While accepting the Video Vanguard Award
during Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards, Kanye West said he felt
“conflicted” about interrupting Taylor Swift at the 2009 VMAs.
“I think, ‘If I had to do it all again, what would I have done?'”
mused West, while accepting the annual VMA for overall excellence in
music videos.
Later in his speech, he came to this conclusion: “I just wanted
people to like me more. But [forget] that, bro! [In] 2015, I will die
for the art, for what I believe in. And the art ain’t always gonna be
polite.”
Swift, who would win in several major categories (including Video of
the Year) Sunday night, presented West with the Video Vanguard Award.
She had been at a similar podium six years ago, when West protested her
VMAs win for Best Female Video.
“I have been a fan of his, since I can remember, because Kanye
defines what is to be a creative force in music, fashion and, well,
life,” Swift said Sunday, moments before West took the stage. “So, I
guess I have to say to all the other winners tonight: I’m really happy
for you, and I’mma let you finish, but Kanye West has had one of the
greatest careers of all time!”
Seated next to wife Kim Kardashian West, the rapper grinned during
Swift’s tribute and thanked her for being “gracious,” then adopted a
more serious tone. He cited some of the turmoil he’s experienced over
the past six years, including being booed by tens of thousands of fans
at a sporting event.
“You know how many times MTV ran that footage again, ’cause it got
them more ratings?” West asked. “You know how many times they said
Taylor was going to give me the [Vanguard] award, because it got them
more ratings? I still don’t understand award shows.”
He lightened the mood from time to time, admitting to the crowd how
he’d “smoked something” before his speech to knock “the edge off,” and
encouraged artists to express what they feel in the moment.
At the end of his speech, West spoke of even loftier aspirations. “As
you probably could have guessed by this moment, I have decided, in
2020, to run for president,” said West, who then dropped his mic.
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