Even though Kanye West was born in Atlanta, it was Chicago where he grew up and found his voice. Here he went from handing out mix tapes on the South and West sides, to cutting his teeth as an uncredited producer, to releasing chart-topping singles and headlining major shows.
But West, who has changed his name to Ye, has become a polarizing figure in recent years. After taking out an ad in the “Wall Street Journal” apologizing for antisemitic and racist behavior, he has set off on a redemption tour with two nights of stops in Chicago.
Ahead of this week’s nearly sold-out Soldier Field performances, WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times asked four Black Chicago writers to reflect on the legacy of Ye (formerly Kanye West) in the city that helped shape him.
