The Systems issue of Hypebeast featured Ye as the cover star. The exclusive interview was released on May 15, and the theme focused on “not just why people create what they create but how they do it—the processes and approaches that have led to success, growth, influence, and community.”
In the interview, Ye was asked what the first thing he would do if elected President of the United States would be. First, quoting record producer Rick Rubin, he explained that everyone has a position that they play in life. However, there is a need for “a leader, a founder, a conductor, a director, a producer, a maestro, a composer, and I do all of these things.”
We’re breaking down if and how Ye fulfills these roles.
Leader
Since his debut album, The College Dropout, Ye has pushed the envelope in culture. Followed up by Late Registration, Ye pioneered the chipmunk soul sound that united samples of legendary black artists with modern-day hip-hop.
Like a true leader, Ye could never stick to one era for too long. Experimentation with production led to the electronic-influenced rap that was Graduation, primed for arenas and workout playlists. But then he pivoted to AutoTune-drenched melodies on 808s & Heartbreak, opening the door for the next generation of melodic rappers.
As soon as the general public embraced the new sound a Ye album introduced, it was his cue to take a left turn. Yeezus polarized the music industry at first but eventually paved the way for rockstar-esque rappers to rise from the depths of SoundCloud.
Over a decade later, the Yeezus influence endures being heard throughout Travis Scott’s 2024 album Utopia. More notable because Scott was a mentee of Ye’s and contributed to the production of Yeezus, which was in the early days of his career.
In the context of music, there’s no denying Ye’s leadership. It’s harder to find a modern day rapper than wasn’t influenced by Ye than to name 10 that were (Chance The Rapper, Big Sean, Pusha T, Kid Cudi, 2Chainz, Chief Keef..etc).
Founder
Ye has spread his influence beyond his musical pursuits. He is the founder of Yeezy, a fashion brand that began in 2009 collaborating with the company Nike. However, Ye eventually ended his partnership with Nike and moved to Adidas, which was officially announced in November 2013.
Despite their partnership terminating in October 2022 due to Ye’s controversial and anti-Semitic actions, it was widely regarded as one of the most successful fashion ventures by a rapper. The Yeezy designs were culture-shifting, creating unprecedented demand for rapper-endorsed sneakers and drawing comparisons to Michael Jordan’s namesake line. In 2015, the Yeezy Boost 350 sold more than double the best-selling Jordan sneaker.
He is also the founder of other businesses, including the creative agency DONDA, and the record label G.O.O.D. Music, and is known for firing off ideas of new companies that sometimes come to fruition.
Conductor & Director
According to IMVDb, Ye has directed his own music videos, including the 2004 hit “All Falls Down” and 2012’s “N****s in Paris” with Jay-Z. However, he has used his directorial vision for other music as well, like Drake’s “Best I Ever Had” music video in 2009.
In the fashion world, his ex-wife Kim Kardashian in a 2019 interview said that Ye was the “ghost creative director” behind her popular shapewear brand SKIMS. He allegedly helped with everything from hiring models to even creating the brand logo. His fashion influence also shaped her own style during their marriage.
Producer, Maestro & Composer
Before he started rapping over beats, Ye was creating them. His resume includes artists like Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Lil Wayne, Mariah Carey, and more. He helped push the “Chipmunk Soul” sound and production into the mainstream with songs like 2004’s “Through the Wire.”
In 2019, Ye provided Sunday Services with a choir led by Jason White to showcase his musicality live and his album Jesus is King, which he contributed to on the production side. However, the services were put on pause due to the pandemic. Since then, Ye has production credits on Vultures, his collaboration album with Ty Dolla $ign that was released in January 2024.
Ye’s attorney Bruce Marks announced in October 2023 that the rapper would not be running for president in the upcoming election. Nevertheless, his interview with Hypebeast shows that he still sees himself as someone who could change the country – whether it’s for better or for worse is yet to be seen.