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Kanye recently sat down with Vanity Fair for an interview about his latest Yeezy line, his new album, and his political aspirations. As per usual, Kanye was highly quotable and happy to incorporate a wide range of reference points, including the data revolution, Mark Twain, Will Ferrell, and Michelangelo. Read highlights from the conversation below.
On unveiling a new song, “Fade,” during Fashion Week: “We had a couple options and I just thought it sounded good…That’s like a sonic landscape, a two-year painting. That song I played has been a year and a half in the making and it may be still a year from being complete. But it was to let people get a glimpse at the painting.”
On the release date for SWISH: “I’m not sure. I’m not worried about the years. I’m worried about the life and the body of work that I can put out while I’m breathing.”
On what people like to wear: “I think people just wear yoga pants and sweatshirts, and I wanted to make the most beautiful version of that possible.”
On having his own store: “Even though we do really amazing sales online, my dream is just to have my own store. And to have multiples of it… The only concrete plan is that I plan to use concrete.”
On never taking vacation: “As early as I am into expressing myself and making clothes, it’s just way too privileged to take a season off. Are you fucking kidding me? My toe is barely in the door, my foot is barely on the gas, I’ve got to press down harder. The most successful thing about the second season was just doing the second season.”
On the importance of data: “The Internet’s like the Wild, Wild West. If you have your data, you have everything.”
On running for office: “When I run for president, I’d prefer not to run against someone. I would be like ‘I want to work with you.’ As soon as I heard [Ben] Carson speak, I tried for three weeks to get on the phone with him. I was like this is the most brilliant guy. And I think all the people running right now have something that each of the others needs. But the idea of this separation and this gladiator battle takes away from the main focus that the world needs help and the world needs all the people in a position of power or influence to come together… I hate politics. I’m not a politician at all. I care about the truth and I just care about human beings.”
On the greatness of shoes: “I think if Michelangelo was alive or Da Vinci was alive, there’s no way that they wouldn’t be working with shoes, as a part of what they work on. Definitely one of the things they’d work on would be shoes. I’ve gone three years without a phone. I don’t go a day without shoes.”
On the greatness of sweatshirts: “I think sweatshirts are the way of the future… Sweatshirts are fucking important. That might sound like the funniest quote ever. How can you say all this stuff about running for president in 2020 and then say sweatshirts are important? But they are. Just mark my words. Mark my words like Mark Twain.”
On the movie Elf: “A lot of times I feel like Will Ferrell in the movie Elf. You know this big guy that wants to [join in] and his hands are a little bit too big.”
