Summary
Musical Influences and Creative Process
Kanye West discussed his musical influences and creative decisions. He identified "The Benjamin's" as possibly the greatest hip-hop beat of all time and explained how he channeled J Dilla's style when working on Common's album "Finding Forever." When asked what makes a good artist, Kanye emphasized authenticity and fully embracing one's unique qualities rather than conforming to established expectations. The album's cover art resulted from a lengthy collaboration with renowned artist Takashi Murakami, representing graduation and "blasting off" to another level, though Kanye preferred leaving room for personal interpretation.
Relationships and Artistic Freedom
A significant portion of the conversation centered on Kanye's track
"Big Brother", which addresses his complex relationship with Jay-Z. While reciting some of the more positive lyrics, Kanye requested that attendees not share these lines online to preserve the experience for future listeners. When questioned about featuring singer Cassie in a music video despite her perceived lack of success, he defended his creative autonomy, stating that at his career stage, he had earned the freedom to make whatever artistic decisions he wanted regardless of others' perceptions.
Lyrical Craft and Impact
The interview highlighted Kanye's intentional approach to crafting memorable lyrics, particularly "You could be my black Kate Moss tonight" from
Stronger, which he explained was inspired by his fiancée's admiration for Kate Moss. Kanye described deliberately creating these "killer" lines for singles to connect with audiences. Other notable lyrics mentioned included references to prenuptial agreements and Christian Dior, demonstrating his talent for creating phrases that resonate deeply with listeners while reflecting his artistic sensibilities and personal experiences.*There may be errors on this page.