Kanye West: A Series Of Meltdowns

Commentary | Is Kanye West losing it? By now we’re all used to Kanye West having bi-weekly meltdowns,while spinning verbal tangents that would make beatnik Allen Ginsberg jealous. In the last week Kanye has had meltdowns that could rival his Taylor Swift outburst at the 2009 VMAs.

To some the real Kanye West comes out during his night-time performances, as he continues to make public shows of his love and affection for Kim Kardashian during the day. For every naked photo op celebrating the impending birth of their daughter, there’s another West meltdown. Perhaps the problem is that West’s two worlds are actually colliding.

As of right now Kanye is in Europe promoting, well himself, by performing hits old and new. However, the highlights from his recent trips to Europe seem to be his lengthy tangents, pointing to some inner demons rather than his hits.

As we all know when Kanye West has a meltdown on stage, there’s almost no one that he’s not willing to take up to task in what many seem is a fit of comical rage. During a gig last Friday in Hammersmith Apollo, West seemed to get all of his grievances off his chest during his show, most notably his apparent jealously over the recent success of Justin Timberlake’s song “Suit & Tie.” The “Suit & Tie” song also features West’s mentor and frequent collaborator Jay-Z.

During this meltdown Kanye had words to exchange about “Suit & Tie” ranting to the London crowd: “I’ve got love for Hov but I’m not down with that Suit & Tie s***.” That wasn’t all Kanye wanted to get off of his chest. While his lady Kim Kardashian was partying the night away at Elton John’s Oscar party, Kanye had started the night off by saying, “The Grammys can suck my d***.”

In terms of letting bygones be bygones it sounds like West isn’t the only one that isn’t letting go of his 2009 meltdown. Even though West wasn’t prompted by anyone on stage, he still had something to say about Taylor Swift and her 2009 VMA win. The crowd, which probably at that point were unfazed listened to West as he continued saying, “Taylor Swift beat Beyonce at the Grammys? Beyonce be dancing in heels and s***.”

Throughout his public persona in the media to these numerous meltdowns, Kanye has always stayed true to himself, but even more so, has been self-aware possibly in spite of how he acts out. During his Hammersmith Apollo show he ended his rant with an insight over how his ego can blow up in his face, although if you ask us, it already has; numerous times. The “Watch The Throne” rapper ended his rant saying:

“Did we get the check yet? I gotta call the business manager. Did the corporations send the check? What is my public rating? Are people liking me again? Enough to get some money from the corporations? They forgot about the whole Beyoncé thing, right? Cool. Is it OK now?”

Kanye West’s meltdowns have become such an extension of who Kanye is in the public eye that other rappers have threatened to follow his way. Veteran rapper Shyne took to Twitter to discuss his frustrations with President Obama and the lack of help Chicago is receiving over the persistent violence there:

If @barackobama doesn’t do something about the genocide in Chicago fast I’m gonna have an @kanyewest melt down &say Barack Don’t care about?— Shyne Po (@OriginalShyne) January 14, 2013

Most recently West took the stage at Clique in Paris, and went on another rant, this time it was laced in egotistical proclamations, so in other words, it was a usual rant from West. During the concert West calmly said: “No matter how they try to control you, or the ***** next to you tries to peer pressure you, you can do what you ***** want.”

Pretty insightful glimpse into the mind of Mr. West, who has been in a whirlwind romance with Kim Kardashian, who arguably remains to be one of the most famous women in pop culture. Later on West had this to say: “I am Picasso. I am Michelangelo. I am Basquiat. I am Walt Disney. I am Steve Jobs.”Although West seemed to be calm, and pretty cheeky for his Paris show, his earlier show in London suggests otherwise.

As stated he took a bite at Jay-Z and Timberlake. The fact that he would speak out of turn at Jay-Z’s expense suggests that there’s something bubbling over in West’s mind. During this particular show, he closed the set by abruptly ending his show and screaming in anguish for a good minute before dropping the mic and walking off stage. The screams were baffling, if not disturbing to hear. Clearly there’s something wrong with Kanye West.

It begs the question — is this some sort of performance art or is this West crying for help in a not-so-silent way? It could be argued that because of West’s place in the rap game, which opens itself up to confidence and swagger, it’s the former. West’s self-awareness of his public persona certainly may suggest just that, but there have been reports that stem to his own discomfort over entering into the Kardashian clan. Recently, it was reported that Kim Kardashian’s mother, and Kardashian/Jenner matriarch, Kris Jenner, is interested in managing Kanye’s career.

Anyone who is familiar with the Kardashian family dynamic knows that Kris meddles her way into the lives of her daughters careers with an iron fist. This may be problematic for West, who has complete creative control over his career. Can you imagine a Kanye West song playing the opening of the next Kardashian show? Neither can we. Are West’s meltdowns pointing to his unhappiness with taking part in the Kardashian dynamic? Probably but the answer doesn’t seem to be as clear cut.

West seems to be in a very difficult position. Kanye, who seems to be crazy about Kim, is also in a situation that begs him to distance himself away from the rest of the clan, before he gets pulled into their branding. It was reported by RadarOnline that Kanye really wants nothing to do with Keeping Up With The Kardashians despite having already appeared on the show in several episodes. Up until now it appears that West has at best tolerated that the show was part of his girlfriend’s life. However, all of that has seemingly changed after the impending birth of their child was announced. The announcement itself was rather sporadically done by Kanye West during an Atlantic City concert. Seeing a trend here?

Kanye knows that everything surrounding the Kardashians is not good for his image. A source explained that: “Kanye’s team believes it’s bad for his image and brand to appear on a reality show because it makes him look cheap. And, Kim isn’t pushing the issue at all as she knows Kanye won’t bend on it.” Also not willing to bend is Kris Jenner, who still seems to have at least some sort of plan in meddling her way into Kanye West’s financials.

Perhaps this is a problem that extends past the E! show. As much as Kanye West loves the attention — and he does, maybe West really did mean it when he said he wanted to live away from Hollywood and all the attention that it brings. Before West and Kim became a united Kimye, after the Taylor Swift debacle, for the most part, West had disappeared off of the map. In 2011 a quieter West was all smiles when he debuted his women’s fashion label, DW, at Paris’ Fashion Week.

Back then West was adamant about keeping his head down, and keeping out of the limelight. Shortly after that West decided to move permanently to London. It was only after love blossomed between Kanye and Kim did he move back to Los Angeles. Even though the pair are currently racking up their frequent flier miles, everything seems to be coming to a head for West.

Here’s the question which is probably what’s causing his frenetic outbursts on stage: How do you love someone who seems to love the limelight more than you? In other words, how is Kanye going to fight the poison of the limelight that he’s so easily drawn to, while still keeping up with his Kardashian?

It seems as though Kim Kardashian has at least bent a little for West. She has vowed that she wants, and definitely needs privacy, and that she values it, but can she actually make good of her word? As it is magazines are already clamoring for pictures of her unborn daughter with Kanye. For Kardashian, her whole life has been about being in the limelight, or doing everything to get into that limelight. Now that she’s there with her siblings, will she be able to give it up? Her new nude photo shoot with West suggests the opposite. Then again, most of West’s career has been built around the balancing act of being a walking contradiction. Both are hungry for fame, and while Kardashian seems composed, it’s West who is posed for the inevitable crack up.

Is Kanye West headed for yet another meltdown? Will he survive his relationship with Kim Kardashian?

Watch Kanye West’s latest meltdown below: