What about Kanye?

There was one person missing from the crowd of 125,000 supporters gathered in Chicago’s Bryant Park last night where President-Elect Barrack Obama gave his victory speech. Where in the world was Kanye West?

You see, West is exceptionally fond of calling himself the 'future of the Chi', which he also calls Chi-town or “the Shire.” Setting aside the obvious Lord-of-the-Rings/Hobbit comparison, I think Kanye West can officially let that dream die. Like my friend L said last night, I think the “future of the Chi” moniker can be safely and capably handed over to Barack Obama.

In all this post-election excitement, has anyone taken pause to think how Chicago-native Kanye West must be feeling today? John McCain isn't the only one that had to concede. Hey look, Kanye. There is another black man from Chicago who demonstrates leadership potential and it’s not you. And he’s more humble, smarter, better looking and, oh right, the President-Elect of the United States of America. I wonder if Kanye is actually jealous of Obama? I wonder if he could actually move his massive ego out of the way long enough to allow room for celebrating this momentous occasion?

Like my friend pointed out, Kanye has based so much of his personae on how valuable he is to the people of Chicago that he may now be at a loss for lyrical content. Never mind that fellow rapper and Chicago-native Common is more talented and has been around longer than West, never mind that there are other prominent black figures and role models from Chicago who manage to lead by example without wearing glow-in-the-dark sunglasses. Off the top of my head, I can think of Jennifer Hudson and Oprah Winfrey, neither of whom feel the necessity to use the n-word in order to own their power.

Not surprisingly, a quick visit to Kanye's blog reveals that he is in fact an Obama supporter and no doubt happy that he won. But what I want to know is: what’s Kanye going to rap about now? And why wasn’t he out there somewhere in between Oprah Winfrey and a weeping Jesse Jackson last night conceding as gracefully as John McCain? It turns out that West was overseas touring last night, which is why he wasn’t present. But maybe when he gets back, he can throw a ceremony and hand over his crown and scepter as sire of the Chi? Maybe he could replicate his last album listening party and invite twenty nude models to form a triangular formation around Obama.

Because really, what Obama needs now is to 'call up the homies' and bring a little class and credibility to the White House.

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