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Kanye West spent 6 minutes âpreachingâ to the crowd, left stage, then returned to go on about Nike
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Disney and Louis Vuitton mentioned in Kanye West rant
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Video shows Kanye West rant from Washington D.C.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) â" Kanye West continued to vent at former partner Nike, taking to the mic during a concert again this week to complain about his treatment by the sports apparel company.
West spent more than 6 minutes talking and singing about the company during his âThe Yeezus Tourâ stop Wednesday night at the Bridgestone arena in Nashville, Tenn. Taking on the role of a preacher in the cult of personality, West talked to the crowd about following a dream, creativity and culture, alluding to the media and corporations who he feels have tried to keep him from expressing himself fully.
The 36-year-old rapper then started to leave the stage, but in a feint returned to launch into a long discussion that was alternately esoteric, comic and emotional.
âDo you know who the head of Nike is?â West asked the crowd as he prowled back on forth on an arrowhead-shaped stage in a white mask. âNo, well let me tell you who he is: His name is Mark Parker, and he just lost culture. Everyone at Nike, everyone at Nike, Mark Parker just let go of culture.â
West has said in interviews recently that heâs now partnering with Adidas. He first released his Air Yeezy shoe in 2009. Heâs chafed recently during interviews at being categorized as just a musician, and told the crowd he has the Internet and the stage from which he can speak directly to his fans.
âIâm talking directly to you. No miscommunication,â West said. âDid you not want the Yeezys? Nike would make you believe it was my fault that you couldnât get them, but that was not the case. I wanted there to be as many Yeezys as there was LeBrons, and I wanted them to be at a good price, but that was not my choice, and weâre going to change everything. And ⦠Iâm going to create more than you think that any musician in the history of time ever could have.â
West also put his displeasure into song to the delight of the crowd, noting with the help of Auto Tune and piano in the background that even though Nike wouldnât take his call, other forward-thinking companies will.
âI talked to the head of Disney today,â West sang. âAnd I talked to the head of Louis Vuitton today. I swear to God on my life, I talked to them both today. I swear to God I talked to them both, and they wished me a Happy Thanksgiving. I said, âI want to talk about something that isnât turkey day. I want to talk about something different. I want to talk about dreaming.ââ
In the video below, Kanye West launches into a similar rant in Washington DC. Â He starts yelling about Nike at approximately 15:41 in the video. Â Enjoy!
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Follow AP Music Writer Chris Talbott
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