American singer-songwriter John Legend has offered a candid reflection on his long and complicated history with Kanye West, expressing sorrow over the rapper ‘s controversial transformation in recent years, a descent the acclaimed singer-songwriter believes began with the tragic death of West’s mother, Donda West, in 2007.
In a contemplative interview with ‘The Times’, the EGOT- winning musician recounted his early years working alongside West, who not only helped launch Legend’s career by signing him to his GOOD Music label in 2004 but also mentored and toured with him during his own meteoric rise, according to a report by PEOPLE.
Around the time they began working together, Legend said West, now 47, was “very passionate” and “very gifted” with “big dreams not only for him self but also for all the people around him.”
“He had so much optimism, so much creativity. It does feel sad, sometimes shocking, to see where he is now,” said the Grammy winner of West, whom he watched rise to fame after producing various songs on Jay-Z’s The Blueprint album in 2001.
“Then he experienced a buzz as a solo artist and the whole time I was traveling with him, doing shows with him, getting exposure not only as his singer and keyboard player but also as an artist myself,” explained Legend of the “Gold Digger” emcee.
At the time, Legend, now 46, said he was “turned down by labels everywhere” — until West’s The College Dropout album debuted with around 441,000 in first-week sales. Suddenly, “everyone wanted to know what was happening in our camp,” explained the “Ordinary People” artist, “and all those people who turned me down suddenly decided that my music sounded a lot better than it did the first time round.”
Though their professional partnership endured into the 2010s, the relationship ultimately fractured. While they were close, Legend said, “I didn’t see a hint of what we’re seeing now, his obsessions with antisemitism, anti-blackness, and it is sad to see his devolution.”
While Legend doesn’t think outsiders are necessarily “qualified to psychoanalyze” West, the father of four said “there was definitely a difference” in the “All of the Lights” artist following the death of his mother, Donda, at age 58 in 2007.”His descent started then and seems to have accelerated recently,” said Legend.
Since his mom’s death, West has paid tribute to her in various ways and named two albums after her: 2021’s Donda and 2022’s Donda 2. UNI NST SSP
