Summary
Introduction and Business Success
In this interview with TMZ,
Kanye West begins by celebrating a victory, repeatedly stating "we won." He mentions making $19 million from a
Super Bowl advertisement. West reveals that he had faced challenges with previous companies that wouldn't allow him to price products as he wanted, which led him to leave those companies. According to West, he was close to bankruptcy about two months prior, but survived by moving operations to Italy and factories, and is now "back at number one."
On Controversy and Cancellation
When asked if controversy helped his career, West responds that it wasn't about
controversy but about "the ability to say how you felt out loud." He credits his survival to having multiple skill sets across music, clothing, and a strong fan base. West suggests that without these diverse talents, he would have been "destroyed" by his detractors. He expresses gratitude to supporters and compares his brand to Apple, stating "it's just me and my bro Elon."
Music Industry Criticisms
West criticizes streaming platforms, calling them harmful to artists. He specifically mentions Spotify, claiming they offer $500 million to be divided among all artists regardless of streaming numbers. He lists artists like Adele,
Drake, The Weeknd, Taylor Swift, and himself, suggesting they deserve more based on their individual streaming performances. West positions himself as an advocate for artists, stating, "As long as I breathe, I'm here for all of my artists."
Opinions and Controversies
When asked about people who resent his success due to controversial statements, West emphasizes that everyone has the right to their opinions. He mentions losing career opportunities for about a year and a half. West then discusses issues with Adidas, claiming they were having problems before his controversial tweets, accusing the company of stealing his designs and trying to sue him. He states they sent him "$100 million a year" but then accused him of misallocating marketing funds, to which he responds, "I was the marketing."
Addressing Antisemitism Allegations
When directly questioned about taking back antisemitic statements, West responds, "Black people can't be antisemitic. We are Jew." He criticizes what he calls "fake indoctrination" in schools. When pressed specifically about his
"death con on Jews" statement, West offers a partial apology: "For all the kids that love me, all the Jewish kids that love me, I'm sorry if y'all had to hear a grown-up conversation with us screaming at each other." He defends his statements by saying "something needed to be said" after years of being called "bizarre" and "crazy."
Personal Health and Other Topics
West also discusses personal health issues, claiming he received a misdiagnosis and improper medication that caused weight gain. He suggests he might have "slight signs of autism from the car accident" rather than bipolar disorder, stating, "Y'all try to kill the superheroes, but we here, we alive." When asked about the Palestinian situation, West declines to comment, saying he doesn't have enough information and redirects the conversation to violence in Chicago: "I got 14 kids dying every week in my city."*There may be errors on this page.