Kanye West had a very busy week last week. After performing twice at the Grammys, he hosted his New York Fashion Week show for the Kanye x adidas line, debuted a new song, then made a surprise cameo at Drake's concert and topped it all off with a three-song medley for Saturday Night Live's 40th anniversary special. Now, in an interview with Complex, he talks about where he stands right now in his career, what he's learned, and what's to come. Here's some of what he had to say:
On how his views toward women changed after marrying Kim Kardashian and having a daughter:
"When I was a single bachelor rapper, and with the access that I had, I realized that I wasn't respecting women the way I needed to. God has an amazing way of teaching people, and literally for two years I lived with all alpha females and a daughter, you know? [Laughs] So I had to learn to really do what my mother taught me, and become the man she always knew I could be, and bow as a creative."
On how he imagines his role in the world as a designer:
"You know those photos that you see with me getting on my knees in front of the paparazzi to fix Kim's pant leg? That's what I want to do for the world. I want to get on my knees and fix everyone's pant leg, if they'll have me. If they'll have me make that adjustment. I want to look at a festival and see what all the kids are wearing, and then say, 'Hey I want them to feel like they're wearing the exact same thing, but somehow just a more informed version."
On what was going through his head during his NYFW show on Thursday:
"I just felt that my life was dependent on the success of this show. I set myself up to win or fail. To win or fail. And people were just waiting. 'Is he gonna do it?'
"It was almost like the Super Bowl of culture in a way. It was like a David Blaine move in some ways. Are the sharks gonna eat me alive? It was, 'Will he be eaten by the shark tank, or will he survive? Can he hold his breath for this long?' The three on the back of the Tyvek jacket invites was about the three years that I had been off the runway. And I had to hold my breath for that long."
On becoming an established celebrity designer:
"I feel like I'm Eminem, you know? You don't think 'white rapper.' You just think Eminem. You don't think celebrity designer, straight designer, black designer, all these types of things that kind of held me back conceptually in being accepted as a designer. You just think of those words. But when those moon boots come out, you put them on your feet and just swag out and go somewhere with your friends, those words don't matter.
"I'm just happy that I was able to apply the mentality and passion that brought the College Dropout into existence. Now, I may finally have enough of a point of view and understanding to apply and create. Enough of a vision to make. There's so many far more talented designers but I just have a perspective and a heart. And I'm gonna give all the heart and perspective that I can."
