Donald Trump proved to the world that a celebrity more famous for his tweets than his day job could both run for and win a presidential election. So why can’t Kanye?
American Presidency has never been more informed by pop culture. So when Kanye West announced his plans to run for President back in 2015 – albeit under the influence at the MTV Video Music Awards in LA – we actually listened.
“If my grandfather was here right now he would not let me back down!” he said onstage as he accepted the Video Vanguard Award. “I don’t know I’m fittin’ to lose after this. It don’t matter though, ’cause it ain’t about me.
“It’s about ideas, bro. New ideas. People with ideas. People who believe in truth. And yes, as you probably could have guessed by this moment, I have decided in 2020 to run for president.”
Kanye didn’t forget his promise and he’s been deepening his relationship with the Oval Office ever since.
Earlier this month, embedded in a string of Tweets posted in support of Trump and his MAGA campaign (for example: “Trump all day”), Kanye again reiterated his goal.
2024
— ye (@kanyewest) January 1, 2019
If you have doubts about President Yeezus as Commander-in-Chief then you’re not alone. But if you’re among the camp who have zero faith in West’s potential foray into the political, you may want to think again.
We’ve voted in leaders based on their charm and social prowess even before the presidential debate between JFK and Nixon, which was the first to ever be televised.
In reality, Kanye has all the makings to become a future leader. And if a pussy-grabbing, morally-corrupt, reality TV show star can actually make it to the White House, then a man who wants to empower others to create their own general wealth is certainly worthy of our vote.
Here’s why:
He empowers others
Since before Late Registration, Kanye has preached his message about self-belief, hard work and unapologetic confidence. Yes, he called himself a God; but he also created a fashion empire by using his profile to partner with one of the biggest sports brand in the world for its inception: Adidas.
Kanye West once said, “Why, if someone is good in one field can they not be accepted or given the slightest opportunity to express and be creative in other fields?”
Kanye’s career has taken on many forms, but he’s always remained stern about the fact your background should never stop you from achieving your goals. In a way, it could be said he honed this learning from Trump; both were made pariahs in the media but became what people said they could never be. And both speak out with the kind of unreservedness that at times discounts all the good work they’ve done – let’s not forget the ‘Slavery is a choice’ confusion.
Admirably, Kanye has spoken publicly about his bipolar diagnosis and struggles with addiction, using his platform to further address the real problem with the stigmatisation of both illnesses. Either illness could easily be seen as detrimental to a career in politics, but in reality, and as history has shown us, they’re not.
Kanye is literally willing to die for the cause
“I will die for the art! For what I believe in. And the art ain’t always gonna be polite!”
The aforementioned was from Kanye’s now famed MTV Awards speech in 2015. At the time he had begun to speak publicly about his decision to run for office, but he was also divisive in his approach.
Watch Kanye West’s VMA Vanguard Speech below:
Issues like mass incarceration, racial inequity and homelessness have a devastating effect on black Americans (black people alone make up more than 40 percent of those experiencing homelessness).
I’m not saying Kanye West is the silver bullet to end eons of systemic oppression, but if his bid to run for President isn’t a stunt as he readies his next album Yandhi (also, highly likely), then we should take heed of this comment:
“I know from the bottom of my soul, of my gut, of my spirit and my subconscious that love is the strongest force in the universe and right now we need love,” Kanye said.
There’s no doubt he’s doing a lot for the cause now. In June last year his Yeezy Home collaboration teased an affordable concrete prefabricated home as part of a social housing project.
He’s made some crucial career errors and still come out on top
The job in the Big Chair is the one of the most scrutinised, yet difficult positions in the world. Granted the man in the Oval Office right now seems to be ruling blind-folded with his hands down his pants – but that’s not the point.
Throughout his 23-year career Kanye has managed to insult every single community, demographic and belief system.
Kanye asked us to imagine how Chris Brown felt after images of Rihanna’s horribly beaten face were circulated online. He also tweeted that Bill Cosby was innocent. He even called Trump his “brother” and regularly wears a MAGA hat. And let’s not forget his comments to TMZ about 400 years of slavery sounding “like a choice”.
He later apologised for the comments but let’s take stock of his successes since:
Last year Kanye West landed his eighth consecutive #1 album on the Billboard 200 chart (Ye); his Yeezy venture is now worth over US$1 billion (according to Adidas’ 2018 annual report); he received an apology (!) from angel goddess Ariana Grande, and he’s currently in the studio working on music with Lil Wayne, Timbaland, 2 Chainz, and the Migos.
Despite what you may think of the politically-charged rapper, he could be exactly what America needs. It’s just up to us to give him a chance.
