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Known for her signature Neo-soul style, melodic rapping with honest and socially conscious lyrics, she fused hip hop and Neo-soul making it a popular style of music. Her sound resonated with Kanye and he emulated it in his music. He went ahead to sample her on his song "All falls down"  from his debut album "College Dropout" which was a massive success laying claims to the argument that her influence played a significant role to his success. He sampled her again in his 10th studio album "Donda" all pointing to the fact that her sound and style complimented his music (Morris & Wortham, 2018).

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One of the biggest inspirations and influences on Kanye West's production style is the Wu Tang Clan. Known for their innovative and unconventional sound, gritty beats and soulful characteristics the Wu Tang Clan's production resonated with Kanye.  RZA a member of the Clan used voice manipulation and sampling sounds from different genres for sonic experimentation and these techniques were incorporated into Kanye's music, creating his own signature sound. Kanye even collaborated with RZA to produce the song "Dark Fantasy" from his debut album (Fantasy, 2010). Their lyrical depth and intricate wordplay inspired Kanye's lyrical content.

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King Sunny Ade is regarded as the king of juju music. A Nigerian singer songwriter like Wizkid and multi-instrumentalist, known for his tenor guitar sound. His combination of afro-beat with highlife and traditional Yoruba rhythms‌(Topouzis, 1988) which can be heard in Wizkid's music. His music identifies with and cements Nigerian culture, which is something Wizkid has mirrored as an artist. Being a global ambassador for afro-beat and representing Nigeria with pride.

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The Pioneer of reggae music Bob Marley has inspired Wizkid with his longevity and the impact he made with his music and personality. His humility and timeless music that has left a legacy attached to his name (Willis, 2017) has served as an inspiration to Wiz. His reggae sound with infectious rhythms and laid-back melodies inspired a lot of Wizkid's songs including songs from his 2020 album " Made in Lagos" in which he featured Damian Marley. Some of the Bob Marley inspired songs on this album include "Essence" and "Blessed" (Made in Lagos, 2020).

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Fela Kuti was an afro-beat musician who composed socially conscious lyrics, arguably the innovator of afro-beat. He shares the same hometown with Wizkid, Surelere in, Lagos, Nigeria. His influence on Wizkid cannot be overstated. His fiery performances, afro-fusion style of music has inspired a lot of Wizkid's songs, from him sampling Fela's work or using his lyrics in songs like "Jaiye Jaiye" featuring Femi Kuti, Fela's son, "Wonder" and "Sweet love" to him him emulating his fierce performance on stage. He has been a massive inspiration and influence on Wizkid's music. He even paid a tribute to Fela by having a tattoo of him on his arm according to research (Osiebe, 2020).

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The king of pop Micheal Jackson has had great influence on a lot of musical careers including Kanye's. With his catchy lyrics, electrifying stage presence, and innovative videos, he has set the tone for what success should look like in music and Kanye measures himself by that standard. Micheal has in so many ways inspired Kanye's music career, highlights of his influence can be seen in Kanye's innovative visual presentations and even live performances. Kanye's melodic-rap vocal delivery on his  "808 & Heartbreak" album was directly influenced by Michael (Whatley, 2022).

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As a folk singer and civil rights activist Odetta had immense influence on Tracy Chapman. From their interpretation of traditional folk and blues songs to their vocal expressiveness and their talents as a guitarists. Odessa possessed a commanding vocal prowess while Chapman had a soulful delivery, however they were both characterised by depth and emotional intensity. As an artist she refused to compromise her artistic vision, she was authentic and without fear expressed herself, using her platform to address social issues and civil Rights advocacy. Tracy Chapman from the start of her career till date is renowned for her socially conscious lyrics, staying true to her own voice and artistic integrity. Odetta paved the way for future generations of women in music, leaving a legacy of female empowerment (Zack, 2020).

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Buck Owen served as an impactful source of inspiration to young Tracy Chapman's love for guitars even though they both belong to different genres. He had a guitar playing style which mostly featured peculiar melodies that were memorable with Catchy riffs, much the same can be heard in some of Chapman's compositions like "Give me one reason". Just like Chapman and Dylan, Owen's lyrics painted narrative pictures and conveyed emotions. Chapman herself has said in an interview with Time's music critic Christopher Farley Buck Owen amongst others and that their beautiful guitars inspired her to learn the instrument at a young age (Jenkins, 2022).

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Bob Dylan had a direct and profound influence on Tracy Chapman's musical carerer. These can be pointed out in relation to folk music which they are both connected to. Tracy's distinct storytelling in her songs and her acoustic sound, one would say was directly or indirectly influenced by Dylan's significant role in reviving and popularising folk music. When it comes to songwriting Bob Dylan is regarded as one of the greats (Decurtis, 2009). Similarly to Dylan, Chapman is recognised for her poetic lyrics and thought provoking themes in her music including addressing social and political issues. Even the authenticity and rawness in Dylan's vocal delivery is similar to Tracy's distinct vocal style.

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Having had a lot of artists/creatives influence my creative process and person from an early age I had to evaluate the specific ways they have all influenced and inspired me before finally picking out the three above, required for this project.

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Coming from the west coast of the African continent, I have always been able to relate to Wizkid's artistry and it has been an immense source of inspiration and influence on my creative journey. Like me, he discovered his love of music in church ‌(Akindele, 2016). He has continually pushed boundaries by creating a unique blend of genres mixed with Afro-beat, infused with soul, creating a new global perception of African sound. When writing Afro-soul music, I have often drawn inspiration for melodies from his work. Wizkid's ability to create infectious melodies and captivating rhymes resonates with me emotionally. His authenticity while still being versatile, has taught me as someone who is interested in sonic arts music, that I can be creative and diverse and still be true to my roots.

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Tracy Chapman has had a significant influence on me as a singer, songwriter. Listening to her music helped with mastering my vocal range and understanding how my voice works as a contralto. Her unique sound and masterful storytelling, songwriting technique has had a profound impact on me. The sincerity in her lyrics, her voice and effortless stage presence resonates with me. Her commitment to social activism, speaking up against social injustices is a true inspiration. All of these can be recognised in songs like “Fast Car”, “Talkin’ Bout A Revolution”, “Baby Can I Hold You Tonight”. The fact that she taught herself to play the guitar from a young age (Jenkins, 2022) is quite phenomenal and an inspiration for my guitar learning journey

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Kanye West has been a vital part of my musical journey especially as an aspiring producer. His ability to arrange and layer different sounds or blend different genres has redefined my approach to music production, sonic craftsmanship and its importance in creating a captivating experience for listeners. His experimentation of the Roland TR 808 and other instruments is innovative, redefining music production for various genres with his iconic sound. Kanye even named his 2008 Album " 808 & Heartbreak". He thinks outside the box and is not afraid to express his emotions through his music which has inspired me to tap into my own vulnerability not only as a producer but on a general scale as a creative (Sheen, 2009).