We're Here Because We Care, Kanye

By Julene McCoy in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 3, 2006 4:00PM

Dear Kanye,

We love you. We’re your hometown fans. We get that you have to have vision and determination to make it to the top in the music industry. We understand the ego that goes with great talent. But, it’s time for a carefrontation.

There was your issue with losing the American Music Awards' Best New Artist category to Gretchen Wilson. We thought it was a little bit odd to threaten the Grammy voters right after you dissed President Bush during the Katrina Telethon, but we agree that issues of class and race do need to be discussed in America. We sympathized with your sound problems during Lollapalooza. It can be stressful performing in front of the hometown crowd at a big concert event like that. Especially when Mom is watching her baby boy perform to thousands.

But, honestly, this has got to stop. You’re beginning to bite the hand that feeds you. You got the Best Hip Hop Artist award at the MTV Europe Awards, but Best Video went to Justice and Simian for “We Are Your Friends.” Now, protocol in this situation calls for you to sit back, smile, and golf clap while looking into the camera. You should not rush the stage and start swearing like a crazy man and saying that the awards show now has no credibility. Voters don’t like that kind of thing. (Ask anyone on the street who has been subjected to the advertising going on for the midterm elections.)

Kanye, please take a deep breath the next time they don’t call your name for an award, no matter how expensive the video was to make or who is in it with you, and smile. It might be time for a little vacation in order to regroup and remember why you are doing this in the first place. It’s not the awards. It’s to let your talent shine. Don’t hide your talent behind all these fighting words, Kanye. It makes the talent harder to hear.

Love,
Chicagoist