Kanye West‘s ego is no stranger to the spotlight, and this time, it’s taken center stage with Kanye West music genre claim: he invented every style of music in the past two decades! But before we crown him king of the music jungle, let’s untangle the truth behind the boast.
Kanye West says he invented every style of music in the last 20 years.
“I created this genre. I created Weeknd’s genre, Trav, Drake… with all love I’m gone head & say it, Future and Thug also because the autotune album.”PIC.TWITTER.COM/IRABPOYSLH
— Rap Alert (@rapalert6) MARCH 15, 2024
Kanye’s 2008 album “808s & Heartbreak” was a sonic game-changer, drenching vocals in autotune. It became a signature sound, but was it entirely new? Not quite. T-Pain and others had already been exploring autotune’s possibilities. Kanye, however, took it mainstream, influencing a generation of artists.
Ye says he invented every style of music in the last 20 years:
“I created this genre. I created Weeknds genre, Trav, Drake. I’m gon’ head and say it with all love Future and Thug also.” PIC.TWITTER.COM/JQDLCSIFDE
— SAY CHEESE! 👄🧀 (@SaycheeseDGTL) MARCH 15, 2024
Drake, The Weeknd, and Travis Scott are all part of Kanye’s self-proclaimed musical kingdom. But listen closely – their sounds are as different as night and day. The Weeknd’s music leans towards dark R&B, Travis Scott blends hip-hop with psychedelic textures, and Drake walks the line between rapping and singing. While undoubtedly influenced by Kanye, these styles have deeper roots in existing genres.
Music is a living, breathing thing, constantly morphing and adapting. Kanye West musical influence, without a doubt, pushed the boundaries of what was considered mainstream, but were his innovations entirely from scratch? Not necessarily. He used existing tools like autotune in new and exciting ways, paving the way for others to experiment further.
Music history rarely features a lone genius crafting genres single-handedly. Before “808s & Heartbreak,” artists like Future and Young Thug dipped their toes into the auto-tuned waters. Music thrives on collaboration, with artists building on each other’s ideas and pushing the envelope together.
Kanye West’s impact on modern music, particularly his embrace of autotune, is undeniable. But can we claim sole ownership of entire genres? That’s a stretch. Music is a tapestry woven from countless threads – artists influencing each other, building on existing sounds, and constantly evolving. Kanye was undeniably a key player in this evolution, but it was a team effort.
So, while Kanye West music genre claims to be the sole king of music, there’s no doubt he’s a major force to be reckoned with.
