Kanye West gave four minutes of performance time at tonight's VMAs before debuting his newest music video. While he didn't make an 11-minute speech announcing a presidential bid like last year, he did have a lot to say:
I am Kanye West and that feels really great especially to say this year. I came here to present my new video. But before I do that, Imma talk. Now, later tonight, "Famous" might lose to Beyoncé, but I can't be mad. I'm always wishing for Beyonce to win, so. But for people to understand just how blessed we are, it was an expression of our now. Our fame right now. Us on the inside of the TV. You know, just to have the audacity to put Anna Wintour next to Donald Trump. I put Ray J in there, bro! This is fame, bro. I see you, Amber. My wife is a G. Not a lot of people's wives would let them say that—we came over in the same boat now we all in the same bed. Well, maybe different boats but you know…
But if you think about last week it was 22 people murdered in Chicago. You know, like people come up to me like man that's right take Taylor down—bro, I love all of y'all. That's why I called her. So I was speaking at the Art Institute last year and one kid came up to me and said, "three of my friends died and I don't know whether I'm going to be the next.' You know if you're a senior and it's your last month and you don't feel like doing any more work? If you're seeing people die next to you, life might start to feel worthless in a way. I sit down and talk to older, rich people, a.k.a. "white," you know, and they tell me, 'Don't compare yourself to Steve Jobs, don't compare yourself to Walt Disney.' My friend told me, 'There are three keys to keeping people impoverished: taking away their esteem, taking away their resources, and taking away their role models.' My role models are artist-merchants. Less than 10 I can name in history. Truman, Ford, Hughes, Disney, Jobs, West.
Bro, broooooooooo, tonight, we're here to have fun. I'm standing in front of my idol Puff Daddy. I'm standing in front of my wife Kim Kardashian West. I'm standing in front of the Future, Chance the Rapper. Two Chainz, bro, we are undeniably the influence, The thought leaders I'm gonna play y'all a piece of my art and I just hope y'all have a good time.
And this is how Amber Rose reacted:
Plus, Kim:
The video of his full speech, below:
