He kept around 40 journalists waiting as he arrived fashionably late for a news conference in Auckland today, sporting his trademark dark glasses and designer threads.

He’s not afraid of admitting he does not plan to do any sightseeing while here.

“I’m going to sleep. All I want to see is the back of my eyelids,” he said. “The correct thing for me to say would be I’d go and see the capital, but I’m just going to perform really good, then I’m going to sleep.”

West is touring to promote his latest album, 808s & Heartbreak, which is hugely inspired by what’s been going on in his personal life. Check out the full video and see what he had to say.

Tyrese Ft. Kanye West - Don’t Say You Will (Remix)

For this issue, we’re talking to the people who inspire us, who give us something to talk about every issue. You, of course, do that, but also, by pushing the things we love to the masses, you’ve become almost like an ambassador for us.

Yeah, I just think about when Jay-Z would be like, “I do this for my culture, I do this for the hood.” I’m doing it for that. I’m doing it for where I came from being the only dude in my class that dressed in a certain way, and then finding there’s other people who think like me too, they just weren’t in my school. And I think that’s what the FADER kids are made of, people who were different or wanted something better than what was the norm. But I had to come to the realization, it wasn’t just the search for something different, but something better, a better solution. I never forget that. I just don’t want people to think that because I’m big I’m not into the same things I was into that made me big. For y’all to put me on the cover, it’s kinda dope. It feels like I’m on the right path.

Ye’ talks more about where he’s at in his career, his album 808’s & Heartbreak and much more at Fader.

Shouts to 2dope & OnSmash!

Common Ft. Kanye West - Punch Drunk Love

Common - Gladiator

For the iTunes release of 808s & Heartbreak, Brooklyn based artist KAWS has created a special a special album cover as well as some album art. Check it out after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

GLC Ft. Kanye West - Big Screen

Via Billboard:

Kanye West was arrested after an alleged assault outside a U.K. nightclub, but was released without charge, according to British press reports.

The 31-year-old artist was detained in the early hours of this morning (Nov. 14) after an incident involving a paparazzi photographer.

The incident took place outside the Tup Tup Palace club in Newcastle, north-east England, after West’s performance at Newcastle Arena last night.

Damn, Ye’ and photographers don’t mix too well. Relax, smoke a blunt and chill. Life could be worse. Anyway, check out what Kanye had to say after the incident after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

Most of the album has already leaked but I suppose that’s what happens these days. Ye’ wants to show us his emotional side this year and I can’t help but thinking back to Beanie calling him a fag. I wonder what he thinks now. Haters will be haters though. Track list after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

Via XXL:

Suge Knight apparently has his eyes on Kanye West’s money. The former Death Row mogul reportedly blames Kanye West for being shot at his Pre-MTV party at Miami’s Shore Club back in 2005.

Knight recently (09/12) filed a lawsuit in Bankruptcy Court suing West and The Shore Club for negligence, personal injury and premises liability. The court document states that in addition to being wounded, Knight also lost a 15-carat diamond studded earring worth $135, 000 inside the Shore Club. Suge claims an employee found the earring and assured it would be returned to him. The earring has yet to be returned. Knight also claims he was so embarrassed he had to flea Miami in a private jet.

Suge is seeking for all his medical expenses to be covered and “for damages for the loss of use and enjoyment of the earring.” Though he’s bankrupt, Knight secured a deal that will allow him to keep a percentage of the money should he win the suit.

Suge Suge Suge…I guess you have to try and get that money somehow. This dude needs to get his priorities straight.

More (unimpressive) Kanye.

Kanye West - Streetlights

Kanye West Ft. Lil Wayne - Tell Everybody That You Know