Whether it's through challenging 50 Cent in the 2006 record selling competition, the controversial "George Bush doesn't care about black people" line during the Hurricane Katrina Aid Telecast in the same year, suffering the tragic loss of his mother in 2007, standing up for Beyonce at the 2009 VMAs, his infamous 2013 track "I Am A God", declaring his support for Donald Trump during the 2016 Saint Pablo tour, or any other part of his overall artistic career…. Kanye West has affected us all, in one way or another.

This class aims to investigate Kanye West's work as a producer and rapper through the lenses of his past works, including: College Dropout, Late Registration, Graduation, 808s and Heartbreak, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Watch the Throne, Yeezus, and the Life of Pablo. Each week we will discuss the key pivot points in the development of his music. We will then study the corresponding major events in his personal life and in the timeline of the American rap music industry to determine some of the causes and influences behind Kanye's work.

This decal also encourages an analysis of the roles Kanye West's music (and rap music in general) play in our own lives - whether you consider yourself a rap music aficionado or a general music lover with an open mind. All discussions are held in a safe space where diversity in opinions and interpretations are welcomed and respected. Ultimately, we aim to help provide a further understanding of Kanye West's creative intentions in both production and performance by identifying recurring themes and trends throughout his discography.

Grading will be on a 2-unit P/NP system based on course attendance, a song analysis assignment on a track of your choice (in-class presentation), short weekly assignments, and a final paper / project.