was last July fam. Saying "oh he dropped a new album/achieved x milestone, things will be different now!" in spite of all the other behavior to the contrary is misplaced optimism at best. But nah, keep riding the Ye train lmao
I started crying when you showed the clip of him ranting his paranoid thoughts about his friends during a live show. It's fucking scary having a nervous breakdown, and doing it on live tv is just extremely traumatic and embarrassing. And yes, bipolar is hella embarrassing. Once you come out of a high and remember running around half naked or spouting bizarre theories which are real, and threatening, and all consuming when you're manic but just fucking ridiculous and shameful when you're out of it.. Also losing friends because of your mood, personality and behaviour changes is painful because people expect you to act like someone whose state of mind and reality is consistent and reality isn't fucking consistent for us. We can't help that *shrugs* Can't abide by his MAGA and 'slavery was a choice' shit, but it doesn't mean he's not seriously ill and won't be for life.
Mental illness isn't your fault, but it is your responsibility. it's your responsibility to seek help until you've got it managed. You cant allow your Mental illness to run wild and ruin your relationships with others just because its not your fault that you're mentally ill. Im sure you didnt mean any other way but since you didn't make that explicit, I wanted to.
@@elleofhearts8471 Clearly, you do not personally struggle with mental illness. Would you tell a paralyzed person to essentially suck it up and will themselves to run around the block? No, you would not. So, don’t tell us who struggle and have lost friends, our career, livelihood, our autonomy, and more due to chronic illness. There is no cure. I have both mental illness AND incurable autoimmune illnesses. I have had to learn to live with it, and I do my best, but I still have lost SO MUCH that I can and will never get back because of my illnesses. The “friends” who have mocked me and abandoned me are ignorant and lack empathy because they don’t comprehend. Especially because I “look normal,” and I laugh and smile A LOT. They just don’t get it; meanwhile, my heart gets broken over and over by asshole “friends” who, no disrespect, think like you.
@@iamcasihart I don't mean to sound disrespectful, but the difference is that unchecked mental illness can also hurt and traumatise the people around you. Obviously it's nobody's fault, and everyone has a responsibility to be respectful and tolerant, but I don't think elle ofhearts' comment was equitable to your analogy of a paralysed person. And just as a neurotypical person must be respectful and patient with a neurodivergent person, that same neurodivergent person has to recognise that their friends have mental health to care for as well and should not feel obligated to spend time with someone who is actively hurting them.
I have the "more acceptable" forms of mental illness e.g. GAD, ADHD, depression, panic attacks(name a form of anxiety and I probably have it). I'm aware of how it twists and distorts the world around you but it's largely internal with my anxiety. I've been guilty of laughing at Kanye's behavior. I know that he can't help it and it does worry me when I see it. Just because I know he is believing what he's saying and that he's distressed by his state of mind. It's like I can't help but laugh at the contrast between how intelligent he is and the weird behavior he displays while in that state of mind. I can't help him either so I feel I can't do anything but laugh. But it also sucks how many people dismiss what Kanye says sometimes because his disorder. Kanye's an artist and intelligent. I've heard statements he's made and understood the underlying message he was trying to get across. IDK why but it's rather easy for me to follow seemingly erratic thought processes. Or just figure out when someone's mental illness is in control or not.
As someone who struggles with BD myself, and also someone who loves Kanye's art, these last few years were enraging and painful. Being able to SEE him constantly just in the up up up and crash cycle, being unable to articulate himself effectively, seeing the crushing grandiosity in him and then listening to his past few albums... It's really devastating to witness. I was really looking forward to this part two and your discussion really gives this the nuance and respect it deserves.
This honestly makes me so sad, because as a teen I’ve really only grown up with Kanye’s more troubled era. I never knew what an inspiration he was to the black, queer and other communities. I hope he can heal from this, but honestly I feel like I’m always mourning not being able to support my idols anymore. Thank you for sharing such an insightful view into his story with the younger generation!
Why would Kanye have to think like the rest of you normies. Thats what made him a genius and thats why normies ain't. He sees and feels stuff at a higher level. He doesn't have to be a role model or be this perfect embodiment of your simple mindset so you can idolize him.
@James Tennant The fact that everyone has to see life in the same linear mainstream lense or be cancelled or should STFU is cowardice. Normie clearly gets you in your feelings but it is what it is. The Slave comment made sense y all too butthurt and emotional to even think about it. He said 400 years of slavery. That 1619 to 2019. It goes hand in hand with the whole MAGA thing and be put in a box or cancelled. Whatever the liberals, SJW and virtue signalers spew about Kanye is ironic. Y'all go vote Dems and get fleeced while riding your high horses.
@James Tennant Calling anything that includes "Come to life" a generous 5/10 is bullshit imo. Art is subjective so why is it that things are put so confidently into some kind of objective rating system just to prove a point. Him obviously going through shit and still putting out impactful art is more inspiring to me than this perfect career path of his older albums ever were.
@James Tennant First of all thank you for this though out reply. I really appreciate that 1. This is definitely a "me" problem. I even have this thing with movies that I dont really like the story of, the pacing might be bad, overall premise is lacking, atmosphere, script you name it but if there is one scene that really touches me the film automatically cant go beneath a certain threshhold. So I can definitely see that listeners that appreciate an album as a whole and like to immerse themselfes into this big body of art more than having actually forgettable and frankly unneccessary songs just for the sake of it and then the occasional amazing song. 2. I didnt mean that to be hypocritical or too personal. I just personally dislike statements that seem too confident in subjective qualities that also try to make or prove a point. Its perfectly fine to state things passively if you can call it that. "I love the lyrics of xyz" "the production on this one is dogshit" etc its how it should be. But how you put his behavior in exchange of art he puts out only works if we all collectively agree on the quality. For some he might be less of a shithead now and puts out the same quality of music so this whole train of thought doesnt work out. You can even call that reaching since as you said critics and users agree with the rating so the majority is on the same page there. I just think this might be really frustrating to experience as an artist that could give in to this kind of pressure to not get shit on by the majority of people which would potentially prevent us from having things like Yeezus. 3. My inspiration comparison was definitely based on my personal experience as you correctly assumed but it was just supposed to be an example of not everyone being upset with kanye, missing the old kanye and him supposedly loosing his role as rolemodel. Trying to stay neutral here I would guess I'll always give kanye second/third/etc chances or the benefit of the doubt because he still to this day has some of my favourite songs of all time in his discography even tho Iam pretty far from a avid rap or hip hop listener. So its probably just hoping to find something as great as he gave me (in this case) again. All in all, I guess I will always try and defend the potential of impactful art that can evoke emotions before coming at artists for any number of reasons. Even with stuff I dont like I always appreciate the attempt. So Iam atleast less biased that way than you gave me credit for. Iam 24 yo tho :^) Hope this made some sense
That last scene with his mother broke me. I’m the only child of an intelligent, educated black woman and I’m taking on the role of her caregiver. My mother also believed in me when I was at my lowest and spoke life into me every day. Seeing this dynamic reminded me to make peace with my mother’s mortality and know that I am whole because she loves me.
Bless you and your loving mother, this made me happy reading it. We have a lot in common clearly but the most important component is we acknowledge all our mothers did for us. And it started with loving us, seeing us for who we are and instilling values in us which will carry us through our entire lives. I am and will always be a flawed individual but the qualities I am most proud of and the ways I constantly try to improve as a human are 100% due to how my mother raised me. Salute to you and salute for the strong, educated black woman you’re caring for; if you ever need support I’m here 💯.
One of the saddest things about Kanye is he is the poster child in a lot of ways on how the entertainment industry exploits people (in all health aspects) and throws them away when no more can be syphoned from them OR the artist becomes too independent to manipulate. Kanye is a special artist (similar to Tupac in a LOT of ways) where he WARNED us what he was going to do in a HIT SINGLE (Can't Tell Me Nothing) and we just bobbed our heads to the beat and ignored the lyrics. Lol. This was amazing! I have always loved this channel and I'm so glad it's gaining so much momentum. I can't wait to see the man get his 1M subscriber plaque. Thanks for posting this quality.
When you were talking about Kanye and Kim, I wished you'd touched on the implicit misogyny in believing that Kim had somehow tricked Kanye, as if he had no agency of his own. It's just a modern update of blaming Yoko Ono for breaking up the Beatles.
I was gonna say this myself but I see you and you're speaking facts!!! Even as a kid growing up I realized how mean people were to the Kardashians for seemingly superficial reasons and how much SHE changed after dating Kanye, not the other way around.
@@victoriapulcifer6218 people should be mean to the kardashians.......because they are responsible for untold human suffering due to their impact as part of the billionaire class in a capitalist world run off the blood and sweat of the poor where the marginalized are used additionally as a punching bag and pitted against the majority group as a "at least you arent as bad off as them" scapegoat.
Had both parts of this video while on while drawing. I have morality oriented OCD, and I often have episodes where I feel like I'm a bad person for the things I consume. I revisit these videos sometimes to listen to while doing schoolwork, and the first time I watched, it helped ease my morality OCD worries, and made me realize that there's a nuance when it comes to the discussion and consumption of influential and controversial creatives. Thank you.
"Morality-Oriented OCD"... for Christ's sake, kid you're not gonna survive if you magnify every personality flaw/quirk into a disorder. Take it from someone who has been in and out of the psychiatric world and given a number of bullshit diagnoses (schizo-affective, bipolar ii, social phobia, major depressive disorder, borderline personality disorder). Stop listening to these quacks and realize that they're the ones who are making you sick. It's a racket. They make us dependent on their drugs and their therapies. They trick us into believing they're the only ones who can save us. Resist them
@@djwormdaddy5771 stfu, now. you can stay off your meds. I support your right to be off them. Don't tell other people what they are going through and how to handle their emotional health. So, again, stfu.
hey, just wanted to say you're not alone with your struggles with OCD, I feel you HARD as someone who also has OCD. Keep it up man and I hope you're doing well :>
While I loved the kayfabe hiphop connection, it stretches thin here as it implies a control over the story. Kanye at times is a mastermind controlling his heel turns as he swerves us all controlling a grand story but when that doesn't fit, it's mental illness. ALL of this behavior can be explained by the hallmarks of bipolar disorder, there simply isn't a need to switch perspectives. The grandiosity, belief in being superior, impulsivity, difficulty judging risk, disorganization, decreased need for sleep, paranioa, etc. He's not a heel, he's a sick genious and has enablers convinced his sickness is a part of his genious when in fact it's preventing its full expression.
This perspective came from someone who is in the mental health field. Great analysis! It felt like there was a tug of war between accountability and mental illness.
Man... the weird thing is, I can't actually disagree with you, but I also feel like takes like this feel kind of infantilizing to me, as someone living with bipolar. While I agree it's really important to apply that lens in thinking about our lives, I also feel like it's so important that it not be the *only* lens. Like, I have to relate to the world in ways much bigger than just "how bipolar am I being?" and I'd hope other people can see me the same way. Can Kanye be both a sick genius *and* a heel?
@@noname-hz1sf yes there were several times Kanye admitted to drug dependence and not taking his meds. Individuals with Bipolar Disorder go through med changes and have instances where they purposely don’t take their meds. Someone with Bipolar disorder sometimes doesn’t take their meds because they enjoy the manic high. It’s a catch 22 because how can I get stabilized if I’m refusing my meds. I can only speak as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and as an RN.
@@noname-hz1sf Good point, I think one of the differences is you are being treated, coping and likely lack the celebrity and wealth to insulate from many consequences that would normally lead to treatment. He could be both or he could have been both gradually losing more of himself as the condition progresses which is what I believe explains his behavior best. I in no way mean to infantilize anyone with mental illness- most people live just like anyone else with a chronic condition. However, untreated or during acute episodes, they're not in control, need compassion treatmemt and in some cases need a safe environment where they won't be exploited or harmed. Unfortunately, the condition itself is often a barrier to treatment as the person sees no reason to start or continue it. Kanye is a tough case, he pays people to organize his finances and life, if someone thinks he needs treatment he could end their buisness relationship, if he drops 2 million in Vegas was he manic or just ballin', is he experiencing hyperreligiousity or a religious revival? For people without his celebrity it's clearer but I think it s hard to watch that Kanye for president rally and not see a man in pain who needs help. I don't see a heel.
@@noname-hz1sf point well taken on being more than your diagnosis and infantilizing. Thank you for that, I ve definitely seen both. While in a crisis treatment may need to be imposed, to be effective longterm it has to be collaborative. One goal always being to live a life with the condition but not defined by it.
Cannot believe you made this video. Jesus, I can't take this heat. The kitchen is too damn hot for me. This is DEEEEEEP. Honest truth, when you said you were making Kanye videos I was like "BUT WHY" Man.... MAN..... I understand why now. I feel like I am a literal post on r/im14andthisisdeep. I genuinely think this is going to be a very very close contender for my favorite video of yours. The Tyson video was great, but I honestly think I like this one more. The only one where the spirit of the message comes close is the gay agenda in the media (but that's just because LGBTQ is real close to my heart and personal experience). This video was amazing man, thank you so much for putting in the work to just share information and your thoughts like this. I'm just still mind blown.
I know this is an older video, but I'm just seeing it now and wanted to thank you for making it. I'm an older person, and Kanye rose to prominence during an era when I was profoundly out of touch with pop culture, and by the time I dipped back in, he was already on his downward slide. I never got why anyone cared about him in the first place, but you really put it into context. Now I'm beginning to understand his place in contemporary culture, and I'm also inspired to go back to those early albums and listen to the music I missed.
his song "heard em say" and also "homecoming" both got me through some dark days as a child- before i was even old enough to understand art i loved those songs and the albums they came from. Jesus walks is also amazing. I dont even agree with the sentiment behind the song but it is so raw and full of truth. It comes form the heart in a way that is very needed in the art community: The song is god-like, even to an atheist like myself.
This Kanye was such a double edged sword. From someone of the younger generations(2000s baby lol), who's also black, Ye's music broke so many grounds for alternative and mainstream Hip Hop, that I was allowed to explore new sounds and not just stick to Hip Hop, I found that I liked the Progressive Rock music he was sampling just as much as I loved his music. However, at the same time the counter culture aesthetic that Ye needed to perpetuate his image as an artist essentially turned him "counter black" so to speak. It's one of the most interesting case studies on celebrity culture and black media persona ever put in the public eye.
Yeah as someone who isn’t black nor from the USA, it’s fascinating (and also a little sad) how Kanye grew bigger than black culture, but was still limited by his blackness (specially regarding fashion and how much one could expand). It’s fascinating how much of a trailblazer he was (and left open a road others could follow), but sad how he left other people behind, specially those who can’t follow.
@@thabokgwele5268 I guess that was a bit of a silly statement. But what I'm getting at, essentially, is that as influential as Ye was for black culture(that is popular culture that is fundamentally influenced by black people) he was also really bashful and inconsiderate to the same culture, despite the fact he wouldn't have been a bilionare much less have a platform without it. I hope that makes more sense.
This series has been cathartic and eye opening in many ways. The wrestling analogy was absolutely brilliant. I would love to hear your perspective on the rise of Lil Wayne and the aesthetic and sound of the new generation of face tattoo Xanax popping rap.
"He was a big part of that wave, but Kanye wanted to be Poseidon. He didn't just want to be the wave; he wanted to control the waters." That quote gave me chills.
Looking at Kanye's rants about being unable to break into the high fashion industry & then his rants following that into the Life of Pablo & the Trump era Fiq presents, it kind of feels like the latter conservative turn was his solution to the former problem. He was a talented black man looking to break through a glass ceiling imposed upon him by that industry due to his blackness, and like many others before him, decided to adopt the worst of white cultures behavior in order to appear more like those he was trying to ingratiate himself to. And once he found success, as a parrot of all the awful things white supremacy says, he just continued to do it, because it brought him success in the areas he now cared about and wanted to succeed in, rather than with the original content that brought his initial fans in the black community to him. He had wanted to be a fashion mogul who did wrap for a long time, and after his pleas of aid from his initial fans in the black community who loved his music failed, he decided to go for aid from the awful people who owned what he wanted. It really is like watching a man rebirth himself into the ugliest parody of what he was, and all the awful that has to exist in the society we live in to require it.
I just watched my first video from you yesterday because I searched “video essay” for something to do my makeup to and your Bo Burnham video came up. I absolutely loved it and loved to see a black man tap in to a white male dominated genre and discuss black pop culture. I instantly subscribed and I’m so glad to see you posted this. I’ve never been a Kanye fan (because of the clownery mentioned in this video) but I can really tell you did your homework and I’m just nodding along to everything while I eat my chili 😅 Keep up the good work, man!
You’re the first person to break this Kanye shit down so well. Most people here on yt claim they’re breaking shit down (while they’re being unbiased) but they’re actually already hate him and are not trying to explain this downfall
The clip him rapping with his mother just made me so emotional 😭. I can feel the bond between them, can’t imagine how incredibly traumatic her lost was for him. Great work as always and looking forward whatever you do in the future.
Jesus, these two were heartbreaking. I've somehow managed to have a complete Kanye blindspot. I found your videos yesterday via the algorithm and have been mainlining them for the past two days. So, I figured learning about Kanye from you would be pretty fascinating. Didn't realize I'd be in tears throughout. I've mostly known him in his heel phase; so seeing footage of him so earnest and joyful just crushed me emotionally. The kayfabe analogy was perfect. Thank you. I hope he finds peace in his lifetime.
At 24:20 I was not looking at the screen, just nodding along and thinking "thats why Vegeta is my fav" and then I looked at the screen again and felt so vindicated lol
One thing about dealing with people who struggle with mental illness (especially, but not only in the case of something so fluctuating as bipolar disorder) is that it fucks with what we view as meaningful. When I was studying to become a teacher, one of my professors (who also works with at risk youth) said that we, as people, want to give meaning to struggle. Either because of our nature, or our society, she didn't know, but she had observed that after a very difficult event or period, we look back at the struggle and kind of give it our own subjective meaning. The same goes for struggles related to mental illness. We tend to view it like a curable disease, something that will have made all the struggle worth it, but the thing is that for most mental illnesses (especially bipolar disorder), the struggle is gonna come back, and if you are close to the person struggling, it is gonna hurt you again. If they had gotten definitively, objectively better, you would have considered the struggle to have been worth it, and even congratulated them for having gone through it. But since it is everchanging, the meaning (in your head) is not there. There is only struggle and pain. Her advice for life in general and for dealing with people suffering from mental illness, as well as, in her line of work, dealing with people who will often go back to criminality and delinquance, is to find the meaning in the trying, in the everyday effort. Even if you have to, for your own mental health, pull away from a person as to not drown with them (as another commenter pointed out), the tremendous effort that you put into helping them, and that they continue to put into helping themselves, that is where the true meaning lies.
gotta disagree with the statement the charlie sheen was a "hero". everyone i knew and all the media i consumed about him at the time treated him as a slow motion train wreck and a joke
I definitely knew people who loved his Tiger Blood era. I made a post talking about how annoyed I was with the whole thing and how Charlie was specifically targeting women who were deemed “less” in society. I had two male “friends” go hard for him in that post. So much so that one of them blamed my hormones for my response.
I Couldn’t stand Charlie during that time period. I felt like his interviews and appearances were to allow him to rant and make an idiot of himself. Interesting to hear that he had fans then.
nah i remember people on the youtube video years and years ago saying that he was "putting that lady in her place". i was a kid at the time and didn't really get it, but i knew it was funny, as all of us at school were crackin jokes about tigerblood and "WiNnInG".
Also, Charlie Sheen is one the most evil creatures walking this planet right now. Knowingly passing AIDS onto his partners, a total sex-case, absolutely in with the Hollywood elites (to whatever degree they conspire together; not to be a conspiracy nut). But definitely a double standard in how the general public has let go off their negative feelings for Sheen while still hating Kanye.
The clip of Kanye and his mother rapping together at the end was deadass beautiful And so was this whole presentation/video as a young black man i really appreciate content like this on UA-cam and since black men don’t give each other enough love , Thank you and i love what your doing sir
Awhhh, this was sweet. I’m a young black woman and he’s one of the only black male commentators I watch. It’s nice to hear that his impact is helpful to young black men.
It makes me happy to see Black folks enjoying and learning from F.D. There are good Black male UA-camrs I found this year. Speaking of UA-camrs, I am trying to represent for the culture on UA-cam too👏🏾‼️
As a white guy who's never interacted with Kanye West's music, this was a highly humanizing and nuanced series. I mean, all of your videos really make me stop and think, but like, damn. I remember InuendoStudios's "This is Phil Fish" but you took it to a whole new level. Lowkey kinda interested in whatever Kanye does next.
It's really upsetting to think about how awful this must be for his children. My dad has depression and went through a really hard time for a couple years when I was a kid, and it was horrible for my brother and I. Unlike Kanye's kids, we never had to deal with mania and our friends only knew as much as we wanted to tell them, so I can only imagine how terrifying and humiliating this is for his children (or at least the ones that are old enough to realize something is wrong)
There are tears in my eyes as I watch this with how you handled bipolar with so much empathy. It’s a hard illness, especially when you’re an artist, because you feel like you’re a god. You’re creating and destroying at will. When you come down you just see the carnage that you’ve caused and it drops you so low that it’s hard to move or even breathe. The hardest part, and this is true for a lot of mental illness, is that you need to have the space to separate yourself from the situations you know you can cause harm in without viewing yourself as a monster. It’s a specific kind of mental state that’s hard to hold onto without a) internal recognition b) acting on that recognition swiftly c) realizing you have to do so. Going to therapy is all well and good but being able to recognize what’s happening at therapy is a whole other mental state that I’m still not sure how I found. I feel for Kanye. My mother is my biggest supporter. She took me in and nurtured me back to health over and over and over again until I could bear to stand. He’s lost his main support system and I think what you said about him being so rich and famous that he can’t trust anybody is really hurting him. I hope for Kanye because I see hurt in him that I see in myself. Everyone deserves a chance to feel happy with their choices and I hope he gets there Thank you again, for the love you put out into the world. Even though this video was about Kanye, it made me feel seen despite me and him having nothing in common
@@AST-erisked If you're scarred by trauma from losing a parent, I'm not sure one would care to see the technical differences in the case; it could still be a deliberately reckless move.
@@TheKarret I'm seeing it as he could technically argue to others that it's no more dangerous than anything else he could get done, and that he doesn't hold any grudges against the procedure, but it's really an overt cry for help and suicidal behaviour in the context of the association he must have with it now
The way you laid out a nearly 20 year old story of this man’s career in a way that I, someone who never really followed or understood the cultural impact of, could recognize the importance of, is amazing. Props to you man, can’t wait to see what’s next.
Kanye's conservative tendencies don't surprise me because his rhetoric about free thinking, being unconstrained by others thoughts or expectations, his talent, and ambition struck me as very Randian. I think Kanye does what he thinks is good for Kanye and whatever's good for Kanye is good for everyone else because he's Kanye and a genius. That's pretty much his entire philosophy and only justification he needs. These have been great videos. Thanks!
@@ihavethots1261 Be careful about using the word narcissist. It is a diagnosis often used against neurodivergent people who are not evil nor self centred. Better to just say he's arrogant which I wouldn't argue with
I think another reason he became a supporter of Trump is because of how he was not a politician. Someone coming in from the outside can be really appealing when all your life you’ve been let down by the system.
F.D. Signifier: “I hope I make some content that will be both topical during its release, and be longstanding that people will want to come back to it down the road” Severed monkey paw: *curls finger*
Seeing you lay it all out, this is just the most illuminating analysis. I just haven't seen other creators on this platform do with Kanye's whole career, and didn't know how badly I wanted an analysis of Kanye like you've done here. This is brilliant and incredible work.
Kanye's rhetoric of elites not letting him succeed and being an outsider narcissist is literally Trumps rhetoric. His support is no surprise since the aesthetic is mirror of his own feelings about the fashion industry.
part 3 is def gonna be the most frustrating for him and all other Kanye fans to deal with. it’s getting all the more difficult to defend this man for what he says cuz of his bipolar and personal tragedies
Unfortunately, Kanye’s the type of person who won’t accept help until he hits rock bottom and it will be a while before that happens because of the alt right echo chamber he’s currently in
@@jjmitch1411 sadly I think you're right. Plus that group doesn't seem to have a lot of mental health resources or spaces to talk about that kinda thing esp with other men
@@jjmitch1411 There is no bottom for Ye to hit. There is no depth to which he can sink that the Right Wing Grift-o-Sphere will not reward him with praise and attention. No matter how much normies write him off, his past star power lends them a legitimacy that they cannot buy. Previous to Ye they were living off of the fame of Scott Baio and Dean Cain. They were minor TV stars 30 and 40 years ago. Kanye was the biggest rapper in the world at a time when rap was the top-selling musical genre and it was less than ten years ago.
@@ZenGaijin Jay z is not the Saint and don't think kanye is stupid for a second. There is a reason kanye called him in 2016, today his richer than these hip heads that are jealous of him.
This is one of the BEST documentaries/video essays I have ever watched on UA-cam. I cannot even stand Kanye or wrestling and have a scant interest in rap/hiphop but your commentary, analysis, editing and insights kept me captivated and engaged for the entire duration. I feel "full". Well done sir. Production values on point. You have a gift. Oh, and the wrestling analogy works really well.
Kanye said "I'm ahead of my time, sometimes years out. So the powers that be won't let me get my ideas out" and from the moment I heard that line, it stuck with me. I listened to Late Registration at a young age and felt a sort of connection with a lot of the songs without understanding big chunks of the context. But Kanye is a great inspiration to me and I hope that all he is doing will bring him peace and inspire more people to be themselves, despite what box society puts them in.
In a literal medical sense what he is doing will not bring him peace or happiness. He won’t be okay until he’s medicated. I wish that wasn’t how bipolar works, but it is. He’s made his art. The human he was is worth salvaging idk
Listening to Kanye's interviews, I realize that he wants to be fullfilled in all aspects of his creativity. Also he seems to have an urgency for a legacy. Sometimes we don't get it because we've been taught to be humble. I can see his frustration in wanting to articulate that. I believe that frustration led to his impulsiveness and gaffes
His frustration about the fashion industry is completely valid. Even with his money and connections the doors are shut. Never realized that that industry is the most corrupt organization run by very few old families who keep the doors closed for everyone. The awful things people have to do to get through those doors is hair raising.
Ok, but that's all the more reason why what Sway said was valid: you wanna get something pushing then stop waiting so desparately for the industry to back you. Put your own money forward and figure out a way to pivot to make something happen.
@@Chrisratata i agree. i think its a classic tale of assimilating into power structures and wanting a seat at the table vs. breaking away from such aspirations and instead nurturing your community and people into being autonomous and independent on your own
That TMZ clip is so bizarre. Like, I don’t know what that context was that brought him there. So weird to see him just ranting and raving at TMZ offices.
Eric Weinstein, a Jewish intellectual, talks about his interactions with Kanye leading up to him going down to TMZ in one of his Joe Rogan episodes. It definitely adds some context to where Kanye’s head was at for that incident.
Someone once said Kanye vibrates so fast that he exists in the future but tries to relate to us by slowing down. I didn't quite get what that meant but with this and the last video you made I'm starting to get it
He really struggled coping with this though. And that’s why he’s spazzed our in recent years. It’s true when people can’t catch up with you it drives you a little mad and he got desperate and looked for allegiance anywhere
they should have said he (Kanye) BELIEVES he exists in the future. it sounds pretty but it's empty 'cause he just dissing black folk with his "trying to relate to us" enough excusing our people making fun of us.
Because I’m a white woman from Maine there are plenty of factors in Kanye’s story that I’ll never be able to relate to in any way. But I’m also an artist who has bipolar, I’ve had to deal with the internal struggle between managing my mental health at the cost of my creativity. It’s such a conflicting predicament, if you’re a creative person for whom art is a _massive_ part of your life and even your core self it’s incredibly difficult to be forced to suppress such a massive part of your soul just so you can live a manageable, stable life. I also dropped out of art school and it was purely a side effect of deteriorated mental health, I saw how the medication I was taking effected my desire and ability to feel inspired and to create and I decided to go off of them, immediately resulting in a manic episode. I got back on my meds and have been doing well but it’s been months since I consistently engaged in any kind of creative practice and it’s a gut wrenching trade off, I’m missing a part of myself. It was painful to watch a very manic Kanye rant to the TMZ office about all the meds he was put on and the negative effects he felt because of them and it was _highly_ concerning to hear that he’d almost completely taken himself off of them. I believe he said he only takes one of his pills a week. When you have a manic episode it’s usually accompanied by anosognosia (the inability to tell that there is something wrong with your own well-being). It may be obvious to the people around you but frequently when those in your life express concern you just brush it off because clearly they don’t know what they’re talking about. And so you refuse to listen and reject the help being offered. But bipolar is not to be messed around with, 60% of people who suffer from it attempt suicide and between 4-19% will succeed in taking their own life. I truly hope he’s able to gain some stability and peace. I don’t know what that would look like or what he’d need to do to get there but I really hope we get to see it.
I have been diagnosed with ADHD and depression since middle school in the 90s. And I have had struggles with the wrong medication or none at all. Until the right combination. I am lucky to have the mom I have had. And during Ye antics, I felt for him. It is damn if you do or don't with the medication. There's a lot to Ye. We all are just complicated beings and being diagnosed with a mental illness.. It is a lot... The brain is the final frontier.
My mom has bipolarism, and I love her so much. As crazy as she can get and has been, she finally found help after I asked her to go to therapy several times a few years ago. She's been on meds for a while now, and I can tell she still struggles controlling herself, but I could never abandon her. I wish he had the same kind of people still in his life...I think he needs that
Everything from start to finish was beyond eloquent! Thank you so much for thoroughly articulating this- as a former major fan its been difficult to expressed my long-time mixed feelings about this.
@@joaodelgado6696 in a way I do respect it because an artist can put themselves into a box, a box of who other people think they should be or a box of who they themselves think they are. Kanye has refused both boxes and instead has decided to become a force of nature. In an era when our identities are algorithmically molded, I respect that more than ever
This is the first time I’ve watched a commentary video about a celebrity when I felt like the orator really cares about the subject. Your deep sense of disappointment, clarity on the expectations of fandom, & an example of how to handle said expectations. I absolutely love this channel and the insights you bless us with.
Both Ye videos have been really good. As a South Asian Brit, our community had a lot of overlap with the black community. My parents used take me to the local Caribbean carnival every year, our slang was black London influenced, and we loved hip hop (side note- I think Jay Z recognised this too when he rapped over Punjabi MC at Glastonbury). Kanye was my favourite artist after 2pac, and I know a lot of South Asians probably feel the same. I probably hung on and defended him way too long too, I think I fully gave up around Ye/KSG times (although KSG was pretty great). Oh, and I also grew up thinking every celebrity was in the illuminati, there was a wild and very anti-Semitic video series called the arrivals that i watched on here as a kid with my friends, so ridiculous! In my opinion Kanye is too far removed from the realities of regular people to ever come back. I remember when the slavery is choice stuff came about and John Legend tried to text him about the actual history of slavery and he replied (paraphrasing ofc) that he doesn't really read he just goes off of emotion and feeling. I think TI (fuck him btw) also said when he tried to speak to Kanye regarding Trump that Kanye hadn't even heard about the Muslim ban, so it proves he legit does not read into any of this stuff, if the soundbites sound cool to him, or the aesthetic is right he will go behind it. You can see this when he reads the dictionary, highlighting positive sounding words. It's all feeling and aesthetic. I really hope ihe gets some proper help for his mental health issues and reads some damn books
The Arrivals was definitely something...that still has me listening to the amazing soundtrack they used from The Fountain OST til this day. It was an Islamic take on "end times/illuminati/freemason signs" videos on YT that were very popular at the time, but they were anti-Zionist, not anti-Semitic.
As a response to what you have researched about Bipolar disorder - Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder, not a personality disorder. As someone who is Bipolar II, my ups and downs do not significantly change my personality. I'm only speaking for myself here as I'm well aware the severity can vary from person to person. He hasn't changed that drastically personality-wise as you pointed out. I say that to say - The media and others constantly blaming his antics on his disorder is a dangerous stereotypical response to what others perceive mental illness to look like. Going without medication for so long has likely increased his manic episodes but that only HEIGHTENS his erratic behavior and word salads. Kanye's thoughts are his own. He has the resources to get on medication and presumably has been on medication before. He's well aware of his diagnosis and I believe he's addicted to the delusions of grandeur and high levels of energy. I know I was. I don't really have any feelings of heartbreak for him, I just hope that he would see that going unmedicated is doing more harm than good...but in my own opinion, his ego is on the cusp of becoming a cult leader. I wouldn't be surprised if he's intending to officially start one...
you said it yourself, you have bipolar ii. so do i, and i don’t feel that it’s our place to make staments like this. people with bipolar 1 experience psychosis in mania, which absolutely can warp your opinions in a way you can’t control. i don’t think this is a fair assessment of his situation.
@@tinystrawbrry in defense of my comment and defense (groans) of Kanye, I’m not making an assessment so to say, I’m pointing out how people think being bipolar takes away your entire autonomy. Most people have a perception that we just walk around being manic and unabashed all year round when in reality you would never be able to tell on the surface. Fans and media contributing his thoughts and ALL of his behavior to his disorder is a dangerous and false stereotype. My mom was bipolar 1. I witnessed the extremities and delusions but at the core she was still “herself.” Unreasonable and irresponsible during her manic episodes but it didn’t change ego she was as a person. He has a fair amount of agency. I may not be on board with his opinions or the people he supports or his blatant hypocrisies but it’s not fair to say his disorder trumps his personality. Especially when his been this way since his introduction.
@@isattathecreator thanks sm for the thoughtful response! while i dont 100% agree with you, i am also trying not to shift the responsibility of what kanye did onto his illness entirely. i just wanted to note the opinions he’s expressing right now may not actually be his own. BUT the responsibility for those statements it’s DEFINITELY on him. he should have been med compliant or do whatever else he could to sort out his manic episodes and he didn’t. so let me be clear that i DO believe the responsibility of his words falls on him.
I'm surprised you didn't mention the other racial dynamic in the first Kanye-Taylor incident -- Beyoncé really did have one of the best videos of all time (Single Ladies -- literally iconic, novel, unforgettable with global recognition and staying power). That's why it rightly won "Video of the Year." But "Video of the Year" hadn't been announced yet, and, for whatever reason, Kanye didn't think Beyoncé was going to win it and interpreted her failure to win the "Best Female Music Video" award as her being slighted. (Why Kanye didn't think Beyoncé could win Video of the Year, we can only speculate, but I personally think his ego may have convinced him that his own "Love Lockdown" was slated to win). Looking at it from that perspective, Kanye's outrage is understandable -- Taylor's video was, just being honest, deeply uninteresting, a rehash of old Midwest suburban/small town "girl next door" tropes that had been done a million billion times before. The idea that Taylor, playing a classic White ingenue role at the time, would be given an award for best video for a (just being honest) stale and tacky rehash while Beyoncé, an enormously influential Black female artist, was passed over after creating something truly novel and iconic -- I get why Kanye might have felt the need to say something. It's just a shame he didn't stop and think about it.
Beyonce's video was WAY better in hindsight (and probably at the time), so I'm assuming Kanye was coming from a place of protesting the white preference of awards shows, but he didn't articulate it very well.
Funny- for me I got it INSTANTLY. And I think that he articulated it almost too bluntly. Now he completely fucked up on the slavery/holocaust tip... oh he went all the way left on that.
"But Kanye wanted to be Poseidon. He didn't wanna just be the wave, he wanted to control the waters."
*Damn,* brotha. That's some good analogy-making.
Die the hero or become the villain I guess
Reminds me a lot of "be like water"
Right! Poetic👌🏾
Kanye really wanted to be Virgil Abloh lol
And I see nothing wrong with that especially far as the goal or a part of it being to open doors for black people. How can black people imagine getting far in this country, world, when we don't have black people breaking the glass ceilings and breaking boundaries for us, going beyond just rappers and entertainers like weve been for eons? Yeah we get praised for having talent and what not but thats it. Like Dr. Umar said, black people like Jayz are our financers. We can't really afford to lose them. So give them some leg room to grow and dominate as much as they can on behalf of black people. Like a Trojan horse.
My father was bipolar. He only got better at the end of his life because he'd burned all his professional bridges and lived a humble, quiet, steady life away from the power and money his manic charisma attracted when he was younger. Money and power are the most desirable and most destructive things to someone who is prone to manic episodes. Everyone's different, but I can't imagine Kanye will get better so long as he is in the public eye. For his own sake, I hope he finds some way to strip it all away.
Thanks for such a thoughtful and thought-provoking video. Kanye's fall from grace is heartbreaking, I'm happy videos like yours can turn it into something we can learn from.
Kanye spoke about that. If I understood him correctly that was the reason he moved to Wyoming, away from the high life and strong temptations.
I was told one way to destroy a human soul is to give it everything it wants
Very well-spoken.
This is true. I am bipolar. The best thing for us is to live quietly, like you said. But when you are an artist like Kanye, being medicated could mean losing the creative spark, and that’s hard to give up. And the feeling of mania is hard to resist.
I'm hoping him being quiet in the media lately is him doing just that.
As someone with bipolar, I’m so grateful no one has handed me a mic during a manic episode… and meds aren’t some easy fix. I’ve tried more than 40 since I was 17, some landing me in the psych ward. When I’m manic, it’s like I have a whole different brain with different values and goals…it really hurts me to see him like this.
Holy dope is the best cure
When the meds eff you up even more than the episodes 😅
@@feathersprinkles FACTS 😂😂😂
I'm thankful for doctor I have anxiety and been diagnosed bipolar my son was murdered April 1,2008 my mother grieved her self to death September 10;2008 I had to by hospitalize too so I'm grateful my meds been working for me since 2008! I'm tired of people saying his mother death sent him over well it's a lot of people who are not rich that seek help and for me he didn't live his mother more than I love my son and my Mama😢
I understand that
Mi done pree it pon Patreon so I ain't wanna spoil anything but this two part series is THE definitive guide to Kanye's career. Above all; i love how FD took someone who ppl love to hate right now and humanized him with a cornucopia of nuance and empathy. Bravo, big man 👏🏾
Can't wait!
@@heymelon big mellyyy ✊🏿✊🏿
@@ForeignManinaForeignLand good to see you in here, spreading the love!
omg jealous, gonna make me sub to patreon too
@@misszombiesue defo should! Could form an opinion before everyone else does lol
That guy on TMZ who said "actually I don't think you're thinking anything" is a fucking hero
Right??? I'm seriously so impressed by that clip, especially coming up with those words on the spot like that. Not mean or angry, just honest and hurt and rightly critical... Yeah major props to that guy.
When his voice broke a little. Felt it.
You're talking about Van Lathan.
He's on a bunch of popcasts right now - a really funny, smart man.
Oh and he won an Oscar last year. 'Telling you - one talented brother.
@@RCSDominoToppling Well, you're basically right...but one thing I would say is that I'd be willing to bet that the main reason why he was able to say such powerful and thought-provoking words (in everyone besides Kanye, if his facial expressions are anything to go by lol) seemingly off the top of his head is because it wasn't _really_ off the top of his head. In that, all the stuff he said, I feel like he'd been contemplating those thoughts for a WHILE, those thoughts were probably stewing in his head for weeks or more, being someone working at TMZ, it's not far fetched for him to legitimately think about "What would I say to Kanye West if I had the chance?" and then suddenly the chance presented itself and he just unleashed all the stuff he'd been stewing on for who knows how long. Cuz the speech patterns, the steadily increasing speed of his voice and steadily increasing shakiness of his voice as the passion for what he's saying starts to become more difficult to contain, his increasing fidgetiness as he speaks, all reminds me of myself wbeb I'm unloading a monologue of shit that I've been holding in for a long time. I get the same way.
heartbreaking: the worst [tabloid] you know just made a great point
Only discovered your channel relatively recently and I've been catching up, absolutely love all of your videos! Sad to say, this one has aged particularly well.
I've been watching you as well! Thanks for the love
real recognizes real
That moment he’s regretful of what he said re: North…was sad to see and hear
@@MichelMawon4982 I was never into Kanye, he was always this weird ego guy to me. Delving into this series really put things into perspective. The raw grief he voiced in that moment was humanizing. He's everything everyone accuses him of being, but he's also in pain. No excuses, but sympathy still.
@@Dystinction1 which part are you referring to? Thanks.
I have bipolar disorder. It is very confusing and I see very similar patterns between Kanye and myself. The nature of bipolar disorder is that it sort of takes you through the entire grieving process in a short period of time. Bipolar disorder is associated with creativity because of the sheer number of times a person suffering will have their mood go down, struggle with it, overcome it and finally push through to the other side and accomplish amazing things. Everyone around you is like "so everything is going great, awesome". Then out of nowhere I end up in the psyche unit of a hospital. I can't count how many times my family has essentially said, "I thought you were over this by now". The condition of bipolar disorder is the cycle, and as far as I know it can only be managed through stress reduction. When you overcome grief, it makes you feel strong, like watching a sad movie with a positive ending. If you go through these cycles rapidly, on and off for several days at a time, you accumulate a collection of conflict and resolution stories. "I struggle over this thing, I overcame it. Then I struggled over this other thing and I overcame it. Then another and another...". It can be both illuminating and deceiving because there is some truth to the growth we gain when we cycle, as though we are really learning lessons about our lives. So for the first 10 years of bipolar disorder you basically think you are just learning life lessons the hard way. After a while it veers into the delusional territory because the veneer of growth and wisdom starts eating away at you. You notice the remarkable consistency of these cycles in spite of everything good and bad that happens, and you finally accept that you have a disorder so that you can find a balance between the highs and the lows.
this is very interesting insight! thanks for commenting
I have my own issues and I have lost family and loved ones to BPD. I'm not a professional but medication helps to "control" the peaks. As your body changes with age so does the dosis required. I know the adaptation period feels bad and hinders your hability to function normally but afterwards you go back to being yourself.
Take care, if I were religious I would pray for you, as I am not, please believe that this stranger sincerely wish you the best.
I also have BPD, I have type 1. I had my first psychotic manic episode earlier this year. I am on meds now and I don't plan on getting off them. Maybe I'll try going lower on the antipsychotics, we'll see.
I say it's like you experience the critical moments of life that all people experience in a microcosm. The best thing you've ever experienced followed by deep depression.
I find creativity really helps. I love writing and it really helps me sort through my emotions. And like you said, stress is key. I don't plan on giving a fuck for the rest of my life. If stress is what triggered this in me, then stress isn't worth it.
I really appreciate getting the perspectives of people who live with BPD and just what you guys have to deal with.
Thank you so much for helping us develop a better understanding of the experiences of those with bipolar.
Just noticed the censoring of Caitlyn Jenner's deadname and I appreciate the gesture.
:|
Agreed
@@vivirenteria8336 what does this mean?
Thank you for respecting all trans people, even the problematic ones!
I just feel 😐 about this comment. While I do agree respecting trans people is important and a no brainer, I was expecting the top comment to be more relevant to what the video was talking about. I’m not sure if I have a problem with this being the top comment.. but I did see it and feel like “oh that’s all you got from the video🙄”
But also I understand that people make random comments all the time and that’s fine.
This made me so unbelievably sad. It’s hard to see somebody mentally deteriorating in front of our eyes over years.
Same thing I’m saying 😢
😂😂😂😂😂
One thing I wish you would have touched on is him openly being opposed to seeking psychiatric help because he thinks that would have a detrimental impact on his creativity. He seems to buy fully into the "suffering creates art" stereotype, which I think is _immensely_ damaging.
Fellow Chicagoan Jeff Tweedy is a great example of how false this trope is. I can't tell which albums Tweedy made while he was suffering. They're all pretty awesome. Certainly suffering and redemption are human experiences that can give an artist material to work with, but there's no evidence that doing that work while unhealthy is any kind of advantage.
@@JaredCzaia David Lynch is someone I respect a lot for completely rejecting the suffering artist stereotype. With him as a director there's the added layer that by all accounts he is very concerned about making sure actors feel safe when they are playing out horrific situations.
You're not an artist
You'll never understand
Nahh but you also have to look at the realistic fact that Certain medication‘s can have a harmful effect and cause further imbalance with a persons mental illness and make their lives even harder or disrupt what they’ve already know so you can feel free to look up those stories but I assure you there’s plenty of times where people have came out to reveal that when they have gotten the psychiatric help or medication it only made things worse for them it mental health not better. Kanye is one of those people.
@@narutofan4545 you aren't either bc I have been producing way more and better art since Im medicated for bipolar. Kanye is a clown now it's sad.
I've always been hesitant to use the like "separate the art from the artist" phrase because it's not quite accurate to what I ever wanted to say.
"None of us chose to be affected by the art of these flawed and problematic people. And now we are collectively suffering for that very human and very honest connection that we made with art because that arts creator is awful"
Is simply the fucking best way to phrase it I've heard
So thank you for the video and also thank you for this, because it's something I've been struggling to say for years.
absolutely 100% agree; i really felt that
yup, fucking loved this view. voiced something I've always felt but have never heard verbalized properly.
I get the phrasing and I agree with it 100% as a general statement but I don’t understand how it applies here, I don’t see how Kanye, the greater of this art is awful in any way he’s such a good person, now anyways I could see someone making that argument during like the yeezus era of Kanye but even then if you watch this man’s interviews he’s such a good guy he just has mental problems and the whole media and many many people hate him and I think that has an effect on him but he’s certainly not an awful person
I can carry this into everywhere in my life. Because it's not just the parasocial relationships that have us feeling this way.
@@adriarchy Absolutely Adri.
I initially watched your Lauryn Hill video because she was a artist who genuinely touched me and was a huge influence on my partner. I clicked on Part 1 of this because I've always heard stuff about Kanye, but only really experienced his music and heard about his life secondhand from people in the know. I didn't expect to be catapulted back into my room, trying to reconcile how injured and hurt I felt by my bipolar brother, with how much pain I could see in him and how much I wanted to help him.
I don't feel comfortable commenting on the racial or spiritual aspects of any of this, as a white Jewish guy it's completely not my wheelhouse, but I can comment on what it's like loving someone with bipolar disorder who is spiraling. The best thing to happen to my brother was a period of isolation and introspection, living on his own and combining, yes therapy and medication, but also with attempts to both apologize, and at the same time be heard by those in his life without them seeing him as a threat. It's so hard because there's not a strict victim/villain dichotomy, you *hurt people* in your manic episodes, but often because it feels like being an exposed nerve ending.
That moment where he screams about his daughter, and the, I believe genuine apologies he made, yeah maybe he's got healing in him.
That said... the best lesson *I* learned was to just have boundaries. There's nothing you can do to really help someone in a manic period, so you just protect yourself while constantly signaling that you will be there when they come back down to earth.
Thank you, man (I don't know if FD is your preferred name on the internet?), just subscribed and also joined your Patreon. Can't wait to dig into your older videos, you've got a smart, empathetic, and principled voice.
Thank you for sharing this comment. It really resonated with me. Wishing you and your brother well!
While you're not wrong, the problem with Kanye is that he's a wealthy artist who never has to really deal with the consequences of his actions. Most people get help when it's clear that their condition is literally harming their lifestyle. Kanye is rich enough that he'll be okay for the forseeable future even if he's spiraling, and he has an army of clout chasers, dick riders and simps who will tell him that everything he's doing is genius. In order for someone to apologize they have to be willing to be introspective.
Kinda hard to do when it's clear that Ye doesn't believe he's wrong.
Wednesday 24th May 2023 11:59 a.m. I do not know when video I initially watched I just played a video while I wash dishes and
Hey, just wanted to say that I hope you and your brother are doing well. ❤
Holy shit the TMZ dude checking him was one of the realest moments I’ve ever seen. I’ve never seen that clip before but if that didn’t make Kanye stare at the ceiling that night and reconsider some things then I don’t know if anything else ever will.
Why?...TMZ dude is just a memory. Kanye West will be remembered....plus he’s a billionaire.
@@simmiewilliams5970 Kanye will be remembered for his music and contributions to art, not his net worth. TMZ guy himself will not be remembered by many, but that moment of being given the harshest reality check imaginable is probably memorable, unless Kanye is so far gone in an ego spiral that he can’t even fathom the possibility of being wrong, which at this point I’m considering is actually the most likely scenario.
If you liked that clip you should watch the full 30 Minute TMZ interview, it’s shameful the stuff they showed Vs what all really was there
This is the thing though, he's sick. And I understand some people didn't get that back then, but I'm just not sure how much he can reflect on his actions while in a state of mania. Which just makes this so sad to me. I don't know much about Kanye or his music in general, so these videos were all very informative. And my takeaway was just how unfortunate this all is. Mental health issues ruin people. It is amazing he's come so far but it's also so sad how much he's clealry been placed under a spotlight in moments he shouldn't have, when he needed was help. I know what it's like to experience something similar because of my own disability and I hope he gets the help he needs is able to function whole again. Because when you're stuck in those moments it's really like walking through a dream world where you are left knowing something is wrong but aren't able to pinpoint what it is or stop the emotions and actions that roll through regardless. People try to talk to you and you hear them and understand them and maybe even agree but then your brain just won't let it stick. And you know it's happening, too, you literally recognize you agreed with them a moment ago and are now disagreeing and it's because something is wrong but you can't stop it a moment later. And then you wake up to the consequences of reality and it's like, dang what happened? That wasn't me, but it also literally was. Anyway, I hope he get help. These videos made me so sad hahaha.
@@rei3707 My mum is bipolar, and from speaking to her about her manic episodes (and I'm not saying this is true of everyone with bipolar disorder) there are parts which she does not remember.
They are things she said to me which are REALLY out of character for her and sometimes very cruel, and it seems to be mostly those parts she doesn't remember.
So it's possible Kanye might not even remember that incident, even if he was to watch the video of it happening.
I have a full-time job, four kids under the age of 11, and a couple of hobbies. Yet I often turn on this man’s channel and wake up an hour later thoroughly enriched. Many thanks- proud to be a Patreon supporter!
You wake up enriched after an hour? So you watch them when youre asleep? 🤔
@@RapidBlindfolds Correct.
♥️
How do you have time for that? I have two kids and my life is gone
@@AbtinX lol same
1:11:03 - "We're at the point now where, no matter what community you have an affinity for, a musician/writer/comic/artist that you loved or was instrumental to your upbringing - you are now struggling with your support for that artist because they are flawed or possibly even monstrous. Everybody's dealing with this shit now."
That hit me deep.
Just watched the whole thing. Kanye and hip hop were one of many cultures I missed growing up - I know it's tough to identify as a Kanye fan now, but I wanted to let you know you gave a newcomer a new appreciation for what Kanye did, regardless of his current situation. Thanks for your work.
This is the same disillusionment we tend to have about our parents. Because we grow with them, we begin to see their flaws and shortcomings, and learn they they are just human. The problem is, these musicians/writers/comics/artists became the "psuedo parent" in many peoples minds. They were the ones who LIVED UP to those young naive Ideals. They were the ones that we allowed ourselves to believ in unconditionally, because their art validated us. But art is just the best of what they release. They, like our parents, are just human, and are just as, if not more, flawed. This is a second shattering. One of the reason people seem so jaded and apathetic online. We realize everyone has shitty aspects, so we damn the whole species, instead of focusing on the positive and trying to be better ourselves.
This is happening with videogame companies too. Guess this is just what capitalism does to a mf
Currently dealing with this with one of my own heroes. It legit feels like a break up.
When the Kanye Biopic gets greenlit, someone better call F.D and use his perspective
Factual
@@_NightoftheComet Feels way too soon
I bet by then he hopes they don't
Facts
But then who'd play Kim
As a wrestling fan, I absolutely LOVE how you've integrated kayfabe into this. This idea of kayfabe goes deeper too, all the way into the realm of politics too. It's why I say Wrestling is a true art form that captures life in a way other forms of art/entertainment just can't capture.
Was gonna make a comment about the excellent use of kayfabe parallels but you captured it nicely.
as someone who really likes drag queens and the campy absurd ironic parodies of life that it is, i respect wrestling. its like drag, but for idk strong physical people? where regular drag is like the feminine version? i think they play similar roles for sure (except i like mine better of course cause there is dresses and makeup). the fights and shade and drama is still there. we still have villans and underdogs, but we call them different names. if i wasnt half asleep writing this i could name them (debatable) but i just really think they are similar in levels of theatrics and i appreciate wrestling as an art form, i really do
@@salemsmith7085 You’re not wrong. I started to go around comparing lots of “performance activities” to pro wrestling. But I think the simpler comparison is actually theater. Everything is related to theater, which at its roots has big, broad characters involved in dramatic/tragic stories (and comedy as well). Wrestling, the drag scene, politics: all of these have the old character vs. performer divide but just blur the lines to some degree for increased entertainment/effectiveness.
As someone who knows absolutely nothing about wresting beyond the stars, it's a very great concept that can easily be used to explain a lot of concepts, definitely stealing it haha
@@TheAwsomeTime same lol
The reason Kanye turned after his mother died wasn’t just grief. IMO. I believe it is because his mother kept his meds in check. Kept his health in check. She was the only person he would listen too. I believe his girlfriend, wasn’t able keep him stable. Thus she left.
Should that have been her responsibility though?
@@rejectionisprotection4448 I don't know about with the girlfriend, but yeah some people with a severe mental illness do end up needing more family support into adulthood, unfortunately. I have bipolar disorder and function pretty highly and independently, but there's a reason it's counted as a disability.
@@rejectionisprotection4448 ABSOLUTELY NOT!! No. It wasn’t his mom’s responsibility either. If he needs someone to take care of him on that level, then he needs to be in care. There is a huge different between support and dependent care. This is precisely the situation for which conservatorship was designed.
@@dogdad1997 Amen. I’m so glad you are supported. That is the only way to success and health.
She was there to keep him grounded. His mother made a gigantic impact in his life and was a big part of his motivation towards success. At the peak of that however, was when she passed. Those conflicting feelings of grief and stardom was channeled in his artistry, but not in his health unfortunately.
You ever fuck up so badly, and so often, you wonder if it’s even worth apologizing for because
1. Fear they might not accept your apology anymore (in spite of being genuinely remorseful)
2. Not being sure if you’re able stop yourself from repeating the bad behavior again
Saying I’m sorry means “I promise it won’t ever happen again” if you’re going to apologize, then mean it… otherwise you’re just lying. Do yourself a favor and remove yourself from their life.
@@Toxic_Femininity That’s kind of what I was getting at. A lot of the time people, for one reason or another, are not able to ensure that they can stop themselves from behaving in a way that hurts others. In that case, you’re gonna have to ask yourself if it’s just best to cut ties for their sake.
@@Toxic_Femininity as someone who suffers from borderline personality disorder (similar but still different from bipolar disorder), in the moment of the apology, that is exactly what you want to happen. You WANT to be better, you TRY with all your heart to be better, but just because you mean it & you try, doesnt mean it always works. Growth isn't linear. Personally, I believe as long as the person is showing effort & progress, it shows the dedication to whatever relationship you have with said person (be it romantic or friendship etc.). But with that said, there's a fine line & everyone has different limits to what they can & cannot accept. But I dont think apologies are always meant as "I'll never do x y z again". Sometimes they mean "I acknowledge that you're in pain", "I'll work hard to be better than this".
@@angeliquexo both as someone with lifelong mental health issues and whose friends/loved ones also almost unanimously have their own mental illnesses, i agree with this entirely.
@@Toxic_Femininity wow this doesn't take into account mental health or human fallibility at all at all.
Hugely grateful for all the hard work you put into these two videos. I
warms my heart to see you watch these too.
Ahhhh it’s rad to see you here! Love this lil YT music community
Wow worlds colliding here!!!! Keep up the excellent work you two!!!!
Literally couldn't agree more
I'd like to add a huge thanks also. F.D.- your perspective on black men have changed my life for the better . My dad was undiagnosed bipolar and suffered from narcissism and drug addiction. he still did so much to ensure that i would be OK in life. he fought so hard but never had the help he needed. Thank you for creating. You are helping more than you know.
This video has aged VERY well. Almost a year on and Kanye releases his White Lives Matter merch🤢. It's scary that this video basically predicted this happening 😅
sad that it's gotten even worse just in the month since you posted this comment
@@marnenotmarnie259 And even after that he's now releasing literal nazi propoganda in his songs
Funny thing is, America has spent the past decade hyper-focusing on black people being shot by the police while completely ignoring white people who get shot by the police OVER TWICE AS OFTEN (and ignoring every other non-black race also), yet the term "black lives matter" is considered a noble, virtuous, and necessary slogan, while "white lives matter" is labeled as a racist, white supremacy slogan. From where I'm standing, black lives seem to be the ONLY lives that matter anymore, because they're the only lives anybody bothers to discuss. If both of your parents died, and your whole family constantly talked about your mom while never once mentioning your dad, which parent's life would you assume mattered more? And if one of your parents deserved a slogan that their life mattered, which parent would that be?
We KNOW black lives matter because that's all anyone ever talks about, or protests about, or riots about. And we know that white lives DON'T matter, because you can't name a single white person killed by police and neither can anyone else, even though it happens more than once per day on average in America. But sure, Kanye is a piece of shit for wearing a WLM shirt. 🙄
@@marnenotmarnie259 and even worse since your comment 😭
@carti vamp67 Kim didnt give Kanye his mental disorder, hes had that forever. If you were a parent youd also not want your child with someone so manic with so many resources
The slow thrashcan covering Drake was hilarious.
lel yeeeess
LOL!!! That was so petty.
That shit had me dyinnnnnngggggg lmao
Poopity scoop, scoodity poop
@@scifinerd17 Indeed
*I honestly don't think people can justifiably speak on Kanye without addressing mental health* I believe alot of his "rambling and rants" stem from his inability to properly articulate his thoughts. Unfortunately in the black community mental health isn't taken as serious as it should be. When it is recognized people tend to use it almost as an "excuse" to deter from his actions/beliefs that are either hypocritical or just plain wrong.
Nonetheless *this video was incredibly eye opening and informative* without being judgemental.
this exactly is always my problem with any Kanye talk. A lot of people look at him like the literal devil and he isn't, he's sick. He's also done some reprehensible things that he should be held accountable for. But he's also sick. Except FD, he did awesome talking about this.
Thanks YT doctor.
So what do we do? recognize that he has mental health issues while also acknowledging he is being a asshole or just give him a pass cause it's not like we can really tell the difference
@@THATGUYJT I vote for the first one. I think this whole video does a great job of exactly that.
@@misszombiesue yeah id go with that too and true
As a black woman in the fashion and design industry, I really appreciate you for bringing attention to the fact that Kanye was right. It is very hard for Black people in the fashion industry to get places because we are simply barred from doing so. And while yes Black people don’t really care we should because it is our likeness that literally shapes the entire industry but the people who are profiting from it or not us. And seeing as I am younger, seeing him, go and talk on these interviews was the thing that personally solidified that Kanye was different. That he was smarter and bringing like to issues that people don’t like talking about. And yes, maybe the $2000 dollar shoes don’t seem important to the black community that can’t even afford them but we must realize the thousand dollar shoes influence the $60 shoes that we can afford. It’s a trickle down effect. And we should have a role in shaping that because it is our culture that defines the fashion industry but not our faces. And it’s been that way since the 90s. We need to aim higher and not settle for the scraps given to us. If we put a glass ceiling on what we can expect to achieve we’re complacent in our stagnation, for where we are. We are the world so we deserve the world and nothing less.
@@tananario23 lol okay? What does that have to do with my point?
Dude is worth 6 billion? Ummm WAS. It’s confirmed he’s no longer a billionaire, outright. It didn’t last very long, the powers that be made sure of that, clearly.
@@GhoulbaybieYour point is right; But it just seemed so perplexing that Kanye - with all his independence and passion - was so focused on working with specific mainstream brands.
Wonderful addition to the conversation, thank you ❤
@@danltigerwhich is exactly what Sway and Charlamagne was trying to tell him back in 2013: if people don't see your vision the way you do then put your own money together to get *something* off the ground to start proving them wrong. I get passion and hunger, but the reality is that no one's gonna hand you the keys to the city on day one just because you say you have great ideas.
Cosigns are great and all but business-minded people need to see some evidence that what you bring to the table is going to sell if you insist on them throwing you some buy-in, and sometimes that takes strategic building to show that worth to them bit by bit until it's obvious.
I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the main reason he got pushed aside recently is that he's probably a bit of a nightmare to work with when things don't go perfectly his way. For some people, no amount of money is worth the stress of working with someone that's increasingly confrontational over creative decisions.
"How many redemptions do we need? How much grace can we give him?"
This is, unfortunately, one of the hardest parts of mental illness. The way it not only affects those who have it, but their loved ones as well. I have a long history with this kind of thing, and it genuinely hurts to realize that as a loved one, you can only take so much. That feels selfish and wrong, because you want to see your loved one get better and thrive. But ultimately it is up to THEM to CHOOSE to get better, not you. No matter how much you want them to and try to help them. It's not up to you. It's up to them. And sometimes you need to realize that you cannot lose your own life either, and that you have to make your own boundaries for your own mental health. And other times, as deeply painful and agonizing as it is, you need to realize when it's time to let go.
You need to take care of yourself too. You don't have to give up on them, but you should remember that you should not drown with them.
Infinite grace from something like Christianity definitely seems like a good source of comfort
As someone who has dealt with mental health issues for most of my life, I have to say that something that really clicked with me was "mental illness is not your FAULT. You do not have to feel shame for it. But, it is your RESPONSIBILITY. You have to own it and take control of it if you want to protect those around you from it."
only thing I would say is that its not selfish to pursue self preservation in this circumstance. No one should feel like there being selfish because theyre not willing to lose their own mind to save someone else's, esspecially when that person isn't putting in the effort to change. That's not an obligation anyone has to anyone else. Its not selfish to walk away from an attempt at someone else's betterment to honor your own limits.
@@comicconcarne I would say it isn’t but I guess that’s up to the person
Thank you
I was not a fan of Kanye West. These videos have made me respect this man's accomplishments and made me understand the breadth of his influence on music and fashion, as well as the impact of his struggle with his own personal issues. Brilliant work sir.
Indeed. I grew up in an evangelical church so Kayfabe has been repulsive to me since I was a child, so I never gave any of the man's career any of my attention. Hearing a person's personal journey as a fan and as a black man in America it softens me to what he meant to people. Maybe the idea of giving people the benefit and "2nd chances" indefinitely will promote the same compassion to others more generally? Maaayyyybbeee??? And I still think he was probably always a narcissist and a self-interested promoter. I will never understand celebrity culture and American obsessions with wealth, power, and fame.
@@artemismoonbow2475
Serious question I understand the connection between having an adverse reaction to Kayfabe and Christianity.
I just don’t understand not having the same adverse reaction to Critical Consciousness.
@@thst_bot5368 religious people cannot self reflect because that makes them not religious.
Yes
It goes to say that his influence in fashion is still something that wasn't fully coveted in this video. One major arc of kanye's dive into the fashion industry was his relationship with Virgil Abloh and what would eventually be a very unfortunate situation in their friendship when Louis Vuitton picked Abloh over Kanye to be their creative director. This was a position Kanye had dreamed of for years and was something he was told would be his, but it seemed LV wanted a safer choice in Abloh. I imagine on one hand you would feel happy for your friend but on another it does seem sour to have been cast aside especially when Kanye was a bit of a teacher to Abloh as he introduced him to a lot of influential people of the industry.
Bruh I came back just for that thumbnail update 😂😂😂😂
DUDE SAME XD
Here we are once again, I wonder what the new thumbnails gonna be.
My mother has bipolar and if was given a microphone for the whole world to hear when she was manic, and they judged her on that, she was surrounded by people hyping her up and telling her she could do no wrong, that would be a complete car crash. Doesn't mitigate the hurt.
This era of Kanye felt like watching an episode of BoJack horseman where he is spiralling out of control. but he keeps apologising and it’s like no BoJack you need to be better cut the bullshit
i love this
In which way has he spiraled out in this era?
Literally hasn’t said anything during the album rollout. The only controversy was lp3 Jail listening party.
I swear it’s like everyone watching this don’t even know what is going on with Ye right now.
@@Joshluden stan detected
@@PYR0NinjaPXG Yet you have no response to anything he just said..
@@caylemanalac1133 If you really watched this whole video, or have been following Kanye at all over the past few years, how can you deny the spiral? Are we marking Donda as a "new era?" The divorce with Kim? The abortion meltdown was last July fam. Saying "oh he dropped a new album/achieved x milestone, things will be different now!" in spite of all the other behavior to the contrary is misplaced optimism at best. But nah, keep riding the Ye train lmao
Gotta say dawg, I've been bingeing your content for the last week and youre definitely one of the best creators in this platform hands down.
Wait a minute…so you haven’t been vibing to Street Lights this whole time????
Lol I still don't like that one
Welcome to Heartbreak is a top 10 Kanye record.
Nieces, Nephews, and Nibblings!
@@FDSignifire you the man but this ain't it
@@moondeliight I like 808s a lot more now but the sentimentality of this particular song don't quite work for me still
I started crying when you showed the clip of him ranting his paranoid thoughts about his friends during a live show. It's fucking scary having a nervous breakdown, and doing it on live tv is just extremely traumatic and embarrassing.
And yes, bipolar is hella embarrassing. Once you come out of a high and remember running around half naked or spouting bizarre theories which are real, and threatening, and all consuming when you're manic but just fucking ridiculous and shameful when you're out of it..
Also losing friends because of your mood, personality and behaviour changes is painful because people expect you to act like someone whose state of mind and reality is consistent and reality isn't fucking consistent for us. We can't help that *shrugs*
Can't abide by his MAGA and 'slavery was a choice' shit, but it doesn't mean he's not seriously ill and won't be for life.
Mental illness isn't your fault, but it is your responsibility. it's your responsibility to seek help until you've got it managed. You cant allow your Mental illness to run wild and ruin your relationships with others just because its not your fault that you're mentally ill. Im sure you didnt mean any other way but since you didn't make that explicit, I wanted to.
Damn
@@elleofhearts8471 Clearly, you do not personally struggle with mental illness. Would you tell a paralyzed person to essentially suck it up and will themselves to run around the block? No, you would not. So, don’t tell us who struggle and have lost friends, our career, livelihood, our autonomy, and more due to chronic illness. There is no cure. I have both mental illness AND incurable autoimmune illnesses. I have had to learn to live with it, and I do my best, but I still have lost SO MUCH that I can and will never get back because of my illnesses. The “friends” who have mocked me and abandoned me are ignorant and lack empathy because they don’t comprehend. Especially because I “look normal,” and I laugh and smile A LOT. They just don’t get it; meanwhile, my heart gets broken over and over by asshole “friends” who, no disrespect, think like you.
@@iamcasihart I don't mean to sound disrespectful, but the difference is that unchecked mental illness can also hurt and traumatise the people around you. Obviously it's nobody's fault, and everyone has a responsibility to be respectful and tolerant, but I don't think elle ofhearts' comment was equitable to your analogy of a paralysed person. And just as a neurotypical person must be respectful and patient with a neurodivergent person, that same neurodivergent person has to recognise that their friends have mental health to care for as well and should not feel obligated to spend time with someone who is actively hurting them.
I have the "more acceptable" forms of mental illness e.g. GAD, ADHD, depression, panic attacks(name a form of anxiety and I probably have it). I'm aware of how it twists and distorts the world around you but it's largely internal with my anxiety.
I've been guilty of laughing at Kanye's behavior. I know that he can't help it and it does worry me when I see it. Just because I know he is believing what he's saying and that he's distressed by his state of mind. It's like I can't help but laugh at the contrast between how intelligent he is and the weird behavior he displays while in that state of mind. I can't help him either so I feel I can't do anything but laugh.
But it also sucks how many people dismiss what Kanye says sometimes because his disorder. Kanye's an artist and intelligent. I've heard statements he's made and understood the underlying message he was trying to get across. IDK why but it's rather easy for me to follow seemingly erratic thought processes. Or just figure out when someone's mental illness is in control or not.
That thumbnail scared me I was like “how did he have this picture 11 months ago???” 💀
Sig is in the illuminati.
@@Braillionaire this is a joke yes?
@@alim.9801 Yes lol
As someone who struggles with BD myself, and also someone who loves Kanye's art, these last few years were enraging and painful. Being able to SEE him constantly just in the up up up and crash cycle, being unable to articulate himself effectively, seeing the crushing grandiosity in him and then listening to his past few albums... It's really devastating to witness. I was really looking forward to this part two and your discussion really gives this the nuance and respect it deserves.
This honestly makes me so sad, because as a teen I’ve really only grown up with Kanye’s more troubled era. I never knew what an inspiration he was to the black, queer and other communities. I hope he can heal from this, but honestly I feel like I’m always mourning not being able to support my idols anymore. Thank you for sharing such an insightful view into his story with the younger generation!
Well said Maya👏🏾‼️
Why would Kanye have to think like the rest of you normies. Thats what made him a genius and thats why normies ain't. He sees and feels stuff at a higher level. He doesn't have to be a role model or be this perfect embodiment of your simple mindset so you can idolize him.
@James Tennant The fact that everyone has to see life in the same linear mainstream lense or be cancelled or should STFU is cowardice. Normie clearly gets you in your feelings but it is what it is. The Slave comment made sense y all too butthurt and emotional to even think about it. He said 400 years of slavery. That 1619 to 2019. It goes hand in hand with the whole MAGA thing and be put in a box or cancelled. Whatever the liberals, SJW and virtue signalers spew about Kanye is ironic. Y'all go vote Dems and get fleeced while riding your high horses.
@James Tennant Calling anything that includes "Come to life" a generous 5/10 is bullshit imo. Art is subjective so why is it that things are put so confidently into some kind of objective rating system just to prove a point. Him obviously going through shit and still putting out impactful art is more inspiring to me than this perfect career path of his older albums ever were.
@James Tennant
First of all thank you for this though out reply. I really appreciate that
1. This is definitely a "me" problem. I even have this thing with movies that I dont really like the story of, the pacing might be bad, overall premise is lacking, atmosphere, script you name it but if there is one scene that really touches me the film automatically cant go beneath a certain threshhold.
So I can definitely see that listeners that appreciate an album as a whole and like to immerse themselfes into this big body of art more than having actually forgettable and frankly unneccessary songs just for the sake of it and then the occasional amazing song.
2. I didnt mean that to be hypocritical or too personal. I just personally dislike statements that seem too confident in subjective qualities that also try to make or prove a point.
Its perfectly fine to state things passively if you can call it that. "I love the lyrics of xyz" "the production on this one is dogshit" etc its how it should be.
But how you put his behavior in exchange of art he puts out only works if we all collectively agree on the quality. For some he might be less of a shithead now and puts out the same quality of music so this whole train of thought doesnt work out.
You can even call that reaching since as you said critics and users agree with the rating so the majority is on the same page there. I just think this might be really frustrating to experience as an artist that could give in to this kind of pressure to not get shit on by the majority of people which would potentially prevent us from having things like Yeezus.
3. My inspiration comparison was definitely based on my personal experience as you correctly assumed but it was just supposed to be an example of not everyone being upset with kanye, missing the old kanye and him supposedly loosing his role as rolemodel.
Trying to stay neutral here I would guess I'll always give kanye second/third/etc chances or the benefit of the doubt because he still to this day has some of my favourite songs of all time in his discography even tho Iam pretty far from a avid rap or hip hop listener.
So its probably just hoping to find something as great as he gave me (in this case) again.
All in all, I guess I will always try and defend the potential of impactful art that can evoke emotions before coming at artists for any number of reasons. Even with stuff I dont like I always appreciate the attempt. So Iam atleast less biased that way than you gave me credit for. Iam 24 yo tho :^)
Hope this made some sense
That last scene with his mother broke me. I’m the only child of an intelligent, educated black woman and I’m taking on the role of her caregiver. My mother also believed in me when I was at my lowest and spoke life into me every day. Seeing this dynamic reminded me to make peace with my mother’s mortality and know that I am whole because she loves me.
Bless you and your loving mother, this made me happy reading it. We have a lot in common clearly but the most important component is we acknowledge all our mothers did for us. And it started with loving us, seeing us for who we are and instilling values in us which will carry us through our entire lives. I am and will always be a flawed individual but the qualities I am most proud of and the ways I constantly try to improve as a human are 100% due to how my mother raised me. Salute to you and salute for the strong, educated black woman you’re caring for; if you ever need support I’m here 💯.
@@JME1186 thank you 🫂🫂🫂🫂
This was beautiful..and painful and lovely and Deep. I lost my mom 8yrs ago. The regrets breaks u. But u are wonderful
@@anitapepita1909 you’re wonderful too 🫂
One of the saddest things about Kanye is he is the poster child in a lot of ways on how the entertainment industry exploits people (in all health aspects) and throws them away when no more can be syphoned from them OR the artist becomes too independent to manipulate. Kanye is a special artist (similar to Tupac in a LOT of ways) where he WARNED us what he was going to do in a HIT SINGLE (Can't Tell Me Nothing) and we just bobbed our heads to the beat and ignored the lyrics. Lol. This was amazing! I have always loved this channel and I'm so glad it's gaining so much momentum. I can't wait to see the man get his 1M subscriber plaque. Thanks for posting this quality.
When you were talking about Kanye and Kim, I wished you'd touched on the implicit misogyny in believing that Kim had somehow tricked Kanye, as if he had no agency of his own. It's just a modern update of blaming Yoko Ono for breaking up the Beatles.
Idk. Mentally unstable people are easily manipulated sometimes. At that time, it was not a far fetched theory that she took advantage of that.
@@treeztop Flash back to today yea she definitely took advantage of ye. Now that he’s moved on with chaney Kim’s brand has went upside down
I was gonna say this myself but I see you and you're speaking facts!!! Even as a kid growing up I realized how mean people were to the Kardashians for seemingly superficial reasons and how much SHE changed after dating Kanye, not the other way around.
@@victoriapulcifer6218 people should be mean to the kardashians.......because they are responsible for untold human suffering due to their impact as part of the billionaire class in a capitalist world run off the blood and sweat of the poor where the marginalized are used additionally as a punching bag and pitted against the majority group as a "at least you arent as bad off as them" scapegoat.
I was waiting for him to make that point and he just never did.
Had both parts of this video while on while drawing. I have morality oriented OCD, and I often have episodes where I feel like I'm a bad person for the things I consume. I revisit these videos sometimes to listen to while doing schoolwork, and the first time I watched, it helped ease my morality OCD worries, and made me realize that there's a nuance when it comes to the discussion and consumption of influential and controversial creatives. Thank you.
"Morality-Oriented OCD"... for Christ's sake, kid you're not gonna survive if you magnify every personality flaw/quirk into a disorder. Take it from someone who has been in and out of the psychiatric world and given a number of bullshit diagnoses (schizo-affective, bipolar ii, social phobia, major depressive disorder, borderline personality disorder). Stop listening to these quacks and realize that they're the ones who are making you sick. It's a racket. They make us dependent on their drugs and their therapies. They trick us into believing they're the only ones who can save us. Resist them
@@djwormdaddy5771 stfu, now. you can stay off your meds. I support your right to be off them. Don't tell other people what they are going through and how to handle their emotional health. So, again, stfu.
hey, just wanted to say you're not alone with your struggles with OCD, I feel you HARD as someone who also has OCD. Keep it up man and I hope you're doing well :>
@@memeyartist5591 I’m doing good! Thanks for asking.
Interesting to learn about this type of OCD since I have the more basic type that relates to patterns and behavior.
While I loved the kayfabe hiphop connection, it stretches thin here as it implies a control over the story. Kanye at times is a mastermind controlling his heel turns as he swerves us all controlling a grand story but when that doesn't fit, it's mental illness. ALL of this behavior can be explained by the hallmarks of bipolar disorder, there simply isn't a need to switch perspectives. The grandiosity, belief in being superior, impulsivity, difficulty judging risk, disorganization, decreased need for sleep, paranioa, etc. He's not a heel, he's a sick genious and has enablers convinced his sickness is a part of his genious when in fact it's preventing its full expression.
This perspective came from someone who is in the mental health field. Great analysis! It felt like there was a tug of war between accountability and mental illness.
Man... the weird thing is, I can't actually disagree with you, but I also feel like takes like this feel kind of infantilizing to me, as someone living with bipolar. While I agree it's really important to apply that lens in thinking about our lives, I also feel like it's so important that it not be the *only* lens. Like, I have to relate to the world in ways much bigger than just "how bipolar am I being?" and I'd hope other people can see me the same way. Can Kanye be both a sick genius *and* a heel?
@@noname-hz1sf yes there were several times Kanye admitted to drug dependence and not taking his meds. Individuals with Bipolar Disorder go through med changes and have instances where they purposely don’t take their meds. Someone with Bipolar disorder sometimes doesn’t take their meds because they enjoy the manic high. It’s a catch 22 because how can I get stabilized if I’m refusing my meds. I can only speak as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and as an RN.
@@noname-hz1sf Good point, I think one of the differences is you are being treated, coping and likely lack the celebrity and wealth to insulate from many consequences that would normally lead to treatment. He could be both or he could have been both gradually losing more of himself as the condition progresses which is what I believe explains his behavior best. I in no way mean to infantilize anyone with mental illness- most people live just like anyone else with a chronic condition. However, untreated or during acute episodes, they're not in control, need compassion treatmemt and in some cases need a safe environment where they won't be exploited or harmed. Unfortunately, the condition itself is often a barrier to treatment as the person sees no reason to start or continue it. Kanye is a tough case, he pays people to organize his finances and life, if someone thinks he needs treatment he could end their buisness relationship, if he drops 2 million in Vegas was he manic or just ballin', is he experiencing hyperreligiousity or a religious revival? For people without his celebrity it's clearer but I think it s hard to watch that Kanye for president rally and not see a man in pain who needs help. I don't see a heel.
@@noname-hz1sf point well taken on being more than your diagnosis and infantilizing. Thank you for that, I ve definitely seen both. While in a crisis treatment may need to be imposed, to be effective longterm it has to be collaborative. One goal always being to live a life with the condition but not defined by it.
Cannot believe you made this video. Jesus, I can't take this heat. The kitchen is too damn hot for me. This is DEEEEEEP. Honest truth, when you said you were making Kanye videos I was like "BUT WHY"
Man.... MAN..... I understand why now. I feel like I am a literal post on r/im14andthisisdeep. I genuinely think this is going to be a very very close contender for my favorite video of yours. The Tyson video was great, but I honestly think I like this one more. The only one where the spirit of the message comes close is the gay agenda in the media (but that's just because LGBTQ is real close to my heart and personal experience). This video was amazing man, thank you so much for putting in the work to just share information and your thoughts like this. I'm just still mind blown.
Well said 👏👏👏👏💯 Excellent video-
I know this is an older video, but I'm just seeing it now and wanted to thank you for making it. I'm an older person, and Kanye rose to prominence during an era when I was profoundly out of touch with pop culture, and by the time I dipped back in, he was already on his downward slide. I never got why anyone cared about him in the first place, but you really put it into context. Now I'm beginning to understand his place in contemporary culture, and I'm also inspired to go back to those early albums and listen to the music I missed.
Late Registration and Graduation are his best albums imho
his song "heard em say" and also "homecoming" both got me through some dark days as a child- before i was even old enough to understand art i loved those songs and the albums they came from. Jesus walks is also amazing. I dont even agree with the sentiment behind the song but it is so raw and full of truth. It comes form the heart in a way that is very needed in the art community: The song is god-like, even to an atheist like myself.
This Kanye was such a double edged sword. From someone of the younger generations(2000s baby lol), who's also black, Ye's music broke so many grounds for alternative and mainstream Hip Hop, that I was allowed to explore new sounds and not just stick to Hip Hop, I found that I liked the Progressive Rock music he was sampling just as much as I loved his music. However, at the same time the counter culture aesthetic that Ye needed to perpetuate his image as an artist essentially turned him "counter black" so to speak. It's one of the most interesting case studies on celebrity culture and black media persona ever put in the public eye.
Yeah as someone who isn’t black nor from the USA, it’s fascinating (and also a little sad) how Kanye grew bigger than black culture, but was still limited by his blackness (specially regarding fashion and how much one could expand). It’s fascinating how much of a trailblazer he was (and left open a road others could follow), but sad how he left other people behind, specially those who can’t follow.
How did it turn him "counter black"?
@@thabokgwele5268 I guess that was a bit of a silly statement. But what I'm getting at, essentially, is that as influential as Ye was for black culture(that is popular culture that is fundamentally influenced by black people) he was also really bashful and inconsiderate to the same culture, despite the fact he wouldn't have been a bilionare much less have a platform without it.
I hope that makes more sense.
@@melaniey.5596 That's why Yeezus is my third favorite album of his. Even at his most unapologetic, Ye was still able to paint himself as an underdog.
This series has been cathartic and eye opening in many ways. The wrestling analogy was absolutely brilliant. I would love to hear your perspective on the rise of Lil Wayne and the aesthetic and sound of the new generation of face tattoo Xanax popping rap.
"He was a big part of that wave, but Kanye wanted to be Poseidon. He didn't just want to be the wave; he wanted to control the waters."
That quote gave me chills.
Kayne: they don’t play Radiohead at the stripclub
Me: Picturing a sad/artistic pole dance to “Creep”
lol! omg~ not Creep.... that would be such a sad striptease -- but I bet there is a market for it.
Fake Plastic . . . Trees. LOL
Paranoid Android 🤣
Can you imagine switching up the twerk to the dramatic melodic breakdown 🤣
I'm sure it's happened in Portland
Looking at Kanye's rants about being unable to break into the high fashion industry & then his rants following that into the Life of Pablo & the Trump era Fiq presents, it kind of feels like the latter conservative turn was his solution to the former problem. He was a talented black man looking to break through a glass ceiling imposed upon him by that industry due to his blackness, and like many others before him, decided to adopt the worst of white cultures behavior in order to appear more like those he was trying to ingratiate himself to. And once he found success, as a parrot of all the awful things white supremacy says, he just continued to do it, because it brought him success in the areas he now cared about and wanted to succeed in, rather than with the original content that brought his initial fans in the black community to him. He had wanted to be a fashion mogul who did wrap for a long time, and after his pleas of aid from his initial fans in the black community who loved his music failed, he decided to go for aid from the awful people who owned what he wanted.
It really is like watching a man rebirth himself into the ugliest parody of what he was, and all the awful that has to exist in the society we live in to require it.
Thumbnail rn is hilarious lmaooo PLEASE keep it
I want to like Kanye again, but like you said: “How many redemptions do we need?” Literally, there’s only so many hours in a day, & in life.
I’m gonna let myself enjoy the highs.
I just watched my first video from you yesterday because I searched “video essay” for something to do my makeup to and your Bo Burnham video came up. I absolutely loved it and loved to see a black man tap in to a white male dominated genre and discuss black pop culture. I instantly subscribed and I’m so glad to see you posted this. I’ve never been a Kanye fan (because of the clownery mentioned in this video) but I can really tell you did your homework and I’m just nodding along to everything while I eat my chili 😅 Keep up the good work, man!
You’re the first person to break this Kanye shit down so well. Most people here on yt claim they’re breaking shit down (while they’re being unbiased) but they’re actually already hate him and are not trying to explain this downfall
The clip him rapping with his mother just made me so emotional 😭. I can feel the bond between them, can’t imagine how incredibly traumatic her lost was for him. Great work as always and looking forward whatever you do in the future.
Same here. Kanye and his mother had a tight bond 😁❤️‼️
Such a brilliant analysis of Kanye's career, rise and fall. Always good work Fiq.
Jesus, these two were heartbreaking. I've somehow managed to have a complete Kanye blindspot. I found your videos yesterday via the algorithm and have been mainlining them for the past two days. So, I figured learning about Kanye from you would be pretty fascinating. Didn't realize I'd be in tears throughout. I've mostly known him in his heel phase; so seeing footage of him so earnest and joyful just crushed me emotionally. The kayfabe analogy was perfect. Thank you. I hope he finds peace in his lifetime.
At 24:20 I was not looking at the screen, just nodding along and thinking "thats why Vegeta is my fav" and then I looked at the screen again and felt so vindicated lol
One thing about dealing with people who struggle with mental illness (especially, but not only in the case of something so fluctuating as bipolar disorder) is that it fucks with what we view as meaningful. When I was studying to become a teacher, one of my professors (who also works with at risk youth) said that we, as people, want to give meaning to struggle. Either because of our nature, or our society, she didn't know, but she had observed that after a very difficult event or period, we look back at the struggle and kind of give it our own subjective meaning. The same goes for struggles related to mental illness. We tend to view it like a curable disease, something that will have made all the struggle worth it, but the thing is that for most mental illnesses (especially bipolar disorder), the struggle is gonna come back, and if you are close to the person struggling, it is gonna hurt you again. If they had gotten definitively, objectively better, you would have considered the struggle to have been worth it, and even congratulated them for having gone through it. But since it is everchanging, the meaning (in your head) is not there. There is only struggle and pain. Her advice for life in general and for dealing with people suffering from mental illness, as well as, in her line of work, dealing with people who will often go back to criminality and delinquance, is to find the meaning in the trying, in the everyday effort. Even if you have to, for your own mental health, pull away from a person as to not drown with them (as another commenter pointed out), the tremendous effort that you put into helping them, and that they continue to put into helping themselves, that is where the true meaning lies.
Thank you for sharing this 🤍
My mantra is "one breath, one step, one hour, one day."
We need part 3 - the anti-Semitic Ye
Should call the episode Ye-ikes.
You mean truther Ye ?
gotta disagree with the statement the charlie sheen was a "hero". everyone i knew and all the media i consumed about him at the time treated him as a slow motion train wreck and a joke
The Tiger's blood was definitely the end of his reign but right before that he was the highest paid actor in television history
I definitely knew people who loved his Tiger Blood era. I made a post talking about how annoyed I was with the whole thing and how Charlie was specifically targeting women who were deemed “less” in society. I had two male “friends” go hard for him in that post. So much so that one of them blamed my hormones for my response.
I Couldn’t stand Charlie during that time period. I felt like his interviews and appearances were to allow him to rant and make an idiot of himself.
Interesting to hear that he had fans then.
nah i remember people on the youtube video years and years ago saying that he was "putting that lady in her place". i was a kid at the time and didn't really get it, but i knew it was funny, as all of us at school were crackin jokes about tigerblood and "WiNnInG".
Also, Charlie Sheen is one the most evil creatures walking this planet right now. Knowingly passing AIDS onto his partners, a total sex-case, absolutely in with the Hollywood elites (to whatever degree they conspire together; not to be a conspiracy nut). But definitely a double standard in how the general public has let go off their negative feelings for Sheen while still hating Kanye.
Watching SuperEyepatchWolf's wrestling video several times has finally come in handy
SEW really incredible
Can't wait for part 3 Fiq!
This is the most riveting, engaging story. Kanye is so human. Humanity is just always the best part of a story.
The clip of Kanye and his mother rapping together at the end was deadass beautiful And so was this whole presentation/video as a young black man i really appreciate content like this on UA-cam and since black men don’t give each other enough love , Thank you and i love what your doing sir
Awhhh, this was sweet. I’m a young black woman and he’s one of the only black male commentators I watch. It’s nice to hear that his impact is helpful to young black men.
It makes me happy to see Black folks enjoying and learning from F.D. There are good Black male UA-camrs I found this year. Speaking of UA-camrs, I am trying to represent for the culture on UA-cam too👏🏾‼️
Gonna need a part three after this doozy of a week
As a white guy who's never interacted with Kanye West's music, this was a highly humanizing and nuanced series. I mean, all of your videos really make me stop and think, but like, damn. I remember InuendoStudios's "This is Phil Fish" but you took it to a whole new level. Lowkey kinda interested in whatever Kanye does next.
definitely check out the music !
It's really upsetting to think about how awful this must be for his children. My dad has depression and went through a really hard time for a couple years when I was a kid, and it was horrible for my brother and I. Unlike Kanye's kids, we never had to deal with mania and our friends only knew as much as we wanted to tell them, so I can only imagine how terrifying and humiliating this is for his children (or at least the ones that are old enough to realize something is wrong)
I live for the changing thumbnails ✨
There are tears in my eyes as I watch this with how you handled bipolar with so much empathy. It’s a hard illness, especially when you’re an artist, because you feel like you’re a god. You’re creating and destroying at will. When you come down you just see the carnage that you’ve caused and it drops you so low that it’s hard to move or even breathe. The hardest part, and this is true for a lot of mental illness, is that you need to have the space to separate yourself from the situations you know you can cause harm in without viewing yourself as a monster. It’s a specific kind of mental state that’s hard to hold onto without a) internal recognition b) acting on that recognition swiftly c) realizing you have to do so. Going to therapy is all well and good but being able to recognize what’s happening at therapy is a whole other mental state that I’m still not sure how I found.
I feel for Kanye. My mother is my biggest supporter. She took me in and nurtured me back to health over and over and over again until I could bear to stand. He’s lost his main support system and I think what you said about him being so rich and famous that he can’t trust anybody is really hurting him. I hope for Kanye because I see hurt in him that I see in myself. Everyone deserves a chance to feel happy with their choices and I hope he gets there
Thank you again, for the love you put out into the world. Even though this video was about Kanye, it made me feel seen despite me and him having nothing in common
I think it’s kinda crazy that Kanye had lipo when that’s what his mother died from. That really shows his headspace at the time
Damn never thought of that wtf
I mean, she really died from the horrible post surgery care at her home.
@@AST-erisked If you're scarred by trauma from losing a parent, I'm not sure one would care to see the technical differences in the case; it could still be a deliberately reckless move.
@@TheKarret I'm seeing it as he could technically argue to others that it's no more dangerous than anything else he could get done, and that he doesn't hold any grudges against the procedure, but it's really an overt cry for help and suicidal behaviour in the context of the association he must have with it now
@@chloedsmith Yes exactly.
God-tier thumbnail, truly
The way you laid out a nearly 20 year old story of this man’s career in a way that I, someone who never really followed or understood the cultural impact of, could recognize the importance of, is amazing. Props to you man, can’t wait to see what’s next.
Kanye's conservative tendencies don't surprise me because his rhetoric about free thinking, being unconstrained by others thoughts or expectations, his talent, and ambition struck me as very Randian. I think Kanye does what he thinks is good for Kanye and whatever's good for Kanye is good for everyone else because he's Kanye and a genius. That's pretty much his entire philosophy and only justification he needs.
These have been great videos. Thanks!
wow. this is so astute - probably true. he's still a narcissist because this is a narcissistic perspective. so was ayn rand.
@@ihavethots1261 Be careful about using the word narcissist. It is a diagnosis often used against neurodivergent people who are not evil nor self centred. Better to just say he's arrogant which I wouldn't argue with
I think another reason he became a supporter of Trump is because of how he was not a politician. Someone coming in from the outside can be really appealing when all your life you’ve been let down by the system.
@@sierravanriel6906 no. he's a narcissist. i'm not diagnosing him - this term is now colloquial. it's a scale. surely you know that.
@@ihavethots1261 I'm not offended. I was just letting you know
F.D. Signifier: “I hope I make some content that will be both topical during its release, and be longstanding that people will want to come back to it down the road”
Severed monkey paw: *curls finger*
I doubt that you want to make your channel a “rap social commentary” channel, but if you wanna do another documentary, PLEASE DO ANDRE 3000!!!!!
Second!
Third!
Oh man. This! 💖
FIFTH!
ooohh yes!! pls!
Seeing you lay it all out, this is just the most illuminating analysis. I just haven't seen other creators on this platform do with Kanye's whole career, and didn't know how badly I wanted an analysis of Kanye like you've done here. This is brilliant and incredible work.
Saw the new thumbnail and finally watched this video! Really appreciate the videos you make!!
This video duo is just...so well composed and thorough. The work of a true victim of fandom thank you
Kanye's rhetoric of elites not letting him succeed and being an outsider narcissist is literally Trumps rhetoric. His support is no surprise since the aesthetic is mirror of his own feelings about the fashion industry.
part 3 is def gonna be the most frustrating for him and all other Kanye fans to deal with. it’s getting all the more difficult to defend this man for what he says cuz of his bipolar and personal tragedies
I agree He is having a VERY hard time not defending him. I get it to a point, the excuses are so many..
Unfortunately, Kanye’s the type of person who won’t accept help until he hits rock bottom and it will be a while before that happens because of the alt right echo chamber he’s currently in
@@jjmitch1411 sadly I think you're right. Plus that group doesn't seem to have a lot of mental health resources or spaces to talk about that kinda thing esp with other men
@@jjmitch1411 There is no bottom for Ye to hit. There is no depth to which he can sink that the Right Wing Grift-o-Sphere will not reward him with praise and attention. No matter how much normies write him off, his past star power lends them a legitimacy that they cannot buy. Previous to Ye they were living off of the fame of Scott Baio and Dean Cain. They were minor TV stars 30 and 40 years ago. Kanye was the biggest rapper in the world at a time when rap was the top-selling musical genre and it was less than ten years ago.
@@jjmitch1411He’s uber rich. So his rock bottom, if he hits it, will likely be death.
I've always said the longer he goes on the more "Ironic" "All falls down" will become.
"the people highest up have the lowest self-esteem" crazy
The double irony being who the song samples and her in some ways parallel journey,in fact would love to see F.D do a video on Ms Hill .
@@jaqoffsingh934 "and when it falls down who ya gone call now?""
Cuz he looks like he has nobody and is just wandering lost these days.
@@ZenGaijin Jay z is not the Saint and don't think kanye is stupid for a second. There is a reason kanye called him in 2016, today his richer than these hip heads that are jealous of him.
I never could have imagined that one of my favorite songs would have such a haunting and chilling effect on me when I listen to it now.
This is one of the BEST documentaries/video essays I have ever watched on UA-cam. I cannot even stand Kanye or wrestling and have a scant interest in rap/hiphop but your commentary, analysis, editing and insights kept me captivated and engaged for the entire duration. I feel "full". Well done sir. Production values on point. You have a gift. Oh, and the wrestling analogy works really well.
Kanye said "I'm ahead of my time, sometimes years out. So the powers that be won't let me get my ideas out" and from the moment I heard that line, it stuck with me.
I listened to Late Registration at a young age and felt a sort of connection with a lot of the songs without understanding big chunks of the context. But Kanye is a great inspiration to me and I hope that all he is doing will bring him peace and inspire more people to be themselves, despite what box society puts them in.
In a literal medical sense what he is doing will not bring him peace or happiness. He won’t be okay until he’s medicated. I wish that wasn’t how bipolar works, but it is.
He’s made his art. The human he was is worth salvaging idk
Listening to Kanye's interviews, I realize that he wants to be fullfilled in all aspects of his creativity. Also he seems to have an urgency for a legacy. Sometimes we don't get it because we've been taught to be humble. I can see his frustration in wanting to articulate that. I believe that frustration led to his impulsiveness and gaffes
I agree
You have a point. I wish Kanye did not sound like his ego is high. Then again, like you said. He could not articulate himself in the moment💯
Illusions of grandeur
It’s literally a symptom of being bi polar.
@@margicates553 no, it’s knowing how capitalism props up “Great Men”
His frustration about the fashion industry is completely valid. Even with his money and connections the doors are shut. Never realized that that industry is the most corrupt organization run by very few old families who keep the doors closed for everyone. The awful things people have to do to get through those doors is hair raising.
Ok, but that's all the more reason why what Sway said was valid: you wanna get something pushing then stop waiting so desparately for the industry to back you. Put your own money forward and figure out a way to pivot to make something happen.
@@Chrisratata i agree. i think its a classic tale of assimilating into power structures and wanting a seat at the table vs. breaking away from such aspirations and instead nurturing your community and people into being autonomous and independent on your own
that "oh shit" laugh I let out when i saw the updated thumbnail in my feed just now.
That TMZ clip is so bizarre. Like, I don’t know what that context was that brought him there. So weird to see him just ranting and raving at TMZ offices.
He literally broke into their office and demanded to do an interview
I am so happy that the bots didn't get that because I've never seen it before. I'm so happy someone got to say it to him and he said it perfectly
Eric Weinstein, a Jewish intellectual, talks about his interactions with Kanye leading up to him going down to TMZ in one of his Joe Rogan episodes. It definitely adds some context to where Kanye’s head was at for that incident.
Someone once said Kanye vibrates so fast that he exists in the future but tries to relate to us by slowing down. I didn't quite get what that meant but with this and the last video you made I'm starting to get it
This is beautiful
He really struggled coping with this though. And that’s why he’s spazzed our in recent years. It’s true when people can’t catch up with you it drives you a little mad and he got desperate and looked for allegiance anywhere
@Oakly Jeuneville 👀👂🏽
@Oakly Jeuneville y’all still on this conspiracy bs??
they should have said he (Kanye) BELIEVES he exists in the future.
it sounds pretty but it's empty 'cause he just dissing black folk with his "trying to relate to us"
enough excusing our people making fun of us.
I'm rewatching again since you updated the thumbnail. I too also hate that you have to update the thumbnail
Because I’m a white woman from Maine there are plenty of factors in Kanye’s story that I’ll never be able to relate to in any way. But I’m also an artist who has bipolar, I’ve had to deal with the internal struggle between managing my mental health at the cost of my creativity. It’s such a conflicting predicament, if you’re a creative person for whom art is a _massive_ part of your life and even your core self it’s incredibly difficult to be forced to suppress such a massive part of your soul just so you can live a manageable, stable life. I also dropped out of art school and it was purely a side effect of deteriorated mental health, I saw how the medication I was taking effected my desire and ability to feel inspired and to create and I decided to go off of them, immediately resulting in a manic episode. I got back on my meds and have been doing well but it’s been months since I consistently engaged in any kind of creative practice and it’s a gut wrenching trade off, I’m missing a part of myself.
It was painful to watch a very manic Kanye rant to the TMZ office about all the meds he was put on and the negative effects he felt because of them and it was _highly_ concerning to hear that he’d almost completely taken himself off of them. I believe he said he only takes one of his pills a week. When you have a manic episode it’s usually accompanied by anosognosia (the inability to tell that there is something wrong with your own well-being). It may be obvious to the people around you but frequently when those in your life express concern you just brush it off because clearly they don’t know what they’re talking about. And so you refuse to listen and reject the help being offered. But bipolar is not to be messed around with, 60% of people who suffer from it attempt suicide and between 4-19% will succeed in taking their own life. I truly hope he’s able to gain some stability and peace. I don’t know what that would look like or what he’d need to do to get there but I really hope we get to see it.
I have been diagnosed with ADHD and depression since middle school in the 90s. And I have had struggles with the wrong medication or none at all. Until the right combination. I am lucky to have the mom I have had.
And during Ye antics, I felt for him. It is damn if you do or don't with the medication. There's a lot to Ye. We all are just complicated beings and being diagnosed with a mental illness.. It is a lot...
The brain is the final frontier.
"I hate that I keep having to update this thumbnail" Same sentiment, same.
My mom has bipolarism, and I love her so much. As crazy as she can get and has been, she finally found help after I asked her to go to therapy several times a few years ago. She's been on meds for a while now, and I can tell she still struggles controlling herself, but I could never abandon her. I wish he had the same kind of people still in his life...I think he needs that
Everything from start to finish was beyond eloquent! Thank you so much for thoroughly articulating this- as a former major fan its been difficult to expressed my long-time mixed feelings about this.
I kinda want a slideshow of all the thumbnails this video has had. It's like more nails in the conclusion of the video
kanye west, the tetsuo of our times. anything that doesn't kill him can only make him stronger.
His 'stronger' music videos gains new relevance lmao he literally told us he was tetsuo
@@joaodelgado6696 in a way I do respect it because an artist can put themselves into a box, a box of who other people think they should be or a box of who they themselves think they are. Kanye has refused both boxes and instead has decided to become a force of nature. In an era when our identities are algorithmically molded, I respect that more than ever
@@joaodelgado6696 it's sad that no one credits daft punk for that song
This is the first time I’ve watched a commentary video about a celebrity when I felt like the orator really cares about the subject. Your deep sense of disappointment, clarity on the expectations of fandom, & an example of how to handle said expectations. I absolutely love this channel and the insights you bless us with.
Make a video less than 30 mins impossible difficulty, but I'm here for it.
Both Ye videos have been really good. As a South Asian Brit, our community had a lot of overlap with the black community. My parents used take me to the local Caribbean carnival every year, our slang was black London influenced, and we loved hip hop (side note- I think Jay Z recognised this too when he rapped over Punjabi MC at Glastonbury). Kanye was my favourite artist after 2pac, and I know a lot of South Asians probably feel the same. I probably hung on and defended him way too long too, I think I fully gave up around Ye/KSG times (although KSG was pretty great).
Oh, and I also grew up thinking every celebrity was in the illuminati, there was a wild and very anti-Semitic video series called the arrivals that i watched on here as a kid with my friends, so ridiculous!
In my opinion Kanye is too far removed from the realities of regular people to ever come back. I remember when the slavery is choice stuff came about and John Legend tried to text him about the actual history of slavery and he replied (paraphrasing ofc) that he doesn't really read he just goes off of emotion and feeling. I think TI (fuck him btw) also said when he tried to speak to Kanye regarding Trump that Kanye hadn't even heard about the Muslim ban, so it proves he legit does not read into any of this stuff, if the soundbites sound cool to him, or the aesthetic is right he will go behind it. You can see this when he reads the dictionary, highlighting positive sounding words. It's all feeling and aesthetic.
I really hope ihe gets some proper help for his mental health issues and reads some damn books
The Arrivals was definitely something...that still has me listening to the amazing soundtrack they used from The Fountain OST til this day. It was an Islamic take on "end times/illuminati/freemason signs" videos on YT that were very popular at the time, but they were anti-Zionist, not anti-Semitic.
As a response to what you have researched about Bipolar disorder - Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder, not a personality disorder. As someone who is Bipolar II, my ups and downs do not significantly change my personality. I'm only speaking for myself here as I'm well aware the severity can vary from person to person. He hasn't changed that drastically personality-wise as you pointed out.
I say that to say - The media and others constantly blaming his antics on his disorder is a dangerous stereotypical response to what others perceive mental illness to look like. Going without medication for so long has likely increased his manic episodes but that only HEIGHTENS his erratic behavior and word salads. Kanye's thoughts are his own. He has the resources to get on medication and presumably has been on medication before. He's well aware of his diagnosis and I believe he's addicted to the delusions of grandeur and high levels of energy. I know I was.
I don't really have any feelings of heartbreak for him, I just hope that he would see that going unmedicated is doing more harm than good...but in my own opinion, his ego is on the cusp of becoming a cult leader. I wouldn't be surprised if he's intending to officially start one...
This is what I’ve been saying! He is still him and alot of this are conscious choices with MORE confidence.
@@whitzala exactly. I’m tired of people using that excuse.
you said it yourself, you have bipolar ii. so do i, and i don’t feel that it’s our place to make staments like this. people with bipolar 1 experience psychosis in mania, which absolutely can warp your opinions in a way you can’t control. i don’t think this is a fair assessment of his situation.
@@tinystrawbrry in defense of my comment and defense (groans) of Kanye, I’m not making an assessment so to say, I’m pointing out how people think being bipolar takes away your entire autonomy. Most people have a perception that we just walk around being manic and unabashed all year round when in reality you would never be able to tell on the surface.
Fans and media contributing his thoughts and ALL of his behavior to his disorder is a dangerous and false stereotype. My mom was bipolar 1. I witnessed the extremities and delusions but at the core she was still “herself.” Unreasonable and irresponsible during her manic episodes but it didn’t change ego she was as a person.
He has a fair amount of agency. I may not be on board with his opinions or the people he supports or his blatant hypocrisies but it’s not fair to say his disorder trumps his personality. Especially when his been this way since his introduction.
@@isattathecreator thanks sm for the thoughtful response! while i dont 100% agree with you, i am also trying not to shift the responsibility of what kanye did onto his illness entirely. i just wanted to note the opinions he’s expressing right now may not actually be his own. BUT the responsibility for those statements it’s DEFINITELY on him. he should have been med compliant or do whatever else he could to sort out his manic episodes and he didn’t. so let me be clear that i DO believe the responsibility of his words falls on him.
I'm surprised you didn't mention the other racial dynamic in the first Kanye-Taylor incident -- Beyoncé really did have one of the best videos of all time (Single Ladies -- literally iconic, novel, unforgettable with global recognition and staying power). That's why it rightly won "Video of the Year."
But "Video of the Year" hadn't been announced yet, and, for whatever reason, Kanye didn't think Beyoncé was going to win it and interpreted her failure to win the "Best Female Music Video" award as her being slighted. (Why Kanye didn't think Beyoncé could win Video of the Year, we can only speculate, but I personally think his ego may have convinced him that his own "Love Lockdown" was slated to win). Looking at it from that perspective, Kanye's outrage is understandable -- Taylor's video was, just being honest, deeply uninteresting, a rehash of old Midwest suburban/small town "girl next door" tropes that had been done a million billion times before. The idea that Taylor, playing a classic White ingenue role at the time, would be given an award for best video for a (just being honest) stale and tacky rehash while Beyoncé, an enormously influential Black female artist, was passed over after creating something truly novel and iconic -- I get why Kanye might have felt the need to say something. It's just a shame he didn't stop and think about it.
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh
Oh
Oh oh oh oh
All the s
Ten years later jay z up on the stage saying the same shit. Beyoncé got robbed. If that’s not vindication I don’t know what is.
@@christinathein951it's not an issue of whether he was right or not tho, it's how he chose to handle it
Beyonce's video was WAY better in hindsight (and probably at the time), so I'm assuming Kanye was coming from a place of protesting the white preference of awards shows, but he didn't articulate it very well.
Funny- for me I got it INSTANTLY. And I think that he articulated it almost too bluntly.
Now he completely fucked up on the slavery/holocaust tip... oh he went all the way left on that.
Yeah there was a better way to talk about it and that wasn’t it lol
I feel like everybody forgets that Single Ladies won Video of the Year that night.
@@hallenelson2839 True, but at the time of Kanye's stunt he didn't know that
Sure. Maybe giving him too much credit since he's married to and dating his white preference. 😂😢😂