Entertainment

Could Kanye West Be Your New Favorite Family Man?

by Ashani Jodha

If you didn't know it already, Kanye West is a changed man. Since marrying Kim Kardashian back in 2014, and having two children, North and Saint, the 38-year-old rapper has somewhat tamed his ways and has claimed to become Kanye West: The family man. In late October of last year, West proclaimed in a live two-hour interview with SHOWstudio the effect fatherhood has had on his art: "Having a family, period, has made me completely rethink the way I rap," West said. "Three years ago, after this interview, I would've been on the train back to Paris to see the last of the shows to get that inspiration. Now, I'm on the first flight home to see my greatest inspiration, that's my daughter," explained the 21-time Grammy Award winner. This change in his personality isn't apparent anywhere more than it is in the lyrics on West's newest album, The Life Of Pablo .

West also proved his loyalty to his family recently, while sparking an epic Twitter feud with fellow rapper Wiz Khalifa, after West falsely thought Khalifa tweet's "KK" was referencing West's wife, Kardashian. Er, um, totally harmless mistake, I guess. Though West has his own gritty way of showing his familial devotion, he continued to imitiate his life with his craft by devoting several "Kanye-West-style" lyrics to his "inspirations" with the live release of his new album, The Life of Pablo Thursday at Madison Square Garden. Don't worry if you missed it though — it's available to replay in full on TIDAL, and I've put together a few times West referenced his famous family, kids and personal struggles on his new album in his own special way.

1. His Mother And Father

Before the unveiling Yeezy Season 3 at Madison Square Garden — as well as playing The Life Of Pablo in full for audience members — West tweeted the lyrics to a two-part touching hit off of his album entitled, "Father Stretch My Hands." The song itself, like many infamous West songs, references subtle personal issues throughout his life, including his father, mother, and car crash — “Up in the morning / Miss you bad / Sorry that I ain’t call you back / The same problems my father had / All this time / All he had/ All he had / In what what he dreamed / All his cash / Market crashed / Hurt him bad / People get divorced for that.”

2. North

In the first track on the album, "Ultra Light Beams," West reveals his ability to keep his first child from having her picture taken and her notable absence from appearing on his wife's hit reality show, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, in comparison to her cousins: "Tryna send photos of familia/ My daughter look just like Sia, you can't see her."

3. His Love For The Kardashians...

It just wouldn't be a proper Kanye West album if he didn't reference his famous in-laws. In his song "High Lights," West raps, "21 Grammies/ Superstar family/ We the new Jacksons and momma 'bout that action."

4. ...Except For Rob

Yeahhh, that feud is still running deep for West — seeing as Rob loves to diss West's wife, he couldn't help himself in calling out his brother-in-law: "Blac Chyna f*ckin' Rob/ Help them with the weight/ I wish my trainer would tell me what I overate." This is a pretty mean-spirited, body-shaming lyric, and West never should have included it — but West has shown in the past that he gets vicious when it comes to protecting those he feels are threatening his family, even if it's another extended family member.

5. West Being A Protective Father

With fatherhood comes extremely protective drive, so if anyone messes with West's children, heed this warning: "I'ma bust a couple's head open on some Diddy shit/ If he ever talk to my son like an idiot." Graphic, but...

6. His Relationship With Kim

West and Kardashian have had much criticism and hate hoisted onto them during their relationship. In his most revealing song about family, "FML," West details his former playboy ways, and how his unwavering love for his wife and children has changed that. So haters, back up: "I been waiting for a minute/ For my, lady/ So I can jeopardize that for one of these hoes/ I been living without limits/ As far as my business/ I'm the only one that's in control/ I been feeling/ I been feeling all I'm giving/ For my children/ I will die for those I love/ God I'm willing/ To make this my mission/ Give up the women/ Before I lose half of what I own."

Clearly, West has his own special way of showing his pledge to the number of people that are close to him in his life.

Images: Giphy (4); geminiginny, perezhilton/Tumblr