Turns out Kanye West ain’t that keen on celebs. You’ve met your wife, right Kanye? And… you know, yourself…
In an exclusive interview with* Q* magazine for their August issue – out 30 June – Kanye admitted he’s not that keen on showbiz types, specifically the ones who use their fame just to make money instead of for the good of politics.
“I just think there’s a lot of celebrities that are completely controlled by their finances. You could literally tap them on the wrist and say they lost five dollars and they’ll fall to the floor and beg for at least four of the dollars back. So when people expect a celebrity to do or say anything you’re talking to the wrong group of people. They won’t use their voice for the people. They’ll only use their voice for money.
“Print it as loud, as fucking loud, as you want to. Print it. And I don’t care what parties I don’t get invited to afterwards. Ninety per cent of celebrities only use their voice for the purpose of making money for themselves.
“I’ll address [politics] however it needs to be addressed, because the world is broken. Somebody’s got to be crazy enough to put themselves and their wellbeing on the line for truth. Somebody’s gotta do it.”
The 38 year old also considers the role race has played in negative reactions to his outspokenness – and the creation of an online petition, signed by over 130,000 people, calling his headlining of Glastonbury “an insult to music fans all over the world”.
“I’m not concerned about race. I don’t think it has to do with race at all. There’s something abnormal about anyone speaking their mind in today’s society,” he says initially, before adding: “It’s even more shocking or radical for someone to see a darker skin be so confident. Because we’ve been advertised against it. So it’s surprising when someone darker really believes in themselves and speaks up about it.”
On fatherhood, Yeezus, who is expecting a second child with wife Kim Kardashian in December, reveals that he plans his working day around spending time with his daughter Nori: “While [Nori’s] here in Europe I have to have six hours a day with her because otherwise I’ll just work and she’ll get scheduled around meetings. Instead, the meetings get scheduled around her.”
On his mother’s death: Asked what he has had to sacrifice for success, West revealed: “My mom. If I had never moved to LA she’d be alive.” Admitting it was a heavy burden to carry, he added: “I don’t want to go far into it because it will bring me to tears.”
The August 2015 issue of Q is on sale on Tuesday, 30 June.