Next week, Zane Lowe will leave BBC Radio 1 for Apple, and he’s scored none other than Kanye West for what may be his last major interview. Lowe famously hosted what many consider to be one of Kanye’s best interviews ever in 2013. And the new interview lives up to that hype — Kanye even invents a word! Speaking for 40 minutes, Kanye touches on Drake, Paul McCartney, his new album, and more. At one point, the interview has to be stopped when Kanye breaks down in tears while speaking on the death of Central Saint Martins professor Louise Wilson.
On his new album:
“The College Dropout came out of a fight to want to rap. This new album’s coming out of a fight to want to design. It’s a joyful noise unto the Lord. It is still the struggle, but it’s the beauty from the struggle — like the song ‘Amazing Grace’ — coming out of the worst pain possible and making the most beautiful song possible. I want to perform ‘Only One’ as many times as possible.â€
On working with Paul McCartney and “FourFiveSecondsâ€:
“I like the differences of views in our approach to music. I come in and I have all these lists of complaints, and he says, ‘Yo man, it’s all cool though. How ‘bout we make a song.’ And we just make song after song after song. People think that our first two singles don’t have drums, but both of those are percussive instruments … I liked songs like that [’FourFiveSeconds’] when I was growing up. The type of chord changes that Paul does, I don’t even understand them. And to be able to be involved with that and writing a song like that, it’s just like way next level. Meeting Paul McCartney is like meeting Ralph Lauren … And the whole cadence [of ‘FourFiveSeconds’] was trap. As soon as Paul starts playing, I start singing in trap. Fusion is the future. Period.â€
On Drake:
“I was on a flight to shoot the ‘Blessings’ video with Drake and Big Sean, and I couldn’t have been happier to go and shoot this video with two of the hottest rappers in the game. Well, let’s be respectful, the hottest rapper and one of the hottest rappers in the game … I feel like I’m a visual extension of what he’s [Drake] doing sonically. That shit [Drake’s new mixtape] is good, yo. He’s delivering a level of product to humanity that is of high-quality. It works. I don’t have any advice for this young man. But what I can say is run, fly, go as fast you can. Don’t stop, and anytime I can be of any service — advice, a beat, a verse, confidential design advice on the shoes you’re doing for that other company — anything we can collectively do to deliver more awesomeness to the world as a team.â€
On the Grammys:
It’s arguable that the album might’ve been better, but the Grammys sell commercial time. Let’s be level for a second. It’s a ridiculous proposition what they try to get away with every year. They might give it to Arcade Fire or Daft Punk every now and then. But even a broke clock is right twice a day … The Grammys are definitely like an ex-girlfriend: As soon as you get in the car with them, you wanna go right back home.â€
On Elon Musk:
“What do Kanye West and Elon Musk talk about? The ‘futch’ … As I told Obama last time I saw him, I would suggest that you sit with Elon Musk, I would suggest that you both go to China.â€
On having another baby with Kim Kardashian:
“I’m practicing really hard. I try as many times a day as I can. Nori, this one is for you. You need a sibling.â€