And you thought England’s poshest university couldn’t be hip …
Oxford Union Society, a debating club in one of the world’s most prestigious universities, uploaded a YouTube video of their full May 4 debate — “This House Believes That Kanye Is More Relevant than William Shakespeare.”
Before drawing the conclusion that this debate is no more than a bunch of boys with perfectly coiffed hair sipping tea and chuckling about rap music to themselves from their ivory tower, it’s worth noting that the guest speakers included spoken word poet Anthony Anaxagorou, British grime MC Big Narstie and HipHopDX’s own former Editor-in-Chief Justin Hunte.
Hunte was arguing in opposition, that West is not more relevant than Shakespeare. He put together his opening argument cleverly, saying “All kinds of words have been dedicated to say all kinds of things about Mr. Kanye West. I just used 37 different words and phrases created by William Shakespeare in my opening segment here, and as the good gentleman Big Narstie here might say… ‘Most people, they don’t know.'”
“Ever since he teamed up with Jay Z and told us to ‘Watch The Throne’ while millions of people lost their homes, he’s been out of touch himself.” Justin concluded by saying Kanye is as relevant as the internet, hugely important, but holding the Bard in even higher esteem, calling him as relevant as oxygen.
Big Narstie, arguing for Kanye’s primacy, also paid tribute to Shakespeare comparing the Capulets and Montagues of Romeo and Juliet to the Bloods and Crips of today. Narstie argued that Kanye West is more relevant simply by being around today, though acknowledged that West couldn’t tell his stories were it not for Shakespeare.
And as for the answer to the question? After 273 votes, it was determined that Kanye West is not more relevant than Shakespeare, which will hopefully inspire Yeezy to put out his next album even sooner.
Below is the playlist featuring all eight debaters in order.
hell no
Hell to the fucking no. You do realize that Shakespeare’s work has been relevant for over 400 years? And that he’s sold over 400 billion pieces of work? This has to be the most ignorant article Dx has ever posted. Y’all really look dumb and immature for this.
This is pretty sad. Shakespeare is not really relevant in my life but I understand the whole idea of it and understand why they teach us it. There should never come a day where Kanye fuckin west is researched in classrooms. This comparison is a disgrace to all mankind. Shame on the editor and these “debaters”
Kanye is relevant?
i think so. shakespeare makes me fall asleep in class. at least kanye keeps me entertained.
That just means you have a shit attention span or don’t understand big boy books, you dummy.
The only reason why Shakespeare is relevant is because white society tells us he is relevant. Just like a individual may think the academy awards or the grammys is necessary. There are plenty of other poets that are more relevant than Shakespeare and his ghostwriter.
Found the Nas stan! Listen don’t be salty because its a skill to write to be popular and win these awards. That’s why King HOV is a winner and Nas will be broke forever and forgotten.
It’s not a Nas vs Jay Z battle. It’s a argument of why does white culture get to dictate what is classic and what is not. There is a local communtiy college in your area that has african centered psychology, africana history, as well as asian and arabic studies. Take advantage of it.
It’s not a white thing.. Kanye is definitely not as relevant as Shakespeare. If you think otherwise it isn’t because you are black, or brown, or blue. It is because you are stupid.. very.. very.. stupid.. I swear lames like you just push that race agenda on anything. I’m not saying it isn’t alive, but Kanye vs Shakespeare? FOH
Ahh. Cursing and name calling. You can articulate yourself better than that. I believe in you. I never argued that kanye was relevant in comparison to Shakespeare. My argument is why is Shakespeare considered relevant? There has never been a international consensus on the works of Shakespeare being classic or in the literary canon. And if you look about what white society considers cannon they leave off work from people of African, Asian and Arabian descent. There are classes on english comprehension, world history, and poetry at your local community college. Please consider it.
I don’t have to articulate myself better. The article doesn’t say “do you think Shakespeare is relevant?” I’m sure plenty of poets from different ethnic backgrounds are better than Shakespeare. This wasn’t about what white society considers canon. The argument here is Kanye vs Shakespeare. Regardless of what white society thinks, do you think Kanye could have as much relevance as Shakespeare? Regardless of the opinions of white people or achievements of other poets. I comprehend everything just fine. Try not to break a wrist jerking yourself off buddy.
Ahh. Name calling and cursing again. You can articulate yourself better than that. If not, there are summer courses available for you at your local community college. I can’t hold your hand through this. Be brave. Continue your education. Good luck my friend.
Hahaha you are soft dude. Not once did I “name call” you this last time. I didn’t even curse. You talk smart, but you use this “name calling” thing as a way out. You didn’t even answer my question. No one needs to articulate themselves to your liking bro. And you keep saying this “local community college” thing like it’s some clever rebuttal. It’s lame. Everyone knows about community classes cool guy. We are definitely not friends. I don’t want you to hold my hand either. That is pretty suspect.. maybe don’t be so brave and continue being a cool smart guy. Good luck lame.
Good luck this summer my friend.
Thanks douchebag.
Good luck this summer my friend.
Sorry but you can’t be rational with these people man. The comments section is for the ignorant. Every now and someone comes in here being a decent human, it wont work. Step your ignorance up. Lol
?
King HOv makes music that wins those all those “white” awards. Nas stans and you like to make the claim that artists like Nas get held down by the whites but King Hov does just fine. Just loser talk like broke ass Nas, his stans and people that claim ether was won the battle.
Sorry forgot to mention there are english courses at your local community college to help you with comprehension. Good luck my friend.
Best of luck to you my friend. It’s obvious Nas stans don’t read and would rather deflect than defend an indefensible position. Maybe you check your self into middle school argument writing session.
Well no shit Kanye is more relevant
Fuck off Justin Hunte.
If relevant is another word for gay than it’s a close one but yes
Not even close… Shakespeare hands down. SMH @ praising Kanye, there is nothing special about a grown man acting like a child and will we remember him decades later? Nah
Thanks for this bullshit Miss Justine C.unte aka “The Company Hoe”
Yeah he is garbage. He is completely responsible for the terrible direction this site has gone in
Is Kayne more relevant??…..LMAOOOO. There is no comparison here. This is hands down the most retarded and cringeworthy “debate” I’ve ever listened to.
This is so fucking dumb!!!!!
Somhairle Cinnsealach, I wonder how old you are.
Being relevant doesn’t mean shit when it comes to music, literature, music or any single aspect of life. Only teenagers care about “being more relevant than….”
Look him up….. Just another culture vulture
He’s a kartrashing. Doesn’t even hang with Jay or his own family ? he’s lost all self-respect, style and creativity.
This is what a college institute provides these days? No wonder everybody i know with a degree is dumb as hell. Educate yourself kids. Learn some trades and outwork the people around you. You won’t end up like your friends who will be 29, still living at home, making $350 a week and have $700 loan bill every month.
Jesus Christ, that fat dude is a walking heart attack
Wtf is this trash? Shame on you Dx.
FYI….SHAKESPEARE IS BLACK. RESEARCH YOUR HISTORY!!
You have got to be f****** kidding me… west compared to shakespeare? A man that has been remembered for centuries…a man taught in every school… a man whose plays are still influencing movies today…compared to an ignorant rapper talking about f*** this and f*** that and married to loosey goosey susie.. GTFOH
Kanye west isn’t more relevant than Thomas Allen who lives at the end of my street in number 52 and is a delivery driver.
Millennial generation will go down in history as diluting the significance of intelligence and the overall human race debating this sort of nonsense.
I’ll have you know that Thomas Allen is actually quite relevant, at least opera. He was knighted by the queen and he’s an English operatic baritone. He is widely admired in the opera world for his voice, the versatility of his repertoire, and his acting—leading many to regard him as one of the best lyric baritones of the late 20th century.
Shakespeare was not relevant in is own time. Funny, woman had no rights so men had to dress a women during plays.
Shakespeare was not relevant in his own time. Funny, woman had no rights, so men had to dress as women in his plays.
“Is Kanye West More Relevant Than Shakespeare?” that’s like asking was Bin Laden behind 9/11 – answer is HELL NO
Lemme guess…….. It was the Zionist alien mafia again?
fun fact: twin towers were full of asbestos ordered for removal which would have been a very costly operation. businessman Larry Silverstein was perfectly aware of this public information when he signed the 99-year lease for the buildings and ramped up the insurance prior to 9/11. of course this wasn’t the motive for the event but a nice little bonus. he even sued the airlines if i remember correctly. the true motive behind it.. well just look how it has changed the world. average americans didn’t even provably know islam exists now they think muslims terrorists and are willing to give up their privacy, rights, to help the government protect them from “threat of terrorism”. and to die in proxy wars in the middle-east to uphold Israel’s hegemony. 16 years later the never-ending “war on terror” is only ramping up. look up PNAC / Greater Israel project.
Kangay is only relevant in his own mine? since becoming a kartrashing . He’s lost more than friends ? he’s lost all self-respect , style and creativity with his music. I like the old kanye.
so let compare the best literature in history with somebody that uses ghostwriters to make dumb songs
To this brain dead generation…sure
SHAKESPEARE will be discussed, revered and relevant hundreds of years from now, Ye will be a footnote as a delusional, self-centered
weirdo who came and went after a few years, and led into a mumble fumble stumble bumble generation of ‘instantly forgettable’ crappers! #NoComparison
Is Deadass more relevant than Dead Wrong?
lol kanye dissenters.. i GUARANTEE you they couldn’t even tell you five kanye tracks that weren’t hits. get off this damn page, goons!
@hiphopdx i think this is an interesting topic to explore, regardless of the conclusion. the idea of it naturally incites the impulsive reactions that you see in the comments. the thing with kanye is, he’s so mainstream that half of his audience doesn’t know a thing about him. most of the people in these comments probably haven’t found themselves floored by a kanye album, or inspired by his endeavors outside of music. to the properly informed person, this is an interesting and valid question. to somebody who can see beyond the differences in the ways that kanye’s and shakespeare’s language presents itself.. to somebody who can consider the evolution of convention.. who can see the effect of a body of work through the guise that it assumes and the confusion that surrounds it.. somebody who prefers to take what’s valuable from that which they consume.. this is a valid question.
This is pure and utter BS that is a result of MSM propaganda. I am 10x bigger than Shakespeare, everyone on land and in the sea know this is a fact. Keep an eye open for my new clothing line coming to a pop-up shop near you, if you can’t afford it you need to work harder to have a taste of my divineness! Yeezy out!