Kanye West Talks Learning To Respect Women + Getting Acknowledged By Established Fashion Designers

KANYE: WHEN I WAS A SINGLE RAPPER I WASN’T RESPECTING WOMEN THE WAY I NEEDED TO

(AllHipHop News) Kanye West was once again attempting to take over the entertainment world last week. After performing twice at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, the G.O.O.D. Music leader debuted his new Adidas collection in New York City on Thursday.

[ALSO READ: Kanye West Reveals Adidas Yeezy Season During NYFW]

Mr. West is never short on words, and he gave plenty to Complex in an interview. Ye spoke about his new “Yeezy Season 1” line. He also explained how working with his DONDA creative company and his relationship with wife Kim Kardashian caused him to evaluate his level of respect for women.

Kanye said:

Before, when I drove down the street I would see these brands and think they’re really desirable for a girl who would dream of one day walking in that runway show or something like that. And that’s a, you know, dated view and degrading to women, in a way.

Because when I was a single bachelor rapper, and with the access that I had, I realized that I wasn’t respecting women the way I needed to. God has an amazing way of teaching people, and literally for two years I lived with all alpha females and a daughter, you know? [Laughs] So I had to learn to really do what my mother taught me, and become the man she always knew I could be, and bow as a creative.

While West’s collection has faced some criticism, the “Power” rapper insists he has received positive feedback from his fashion designer friends like Riccardo Tisci, Alexander Wang, and Olivier Rousteing.

They support me one hundred percent. They sent flowers, emails, and just love. They know I’m in that design office. They know I’m there giving an opinion. They know the concept of celebrity designer is so far out the window.

I feel like I’m Eminem, you know? You don’t think “white rapper.” You just think Eminem. You don’t think celebrity designer, straight designer, black designer, all these types of things that kind of held me back conceptually in being accepted as a designer. You just think of those words. But when those moon boots come out, you put them on your feet and just swag out and go somewhere with your friends, those words don’t matter.

There were numerous celebrities in attendance at Kanye’s “Yeezy Season 1” fashion event. Kim K, Jay Z, Beyoncé, Diddy, and Anna Wintour were all seated in the front row. West’s latest song “Wolves,” featuring Vic Mensa and Sia, also premiered at the showcase.

[ALSO READ: Kanye West Taps Sia & Vic Mensa For “Wolves”]