The Man Who Beat Michael Jordan: Story of a Jeen-Yuhs

When I first heard about Kanye West, I knew him as just another rapper producing modern rap music. Later that evolved into the “guy who stole Taylor Swift’s thunder at the grammy’s”. He’s been called arrogant, he call’s himself Yeezus.

I’m here to say that he’s a Jeen-Yuhs. 

A leader in contemporary art. Kanye’s influence in the world of contemporary art is unmistaken. 

The case for Kanye West as a Genius

We may know him as the guy behind Yeezy’s, the man who stole the show from Taylor Swift at the Grammy’s, or Ye. Let’s talk about his accomplishments: 

Thinking Outside of the Box

“We live in boxes

We get put into the pillar

The beginning of us going from multi-dimensional and then going into 

Schools, that’s a box

Higher learning, where we are in a box

To buy a crib and then we have children and try to put our children into a crib. 

 More flow.”

Since he is a creative that has conquered music, fashion, and business, empowering a new generation of contemporary artists, I think it’s safe to say that Kanye may be the Da Vinci of our time. A misunderstood genius, capable of transcending the rules, creating his own and becoming a voice of creativity. 

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 How He Disrupts Business

Yeezy's have disrupted Jordan's in the shoe business in unprecedented fashion. How did Kanye accomplish this?

1)    Draws attention.

2)    Creates Desire

3)    Creates Scarcity

4)    Produces with a great product

5)    Ends with a profound message

When a man beats Michael Jordan at anything, I think we should stand up and take notice. The reality is that the GOAT has been dethroned. How did Kanye, a rapper from Chicago beat the GOAT? Are we still in denial of this man’s success, creativity, and genius? 

Kanye is Misunderstood Because He is Truly Creative

“I think very three-dimensionally. I don’t think in the black-and-white lines that I’ve been programmed to think in. And I think in full color, so when I talk, I have to describe a thought in five ways. We enjoy food that has multiple seasonings in it. We enjoy music that has multiple instruments. So when I talk, it’s not a rant, it’s a symphony of ideas, and when you collect that, you say, ‘Oh these are these things that connect.’ I just tell the truth, and telling the truth is crazy in a world full of lies.” 

When I first heard this quote from Ye on the Joe Rogan podcast, I almost dismissed it, but then I actually thought about it and it made sense. This is in line with my thoughts on right brained thinking in venture ideation and artistic thinking. Great ideas challenge the way you think.

Smashing the Boxes of Reality

Our reality can be quite fixed and I think it takes special people to step outside the boundaries of conventional thinking and have boldness to say, “You know what? This makes no sense”.

"What is the essence of what’s here?"

"Are we just trying to copy the last model because it’s profitable or are we trying to find something deeper?"

“haha that’s crazy, but yeah, that’s sort of right”

As we tiptoe that line we start wondering if it’s real or if it’s just an illusion. You start thinking of the rules that told you not to go there (see limiting beliefs) and that you can’t. Matter of fact, people get angry when you point it out. Because to violate those rules, is to tear down the foundations of the world they built.