Profile

Kanye West


Listen Later

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?

Even Barack Obama admitted that Kanye is "very talented" too. And experts say he has changed the genre, both as rapper and as producer. There is "hip hop before Kanye West, and hip hop after Kanye West".

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

Researcher: Maia Lowerson

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

ProfileBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.1
  • 4.1
  • 4.1
  • 4.1
  • 4.1

4.1

97 ratings


More shows like Profile

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,693 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

368 Listeners

More or Less: Behind the Stats by BBC Radio 4

More or Less: Behind the Stats

889 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,045 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,433 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,791 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,782 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,088 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,917 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

513 Listeners

Last Word by BBC Radio 4

Last Word

47 Listeners

Crossing Continents by BBC Radio 4

Crossing Continents

78 Listeners

The Bottom Line by BBC Radio 4

The Bottom Line

35 Listeners

Moral Maze by BBC Radio 4

Moral Maze

66 Listeners

Front Row by BBC Radio 4

Front Row

132 Listeners

Start the Week by BBC Radio 4

Start the Week

164 Listeners

Private Passions by BBC Radio 3

Private Passions

42 Listeners

The Briefing Room by BBC Radio 4

The Briefing Room

72 Listeners

Political Thinking with Nick Robinson by BBC Radio 4

Political Thinking with Nick Robinson

106 Listeners

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle by BBC World Service

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle

4,176 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,189 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

735 Listeners

This Cultural Life by BBC Radio 4

This Cultural Life

107 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics

3,096 Listeners

Radical with Amol Rajan by BBC Radio 4

Radical with Amol Rajan

33 Listeners