Kanye West may have given his greatest interview yet to the UK’s Radio 1 with DJ Zane Lowe.
Filmed when the rapper recently visited London, the first, unedited segment aired September 23.
As one might expect from the Yeezus creator, West had plenty to say.
During the interview, West defined himself as a “slave” to fashion and talked about his frustrations in getting backing for his fashion creations. Describing fellow rapper Jay Z as (“more realized than me… more of his dreams have come true”), the artist also talked about his girlfriend and co-parent Kim Kardashian whom he praised for being independently wealthy.
Responding to criticisms of him calling himself a “god” on his Yeezus album, the rapper said those critics would have no problem if called himself as a “pimp” or a “gangster.”
More than once in the interview, West said Michael Jackson was his inspiration.
Elaborating, the 36-year-old referred to Jackson’s famous battle with MTV in the early 80s to get his videos played when his seminal album Thriller came out in 1982.
“There would be no Kanye West if it wasn’t for Michael Jackson,” West declared starkly.
Warming to his theme, he added: “I’ve reached a point in my life where my Truman Show boat has hit the painting. I’ve got to a point that Michael Jackson did not break down. I have reached the glass ceiling, as a creative person, as a celebrity.”
At one point in the one-on-one, the new father stated: “I’m here to crack the pavement and make new ground sonically and in society.” He later said he wanted to make “three-dimensional” music, like the hologram seen emerging from R2-D2 in Star Wars .
West also called himself “the number one rock star on the planet,” adding, “Rap is the new rock ‘n’ roll. We the rockstars!”
Aware that his interview with Radio 1 was likely to be divisive, the rapper said: “People are gonna look at this interview and say, ‘I understand what he’s talking about’. People are gonna look at this interview and say, ‘I don’t like Kanye. Look, he looks mad, I don’t like his teeth’.”
Love or hate him, the clip is nevertheless a fascinating insight into West’s process and aspirations and may well become a time-piece.
In other West news, the Grammy Award winner has announced he will tour Europe next year.
The news was revealed on French TV show Le Grand Journal when the rapper performed Yeezus cut “Black Skinhead.” West will tour the UK and other European countries next year after wrapping the recently announced North American leg , where he will be supported by the rapper Kendrick Lamar.
As yet, support and locations for the European leg of the tour are unconfirmed.
What do you think of West’s statements in the Radio 1 interview?
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