
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
The seminal rapper and billionaire fashion mogul Kanye West's new album Donda is named after his late mother, who was an influential figure in his life. It's gone straight to number one in many countries, it's the most successful album of the year already, clocking up over 180 million streams in just 24 hours.
Some consider Kanye West - who also calls himself Ye - a creative genius. Others have been put off by controversial behaviour. President Obama called him a "jackass", after Kanye interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for a video music award to say Beyoncé "had one of the best videos of all time", implying she should have won instead. He apologised later.
The hip hop artist doesn't lack self-belief. He has called himself a "God", and compared himself to the likes of Picasso and Shakespeare. But could he have a point?
And then there is fashion - his designs of popular trainers and clothes have made him a billionaire.
So what drives the controversial yet highly successful artist? Mark Coles dives into Kanye West's life and work to find out.
Producer: Arlene Gregorius
4.1
9797 ratings
The seminal rapper and billionaire fashion mogul Kanye West's new album Donda is named after his late mother, who was an influential figure in his life. It's gone straight to number one in many countries, it's the most successful album of the year already, clocking up over 180 million streams in just 24 hours.
Some consider Kanye West - who also calls himself Ye - a creative genius. Others have been put off by controversial behaviour. President Obama called him a "jackass", after Kanye interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for a video music award to say Beyoncé "had one of the best videos of all time", implying she should have won instead. He apologised later.
The hip hop artist doesn't lack self-belief. He has called himself a "God", and compared himself to the likes of Picasso and Shakespeare. But could he have a point?
And then there is fashion - his designs of popular trainers and clothes have made him a billionaire.
So what drives the controversial yet highly successful artist? Mark Coles dives into Kanye West's life and work to find out.
Producer: Arlene Gregorius
5,400 Listeners
372 Listeners
1,839 Listeners
786 Listeners
159 Listeners
7,693 Listeners
509 Listeners
1,823 Listeners
1,089 Listeners
30 Listeners
895 Listeners
74 Listeners
1,937 Listeners
1,064 Listeners
44 Listeners
59 Listeners
43 Listeners
75 Listeners
101 Listeners
650 Listeners
747 Listeners
2,973 Listeners
104 Listeners
979 Listeners
31 Listeners