Rapper Kanye West opens up about his emotional breakdown in 2016 that sent him to the hospital for a week.
The 40-year-old stopped by the TMZ headquarters in Los Angeles to talk about various things, including his recent controversial tweets where he voiced his support for President Donald Trump. West, who has a new album coming out this summer, also admitted that he once was addicted to opium.
Kanye West's Opium Addiction
During the conversation with TMZ founder Harvey Levin, the self-professed genius admitted that he completely became addicted to drugs when he was prescribed to take anti-pain medication following a liposuction.
"I had plastic surgery because I wanted to look good for y'all," West told the publication. " got liposuction because I didn't want you to call me fat."
He also said that his intake of the drug increased when he was hospitalized in November 2016.
"I went from taking to two pills [a day] to seven," the father of three recalled.
West was taken to a hospital in 2016 "for his own health and safety" after suffering from sleep deprivation. At the time, he was on a North American tour to support his album, The Life of Pablo. He had to cancel the remainder of the scheduled concert to recuperate.
His admission that he was once addicted to opium was not the most controversial revelation that the rapper made on his appearance on TMZ. He also proclaimed that slavery was a choice.
"When you hear about slavery for 400 years ... for 400 years? That sounds like a choice," West said.
This immediately prompted an angry response from a black staff of the company who immediately stood up and expressed his disagreement. The "Famous" rapper went to him and apologized for hurting his feelings.
Later on, he clarified his statement on Twitter.
to make myself clear. Of course I know that slaves did not get shackled and put on a boat by free will — KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
Watch highlights from the interview. where he also talked about Trump, below.
Kanye West Brings Up Taylor Swift
In another interview, this time with Charlamagne Tha God, West once again opened up about his mental break down in 2016 and the many factors that caused it.
He said that he is in a much better position now and feels that he is stronger after what he went through two years ago.
The lyricist from Chicago also brought up his drama with pop superstar Taylor Swift. The two musicians have a long and complicated relationship starting in 2009 when he interrupted her in the middle of her acceptance speech at the VMAs. In 2016, they seemingly made up but, months after, the battle was back on when West gave Swift a shout out in the song "Famous."
The 28-year-old singer-songwriter was upset of the song, but West and his wife Kim Kardashian insisted that the lyrics had her approval. The relationship turned for the worse when Kardashian released a recording of the phone conversation that West and Swift had months back when the singer from Pennsylvania heard and reacted positively to the track.
The rapper/fashion designer said that the beef caused his music to not make it to the radio. Watch the interview below.
