Though West did walk away with three Grammys: for Rap Album (Late Registration), Rap Solo performance (“Gold Digger”) and Rap Song of the Year (“Diamonds from Sierra Leone”), he was snubbed once again on Album and Record of the Year.,Kanye West is the only playa that got robbed and kept all his jewelry after last Wednesday’s Grammy Awards.

Though West did walk away with three Grammys: for Rap Album (Late Registration), Rap Solo performance (“Gold Digger”) and Rap Song of the Year (“Diamonds from Sierra Leone”), he was snubbed once again on Album and Record of the Year.

West’s disappointment at the Grammys is just the latest in what has been the most turbulent yet successful year of his career.

But the question remains, why is everybody hatin’ on Kanye?

West is talented, rich and living a dream.

The only thing people seem to have against the Chicago-based rapper is his ego, loud mouth and brash personality. Sounds like a typical Emerson student. So what’s the big deal?

People are just scared to hear the truth from a successful young black man who raps for a living.

He does not rap about guns or typical ghetto subject matter, he dresses in some of the finest fashion designers around and is a competent speaker.

What some call arrogance, others call extreme confidence.

Kanye West is smarter than you. Yes, he went on live TV during a Hurricane Katrina telethon and said the now-famous quote, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people,” and yes, he spends every minute hyping his own work. He speaks his mind and doesn’t worry about the consequences.

If you talk the talk, you have to be able to walk the walk. West does that and more. He says his album is the best of the year and it is. He says he is the best producer in the rap game and he is. He says President Bush doesn’t care about black people and he’s right. What passive listeners might not know is that Kanye West is one of the most socially conscious rappers on the scene.

On Late Registration, West raps about urban decay on “Crack Music,” the illegal diamond trade in Africa on “Diamonds from Sierra Leone” and health care for the poor on “Roses.”

Outside of his music, West is one of the most verbally outspoken on homophobia among his hip-hop peers.

In an interview about his Late Registration album on MTV, West spoke out against the use of defamatory language toward homosexuals and urged his colleagues to re-examine the impact their words have on others.

West, who has a gay cousin, chooses to rise above his contemporaries rather than stoop to their level.

What it comes down to is that Kanye West is unafraid to say what everyone else is thinking.

The world has become a pretty lame place thanks to political correctness.

No longer can we say what we feel or voice our opinions without looking over our shoulders or biting our tongues.

West doesn’t live by these standards and went so far as to tell Rolling Stone, “You want me to be great, but you don’t ever want me to say I’m great.”

That’s right Kanye; there’s only room for real heroes in the world these days, like soldiers and service men, and being humble is the only thing people are allowed to be in today’s society.

Unfortunately in the current social climate, no longer can a celebrity be larger than life, indulge themselves in the fruits of their labors and embrace the decadent lifestyle that they have earned. West is the only celebrity or public figure that has a brain of his own and is not afraid to use it.

Whether you agree with him or not, you should respect the fact that he has an opinion and is comfortable enough to share it with the world.

Instead of condemning the man for his words and actions, we should be celebrating his voice.