When North West announced her first album, the title alone made the project impossible to separate from her father. Her announced album, Elementary School Dropout, directly references Kanye West’s debut album, The College Dropout. Before listeners begin to even listen to her music, the name connects all of North’s music to hold the expectations of one of the most famous albums in music history.

Michael Celenza, a Performing Arts teacher at Loyola High School, said musical influence can begin early and naturally.

“Children can be influenced by their parents’ music just by listening,” Celenza said. He said his own love for Latin jazz came from hearing Sergio Mendes when he was 10 years old, the same age that North was scheduled to release Elementary School Dropout. In that way, North being influenced by Kanye would not be unusual, especially if she grew up around his work.

North’s situation is different, though, because Kanye’s influence is already public and his work is widely praised. He is one of the most influential artists in modern music, known for changing production, fashion, visuals, and the way artists can present themselves. As a result of this, North’s music will never be treated like an ordinary debut.

North’s family name also raises questions about opportunity. Many young musicians have to work for years to gain attention, but North already has premier access to a platform that most artists can only dream of.

“Do you think North would have a recording contract without her father being Kanye West?” Celenza said. “That’s the question on most people’s minds.”

John Polifronio, an employee at Counterpoint Books & Records on Franklin Avenue, said an artist’s reputation can strongly affect the interest that they receive early on in their careers.

“An artist’s name and reputation definitely affect people’s interest, especially at first,” Polifronio said. “A familiar name can make someone curious to listen, but it does not always mean they will become long-term fans.”

North’s name may bring fans to the album, but it cannot guarantee that they will still keep listening. Polifronio also said that listeners often focus on an artist’s family before judging the music itself.

With North’s debut EP, N0rth4evr, which was released on May 1, 2026, people are not just talking about an album that she announced, they now actually have music from North that they can listen to and judge for themselves.

Still, one EP should not decide her whole career. If North continues making music, listeners will have more chances to see how her sound develops and whether she can create her own identity without constantly being in her father’s shadow.

For Loyola students, North’s situation connects to a larger question about how young people are viewed when they create something. Whether someone is writing, performing, playing a sport or making music, they are often shaped by the people around them. Having an influence is normal, but young people want their work to be judged fairly for what it truly is, not just where it came from or what it looks or sounds like.

North’s music may always continue to be connected to Kanye, but that does not mean that her work has to be defined by him. His name may bring people to her work, but only North can give them a reason to keep listening to her.