Kanye West has always been a controversial figure, but with his new album, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” he’s gone too far. The cover of his album says it all: a naked black man holding a green bottle (read: beer) is straddled (read: having sex) by a naked white woman with wings, fangs, and a spotted tail. Both figures’ faces are distorted and monster-like. Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and iTunes have banned “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” due to its obscene cover, essentially disallowing the album from being sold anywhere in the U.S. In response, Kanye West has been not-so-slowly “leaking” his new album online free of charge.
Kanye is just as corrupt as his album cover. On Oct. 23 after the premiere of his new video “Runaway,” he revealed to MTV that he had sold his soul to the devil. Some speculate that he is part of the Illuminati, a secret society purportedly in control of governments and large corporations which hopes to establish a New World Order. The day after his MTV interview, Kanye tweeted, “I’ve got a question about ‘the illuminati’…What is it exactly? And why do people think pop stars have a membership? LOL.” Later in the day, he followed up with, “Is illuminati and devil worshipping the same thing… do they have a social network that celebs can sign up for?” and “Question… can you devil worship on the new iphone??? LOL!!!”
Though Kanye has mocked the claims that he’s an Illuminati member, Kanye’s true self—his corrupt Satan-influenced character—is unleashed in his music. His new song “Runaway” raises a toast to douchebags, a-holes, and scumbags. While on one level he is obviously referring to 50 Cent and his crew, Kanye is also referring to himself. In his song “Monster,” he raps “everybody knows I’m a mother-f***ing monster,” a clear moment of self-deprecation. Later in the song, he flatly warns his listeners to run away from him—and his inner monster—as fast as they can.
His Satinistic, power-tripping tendencies are exhibited clearly in “Monster.” Kanye raps, “my eyes more red than the devil … I kill a block, I murder avenues, rape and pillage a village, women, and children.” He elaborates on his twisted, sexualized God complex later when he explicitly calls himself a pharaoh (“Have you ever had sex with a pharaoh?”). To cap it off, in the music video for “Power,” it appears as if Kanye is seated atop a throne surrounded by horned angels, his eyes glowing, and his body perfectly still as he controls the angels. He raps, “I got the power, make yo’ life so excitin’.” While he may not admit it in front of MTV audiences, Kanye’s lyrics stand alone as a testament to his demented and demonic inner self.
Big box and online music retailers were justified in banning Kanye’s new album from being released in their stores, in effect prohibiting such inappropriate lyrics and Satanic-influenced music from reaching youthful minds. Given the powerful influence music can hold over youth, we should protect our nation’s children from idolizing people like Kanye West. Hip hop may become the new hard rock or heavy metal if Kanye-style music continues to be relased.
If we value what America’s youth value, we shouldn’t allow satanically-influenced music or grossly sexualized album covers to enter our homes. Americans need to defend their values. Little by little, the liberalization of traditional values has stripped America of its moral core. The all-time highest divorce, teen pregnancy, crime, and suicide rates tell a story: America’s values are falling apart. By keeping Kanye’s satanic values from being imposed upon youthful minds, America is keeping its values alive.