Kanye has changed mainstream rap a few times, in various ways. He's a legend. Not going to call him a genius.
In terms of his behavior this doesn't strike me as a shift. Yea Kanye has rapped some pro-black or "militant" bars before but I don't see his recent statements as political as much as they are ideological. Kanye has always been obsessed with receiving validation. He's always been obsessed with branding. He's always been obsessed with media and spectacle. So it's not shocking he loves Trump, who is as big of a narcissist, and is a master of media/branding.
I don't even think he particularly cares about the specifics of Candace Owens' views. What draws him to them is the fact that they are anti-establishment and subversive, in his estimate at least. He sees this as a bold artistic shift. And he's fascinated at the idea that he can tell this to people with his brand.
The most striking thing in all of this is that he clearly sounds manic/ill yet is surrounded by vultures and yes men who aren't helping him. On one hand there is Owens and some conservative dude I don't recognize, who seem to think this is their ticket to stardom/history (ie the idea they can "red pill" the youth or black people, via Kanye). On the other hand you have his team, who have for YEARS watched as he has gotten more and more eccentric/manic and enabled him. Then you have his family, who don't seem helpful either to put it lightly.
