Kanye West Vs. Michael Jackson.

Who's the Real King of Pop?

  
Kanye West has likened himself to Shakespeare, Warhol, Walt Disney, Obama, and God. Apparently insane comparisons to historical figures is his thing. There’s one icon, though, that seems to rise above the rest: Michael Jackson. Jackson scored a mention in West’s very first hit song,

"Through the Wire," and has since turned up in the lyrics of many subsequent tracks, as well as receiving numerous shout outs in West’s famously aspirational interviews. Often called the most successful pop star of all time, Jackson is, quite simply, the ultimate status symbol. He’s the King of Pop, the Everest of Entertainment, the Moby Dick of Music. Kanye can’t resist.

"I’ve got to a point that Michael Jackson did not break down," West once told BBC. "I have reached the glass ceiling, as a creative person, as a celebrity... and I’ve been at it for 10 years." But is that true? Here, as Kanye rides the success of an internet-breaking clothing collaboration with Adidas, a marriage to the most famous woman in the world, and the preparation for a brand new album, the oh-so-modestly titled So Help Me God, we take a look at how far Kanye has come in reaching Jackson’s heights—and what he’ll have to do to go all the way.

Source: GQ.com

Album Sales (as of 2013)

Michael — 400 million albums

Kanye — 22 million

 Solo Studio Albums

For Kanye — 6 (including Watch the Throne, his collaborative album with Jay Z)

For Michael — 5

 Singles

For Michael — 12 ("Ben," "Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough," "Rock with You," "Billie Jean," "Beat It," "I Just Can’t Stop Loving You," "Bad," "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Man in the Mirror," "Dirty Diana," "Black or White," and "You Are Not Alone")

For Kanye — 3 ("Slow Jamz," "Gold Digger," and "Stronger")

YouTube’s Most Viewed VEVO Channels

Total for Michael — 2.11 billion

Total for Kanye — 1.26 billion

 Highest Grossing Tour

For Michael — The 1987 Bad tour with approx $250.7 mill (adjusted for inflation)

For Kanye — The 2008 Glow in the Dark Tour with approx $30.8 mill

Most Grammys Won

For Kanye — 21

For Michael — 13 (15 if you count the Legend and Lifetime Achievement Award)

Collaborations with Paul McCartney

For Kanye — 3

For Michael — 3

Fashion statements

Whether you prefer shiny epaulet jackets and white gloves to lined sunglasses and Yeezy Boosts is a matter of opinion. Both have positive qualities. Jackson’s look is globally iconic and has glitzy entertainment value, while Ye’s is a subtler and definitely cooler. Ye gets some props here because of a certain kind of style icon status he’s achieved among kids and the shear fact that he’s put his fashion money where his mouth is by creating a line of clothing with Adidas. But can you think of a more recognizable look than MJ’s? Point for Jackson.

Endorsements

No competition—MJ wrote the script for celebrity endorsement, with a record-breaking 1983 deal with Pepsi that has since set the standard. Kanye’s collaboration with Adidas is purported to be worth $10 million, nothing to sneeze at, but it did not get him on the side of a can of soda. Let’s forget about the hair-on-fire incident, too.

Famous Wives

Again, a matter of opinion. One is the daughter of rock ’n’ roll royalty, the other the fame-iest famous person in all of fame-land. We’d call North West, the cutest damn celebrity kid, the tie-breaker, but it feels weird to use a toddler as a number on the board. A tie.

Overall Points

For Michael: 6

For Kanye: 3