Kanye West Talks Rakim and Phife Dawg During Rant on ‘Ellen’
After speaking with Drake yesterday, Ellen DeGeneres is going back to back with the high-profile rapper interviews, with Kanye West on today's (May 18) episode of her daytime talk show.
The two began by talking about Kanye's newborn son Saint, but after Ellen asked about Kanye's attempt to receive funding from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the rapper went on a mini-tangent about his own dreams and frustrations that ended with, "I’m sorry daytime television, I’m sorry for the realness."
At the heart of Kanye's words, which can be watched above, was a familiar message that he wants to be able to create to the benefit of society without being defined by perception or title. "I feel that if I had more resources, I could help more people. I have ideas that can make the human race's existence within our hundred years better, period," he said. "We're in a renaissance period. We're in a place where people are multidiscipline artists."
He then focused on the lack of diversity within this past year's Oscar nominations as an example of the seat at the table that often isn't reserved for people of his influence. "I was raised to do something, to make a difference. I didn’t take the Oscars as a joke. It was like the moment all black actors can talk about the glass ceilings we’ve dealt with out in this town. Chris Rock’s gonna do it. Talk about how many times you’ve been blocked from being able to excel. It ain’t no joke, as Rakim says. That’s what I was raised on, Rakim, Phife Dawg, hip-hop, expression."
"Are you connecting?" he asked. "Don’t tell me about being likable. We got 100 years here. We’re one race, the human race. One civilization. We’re a blip in the existence of the universe, and we’re constantly trying to pull each other down. Not doing things to help each other....I know it’s day time TV but I feel I can make a difference while I’m here. I feel that I can make things better through my skill set."
Kanye then drew a parallel between himself and Michael Jackson, saying that Michael had to fight to get his video on television but as a result, opened up the doors for so many to follow.
Watch Kanye's rant up top, while below he talks about having more children and plays the "5 Second Rule" with Ellen, where he admits that he smiles when no one is looking, the internet gets him in trouble with Kim and his bedside table has a Mac charger, a phone charger and a Rolex on it.