Analysis
In this interview
Kanye West talks about how
Drake inspires him to hit the studio.
Summary
Introduction and Opening Reflections
Kanye West explains that growing up around challenging environments with gangbangers, drug dealers, and gun sellers provided him with survival knowledge, but also instilled some of that "goon" mentality in him. He expresses a desire to subdue those negative aspects of his background and instead focus on positively serving the world.
Music and Creative Evolution
Kanye discusses his approach to making music, referencing his work with various artists including Daft Punk. He talks about his album
"Yeezus" and how it might not have been his biggest commercial success but represented an artistic challenge he set for himself, comparing it to learning how to shoot arrows with different weights to master the skill. He explains that this experimental approach led to tracks like
"All Day" and
"Only One".The interviewer and Kanye discuss how he's changing the traditional model of music sales. Kanye mentions that competition in hip-hop is valuable, distinguishing between healthy competition and destructive rivalry. He compares
Drake to "an amazing sparring partner" who motivated him to get back in the studio and create new music. He draws a parallel to Michael Jordan, who needed to get stronger to overcome opponents like the Detroit Pistons, suggesting that competition drives growth and improvement.
Race, Language, and Social Issues
When asked about the N-word and its use at concerts, Kanye provides a nuanced perspective about context. He compares rap to boxing, where the same action (fighting) has different consequences depending on the context. He believes that in the future, younger generations who haven't experienced the negative effects of racism might view the word differently.Kanye makes a significant point that racism is becoming a "dated concept" and that modern discrimination is more about classism and social standing. He explains that opportunities and dignity are more important than words, stating that "the real true freedom isn't in the words, the true freedom is in the opportunity." He emphasizes that dignity isn't determined by wealth or status but by how people treat others.
Service, Purpose, and Personal Philosophy
Kanye shares his view that the more power one has, the more one should act as a servant rather than a king. He discusses how positioning himself as a servant "unlocked a code" that opened doors for him. Contrary to being perceived as wanting to break down systems or corporations, Kanye clarifies that he wants to work with existing structures to "bring more beauty and truth to the world."He expresses that his aspirations aren't financial or about becoming a mogul, but rather about enabling people to experience beauty in music, art, clothing, and film while having time for family and self-education. He talks about wanting to see human capabilities advance, particularly in children, by removing "separatist concepts."
Joy, Materialism, and Society's Constraints
In a metaphorical segment, Kanye describes how watching his daughter's joy upon receiving wolf toys made him realize how society often packages and delays joy, forcing people to fulfill various obligations before they can experience it again. He suggests that true happiness gets diluted by societal expectations and financial burdens.Kanye advocates for more love, joy, beauty, and understanding in the world. He wonders why Nobel Peace Prize ceremonies don't receive as much media attention as entertainment award shows, suggesting it's because they "don't sell enough ad time."
Fashion Industry and Creative Approach
A significant portion of the interview focuses on Kanye's entrance into the fashion world. He discusses the perception that commercial success and artistic complexity are mutually exclusive, pushing back on that notion by referencing his background in art and mentioning his upcoming honorary doctorate from the Art Institute of Chicago.Kanye emphasizes the importance of education and understanding beauty, particularly the concept of proportion, which he describes as "luxury." He draws parallels between visual proportions and proportions of sound in his music, explaining that "Yeezus" was "a very clean study of how to use sounds proportionately" rather than a bid for radio play.Jean Touitou from A.P.C. joins the conversation, and they discuss their previous collaboration, particularly a fox fur-adorned jacket that successfully blended luxury with military influences. Kanye announces during the interview that he's creating a new brand and expresses interest in working with A.P.C. again.Kanye praises A.P.C.'s merchandising approach, describing it as "the merchandising of the future" for its simplicity and customer-friendly presentation. He contrasts this with luxury stores that can be intimidating and lead to "expensive mistakes" for the uninitiated.
Fame, Public Perception, and Future Vision
When asked if he ever wishes he wasn't famous, Kanye responds that he's "very happy to be famous" and sees it as "a tool that you can use to message as you want." He expresses disregard for fashion industry criticism of his work, stating that he's in fashion to "learn sensibility."Kanye shares his ambitious vision of creating something that combines elements of Walt Disney, Henry Ford, Howard Hughes, and David Stern's contributions, with a technology-driven approach similar to Steve Jobs. He emphasizes his commitment to only selling products he's "extremely knowledgeable about," explaining that he doesn't rush products based on his name alone and believes products should be "a contribution to society."
Closing Reflections on Humility and Self-Confidence
In the closing segment, the interviewer notes that Kanye seems more humble than his public persona suggests. Kanye explains that his public assertions about his abilities stemmed from having to fight to be recognized as a creator. He states that now that he's "able to do it a bit more," he can "say it a bit less and let the work speak." He defends his self-belief and occasional outspokenness as necessary when facing obstacles to creative contribution.Kanye concludes with a metaphor, describing life as "a long movie" rather than defined episodes or commercials, suggesting his journey is one of "a man growing, learning to communicate, and realizing what he can do with his message."*There may be errors on this page.