“We’re one race—the human race—one civilization, we’re a blip in the existence of the universe,” said the “The Life of Pablo” artist. “And we’re constantly trying to pull each other down, not doing things to help each other—I’m shaking talking about it—but I feel that I can make a difference while I’m here through my skill set—I’m an artist.”
The 38-year-old fashion designer intends to use fashion as a vehicle to connect people from all walks of life and live a “beautiful life.”
“It’s funny because I was sitting there with [President Barack] Obama and Leo’s [DiCaprio] is talking about the environment and I’m talking about clothes. And everyone looks at me like that’s not an important issue or something.”
He continued, “But I remember going to school in fifth grade and wanting to have a cool outfit. I called the head of Payless and I said ‘I want to work with you, I want to take all this information that I’ve learned from sitting at all these fashion shows and knocking on all these doors and buying all these expensive clothes and I want to take away bullying.’”
West credits Michael Jackson and Russell Simmons for paving the way for his success.
“There was a time when Michael Jackson couldn’t get his video on MTV, because he was considered to be ‘urban’—the Michael Jackson,“ he said. ”I literally have to be Michael Jackson of apparel in order to break open the doors for everyone that will come after I’m gone, after I’m dead.”
He added, “Isn’t that so funny that people point fingers at the people that influenced us the most? They talk the most [expletive] about the people who care the most. I’m sorry daytime television. I’m sorry for the realness.”
