How to navigate separating an artist from their artistry

Fan loyalty is a key component of the music world, so much so that being a self-proclaimed stan — an overzealous or obsessive fan — has become the norm among music lovers. But this can prove problematic or contradictory when the musical artists we know and love reveal their true colors.

There have been many artists, past and present, who have said and done some questionable things. Often times, they are held accountable to some extent, but their actions are quickly overlooked when they drop a new project.

Take Kanye West — the trials and tribulations of Kanye West can be a case study in itself, but to keep it brief: West seems to always be in the news for something problematic he said or for his latest launch of Yeezy clothes and shoes. He has said controversial things, such as slavery is a choice — which he has since apologized for — as well being pictured wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat.

While these actions created an uproar on Twitter, they don’t seem to be controversial enough for people to stop supporting the multi-platinum artist. As soon as word of another Yeezy season or sneaker design is announced, I can’t help but see it on my timeline, quote-retweeted with fire emojis.

It begs the question of whether these are the same people who dragged West for his inappropriate comments. If they are, do they not care enough to withdraw support? If they aren’t, do they agree with his views?

Some cases are more extreme than others. Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine has recently been a hot topic in pop culture news. From throwing up gang signs and dissing his older counterparts, 6ix9ine also has a looming child sexual misconduct charge, after pleading guilty to the use of a child in a sexual performance, according to XXL Mag.

This seems to be dismissed by some people. I have been to concerts where the DJ plays “Gummo” or “FEFE,” and the crowd is jumping up and down, rapping every word.

When should one draw the line when it comes to separating a rapper or a singer’s artistry from their personal life?

I can see why it would be hard to drop an artist altogether because of how good their music is. I personally like West’s music, but I don’t bump it as much because I am a little turned off by his arrogant personality. 6ix9ine, on the other hand, was never an issue because I never liked him to begin with.

There’s obviously no universal answer to this question. To each their own. But this brings into question fans’ morals and what they truly value in their favorite artists.

Everyone makes mistakes, and musicians are human beings like the rest of us, so sometimes it’s OK to separate the artist’s mistakes from their artwork. But fans also need to decide where they draw their line in the sand.

Cydney Lee is a junior psychology major. Her music column appears biweekly in Pulp. You can email her at cmlee100@syr.edu or follow her on Twitter @cydneylee_.