# Why does Kanye West continue to try and test the boundaries of assholish behavior? \[VMA Spoiler\] **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 14, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991 "2009-09-14T01:55:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991/81 "2009-09-14T15:03:17Z")
> [@Indygrrl](#): > > I think the ONLY reason Kanye is relevant is because of his music. A musician is only relevant because of his music? Novel idea. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991/82 "2009-09-14T15:06:04Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I don’t know \*for sure \*this was all staged, but I’d bet two dollars to one that it was. Given the camera-friendly nature of the two incidents, the recent history of the MTV Awards and seemingly outrageous but wholly orchestrated events happening there, and the awards’ nonetheless decreasing relevance and appeal, a stunt like this is just too perfect to be real. Yep, it’s all just a little to convenient. I don’t see him “bum rushing” the stage anywhere, he just seems to appear out of nowhere. No killing the mic, no moving the cameras off him, no one to get in his way. Too nicely staged. I called the Eminem/Bruno stunt as staged early on while others said “no way, not staged.” This was just more manufactured drama courtesy of MTV. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991/83 "2009-09-14T15:07:54Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Whether or not it was staged and whether or not **Paleface** is a racist-- Kanye West is still an incredible ass and does not care if people think he’s one. This is an eminently reasonable position and I endorse it 100%. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991/84 "2009-09-14T15:08:05Z")
Beyonce shows herself to be one class act and a genuinely good person. The opposite of the douchebag that is Kanye West. I’d like to see that punk try his egomaniacal classless shit on 50-Cent or some one else that would put him in his place. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991/85 "2009-09-14T15:15:07Z")
> [@Indygrrl](#): > > I think the ONLY reason Kanye is relevant is because of his music. He is one of the most innovative producers/rappers/artists of the last several years. I find it hard to believe that anyone who has listened to him would claim that his music is comprised of “5th grade grammar,” etc. It’s one thing to dog someone out based on their behavior, but you can’t discount his significant contribution to music just because he happens to be an ass. > [@](#): > > And I was almost famous, now everybody loves Kanye > I’m almost Raymond’ > Some say he arrogant. Can y’all blame him? If this is innovation, I want nothing to do with it! I also thought it was hilarious how he knew one of his albums would be famous because he put a line about how he has a white friend who looks like Michael Jackson. Because no one’s ever made an observation about MJ looking light skinned before. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991/86 "2009-09-14T15:18:48Z")
> [@Cat\_Fight](#): > > [Yes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mVEGfH4s5g) How do we know that’s the video he was talking about if it wasn’t even nominated? That’s not the only video Beyonce did this year, is it? (I’m just going off the odds here - the woman pumps out an insane amount of music.) > [@DigitalC](#): > > We had this same discussion last year with the Bruno/Eminem stunt and the consensus was that there is simply no way anything that hasn’t been rehearsed hundreds of times happens at a VMA. That was actually only a couple months ago. How often are they doing these things now? ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991/87 "2009-09-14T15:21:54Z")
> [@Indygrrl](#): > > I think the ONLY reason Kanye is relevant is because of his music. He is one of the most innovative producers/rappers/artists of the last several years. I find it hard to believe that anyone who has listened to him would claim that his music is comprised of “5th grade grammar,” etc. It’s one thing to dog someone out based on their behavior, but you can’t discount his significant contribution to music just because he happens to be an ass. I think you and I understand different definitions for the following: innovative 5th grade grammar significant contribution ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991/88 "2009-09-14T15:25:19Z")
You could easily find silly lyrics from just about every musician out there. One little stanza doesn’t prove anything. If his music isn’t your cup of tea, ok, but let’s not pretend that the guy is a talentless hack who writes music at a 5th grade level. It’s simply not true. People who dislike hip hop seem to want to dismiss it because of the simplicity of some of the lyrics, without ever taking into account all of the other factors that go into making a great hip hop song. Written by Kanye West: ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/gWzlD7Lc6w8/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/gWzlD7Lc6w8?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque And I’d also say that the video is pretty clever as well. Another song w/Kanye: ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FG5cFYMuZb4/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/FG5cFYMuZb4?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque Just a fun song that he contributed to, but I think his involvement played a huge part in the success of the song and it certainly didn’t hurt Estelle’s career. From his Wiki page: > [@](#): > > West gained fame by producing for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z’s album, The Blueprint as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and Janet Jackson. His style of production originally utilized pitched-up vocal samples from soul songs incorporated with his own drums and instruments. However, subsequent albums saw him broadening his musical palette and expressing influences ranging from '70s R&B, to synth-pop, and classical music. > > [About.com](http://About.com) ranked Kanye West #8 on their “Top 50 Hip-Hop Producers” list.[8] On May 16, 2008, Kanye West was crowned by MTV as the year’s #1 “Hottest MC in the Game.”[9] Again, the guy is an ASS. But he’s not a talentless ass. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991/89 "2009-09-14T15:25:43Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > That was actually only a couple months ago. How often are they doing these things now? I think the Bruno thing was actually at the MTV Movie Awards. Fuck knows why MTV does movie awards, of course. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991/90 "2009-09-14T15:28:04Z")
Not one person would be talking about the VMAs today if something shocking hadn’t happened, i don’t want to say Kanye is not a jackass but this was completely staged fake drama. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991/91 "2009-09-14T15:28:09Z")
Though I would never eliminate the possibility that it was staged, I think it was an actual moment. This would require Kanye willing to take a huge PR hit and Taylor Swift having her moment of winning an VMA become YouTube fodder. The only winner here is Beyonce… who didn’t need the publicity. I imagine at an awards show, performing talent is always floating around backstage. It’s not like he climbed on stage from the crowd. As the proud owner of a “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people” shirt, I am putting that sucker in the cold freeze. Kanye is annoying as shit, and the bottom line, it was a tacky-assed thing to do to a 17 year old. Let her have her moment, asshole. I agree he wouldn’t have done it to a guy, and it instigates the whole race issue with him. I understand he’s a talented rapper (I only know his crossover stuff), but he is becoming one of America’s leading douchebags. For everyone’s sake, I hope you never address a crowd with Kanye West and Joe Wilson in the vicinity. **DigitalC** , I think there would be plenty to talk about. MJ’s tribute with Janet was brilliant, as was Madonna’s speech. Lady Gaga did a kooky ass performance. In fact, in a lot of ways Kanye pissed on the grave of MJ by stealing the headlines from that performance to make it about him. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991/92 "2009-09-14T15:28:30Z")
If I were planning the MTV outrage of the day, the next one would be someone on stage calling Kanye a stupid nigger. Add a million more outrage points if a white person does it. I’d pick Emenem. ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991/93 "2009-09-14T15:30:01Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > If I were planning the MTV outrage of the day, the next one would be someone on stage calling Kanye a stupid nigger. Add a million more outrage points if a white person does it. I’d pick Emenem. That outrage would be justified. I hate that word and all contexts in which its used. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991/94 "2009-09-14T15:30:11Z")
I wasn’t all that impressed by “Heartless” either. I still don’t get this genius label. At best it sounds mediocre, and at worst it sounds like crap. Pretty much every lyric of his just sounds so banal to me. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991/95 "2009-09-14T15:32:06Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I think the Bruno thing was actually at the MTV Movie Awards. **Fuck knows why MTV does movie awards, of course.** They’re trying to justify keeping the **M**. ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991/96 "2009-09-14T15:35:49Z")
> [@Palooka](#): > > Actually, this was probably some pre-arranged drama bomb from Viacom. I’d have to agree with this. Awards ceremonies, especially this one, live off the contreversery now. If this or something similar hadn’t happened, who’d really be talking about the VMA’s (except MTV spokespeople) today? Also, he ‘rushed the stage?’ Really? Looked like he walked on with a live mic. If it was spontaneous, I’d suspect -having- a live mic would’ve been difficult, and if he was doing something the director of the show didn’t approve of / plan, his audio would’ve been cut. Simple as that. Sure, it’s negative publicity, but it’s getting people to watch clips of the VMA’s and keep the names of various singers on their lips for at least another day. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991/97 "2009-09-14T15:39:58Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > As the proud owner of a “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people” shirt, I am putting that sucker in the cold freeze. Kanye is annoying as shit, and the bottom line, it was a tacky-assed thing to do to a 17 year old. Let her have her moment, asshole. I just submitted a “Kanye West doesn’t care about Beyonce” t-shirt design to [bustedtees.com](http://bustedtees.com). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991/98 "2009-09-14T15:43:11Z")
> [@ArrMatey](#): > > Also, he ‘rushed the stage?’ Really? Looked like he walked on with a live mic. If it was spontaneous, I’d suspect -having- a live mic would’ve been difficult I was wondering about that myself. I’ve never been backstage at the VMAs, but I’d assume that there aren’t live mics just lying around. Oops, watched it again, and Banquet Bear is right. He definitely took Swift’s microphone. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991/99 "2009-09-14T15:44:36Z")
> [@ArrMatey](#): > > I’d have to agree with this. Awards ceremonies, especially this one, live off the contreversery now. If this or something similar hadn’t happened, who’d really be talking about the VMA’s (except MTV spokespeople) today? > Also, he ‘rushed the stage?’ Really? Looked like he walked on with a live mic. If it was spontaneous, I’d suspect -having- a live mic would’ve been difficult, and if he was doing something the director of the show didn’t approve of / plan, his audio would’ve been cut. Simple as that. Sure, it’s negative publicity, but it’s getting people to watch clips of the VMA’s and keep the names of various singers on their lips for at least another day. …no, it doesn’t look that way. Watch the footage: he obviously took Taylor Swift’s microphone and then gave it back to her after he finished speaking. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991/100 "2009-09-14T15:44:56Z")
> [@Dante](#): > > > [@Enderw24](#): > > > > I would have preferred “Taylor Swift’s video sucked” but “Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time” isn’t bad. Kanye West spoke “truth to power” and what’s wrong with that? > > Hmmm, the troll support usually shows up within 20 posts. It took 44 this time. I assume the next support post will mention how Kanye was “keepin’ it real”. Enderw24, fwiw, _ **I** _ got it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kanye-west-continue-to-try-and-test-the-boundaries-of-assholish-behavior-vma-spoiler/509991.md?page=6)