Walik Goshorn/Hot 97
Last Sunday, as thousands of hip-hop fans poured through the gates of MetLife Stadium ahead of the rain-delayed Summer Jam, rumors of a Kanye West appearances where passed with an air of surety. A number of concertgoers The FADER spoke with said that, upon learning that Day 3 of Governor's Ball, where Ye was scheduled to headline, had been cancelled, they hauled to New Jersey with tickets purchased last minute and a prayer that he might show up. Of course, Yeezus did not disappoint.
Given the show's unusually high percentage of Kanye fans present and its proximity to his birthday — which is today — The FADER polled the crowd for gift ideas. Below are 13 of our favorite suggestions; happy 39th, Kanye, hope its the best one yet.
Lawrence, The Bronx
What would you get or do for Kanye on his birthday?
[I would find him] the next Kim Kardashian. Everybody has a twin around the world, so I would get her look-a-like, exact. I heard in one of his interviews, he said that he wakes up and looks at Kim and wants to change his last name to her last name; that's how much he loves her. So a new Kim, that would make him double happy.
Jamal and Post Rain, The Bronx
What would you get or do for Kanye on his birthday?
JAMAL: I would get Kanye a photo of himself. It's Kanye, nobody loves Kanye like Kanye.
POST RAIN: What to give a man that got it all? I would give him some of my music because I know he loves art. If he wants to hear new art, I got it.
Josh, New Jersey
What would you get or do for Kanye on his birthday?
I'll probably give him a few bucks for the debt that he's in. I've got a few bucks laying around for Kanye. And Kanye comes first before me, because if he gets more money, we'll get even better merch in the future.
Jazmine, Queens
What would you get or do for Kanye on his birthday?
I am going to send love to North, because there is a lot of pressure on her right now in the light of the media. She's the daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, so I'm sending my blessings because it must be hard being her.
Sasha, New Jersey
What would you get or do for Kanye on his birthday?
A sweater with some holes in it. That's it. 'Cause he thinks he's this trendsetter, but things already happened before him. I go to school for visual merchandising, so fashion is already my shit. And, like, hey Kanye, this was here before you came here, but, everybody wants it because you're Kanye and you're doing it.
Mike, The Bronx
What would you get or do for Kanye on his birthday?
I would get him his old ghost writer, whoever that was, because that's why I liked his music. I used to be a Kanye fan, but I'm not really into his music anymore — I only like two or three songs on Pablo. Whatever he used to do before, he's got to go back to doing that.
Tee, Brooklyn
What would you get or do for Kanye on his birthday?
What he gonna get me? He got more money than me. I think he's got everything he wants in life. And if he doesn't, he can buy it.
Jezzelle, Queens
What would you get or do for Kanye on his birthday?
I would get a gift for his daughter North West, because I know he loves her. I would get her accessories for her hair, because her hair is so nice and curly. Maybe a bow!
Ariana, Long Island
What would you get or do for Kanye on his birthday?
What do you get the guy who has everything in the world? I would just give him a hug and tell him everything is going to be alright. You're $50 million in debt, but it will be alright; I'm $90 in student debt. He's still better off than I am.
Kyle, New Jersey
What would you get or do for Kanye on his birthday?
I think I've donated enough. I've bought two pairs of his shoes, and I'm here right now. He's alright.
Nyasha, Staten Island
What would you get or do for Kanye on his birthday?
I would buy his clothes, help him that way. I like the shoes, especially, the ones that kind of look like Nike Roshes. That's [a gift] for his business, and I don't know what he'd like so I guess I'd help him out that way.
Margret, Los Angeles
What would you get or do for Kanye on his birthday?
Maybe some fan art. Graduation had the most significant impact on my life, [so it would feature] a lot of colors and the bear, of course. I think he'd really like to see that his success and his path in his artistry has impacted other people.
Johrell, Brooklyn
What would you get or do for Kanye on his birthday?
I love Kanye. If I'm going to get him anything, I'm probably going to write a little verse for him as a dedication. I'm an artist and he's inspired me since I was younger. I know he's looking for something different, and I got that. So if he was to hear that, it would really make him feel special, because he would know that all my hard work has paid off. I started making music because I was picked on, so that pushed me further. I'm not going to let anyone tell me I can't do this because I look or dress a certain way, I'm just gonna be me and be fly. I feel like that's what Kanye teaches us: don't be scared to go be yourself and not let nobody stop you from that. And not just with me, necessarily, but his hard work is inspiring the youth to stay focused at whatever they want to do.
