Kanye West is the subject of a new interview with WSJ. Magazine. The extensive piece finds rap's most controversial figure touch on a number of topics, even finally revealing how he orchestrated A$AP Rocky's release from the Swedish prison.
During the interview, Ye revealed why his initial plan of action had to be scrapped and just how he got President Trump to step in and free A$AP Rocky from his imprisonment in Sweden. Kanye of course also didn't shy away from sharing his thoughts on the influence of his YEEZY brand — comparing it to McDonald's and Apple. And elsewhere, spoke on his hospitalization in 2016 and doubled down on his political affiliation.
You can see the best quotes from Kanye West's new interview with WSJ. Magazine below. After perusing, be sure to visit the publication to read the in-depth piece in full.
On freeing A$AP Rocky
"In mid-July, West chartered a plane to Sweden, planning to jet in and free the musical artist A$AP Rocky, who had been detained on assault charges earlier that month," the article reads. "Warned that the Swedes wouldn’t welcome the gesture, he canceled the plane and—from his swimming pool in Calabasas—called Jared Kushner at the White House. Donald Trump called less than an hour later, after West had climbed out of the pool and was eating breakfast."
On YEEZY being as influential as McDonald's and Apple:
“I believe that YEEZY is the McDonald’s and the Apple of apparel. In order to make the Apple of apparel the next Gap, it has to be a new invention. To invent something that’s so good that you don’t even get credit for it because it’s the norm.”
On being hospitalized in 2016 for a nervous breakdown:
“I’ve been through Deadpool. You know that movie? I had an actual mental breakdown from attempting to put together all of the pieces.”
On his political affiliation and people making assumptions because he is black and a rapper:
“I’m a black guy with a red [MAGA] hat, can you imagine? ...It reminded me of how I felt as a black guy before I was famous, when I would walk in a restaurant and people would look at you like you were going to steal something. ‘This is your place, Ye, don’t talk about apparel. This is your place, Ye, you’re black, so you’re a Democrat.’”
On Virgil Abloh being hired as artistic director of Louis Vuitton menswear:
“That included one of my best friends being crowned king. Virgil. Louis Vuitton. We grew up on Louis Vuitton–Marc Jacobs duffels. My best friend.”
On the significance of the hoodie:
“The hoodie is arguably the most important piece of apparel of the last decade.”
On stumbling but being resilient enough to rise again:
“We fall down and we get back up. That’s the sign of champions. Anything I do, three times a year, people say, ‘Whoa, that’s the end. That’s the last we’ll see of him!’ People say I’m out of control. I’m not out of control. I’m out of their control.”
