Beyond music, Legend remains a big proponent of education reform. He founded the Show Me Campaign to fight for students to have equal access to a quality education. Kanye’s home city, Chicago, is undergoing a massive transformation within its public school system. More than 800 teachers were laid off on the last day of school this year and 54 inner-city schools were closed this fall.
“If the school closings don’t bring on a better replacement than what the kids had before, it’s a bad thing,” Legend says. “We need to make sure that we are doing the best things for our kids. Every child deserves a good education. But it’s a shame when school closings disproportionately affect only the poor students. Some schools are failing and there should be change. We must make it happen regardless of how much money it takes.”
Musically, Legend has done all he can and more to keep the legacy of soul and R&B alive. Some R&B artists will continue to lean on hip-hop and electronic dance music to stay relevant, or score an easy hit. However, Legend’s only focus is to create songs that will resonate now and for generations to come.
“As a musician, I always wanted to make music that was beautiful and excellent,” Legend says. “I want to make a real contribution to the culture. I grew up listening to [the] soul music [of] greats such as Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. I look at the legacy they made and I want to leave a similar legacy. That means a commitment to quality, a commitment to creating something beautiful, and a commitment to being different from everyone else.”
