Kanye West is a genius.

If that rubs you the wrong way, than by all means keep reading. Genius is a subjective term. Look it up. There is no mathematical equation, no statistical algorithm which defines a person as such. Saturday night, in Jersey at the Prudential Center, as Kanye put it, “I made this mountain.” More on that in a second. For the sake of this conversation, genius is determined by your peers, your achievements and contribution to the culture. But I know we love facts, so allow me to entertain you with those.

Listen to the music. Almost 10 years ago to the day, Kanye West released The College Dropout. Since then, we’ve all fallen victims to what is known by grifters as the Long Con. He told us back in 2004, “I swear this right here, history in the making man.” But for most, it was a flash in the pan. Strictly from a musical perspective, you take that album, a classic in the hip-hop world, considered by most the beginning sounds of the post modern era (the golden age of hip-hop is widely thought to have ended in the mid 1990’s) and you listen to Yeezus. That’s called evolution bro. He’s gone from opening act at arena shows to concepting elaborate stage productions, like the Yeezus’s of the world, and bringing his artistic vision to life. Damnit man, on Saturday, 20,000 people got to see Yeezus meet Jesus. Jay Cole ain’t thinking this heavenly shit up, he’s apologizing to Nas.

Dues have been paid, and by examining the body of work, from Late Registration to 808’s and Heartbreaks to now — he’s consistently produced records with new sounds. Sounds he’s pushing by collaborating with the Justin Vernon’s, Daft Punk’s and Hudson Mohawke’s of the industry. It’s Michael Jordan learning to share the rock with Steve Kerr, “Y’all know what’s up.”

Don’t take my word for it. With rants that have reached legendary status, he dropped another gem on us this past weekend (see above). He effects our daily aesthetic with what he speaks and through his actions. These are facts (only) that you already know. Calling out Presidents, giving us his take on Drake and Macklemore (he called him a “good kid” on Saturday) selling out the new Nike Air Yeezy II’s in an astonishing 10 minutes and going to bed every night with the biggest pop culture conglomerate family out today. Kanye West is everywhere.

The facts I present here are growth and contribution, but I want to end by touching on the intangible of Kanye the person. Yeezus, the tour, the album, as Mr. West would say, “(Life) is an art project.” Our life is all about the lens we view it in. Kanye West has always maintained a vision for what role he wants to play in our society. It’s no different than the genius’s – Shakespeare, Einstein, Jobs – who have come before, except now we’re owning it. At his show on Saturday night he spoke of two types of people: The Dreamers and the Haters. The only difference between the two is that the haters gave up on their dreams. Kanye West represents all the things you wish you were but can’t be. He’s motivating himself and his fans to live out and pursue their dreams. That to me, is the definition of genius. And I want in.

Writer + Photographer | Rene Ramirez

Set List

On Sight

New Slaves

Send It Up

Mercy
(Chorus and Kanye’s Verse)

Power

Cold (Foreigner’s “Cold As Ice” intro)

Don’t Like (Chief Keef cover)

Clique

Black Skinhead

I Am a God

Can’t Tell Me Nothing

Coldest Winter

Hold My Liquor

I’m In It

Heartless

Blood on the Leaves

Lost in the World

Runaway

Stronger

Through the Wire

Jesus Walks

Get Em High
(Chorus and First Verse into…)

All Falls Down

Diamonds from Sierra Leone

Touch the Sky

Gold Digger

Homecoming

Dark Fantasy

Run This Town
(JAY Z cover)

Niggas in Paris
(Jay-Z & Kanye West cover)

Flashing Lights

All of the Lights

Good Life

Bound 2