OPINION

How We Could Have Predicted Kanye's 'Dragon Energy' Trump Tweet

All the clues lie in an interview we conducted with Yeezy right before his "psychiatric emergency" and first visit to Trump Tower.

Artist, designer, and rapper Kanye West returned to the newscycle this week with another outbreak of foot-in-mouth disease. On Wednesday, the Chicago native praised President Trump, calling him his brother and asserting that they are “both dragon energy.”

This isn’t the first time Yeezy has expressed his affection for Trump: In December 2016, he infamously mugged with the president-elect outside Trump Tower in New York, a month after he was hospitalized for a “psychiatric emergency”—an incident that occurred curiously close to his lengthy interview with Surface as our November 2016 Art Issue cover subject. Based on that conversation alone, we could have seen this coming.

In general, the hard part about interviews, for me, is the idea of two plus two equals four. I always refuse to land at four.
I don’t want to be a jerk, but there are certain people who are geniuses. Their emotional and social IQ is super high and they can get stuff done. Often, people who get really amazing stuff done have to cut off their emotional IQ.
I think business has to be stupider. I want to do really straightforward, stupid business—just talk to me like a 4-year-old.
I refuse to negotiate. I do not negotiate. I can collaborate. But I’m an artist, so as soon as you negotiate, you’re being compromised.
I just want to word this in a way that somehow puts an idea out there without people beating me up for saying it out loud: More people need to know that they’re not fucking cool.
Did I already answer this before and you’re not letting me know the answer?
This is turning into a 12-minute freestyle. Which is good. When I talk it’s like a painting.
I’ve said the successful man is the one who can afford to make the most mistakes.
You say sticks and stones can break your bones but words will never hurt you. I mean, look at Trump. I guess words can’t hurt you.
Maybe this will be an eloquent interview. It’s a 50/50 chance every time I open my mouth.
All Stories