The Beatles have also been around for 50 years, and are the most popular airplay artist of all time. I don't see how a comparison can be made between a mythic band and someone who is only 5 albums into their career.
Let's get real here, saying that you can't name one Kanye song is hyperbole, or you live under a rock. Seeing a criticism of an artist based on arbitrary generalizations such as "his music isn't broad enough" when he has multiple #1 singles just doesn't make any sense,
My point is i'm not a fan of either, yet I could rattle off most of the Beatles catalog and instantly recognize any of their songs. I honestly could not think of a single Kanye West song off the top of my head. This frustrated me to some degree, so I googled, and yes, I knew all of the songs, I recognized the them as hits, but for most (if not all) of them, had somebody asked me who the artist was I probably would not have known.
To be memorable or 'remembered', I would think your music is instantly recognizable by most people, even non fans.
Pitty said:
What exactly is the definition of broad? The guy is selling across all demos and is one of the most critically acclaimed artists in the world.
My definition of broad is the "man on the street" test.
Most people wouldnt know Kanye West if they tripped over him on the sidewalk. Play his top 5 songs in a room full of 1,000 people, and do you think those songs would be instantly recognized by 99% of them as legendary Kanye West hits? Hold up his picture, how many would instantly recognize his image?
Now go try that with The Beatles or Madonna or The Rolling Stones or The Beach Boys or Nirvana or Elvis or even people like Brittany Spears or Eminem.
And critically acclaimed means nothing. The Velvet Underground is perhaps the most critically acclaimed musical act ever, and less than 1% of the population could pick them out of a lineup or name a single song.
West is a star within his bubble. His music does not have broad appeal and he will never be a mega star.
LIke I said earlier though, maybe i'm taking the idea of the thread to far. I guess you dont have to be iconic to be "remembered'. I feel like if West stopped making music tommorow, he'd largely become a footnote and nobody would be listening to his songs 10 years from now, let alone 40.