Several months ago, Red Alert Politics declared Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopoulos was the “Kanye West of Journalism.”
The moniker was quickly embraced by the conservative writer, mocked by liberals, and mimicked by multiple outlets from Gorilla Radio to The Blaze, but has never been explained why he’s earned that title.
Milo and Kanye have similar tastes: they love being flashy, indulging their egos, reveling in their celebrity status — and while Kanye raps about the black experience, Milo jokes about all of his black experiences.
There’s a deeper artistry the two share.
West is arguably the most high-profile rapper of our time, not exclusively for his music but because he is Kanye. He’s a revolutionary artist who has defined himself on his terms, shattered stereotypes of what it means to be a rapper, and experimented with his art while staying mainstream and relevant.
The same can be said for Milo. He’s more than a journalist. All of his articles, tweets, videos, and speeches have been performance art. He’s not defined as being a conservative writer — he’s defined by being Milo.
To paraphrase Salvador Dali, “he doesn’t need to do drugs, he is a drug.”
Unlike most conservative writers who need cable news, a syndicated radio show, or a parent who has run for president, Milo’s platform has been Twitter and Breitbart, managing to become more relevant than entire publications.
He hasn’t been dependent on Conservative Inc. to provide him with a career or following. That independence has allowed him to redefine what it is to be young and right-wing.
Forget young Republicans with their comb-overs and pearls. Milo wears the pearls and declares that conservatives should embrace Western civilization and maintain their independence to “read, watch, think, play, and say whatever they want.”
Unlike other conservative pundits who have readers, Milo, like Kanye, has fans who come from all walks of life. His fans are younger and more diverse than any other conservative, and they’re characterized by mischief, intelligence, and internet-savvy
His brand of conservatism has inspired a generation of young right-wingers the same way that Kanye’s 808s & Heartbreak impacted artists such as Frank Ocean and the Weeknd.
Conservative YouTuber the Swog Blog told Red Alert Politics that he was inspired by Milo to start his channel.
“I decided I had to embrace that Milo spirit and be outrageous. Next thing you know, I’m in the middle of campus asking bewildered students if they’d rather their child had feminism or cancer,” the Swog Blog told RAP in a Twitter message. “His bravado kinda rubbed off on me after hanging out with him. He’s having so much fun being a professional shitstorm starter; it’s infectious.”
Milo has embraced being the “Kanye West of Journalism,” telling Red Alert Politics in an email that, “It’s both flattering and accurate.”
Kanye and Milo have one big difference. The Breitbart editor may be more smug, self-obsessed, and self-regarding than even the feminists he scorns or the rap legend he is compared to, but his ability to laugh at himself and let everyone in on the joke has made him likable.
The Breitbart editor announced exclusively to Red Alert Politics that he’s beginning a new college speaking tour in more than 40 cities in early September. The universities include Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Houston, DePaul, Alabama, Vanderbilt, George Washington, Yale, Maryland, U. Penn, NYU, Bucknell, Ohio U, Cleveland State, Michigan State, Minnesota State, and North Dakota State.
He also plans on giving a lecture on cultural appropriation in full Native American costume at Yale.
