"I was having this exact discussion with another friend who referred to West as a talentless 'C list celebrity.' His argument against all the critical plaudits and peer respect was that 'all art is subjective.' Which is a pretty lousy way to try to win a debate. 'All art is subjective' allows a proud parent to say his or her kid’s finger painting is better than anything Picasso ever did simply because they feel that way." - Victor Ganata

"Sure on the most basic level, almost everything is subjective. It’s right up there with the hoary suggestion that an opinion can’t be wrong. Of course an opinion can be wrong. It’s perfectly fine for me not to like Metallica all that much. It is patently ridiculous for me to suggest the members of the band have no talent." - Victor Ganata

"Whether I enjoy what they do with it is a matter of preference and taste, nothing more. Hell, you can have the opinion that all the letters I’ve typed in this article formed not a single word. That don’t make it so. Sometimes a thing just isn’t for you. That does not mean the creator of said thing has no gifts or abilities." - Victor Ganata

"So, you know, that’s a lot of hate over a guy whose worse offenses are made up mostly of classless words and bad behavior at awards shows. Seriously, we’re so outraged by a guy who hasn’t really harmed anything but the feelings of a couple of pop stars and those looking on." - Victor Ganata

"Just like Picasso, Kanye West can be extremely talented and a grade A, large type asshole. Both things can be true. It would enhance your standing when rightly butchering the man for his other misdeeds to recognize that much." I think both are true. I've always been a fan of his music. I think he's incredibly talented. I also think he can be a giant d-bag. Discounting his gifts and abilities as a musician, well...that looks like good ol' fashioned racism. Yes, I know it's not severe (his behavior). It's not like he molested kids. I still love MJ's music too. - AHnix (Anna Haro)

I think a lot of times it comes down to the whole "hip-hop/rap isn't really music" argument. - Victor Ganata

"I understand some people don’t like heavy metal, folk music, rap music, or puppies. There’s a long-standing criticism that rap artists are neither musicians, nor for that matter artists. Most of that gripe stems from the fact that rappers generally don’t play conventional instruments. I’m pretty sure the door has closed on that perspective." - Victor Ganata

"Hip hop is more than a short-term trend. It has been every bit as revolutionary and socially significant as punk, alternative, psychedelia, or any other off shoot form of popular music. Arguably more so. Besides, is a synthesizer or a drum machine any more ridiculous as an instrument than a jug or a washboard? How about that bucket a kid turned over and started hitting with a drumstick while busking down in the New York subway? I would submit that if it makes a sound it can be an instrument." - Victor Ganata