Summary
Introduction and Setting
Kanye West delivered an impromptu, stream-of-consciousness speech at Oxford University where he requested complete silence from the audience to maintain his flow of thoughts. He began by reflecting on his educational choices, expressing regret about not attending the Art Institute of Chicago instead of the American Academy of Art, as he felt his education there didn't sufficiently inspire him. He stated that if he pursued fine art, his goal would have been to become as great as or greater than Picasso, noting how such ambition is often discouraged in society.
Creativity and Ambition
West described his multifaceted approach to creativity, comparing his creative process to sports and emphasizing his competitive reaction to his own work. He reflected on the "Donda tweets" where he discussed bringing together thinkers across different backgrounds to solve global problems. West argued that society has the resources to create a utopia but is hindered by greed and poor leadership. He discussed how creatives are taught to hide their ideas out of fear of mockery or failure, citing a Bible verse about weapons formed against him not prospering, despite his perception that he faces significant criticism.
Cultural References and Philosophy
In a private conversation with director Steve McQueen (who shot visuals for his song
"All Day"), West compared "The Matrix" to "the Bible of the post-information age," suggesting that opinions, perceptions, and traditions are like the multiple attackers in the film that Neo defeats. He praised the productivity achieved in February, releasing multiple works and handling numerous interviews. West emphasized that the utopian future he envisions can only happen through collaboration, criticizing Steve Jobs for not sharing Apple's ideas more freely after his death, contrasting this with Elon Musk's approach.
Success, Fame, and Priorities
West discussed
Drake's success in breaking records previously held by artists like himself and Paul McCartney. He reflected on his connections with influential figures like Elon Musk and Obama. West shared an anecdote about artist Vanessa Beecroft buying his daughter toy wolves that made her extremely happy, using this to illustrate how true joy differs from what's marketed through consumer products. He criticized the American concept of luxury and success, suggesting that time is the only true luxury because it can't be recovered, unlike material possessions.
Social Commentary
West addressed social divisions, arguing that this generation is less racist than previous ones, though class division remains significant, particularly in the UK. He criticized the separation of people by race, gender, religion, age, and especially class, stating that such divisions make people easier to control. West suggested that humanity could either approach life like ants (collaboratively) or crabs (pulling each other down), advocating for a unified approach where everyone's main focus is helping others rather than pursuing material wealth or status.
Collaboration and Ego
West praised
Nicki Minaj's verse on his acclaimed album
"My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy", acknowledging that she "outshined" him on his own song. He used this example to illustrate the importance of collaboration and allowing others to succeed. West connected this to his experience designing Yeezy shoes, suggesting that his ego initially hindered the process. He identified his ego as his "biggest Achilles heel" but expressed hope that if he could overcome it, anyone could. West emphasized that in collaboration, "the best idea wins," highlighting how his recent successful performances resulted from collaboration among experts.
Challenging Conventions
West described how his mother taught him to scream if a stranger grabbed his hand, using this as a metaphor for his willingness to resist conventional approaches in his creative work. He embraced being called "crazy" as a badge of honor rather than an insult. West concluded by passionately arguing that beauty has been "stolen from the people and is being sold back to them under the concept of luxury." He advocated for affordable clothing and cars designed by top talent, emotionally stating that he fights for this concept because of his middle-class background and understanding what it feels like to lack access to quality goods.*There may be errors on this page.