Yeezus talks: Classism, egomaniacs and The Matrix - highlights from Kanye West’s Oxford University lecture

Kanye spoke at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History earlier today.

2nd March 2015

Earlier today, Kanye West lectured for just under an hour at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

A last-minute booking from the Oxford Guild, Kanye spoke at length about subjects he explored in a recent interview with Zane Lowe. Putting emphasis on classism and why luxury items should be available for everyone, he also dug into the egomania of his previous albums and why new LP ‘So Help Me God’ will be a departure. He also admitted the Nicki Minaj out-performed him on ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’.

VERSA was there to liveblog the lecture in full. A selection of highlights can be found below.

On his ego:

“One of my biggest problems have been my ego. And if I, Kanye West, can remove my ego, I think there’s hope for everyone.”

On world peace:

“Imagine a world with no war, a world where everyone’s main focus was to help someone else. I was joking with an interviewer earlier today – they need to do an awards show for the Nobel Peace Prize.”

On the lies behind “luxury” marketing:

“I’m successful in learning about the beauty that is afforded rich people. But in learning that, growing up middle class, it’s something that’s beating out of my chest and screams out I WAS MIDDLE CLASS AND I DIDN’T GET TO SEE ANY OF THIS SHIT! So beauty has been taken from the people and sold back to them under the concept of luxury.”

On the BEST FILM OF ALL TIME (‘The Matrix)’:

“I said to Steve McQueen ‘the Matrix is like the Bible of the post-information age’. When a thousand guys come at Neo, that’s opinions attacking you from every which angle possible.”