Going into the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night (Aug. 28), the subject on everyone’s mind was Kanye West and what was the rapper planning to do on stage. The designer/mogul was given four minutes of free time during the VMAs, to do or say whatever comes to mind. Before premiering the steamy music video for “Fade” starring Teyana Taylor, Kanye delivered a speech, where he discussed wanting Beyoncé to win “Video of the Year,” the infamous “Famous” video, and the Taylor Swift controversy behind the lyric on that same song.
Along with shouting out Puff Daddy, 2 Chainz, Chance the Rapper, and Jaden Smith, Yeezus praised his wife Kim Kardashian West and also named some of his creative idols. “My role models are artist merchants. There are less than 10 I can name in history. Truman, Ford, Hughes, Disney, Jobs, West,” he said.
One person that also got a shout out was Kanye’s ex-girlfriend Amber Rose. “I see you Amber,” said the 39-year-old loudly, as Amber nodded back stunned. That moment social media in a frenzy and got the Garden crowd going, as they cheered and applauded.
Watch Kanye’s full speech below.
Continue after the jump….
Kanye West’s VMAs Speech:
“I am Kanye West…and that feels really great to say, especially this year. I came here to present my new video. But before I do that, I’ma talk. Later tonight, “Famous” might lose to Beyoncé, but I can’t be mad. I’m also wishing for Beyoncé to win, so…
But for people to understand just how blessed we are…It was an expression of our “now” – our fame right now, us on the inside of the TV. The audacity to put Anna Wintour right next to Donald Trump. I put Ray J in it, bruh [laughs]. This is fame, bro. I see you Amber. My wife is a G. Not a lot of people’s wives would let them say that.
We came over in the same boat now we all in the same bed. Maybe different boats but, you know. If you think about last week there were 22 people murdered in Chicago. People come up to me like, ‘Yeah that’s right! Tell Taylor…’ Bro, I love all y’all. That’s why I called her.
I was speaking at the Art Institute last year, and one kid came up to me and he said, ‘Three of my friends died, and I don’t know if I’m gonna be the next.’ You have to think like, you know when you’re a senior and it’s the last month and you just don’t feel like doing any work. If you feel like you seeing people die right next to you, you might feel like what’s the point? Life could start to feel worthless in a way. I know times for me, I sit down and talk to older, rich people, a.k.a white…and my friend Zakaya told me, ‘Bruh bruh don’t compare yourself to these people.’ It’s three keys to keep people impoverished: that’s taking away their esteem, taking away their resources, and taking away their role models. My role models are artist merchants. There are less than 10 I can name in history: Truman, Ford, Hughes, Disney, Jobs, West.
Bro. Brooooo. Tonight we’re here to have fun. I’m standing in front of my idol, Puff Daddy, my wife, Kim Kardashian West, in front of Future, Chance The Rapper, 2 Chainz, Jaden Smith, bro. We are the influencers, the thought leaders. I’m going to play y’all a piece of my heart.”
"I came here to present my new video, but before I do that, Imma talk." – @kanyewest #VMAs https://t.co/ukVtlkcIsD
— MTV (@MTV) August 29, 2016
