Glastonbury 2015: 5 times Kanye West has ranted more than he's rapped on-stage

Yeezy's name is now synonymous with on-stage rambles

Jess Denham
Sunday 28 June 2015 13:41 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Bookies have been taking bets on how long Kanye West will rant for during his Glastonbury headline slot, that's how confident everyone is that tonight will see more of his 'conversational' style.

But will Yeezy top the 20-minute long rant he unleashed on Wireless festival-goers last summer? Now seems the ideal time to take a look back at Kanye's most memorable on-stage chatter - from the epic to the plain bizarre...

"George Bush doesn't care about black people!"

Kanye was presenting at a Hurricane Katrina benefit concert in September 2005 when he decided to go away with the prepared script and start ranting about how the then US president didn't give a damn about black rights. His mic was silenced but everyone still heard him and he later apologised.

"I hate the way they portray us in the media. You see a black family, it says, 'They're looting.' You see a white family, it says, 'They're looking for food,'" was how it began, so you get the idea.

Bush commented on the incident five years later saying he resented it because it was "not true and one of the most disgusting moments of his presidency".

"It's like they want to steal you from you and sell you back to you after they stole it!"

This was Wireless in 2014. Those poor people thought they were getting Drake as a headliner but he pulled out at the last minute and they got two nights of Yeezy instead.

Kanye insisted that this 20-minute chatter was all because he "just wants to be awesome" but we don't blame the crowd for booing when he could have played at least three songs in that time.

"You know, people be looking at me like I've got a problem or something," he began. "Like I'm so uncontrollable or something. Like I don't do what I'm supposed to do or something. You know, it's like they want to have everyone brainwashed."

"They want to control everybody with rumours, lies, media, marketing. It's like they want to steal you from you and sell you back to you after they stole it. They want to make you feel like less than who you really are. Because as far as I'm concerned everybody's a star."

Amazon Music logo

Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music

Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members)

Sign up
Amazon Music logo

Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music

Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members)

Sign up

"I ain't crazy I'm just not satisfied!"

Kanye stopped randomly halfway through "Clique" when playing in Atlantic City in 2012. Cue a long ramble about how much he loathes and detests the media and awards shows and the fashion industry and in fact just anyone who doesn't believe what he does and worship himself and "baby mama" Kim Kardashian". Coincidently that description of his wife was his announcement of her pregnancy with North. All very strange and unexpected.

"F**k the press!"

Kanye targeted the media yet again at Bonnaroo festival in Tennessee last year. His 2008 performance at the festival had been marred with controversy after he took to the stage hours late at 4.30am and branded the organisers "idiots". Turns out Yeezy holds a grudge...

"Last time before I got here they had 'F**k Kanye' on the port-a-potties. This time we're going to p*ss on them. Where the press at? F**k the press!"

"I'll crash the motherf**king internet when I feel like it!"

Declared at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in 2013 amid a rant about his autumn press campaign, the media (yes again, apparently he hates us) and the fashion industry (again). You heard him, better back up your photos from Facebook.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in