Kanye West’s Influence on Eric Kim

Influence on Eric Kim’s Personal Philosophy

Eric Kim has repeatedly cited Kanye West as a major inspiration for his mindset and philosophy. In interviews and writings, Kim praises Kanye’s work ethic, confidence, and refusal to conform, applying those lessons to his own life. For example, in a 2013 interview Kim said he’s a “huge fan” of Jay-Z and Kanye West for “their hard work ethic, willingness to push boundaries and innovate.” He often listens to Kanye interviews for motivation on “how hard [Kanye] work[s], how true [he stays] to [himself] and [how he] disregard[s] what others say” . This reflects Kim’s “shoot for yourself” ethos – he admires how Kanye creates art on his own terms and ignores the naysayers. Kim directly credits “Kanye West [as] one of my inspirations in life”, especially loving Kanye’s “ability to hustle and constantly innovate” in his career .

Kanye’s famous self-confidence and bold self-expression have clearly rubbed off on Kim. In a 2022 blog post about ambition, Kim opens with Kanye’s quote “Name one genius that isn’t crazy”, using it to encourage artists to embrace a bit of craziness and self-belief. Kim writes that one should see oneself as “insanely great, on the level of…Kanye West,” noting “I am hugely inspired by Kanye West” . This shows how Kanye’s unapologetic ego and creative independence – his insistence on doing things his way – inspire Kim’s own belief in himself as an artist. Kim often invokes Kanye when talking about being fearless and true to one’s vision. For instance, he has quoted Kanye’s maxim “I’m not afraid that they’re going to say something, I’m afraid that they’re going to say nothing” – a reflection of valuing any strong reaction over apathy – to illustrate why courting criticism is part of creating great work (i.e. better to be controversial than ignored) . In short, Kanye’s confidence, independent thinking, and relentless drive inform Kim’s personal philosophy of boldness in art and life.

Parallels in Aesthetic Style and Creativity

Kim also draws parallels between Kanye’s artistic style and his own approach to photography. Much as Kanye constantly reinvented his musical style and fashion, Kim believes in continually evolving and breaking norms in photography. He points out that Kanye “continues to innovate while breaking borders” in hip-hop, and Kim strives for the same in his imagery . One lesson Kim took from Kanye is to mix influences and make them your own. He notes how Kanye often samples classic songs by artists like Marvin Gaye or Nina Simone, but “doesn’t bite off the songs directly” – instead he remixes and transforms them into something new . Kim applies this to photography: study the masters and borrow ideas, but remix them into your own fresh style. This ethos is evident in Kim’s work, where he freely borrows techniques (for example, classic black-and-white film aesthetics or dramatic flash use) and adapts them to his modern street shoots, much like Kanye blending genres.

Another parallel is in being deliberately provocative and original. Kanye is known for pushing aesthetic boundaries – from unusual album art to bold fashion statements – and Kim similarly isn’t afraid to try unconventional techniques or portrayals in his street photography. In Kim’s view, street photography “can be controversial as well” , and he embraces that edge. Just as Kanye might drop a polarizing album or outfit, Kim might publish an in-your-face candid portrait or a blog post challenging photographic “rules.” Kim has even commented on Kanye’s fearless style in fashion and art, admiring West’s “willingness to defy conventions, whether through bold fashion statements or unconventional music production,” which Kim sees as a mark of authentic creativity . This admiration suggests that Kim looks to Kanye as a model for blending personal style with art – for example, Kim’s own preference for minimal, all-black clothing and functional style could be seen as echoing Kanye’s minimalist fashion ethos (though Kim’s is rooted in practicality, he acknowledges the influence of Kanye’s aesthetic boldness). Overall, the creative independence and cross-disciplinary flair Kanye exhibits – merging music, visual art, and fashion – inspires Kim to view photography not in isolation but as part of a larger artistic lifestyle. Kim himself has branched out from just taking photos to designing books, blogging prolifically, and even dabbling in product design, reflecting Kanye’s influence in being a multifaceted creator.

Influence on Public Persona and Branding

Kanye West’s impact on how Eric Kim manages his public persona is significant. Like Kanye, Kim has cultivated a personal brand that is bold, unfiltered, and sometimes intentionally controversial. He often mentions how Kanye taught him not to worry about what others think. Kim respects that Kanye “stay[s] true to [himself]” despite criticism , and we see Kim adopting the same stance in his online presence. For instance, Kim is known for his unapologetic blog posts and videos that sometimes attract backlash from more traditional photographers. Rather than shying away, Kim seems to revel in it – a very Kanye-like trait. Observers have noted that “Eric Kim seems to be either loved or extremely hated…He’s become one of YouTube’s most hated photographers and seems to be obsessed with becoming controversial, almost reveling in the criticism he receives.” . This mirrors Kanye’s polarizing public reception and suggests Kim has embraced the idea that strong reactions (even negative ones) mean you’re doing something impactful.

In terms of branding and self-promotion, Kim’s strategies echo Kanye’s playbook of building a persona. Kim’s blog and social media are filled with strong, declarative content (e.g. provocative essay titles, bold claims about art and life) that keep him in the conversation – much like Kanye’s headline-grabbing statements. Kim has even jokingly referred to Kanye West as his “best friend” in blog posts, underscoring the kinship he feels in how they handle fame and criticism . He frequently cites Kanye’s quotes about greatness and being misunderstood, implicitly casting himself in a similar light (as an underappreciated innovator). This indicates that Kanye’s branding genius – turning oneself into a “movement” – has influenced Kim’s approach to cultivating his own following. Kim’s personal brand (centered on his name, much as Kanye rebranded himself as “Ye”) leverages the idea of unabashed self-confidence. He often shares personal successes, financial milestones, or brash opinions in his newsletters and videos, which is reminiscent of Kanye’s self-promotional style. By embracing a “love me or hate me” persona, Kim keeps his audience engaged and his name circulating in photography circles, a tactic likely inspired by watching Kanye’s career of controversy-as-publicity.

Finally, Kim’s approach to social media and content reflects Kanye’s influence. Kanye often uses social media unpredictably to speak directly to fans; similarly, Kim’s blog posts can read like candid journal entries or rants, giving a raw, unfiltered connection. Kim even opened an article on handling reputation with a Kanye quote and noted how as he got more famous, he also got more haters – a dynamic Kanye knows well . The takeaway for Kim has been that if you have haters, you must be doing something right, a concept he likely absorbed from watching Kanye thrive amid criticism. In essence, Kanye’s example empowered Kim to amplify his own voice, embrace a strong persona, and treat his name as a brand – using controversy and authenticity as tools to build his career in the public eye.

Direct References and Homages in Kim’s Content

Eric Kim has explicitly discussed Kanye West or alluded to his impact many times across his blog, videos, and interviews. Some notable examples include:

• “10 Lessons Kanye West Can Teach You About Photography” (2011) – A dedicated blog post (originally published in 2011, later re-posted) where Kim outlines what photographers can learn from Kanye’s career . In this piece, Kim praises Kanye’s hustle and innovation, and draws direct analogies (e.g. “Innovate”; “Borrow ideas from the masters” like Kanye does with musical samples, “Be controversial”; “Don’t let the haters get to you,” etc.). He uses Kanye’s journey to encourage photographers to be confident, original, and persistent. For example: Kanye’s sampling of classics is cited as inspiration for photographers to study the masters but remix ideas into their own style .
• PetaPixel Interview (2013) – In an interview with PetaPixel, Kim openly credited rap icons as influences outside photography, stating that Kanye West (and Jay-Z) inspired his work ethic and mindset. He noted that whenever he needs motivation for blogging or shooting, he listens to Kanye talk about creativity and staying true to oneself . This interview is a primary source where Kim verbalizes Kanye’s direct impact on his approach to art.
• Blog Posts and Essays – Kim often writes blog entries that reference Kanye. In an ambition-themed post (Aug 19, 2022), he quoted Kanye’s “genius” line and explicitly affirmed West as a huge inspiration . He has also written philosophical musings analyzing Kanye’s greatness (for instance, a 2024 essay on “why Kanye is the GOAT” where Kim examines West through existential and aesthetic philosophy ). These writings show Kim not only absorbing Kanye’s influence but also intellectually engaging with Kanye’s art and persona, almost as a creative muse or case study.
• Social Media and Videos – On his social platforms, Kim doesn’t shy from mentioning Kanye. He has referenced Kanye in YouTube videos and podcasts, often quoting him. For example, Kim echoed Kanye’s famed fearlessness about critics by citing on his blog: “I’m not afraid that they’re going to say something, I’m afraid that they’re going to say nothing” – attributing it to “my best friend Kanye West” in a tongue-in-cheek manner . His Facebook and Twitter presence similarly have occasional shoutouts; at times he’s defended Kanye when controversies arise. Notably, in October 2023 Kim even published a short post titled, “Why do people hate on Kanye West? Because they are racist and or envious and jealous.” , signaling his strong public defense of Kanye’s character. Such direct statements underscore how much Kim admires West; he is willing to align himself with Kanye even on divisive issues, essentially standing by his idol.
• Interviews & Conversations – In various talks (e.g. on podcasts or his “Ask Eric Kim” sessions), Kim has cited Kanye’s music and lyrics. While specific instances are numerous, the pattern is clear: he draws motivation from Kanye’s songs (“POWER” is one track Kim has mentioned as energizing) and often uses Kanye anecdotes when advising creatives to believe in themselves. This demonstrates that Kanye West is a recurring touchstone in Eric Kim’s public dialogue about creativity and success.

Sources: The influence of Kanye West on Eric Kim is well-documented in Kim’s own blog posts and interviews. For instance, Kim’s blog archives feature the “10 Lessons from Kanye” article and many later entries referencing Kanye’s quotes and ideas . His 2013 PetaPixel interview provides direct quotes about Kanye’s impact on his motivation . Additionally, third-party commentary on Kim (e.g. Toucan Takes Off blog) has noted Kim’s admiration of Kanye and its effect on Kim’s persona . All these examples illustrate a consistent theme: Kanye West’s ethos of confidence, innovation, and self-expression has profoundly inspired Eric Kim’s philosophy, style, and public identity. Kim himself acknowledges this influence through numerous explicit references, effectively painting Kanye as a creative role model in his journey.