a Little Light

“I’m on the plane listening to the college dropout. It brings back so many memories. When we made it I had all 6 parents, 4 grandparents and my mom and dad. Now I have my dad and my grandfather.

Music is so nostalgic. Every song I listen to brings me back to when I first played them for my mom, when I first played from for Dame, when I first played them Jay, when I first played them for Kweli, when I first played them for my niggas back in Chi, when the album first came out, when I first called Ebro from Hot 97 and begged him to play through the wire, when DJ Pharris blew me up in the Chi.

We used to be the niggas rocking polo shirts, Louie back packs, paper denim jeans, and exclusive Adidas from Sporty LA. We were the underdogs. I never feel like I’m not the underdog. I never felt completely comfortable. I’m tormented by the need to create. With the loss of McQueen I feel like we lost one of those faces of modern creativity’s Mount Rushmore.

There were times that the only thing that kept me on this earth was the need and responsibility to create. Maybe McQueen felt his job was done because his last collection was the greatest of the decade. We are all so hurt. I know we’re selfish because he brought us so much joy and inspiration.

I know how it feels when the night demons come. We can’t let them control our hands and feet. Sometimes when it hurts so bad we have to just lay in the bed. Just lay in bed and don’t move please, I know how it feels. I wish McQueen could have just been still. Don’t let the psychiatrists give you their drugs because it slows down your wings. Society and public opinion can beat the wings off of angels. When god sees they can’t take it anymore he brings them back home.

During this new album process sometimes I turn the music up and drink and cry. When something sounds so amazing and ground breaking I’m reminded of why I live. I drink the pain of now 2 generations and breathe our melodies and messages. The music keeps us alive.

I was blessed with the opportunity to bring my and others dreams to life. It’s like performing magic or something. It’s surreal. We bring the unrealistic to reality. “Go hard, go hard, go hard” echoes in my dreams. When I wake up and brush my teeth and look in the mirror it’s like I see Michael and my mom and Malcolm. Who’s that African in the background mom? Oh he created the original layouts for the pyramids but was written out the history books and his MTV award was given to “aliens”.

There’s no such thing as fact anymore, only opinion. The closest thing we have to fact is “common opinion”. Everything is an opinion. The way you dress is an expression of your opinion. Your religious beliefs are your opinion. The music you turn up loud is your opinion. For most people it’s easier to just agree. For me the hardest thing is to ‘just’ agree and that is what sparks creativity, the feeling that something can be better, the feeling that something’s missing. The feeling that something’s needed.”

- Excerpt by Kanye from kanyewest.com

This essay by Kanye really resonated with me this morning.

The society we live in today teaches and conditions us to consume. In school, we consume facts and information only to spit them back out during midterms.  The media, through video and audio, tells us to consume their works.  We consume the news, current events and the ideas of “great thinkers.”

But why shouldn’t we create as well?  Why should the status quo prevent us from producing creative content of our own?  It begins within ourselves.  We need to change our mindset from consumerism towards creativity on an gradual basis.  It won’t be easy, and it’s not a comfortable process, but by adopting an attitude similar to Kanye’s “I never felt completely comfortable. I’m tormented by the need to create.” attitude, we can more effectively place ourselves on a path toward leadership and success.

Kanye’s final statement of “There’s no such thing as fact anymore, only opinion. The closest thing we have to fact is “common opinion”. Everything is an opinion.” is a bold one as well.  To me, this means to question everything, and accept nothing.  Formulate your own conclusions, but respect the conclusions of others.  But respecting the opinions of others doesn’t necessarily mean to agree, but simply to understand their logic and reasoning.

Regardless of your personal opinion on Kanye, there’s no denying the impact and influence he has made on society as we know it today.  We’d be wise to respect and learn from their thoughts and opinion.