Kanye West

48 quotes

"The concept of commercialism in the fashion and art world is looked down upon. You know, just to think, 'What amount of creativity does it take to make something that masses of people like?' And, 'How does creativity apply across the board?'"

Kanye West

"Sometimes when I see a bad performance and people still clap... I wonder if they're clapping because they liked what they saw or because they're happy it's over?"

Kanye West

"Success is the best revenge."

Kanye West

"If you have the opportunity to play this game of life you need to appreciate every moment. a lot of people don't appreciate the moment until it's passed."

Kanye West

"Creative output, you know, is just pain. I'm going to be cliche for a minute and say that great art comes from pain."

Kanye West

"Unbreakable, would you thought they called me Mr. GlassLook back on my life like the ghost of Christmas pastToys R Us where I used to spend that Christmas cashAnd I still won't grow up, I'm a grown ass kidSwear I should be locked up for stupid shit that I didBut I'm a champion, so I turned tragedy to triumphMake music that's fire, spit my soul through the wire"

Kanye West

"'You love me for me', could you be more phony?"

Kanye West

"When I had my accident, I found out at that moment nothing in life is promised except death."

Kanye West

"Yo, Taylor, I'm really happy for you, I'ma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time! One of the best videos of all time!"

Kanye West

"Know your worth! People always act like they're doing more for you than you're doing for them. Ask yourself this question, "Why would they do that?" Obviously, you bring something to the table for them to even do business with you."

Kanye West

"Life is 5% what happens and 95% how you react!"

Kanye West

"Would you believe in what you believe in if you were the only one who believed it?"

Kanye West

"I refuse to accept other people's ideas of happiness for me. As if there's a "one size fits all" standard for happiness"

Kanye West

"I hate when I'm on a flight and I wake up with a water bottle next to me like oh great now I gotta be responsible for this water bottle"

Kanye West

"They did good things too, we've got to stop dissing the Nazis all the time."

Kanye West

"The holiest day in Judaism was last week. Words matter. A threat to Jewish people ended once in a genocide. Your words hurt and incite violence [...] You are a father. Please stop."

Kanye West

"With Kanye, the arrogant thing always comes up, but think about what that does for your ability to make art. He doesn't even question himself as to whether he can do it or not. He does it fast and good, and he doesn't stop on the side of the road to wonder if he can do it."

Kanye West

"The one thing I fear for [West] the most is if you keep talking about being the greatest, people eventually are going to want to watch you fail. Those who crash and burn are far more interesting to watch than those who actually succeed."

Kanye West

"I've met with Kanye [...] The thing about hip-hop today is it's smart, it's insightful, and the way that [West] can communicate a complex message in a very short space is remarkable."

Kanye West

"I like Kanye, He's a Chicago guy. Smart. He's very talented. He is a jackass, but he's talented."

Kanye West

"@KanyeWest asked permission to sample a section of a 1983 live performance of “Iron Man” from the US Festival without vocals and was refused permission because he is an antisemite and has caused untold heartache to many. He went ahead and used the sample anyway at his album listening party last night. I want no association with this man!"

Kanye West

"[H]urtful, offensive and wrong. They perpetuate stereotypes that have been the basis for discrimination and violence against Jews for thousands of years. Words like this tear at the fabric of the Black-Jewish relationship. The Black and Jewish communities must stand together through incidents like this to make clear that trafficking in hateful stereotypes is unacceptable — and that the words of one entertainer do not reflect the views of an entire community."

Kanye West

"Nothing in life is promised except death."

Kanye West

"I thank Marc Jacobs so much for giving me the opportunity to design a shoe for Louis Vuitton, but the thing that broke my heart most was when they said, 'You're finished. The shoe's finished.'"

Kanye West

"I hate the way they portray us in the media. If you see a black family it says they're looting, if you see a white family it says they're looking for food."

Kanye West