John Legend on Kanye West’s “Descent”: It’s “Sad, Sometimes Shocking to See Where He Is Now”

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John Legend didn’t anticipate Kanye West’s “descent.” 

Initially, the two musicians shared a deep personal and professional bond when they collaborated on music projects during the early 2000s. Over time, though, they’ve chosen separate paths, and Legend recently expressed in an interview with The Times that it can be disheartening and sometimes surprising to witness West’s current state.

Looking back, Kanye was brimming with enthusiasm, overflowing with talent, and harbored grand ambitions not just for himself, but for everyone in his orbit. He exuded an infectious optimism, a torrent of creativity… I could scarcely detect any trace of the turmoil that has since unfolded in his life, with his fixations on antisemitism, anti-Blackness. It’s heartbreaking to witness his transformation.

It’s been noted that following the loss of his mother in 2007, there appeared to be a change in the “Stronger” rapper which some people noticed. This shift seemed to mark the beginning of a downward spiral that has become more pronounced recently, as expressed by an observer.

Despite no longer having a close relationship due in part to West’s backing of Donald Trump, Legend still recognizes West’s impact on the course of his artistic career. Earlier in his career, he had been rejected by record labels everywhere.

Kanye West gained significant popularity following the production of Jay-Z’s album “The Blueprint” in 2001. Subsequently, he garnered attention as a solo artist, and during that time, I was accompanying him on shows and tours, contributing both as his vocalist and keyboard player while also building my own reputation as an artist. Prior to this, I had been rejected by record labels everywhere. However, the release of “The College Dropout” sold 400,000 copies in its first week, sparking widespread curiosity about our creative endeavors.

Upon reflection, the ones who initially rejected me now seem to appreciate my music more than they did at first.

Over the past few years, West’s professional life has experienced a significant shift due to his persistent and inflammatory statements that are antisemitic and pro-Nazi in nature. More notably, he sparked controversy with a series of tweets filled with antisemitic content, such as expressing admiration for Adolf Hitler, publicly identifying himself as a Nazi, marketing a Yeezy T-shirt featuring a swastika symbol, criticizing the #MeToo movement, and rekindling his divisive comments about slavery.

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2025-05-11 20:24