Kanye West: “I Don’t Care About Selling”

Kanye West is weighing in again…but this time, it’s on himself.

Hitting the Governors Ball in NYC last night, the Rapper arrived at the event to debut new material from his forthcoming LP ‘Yeezus‘…and share his thoughts on why he no longer cares about selling records.

His words below…


“With this album we ain’t drop no single to radio. We ain’t got no NBA campaign, nothing like that. Shit, we ain’t even got no cover. We just made some real music. Like, back when I used to make albums and shit, a couple years ago, we’d go away and work on the album for months or something.

We’d always have to hold the album to like August, or September or till the perfect moment and shit. Because it mean that ‘I think would sell more if it get more audience and shit.’ But honestly at this point when I listen to radio, that ain’t where I want to be no more.

Honestly at this point, I could give a fuck about selling a million records as long as I put out an album for the summer that y’all can rock to for all fuckin’ summer… At this point I don’t really give a f*ck about outside opinion.”

 As a performer whose sales have oft put many a Pop Princess to shame, we’re sure we’re not the only ones surprised by West’s remarks.

For, it’s pretty interesting that he’s developed such disdain for the machine that put him on the pedestal he now looks down on it from.

Of course, while the simplistic nature of the project should see him cut costs and reap greater profits than he would have done had he gone the ‘mega campaign’ route, there are some who feel his strategy this time around is more lazy than it is artistic.

A ploy, according to some, to claw back his credibility as a musician’s (and not a celebrity) after kissing it away with every public appearance made with Tabloid Tammy herself, Kim Kardashian.

Basically…it’s hard to keep it real when one’s brand is smothered in fake.

Watch his performance from last night here!

Your thoughts?

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  1. Raissa June 10, 2013

    Sometimes I just gets to that point. When you have sold enough records and won a lot of awards. You just want to make music that you love and that makes you happy. Thats when you can reveal your true artistry. I respect artist that do that. Beyonce did the same thing with 4. It really brings out their creative side when they’re not trying to apeal to the public.

    • PopBoogie June 10, 2013

      Beyonce didn’t do anything! She just flopped!

    • RIRI SLAY June 10, 2013

      F*** you beyonce didn’t do no s*** she flopped in HD.

      • N00R June 10, 2013

        Sold more than your fav though

    • Anne June 10, 2013

      @RAISSA,
      I completely agree. Those who enjoy real music realize that radio is leaning toward a very unattractive format. Some artists don’t want to focus on commercial success for every album forever. Sounds like he is to the point where he just wants to make music that he loves for his fans and doesn’t want to have to worry about creating commercial music that will be fully marketed and force fed to millions. Beyoncé made the same decision before recording ‘4.’ I think it’s great that more artists have taken advantage of the position that they have earned that allows them to make these sort of decisions. It will have a positive impact on the quality and authenticity of music in general.

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  2. Chile Please!! June 10, 2013

    I’m so mad at his vest with the matching colored bag…..how you doing Ms. Keyona Nine West!!!

    • Carpe Diem. June 10, 2013

      LOOOL!

    • Charlie June 10, 2013

      Haaaah

  3. Carpe Diem. June 10, 2013

    His music sells anyway! Regardless!

    • quis June 10, 2013

      agreed bra

  4. thisisafact June 10, 2013

    He might not care about album sales but im sure his record label does…

    • bigrack obama June 11, 2013

      well, since he’s on his own label, I’m guessing they don’t care either…

  5. the real xoxo June 10, 2013

    i can’t wait!
    better than these bubblegum rappers compromising themselves for hits.

    • RDK June 10, 2013

      lock you @ss up,kanye is a hypocrite don’t act like you don’t know that you on your hating sh-t as usual i see..i respect Kayne thought he a great artist, i will always put him above Eminem jay-z and whoever else down that line.

  6. Charlie June 10, 2013

    I’m sure doesn’t, he sold out a long time ago.

  7. Tisha June 10, 2013

    “Basically…it’s hard to keep it real when one’s brand is smothered in fake.”

    People always compliment the writing on this blog and I always dismiss it as being okay, but that line right there? Excellent and absolutely true. The problem with Kanye is he has more drama than most female singers with or without Kim. He’s always ranting or bitching about something, and then showing himself to be a hypocrite.

    He’s all about the music but who was wearing the white mask while performing and calling his song “Yeezus”. I get so tired of all his issues with industry but at the same time you know the second he doesn’t sell enough or win an award he throws another tantrum.

    Kim is another tantrum waiting. Right now he’s all “My baby mama” but in a few weeks/months it’ll be “This b**** trapped me” “She was always looking at the dollars and not me”.

  8. DOSSOME June 10, 2013

    He’s just saying that because he knows his arrogant ass will sell regardless…if it were Bjork,Nas,Lupe Fiasco or Kelis saying this,i might have believed it,BUT KANYE,Hell NO…But his gimmick works,just that he lost me after GRADUATION.

    • POP ROYALTY (Bohemian Grove) June 10, 2013

      he lost me after he got married to the anti-christ of pop culture.

      • whenindoubtthetruthwillout June 10, 2013

        I agree with you, but they are not married.

  9. Mya June 10, 2013

    Oh please Kanye. You know you will sell regardless that’s why you can say that. The whole no image on the front of the album and naming it ‘Yeezus’ is to GET attention. Boy bye.

  10. Navy Sailor June 10, 2013

    No single, no nba campaign, no album cover but hella controversy lol. I predict 300-350k first week…..

  11. POP ROYALTY (Bohemian Grove) June 10, 2013

    i don’t believe This Rant.

    *leaves Post*

  12. N00R June 10, 2013

    I do respect that.

    **adds to my “I Wanna Lick His Balls” list***

  13. rih rox June 10, 2013

    Kanye is a w****.

    • N00R June 10, 2013

      **looks at your name***

  14. FAF June 10, 2013

    Kanye has such a strong fanbase, boys idolize him & wear whatever he wears there are sites dedicated to dressing and emulating his style . Rappers copy him. So he will always be legendary!

    • Honeygal June 10, 2013

      Ugh I hate to agree with you…but agreed.

    • yea whateva June 10, 2013

      Dont nobody dress like him. Speak for yourself!

      • Savannah June 10, 2013

        They do. Kanye pretty much started the whole “preppy” “metrosexual” style in hip hop. Pharell had the skater thing, and Kanye had the preppy.

  15. POP ROYALTY (Bohemian Grove) June 10, 2013

    @Sam :

    I know Why you Deleted the beyonce post, Don’t worry. 😉

    • FAF June 10, 2013

      What Beyonce post

  16. rih rox June 10, 2013

    Why was the Beyonce post deleted???

  17. RoyalKev June 10, 2013

    I have a tremendous amount of respect for Kanye because he’s always spoken from the heart (whether it was right or wrong). He’s not anyone’s puppet and even if you don’t agree with him, you can at least respect his position on just about any matter (his mentor Jay Z, Taylor Swift, Pres. Bush, Katrina, etc). He’s one of the few brave enough to not give a damn about the label standards or politics that go on. People may laugh at him and call him dramatic, but he’s not lying about the state of this industry. Radio sucks and artists these days are not taking their “art” seriously. It’s all about inflation and false hype. “Singers” produce one microwavable hit after another. Everyone sticks to the formula and very few have a distinctive sound. If this man want to be more about musical integrity than watering down his music to play by someone else’s rules, I’m all for it!

    • DOSSOME June 10, 2013

      I never for once expected you to be this gullible…I respect your opinion though

      • RoyalKev June 10, 2013

        I get it! …People these days think EVERYONE is always plotting and scheming. That may be because 95% of the industry is restoring to that in these desperate times. People just choose to ignore it when it comes down to their favs (and give them passes), while they seek pleasure in attacking all the others for it. I’m not saying that Kanye hasn’t pulled a gimmick or two in the past, but some of his motives line up with a few of his actions. He could have maneuvered differently when it came down to certain choices if he wasn’t being sincere, but instead he seems to be making chart success difficult for himself. That album cover is just horrendous and its makes for terrible marketing. The whole radio thing could be contrived, but Kanye isn’t even showing concern about other rappers moving up their album release dates to compete with him. I just personally think he can make a bigger splash with this album if he wanted to. So, I’m convinced he’s not targeting commercial success.

  18. KD June 10, 2013

    I’ve never come across someone as self-centered as this man UGH… I bet he sucks his own d***. Hey Kanye, if you aren’t interested in selling you can always leak your s***…just a thought.

    • sallyone June 10, 2013

      lol yea he probably do suck his own d***…but the boy is a genius with it….

      • N00R June 10, 2013

        What’s wrong with that?

        I even used to suck my own balls and swallow my c** too . .

  19. JuanR June 10, 2013

    But honestly at this point when I listen to radio, that ain’t where I want to be no more.

    THIS!

  20. MISHKA June 10, 2013

    “It’s hard to keep it real when one’s brand is smothered in fake”

    ——————-

    Quiet as it’s kept.

    And d*mn at Kanye Omari West trying to go all artistic on us: no promo, no campaign and stuff. Chile please.

    Your woman is about to pop. Kim is about to pop in L.A.! You’ll get more publicity than you ever dreamed of, Kanye. Who you tryna fool with that BS?

    We just don’t believe you Kanye. Not anymore.

  21. aRRON June 10, 2013

    Yall hate the Dark Music: But ya’ll dont say nothing about the molly, strip club, trap music that is shoved down your ear on a daily basis with zero substance.

    Ya’ll hate that he called the album Yeezus: the name Jesus Christ has power and makes demon run. The name Yeezus is nothing more than a name and has no power. Ya’ll gave the name more power than it really has.

    I am a God: God said that there are other Gods and he is the “one true God”. Do you think God is trembling because a mere mortal man titled a song “I am God” or Yeezus. Are demos running scared on June 18th?

    SO you guys are saying that Kanye’s new music is dark and demonic. So what the hell is molly music, trap music, or weed music. Remember that the devil makes things easily digestible so that you will not feel like its demonic.

    Yeezus is coming with a message that you will not like. It will not be your carefully package spoon feed music that you want.

    I for one like the New Kanye he’s come full circled and understands the power that he has. No other artist has the power that he has. Jay z is tied to corporate sponsors that will not allow him to say certain things, without losing sponsorship dollars

    New Slaves: If you don’t get it then you guys are just that New Slaves.

    Let the thunbs down begin because supporting yeezy is not a popular lane

  22. Meena June 10, 2013

    I dont really listen to his music but ima give this album a chance. I like the songs he released so far. I never thought knye and kim were going to last but when she got pregnant damn.

  23. Savannah June 10, 2013

    Kanye is a spoiled, bratty, entitled, arrogant asshole but hes a musical genius! Rappers have very short shelf lives, but Ye has been around for ten years. Still making good music, still setting trends and still selling albums. Personal life, and antics aside—I have enjoyed each and every one of his albums. He keeps me on my toes, musically. You never know what you’re gonna get from him. I salute that man for his versatility alone. “Yeezus” will be in my hand next Tuesday, and I can’t wait.

  24. ENOUGH ONIKA (KMART QUEEN) June 10, 2013

    Good, cause I don’t care to buy that sh*t….

  25. JER June 10, 2013

    B*******.

    If he didnt care about selling he would have just released the damn album. Not pimped out how he has an album coming out with no singles yet made a video for a song. For not wanting to sell, he sure is reminding everyone he has an album out… That he doesn’t are if it sells……………. But remember he has an album coming out.

  26. bigrack obama June 11, 2013

    He does look like a hypocrite with Kim but I think he just wanted to be like Jay and have a high profile wifey type.. Remember “big brother”? but like his rants sometimes, he didn’t think it through enough.

    Regardless, ‘Ye is better than most you hear so he can act as bitchy as he wants.

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