06/04/2026
I want to thank my friend Caroline Kreitlow for taking me to discourse coffee in the 3rd Ward. Tonight they did a discourse topic of Kanye. There had to be over 70 people there tonight. I was very nervous to speak so I wrote my thoughts down and this is what I contributed to tonight's conversation. It was a cool moment and appreciated those that dapped me up and that I met and talked to afterwards. No mater how much I have accomplished in my life my internal always goes to negative (trauma). That trauma has always taught me that people will always think I am stupid and to stay small. Being Bi-polar and having this personality disorder there will always be two Bens, but working hard to be one. Glad I wrote my thoughts down and shared.
I've always believed in being able to separate the artist from the art. What I find interesting is how selective we can be with our outrage. Many people are quick to condemn Kanye for his offensive statements or actions, yet we often celebrate forms of hip-hop and gangster rap that glorify violence, exploitation of women, materialism, and behaviors that can be equally destructive when people fail to separate entertainment from reality. The hype, emotion, and influence of any artist can impact people in moments of poor judgment, regardless of the genre. If we're going to examine the impact of art on society, then we should be willing to have honest conversations across the entire spectrum rather than focusing on one individual.
As someone living with bipolar disorder, I also see this topic through a different lens. I know firsthand the battle between periods where creativity feels completely absent (hence 3 months no forward purpose project or real estate scocial) and times when ideas, emotions, and inspiration come so rapidly that it's difficult to slow them down. There are days when my mind feels quiet and disconnected, and other days when it feels like every thought is connected to ten more. That internal struggle has given me a greater appreciation for how closely creativity, emotion, and mental health can sometimes be intertwined. It doesn't excuse harmful behavior, nor should it. Accountability still matters. But it does remind me that human beings are often far more complex than the public sees.
That complexity is why I try to separate the artist from the art. We can acknowledge when someone has said or done something offensive while still recognizing the impact of their creative work. In Kanye's case, while I strongly disagree with some of his words and actions, I've often felt there is a deeper meaning behind much of what he creates. Whether people agree with him or not, he has consistently challenged conventional thinking, questioned systems, and sparked conversations that many others are unwilling to have. Sometimes he is wrong. Sometimes he is offensive. But there is often a larger message buried beneath the controversy.
For me, separating the artist from the art isn't about excusing behavior, it's about recognizing that creativity, mental health, human flaws, and artistic expression are rarely simple. We can hold people accountable while still examining their work, appreciating their talent, and seeking to understand the deeper meaning behind what they are trying to say.
-Ben J.
