Kanye West: Unsung, but Never Outspoken

Ever wondered since the birth of rap and hip-hop culture that we all tend to shrug (at least some do) the same lyrical cannon that sounded redundant? Of course, many rap artists from the "old skool" (deliberately spelled) days to "diss rap" and such may tend promote violence, anarchism and sexual promiscuity, Kanye West is nearly an exception to the rule. The 30-year-old rapper has made his debut since early 2001 with his first album, "The College Dropout", that earned him six Grammys and still going strong, and at times dissing any political figure, including the President for not 'caring about black people'.

Born on June 8, 1977, Kanye Omari West was raised in Atlanta Georgia, which his first name means "the only one" in Swahili. But more to the literal meaning since he's the only child of a former Black Panther father and his mother who was the chair of the English Department at Chicago State University, Kanye has developed a liberal, yet critical eye on political agendas and the love for music. Not to mention that growing up along with the old and new generation of rappers and the hip-hop culture, Kanye has been a proud product of such.

Like any other rap artist, Kanye has his fair share of controversies, rifts, and even rivalries that may somehow escalate in ways like 2Pac and Notorious BIG. Somehow, Kanye West has managed to avoid all that and uses something that other famous names in the hip-hop scene have resorted in using guns: his mind. Much to Kanye West's aggressive nature of being blunt and critical like Aaron McGruder of "Boondocks" comic strip fame, he sometimes takes things in stride as he prefer focusing his strengths in fundraisers and awareness concerts. Of course, just like every artist who managed to rise to the superstardom level, Kanye was no exception when it comes to the ego that have swelled up, or rather thinking he deemed important enough to have his name in the Bible if it were ever printed in this generation.