Would you hit a guy with glass on? No. But let that M'Fer take his four eyes off and watch me Superman that ho! This simple, playground logic can also be applied to the issue of Kanye West. Yes, he can be a jerk. Yes, he lives large. But what if he can't help it? Would you bash Kanye if he was bipolar? If so, you're a major dick and I hope you choke on a chicken bone the size of Donald Trump's money clip.
I, and many other sufferers of bipolar disorder, would take exception to anyone knocking someone with such a detrimental mental health disorder. Let this be a lesson to you, ‘cuz I'mma let you finish…but not yet!
1. Kanye has dramatically contrasting highs and lows.
Classic bipolar trait. Right after I became aware of my disorder, I was disgusted and ashamed. I had gone years without even considering something was wrong with me. I damn sure didn't want to take medication (as proper meds can negatively affect many aspects of daily life, including, but not limited to, a decrease in sex drive and erectile dysfunction).
We've seen Kanye at his best (when he's producing music, giving credit to members of Wutang, and whenever he mentions his appreciation and admiration for his family), and his worst (too many examples to list here). And if that makes him an asshole, then lock me up too because I'm exactly like that without medication.
…Don't lock me up, please?
Just kidding, dude. Learn how to take a joke!
Highs with bipolar disorder can be like this—a full month of feeling the best you've ever felt in your life. I used to get extremely euphoric and joyful from real goofy shit. Like, I would say "pudding" and smile for hours. And sometimes I'd just be happy for no reason at all. The-hills-are-alive-with-the-sound-of-music-type joy, surrounded on all sides by Nazi regime. Yeah, it was kinda like that.
And lows, as you can imagine, have the same effect, only in an inverse manner. Kanye has mentioned urges to kill himself. I would go so far as to say there are even more instances he's never mentioned. Depression is not uncommon in America. And it's a very serious issue. But bipolar depression can make regular depression feel like a day at Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory minus the day laborers with funny-sounding names, frumpy little bodies, and neon hair/skin who are forced to sing and make chocolate upon threat of transformation into some giant basketball-ish blueberry monstrosity.
2. Overspending is what Kanye lives by.
Every rap star deals with this affliction. Hell, I'd buy at least one of the Batmobiles from either TV or film franchises if I could! But Mr. West has built his entire career around this whole "keeping up with the Joneses" mentality. Keeping up with the Kardashians, keeping up with the Joneses…now I see the connection! Blam…your brain just exploded. Just about each of his albums features "spending money as fast as you make it" as one of its core precepts.
I too have suffered from the wiles of my own pension to spend. I remember spending a thousand dollars on sneakers once. I'm pretty sure it was all in the same day, although, not 100% certain because I had also spent $500 on drinks for myself and some friends, people who weren't friends, and a decent amount of blow. In my defense, it had been my birthday. And I really wanted to get locked and loaded.
Kanye is no different, only he's rich and has beautiful people around him all the time. So yeah, there's that.
3. Kanye exhibits classic symptoms of megalomania.
This is Kanye's most "endearing" flaw. His larger-than-life personality seems to have no bounds, no control, and no off button. It has gotten him in trouble with Taylor Swift, the law, George Bush, and the nation itself (Katrina benefit, remember?). So you say, "Hey, come on! There must be something wrong here. He needs to take responsibility for being such a narcissistic prick…you can't blame some disorder on being childish!" And I say to you, "Shut the fuck up before I slap all of the blood out of your body. You'll be the clearest man, woman, or child on Earth."
So, just like on the autism spectrum, bipolar disorder has a range. I'm bipolar II. I'm closer to the right of the scale, and without meds, my symptoms mimic schizophrenia. When you're at that level, a lot of times you can experience what is called grandiosity, which is basically narcissism on steroids and crack and glue and aerosol hair spray. People will display a strong inability to understand the impact they have on others. Also, and this is most important, people with this plight have unrealistic feelings of superiority, a propensity toward boastfulness, a strong belief that they have special powers, and a feeling that nothing is impossible.
Also, a massive desire to seek attention, at any cost. Sound like anyone you know?
At various times, Ye has referred to himself as "Black Jesus," the "Black Beatle," "God," and "the new Jim Morrison." Kanye's daughter's name is a point on the compass (something transfixed that, unlike people, is permanent, everlasting, perfect). Kanye has continuously proven his dislike and distrust of the media, and many times, of his own fans; he's attacked cameramen; and he's been booed offstage for bragging. As many complaints as there are about Kanye, one cannot ignore his raw talent, and his musical touch that has spawned numerous hit singles and inspired a generation of musicians.
Also, no one can deny his impact on history, particularly pop culture. Many throughout history were as weird—or weirder—than Kanye, and just as boastful. Remember Ali? Remember Warhol? Remember Dali?
I like the guy, personally, and I may just as bad a person as everyone thinks he is. Don't really care too much. And that right there, my friends, is one more trait of bipolar people.