At his Life Of Pablo concert in Sacramento on Saturday night, Kanye West ended his show after playing three songs and speaking to the crowd for about 15 minutes. In his wide-ranging remarks, he said that he was "hurt" by Beyoncé this year, that Jay Z still hasn't called him since Kim Kardashian's robbery, and that Hillary Clinton lost the election because she ignored the feelings of middle America. He also brought out Kid Cudi for a surprise performance of “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1.” and hugged him, after the two traded harsh criticism of each other back in September.
Regarding Beyoncé, West said he was hurt over an alleged negotiation with MTV where Beyoncé said she would only perform at the VMAs if she won Video of the Year for "Formation." His full comment on that was:
"Beyoncé, I was hurt, because I heard that you said you wouldn't perform unless you won Video of the Year over me, and over "Hotline Bling." Now, don't go trying to diss Beyoncé, she is great. Taylor Swift is great. We are all great people. We are all equal. But sometimes we be playing the politics too much and forgetting who we are just to win. Fuck winning. Fuck looking cool. Fuck being cool. Fuck all that, bro. I've been sent here to give y'all my truth even at the risk of my own life. Even at the risk of my own success, my own career. I've been sent here to give y'all my truth."
He also addressed Jay Z, saying, "Jay Z, call me, bro. You still ain't call me. Jay Z, call me. Hey, bro, Jay Z, I know you've got killers. Please don't send them at my head. Just call me. Talk to me like a man."
He also referenced the presidential election results, repeatedly saying that we're in a "new world" and then adding, "If you keep following old models, your ass is going to get Hillary Clinton'd."
"Obama couldn't make America great," he added. "Because he couldn't be him to be who he was. Black men have been slaves. Obama wasn't allowed to do this and still win. He had to be perfect. But being perfect don't always change shit, bro. I am putting my career, my life, my public well-standing at risk when I talk to y'all like this. This is a moment in the matrix, bro."
He concluded his speech by saying
"There's a Richard Pryor interview that you can watch about people coming into power and not changing anything, just becoming a part of the power. That's happening with musicians because they're scared. I'm not scared. I'm here to change things. I am here to change things. Things won't change until people admit their own falsehoods. I am here to change things. I got the vision, bro. That is what I've been blessed with. My vision. I'm not always going to say things the perfect way. I'm going to say it how I feel. Right now, press, get ready to write your passive aggressive, LeBron James, racist comments. Season four racist comments. Get ready to have a field day, press. Get ready. Get ready. Because the show's over."
Representatives for Kanye West, Beyoncé, and MTV were not available for comment.
Thumbnail via Getty/ Kevin Winter
