To say that Kanye West is a lightning  rod of controversy might be an understatement. Especially in recent news, where on May 2nd, Kanye West was under a tremendous amount of backlash from the media, when he said on a live interview with TMZ that, “slavery was a choice”. The Music Icon later would clarify that he meant  “Slaves were mentally imprisoned”. Nonetheless, the media was having a field day referring to Kanye as, an uncle tom, civil war denier, and many other slanderous names.  After the media’s deepest efforts to ruin the artist’s name and family, he decided to scratch the current album he was initially going to release, declaring it “too controversial for the current time” and decided to create an entirely new album in just 1 month. In an interview with Hip-Hop media legend Big Boy on June 1st, Kanye admitted to scrapping the album because he wanted to match the energy that the universe was giving him. He started to dwell on the concept of negative & positive energy, and how he uses what people say about him, whether it be good or bad to his advantage in his music. So, after what seemed to be like all of social media arguing and debating over the comments Kanye made, everything was halted when the album was set to be released. That album would be titled “ye”.

June 1st, 2018, a cold  day in Jackson Hole Wyoming, a population of just over 10,000 is home to one of the most iconic album release parties of all time. The small section of the rural state was home to hip-hop/rap icons like Desiigner, 2 Chainz (and his very adorable dog), Terrence J, Ian Connor, Ty Dolla $ign, A$AP Nast, Lil Yachty, Kid Cudi, DJ Greg Street, 070 Shake, Pusha-T, Steven Victor, and Cyhi the Prynce. Also, a plethora of media outlets who were all previously seen destroying Kanye for his recent comments were in attendance (No Jumper, Fader, Complex…etc). Meanwhile, Jonah Hill and Chris Rock were there representing the Hollywood set.  These are just some, of the absurd amount of celebrities that gathered in the middle of this quiet town in Wyoming.  You may be asking yourself, “Why would such a Star-studded event be held in a place like Jackson Hole Wyoming”? Well, you can credit the genius of Kanye for this one. Not a single one of the celebrities invited to the listening party had been to Wyoming prior to the event, but they all showed up anyway. This highlights the unity of the people. Kanye wanted to bring togetherness to a different level and make it the forefront of the listening party. Ironically, “Ye” just so happens to be the most commonly used word in the Bible. The word ye, loosely translates to Us.  

 The biggest theme that Kanye expresses in the album Ye is his mental health, and mental health issues in general, and it’s personal stuff. Kanye west fans haven’t felt an album this personal, since 808’s heartbreakers. The album that came out shortly after the passing of his mother. On what seems to be the most popular track of ye, “Yikes”, West says, “That’s my bipolar shit!/ That’s my superpower!/ Ain’t no disability!/ I’m a superhero!”  This is the first time that Kanye West has admitted to being openly bipolar, something that people have been questioning and making fun of the star for his disability. The track that had a tremendous amount of value to it was “Wouldn’t Leave”. The song dives into the extremely controversial TMZ interview about Kanye’s “Slavery  was a choice comments”. Kanye describes the call he gets from his wife (Kim Kardashian West) afterward, horrified and shocked with the idea that they are going to lose everything because of what he said. Although the multimillionaire couple will probably have to endure a lot worse for them to lose everything they have, even as this is happening, Kanye marvels and reflects at how many blogs are writing about him. It’s a mind bending view inside the life of easily one of if not the most controversial celebrities of our generation— the feeling of fatigue, and wondering if this time you’re not going to be able to comeback from what you said is always in Kanye’s mind- reminding us that he is also human. The song ends with a gesture of gratitude to his wife and the millions of women who stick by the sides of their men during the hardest of times, and best of times. 

When someone’s labeled a celebrity, society immediately holds that person to a higher standard. Kanye West higher than most. We expect answers and answers for whatever controversial statement he makes, but he owes the world nothing. The tremendous amount of pressure that’s placed on a normal human being like Kanye West must be unbearable, and it’s seen in ye as Kanye talks about the issues with his mental health.