John Legend says ex-friend Kanye Wests sad devolution started after this tragic event

John Legend has a theory about Kanye West’s downfall.The “All of Me” singer, 46, spoke about West, 47, who has sparked recent backlash for his antisemitism, in the wake of their friendship fallout in a new interview with The Sunday Times.“Back then Kanye was very passionate, very gifted, and he had big dreams not only for himself but also for all the people around him,” Legend said while looking back on when West helped catapult his career to success after they worked together on the rapper’s 2004 album, “The College Dropout.”“He had so much optimism, so much creativity,” Legend added.“It does feel sad, sometimes shocking, to see where he is now.”The EGOT winner admitted that he “didn’t see a hint” of West’s current “obsessions with antisemitism, anti-blackness,” adding, “It is sad to see his devolution.”When asked about why West has changed so much, Legend responded, “I don’t think we’re qualified to psychoanalyse him.”“But after his mother passed in 2007 there was definitely a difference,” Legend shared.

“His descent started then and seems to have accelerated recently.”West’s mom, Donda West, died of a heart attack at age 58 in 2007, one day after she had several cosmetic surgery procedures, including liposuction, a tummy tuck and breast reduction.The rapper named his 2021 album, “Donda,” and 2022 album, “Donda 2,” after his mother.He also named his Christian private school in California, Donda Academy, after her.Legend also recalled how West helped turned his career around over 20 years ago.“Kanye blew up after producing Jay-Z’s album ‘The Blueprint’ in 2001,” he said.

“Then he experienced a buzz as a solo artist and the whole time I was traveling with him, doing shows with him, getting exposure not only as his singer and keyboard player but also as an artist myself.”“I had been turned down by labels everywhere.Then ‘The College Dropout’ sold 400,000 copies in its first...