When we think of the rap artist and superstar Kanye West and his various escapades in art and pop culture, one can naturally wonder whether the man has dabbled in poetry as well.
While rap is undoubtedly a form of rhymes set to a rhythm and has its rightful and exalted place in art, few would call it poetry. However, there is a medium place in between the two that West has made a mark in, and that is spoken word poetry.
To find out more about Kanye’s journey from spoken word to selling millions of albums, read on!
Spoken Word Poetry Is an Enduring Art Form
Poetry in itself works similarly to music when heard orally, due to the processes of euphony and cacophony, or onomatopoeia. Spoken word poetry is a form of performance art, then, that focuses on this aspect and so the written poetry is meant to be spoken out loud with certain intonations, flair, and different fluctuations of speech.
The dramatic possibilities of performing in such a way all add to the importance of the genre. As such, because of the way the performer can hold the attention of the audience, the spoken word became an important form of expression for serious issues, such as those related to the plight and rights of black Americans.
The specific form of spoken word that is presented in front of an audience – usually with an element of judging the performances through an established panel or response from those present. Notably, slam poetry was utilized for the hit TV show, Def Poetry (even though not within the technical boundaries of being slam poetry).
Kanye Performed On Def Poetry Three Seasons In A Row
Each episode of Def Poetry featured a star-studded line-up. Different actors and musicians showed up to put forth a different side of themselves, as well as bona fide poets, some historical and some even legendary. Many went on to be bigger stars than they were at the time of airing, and many peers praised the show’s influence on black communities and the world at large.
Kanye West first performed in Season 3 of the show, airing in 2003. What’s interesting to note now is that Kanye performs a piece that would later turn into his hit single All Falls Down, which might have been inspired by the reception of the lyrics here. Either way – while he’s introduced as the “future of hip-hop” – it’s clear to see a certain charm to Kanye’s stage presence, one that would change, mutate, shift and sway over the years, but remain undoubtedly Kanye’s own.
The bare-bones structure of the performance is a testimony to why the format is so powerful. The painful lyrics, touching on racial injustice and equality, come across sincerely and in their full force. Kanye employs a similar method on his track I Love Kanye on his 2016 album, The Life of Pablo, to reflect on his career in a tongue-in-cheek manner, and the effect is still as powerful.