The Influence of Kanye West

Few figures have had the impact on so many varied sectors of culture as Kanye West. After toppling the rap game, Kanye quickly parlayed his influence to the fashion and sneaker arenas. Kanye burst onto the hip-hop landscape by crafting a signature hip-hop production sound by chopping and speeding up old soul music samples, but he quickly graduated to releasing footwear for Louis Vuitton and Nike. His meteoric rise to fame is a case study in a finely-tuned equation involving hubris, hype, and controversy. But even his detractors can’t ignore the raw talent and innovation that go along with his name. And none of us can deny his vast influence in music and fashion.