Kanye West News: Rapper Declares Himself the Steve Jobs of Internet, Fashion and Culture [VIDEO]
Kanye West compared himself to Apple Founder Steve Jobs and also declared himself to be the nucleus of pop culture in a wide ranging profile that was published by The New York Times Wednesday.
The rapper granted the newspaper in which he made no apology for how he is perceived. He said he would not pander for sales of his June 18 album, Yeezus.
In fact, the 36-year-old said that "the idea of Kanye and vanity are like, synonymous."
The Watch the Throne lycrist spent much of the time referring to himself in the third person. He believed he was a trendsetter and likened himself to the late mogul. He felt that Job's death in October 2011 meant that he was able to make a mark on the world. He said that everyone won once they learned to respect his abilities to set trends.
"I think what Kanye West is going to mean is something similar to what Steve Jobs means. I am undoubtedly, you know, Steve of Internet, downtown, fashion, culture. Period. By a long jump," he said. "I honestly feel that because Steve has passed, you know, it's like when Biggie passed and Jay-Z was allowed to become Jay-Z."
West added that it was his responsibility to push possibilities in the same manner that Jobs did. He envisioned himself as the head of a conglomerate.
"So when you get something that has the name Kanye West on it, it's supposed to be pushing the furthest possibilities. I will be the leader of a company that ends up being worth billions of dollars, because I got the answers. I understand culture. I am the nucleus," he said.
West also retracted his apology to Taylor Swift for interrupting her at the MTV Video Awards in 2009. He appeared contrite during an appearance on Jay Leno in September of 2009, but was more defiant in the exchange with the paper.
"I don't have one regret," he said. "If anyone's reading this waiting for some type of full-on, flat apology for anything, they should just stop reading right now."
West felt that he fell victim to peer pressure when he apologized to Swift. He declared that he simply wanted acceptance after the backlash. West claimed that his previous album, My Dark Twisted Fantasy, released in 2010 was a plea for his detractors.
"It was a backhanded apology. It was like, all these raps, all these sonic acrobatics. I was like: "Let me show you guys what I can do, and please accept me back. You want to have me on your shelves," he said.
Watch a video of West lashing out in February.
