Today (August 6), TMZ released excerpts from a transcript of Kanye West’s deposition in an assault case involving a paparazzi photographer.
“I’m in the business of trying to make dope shit for the world,” West says in one instance. “You’re in the business of representing scums and trying to make as much money as long as there’s this lapse in the law.”
During the interview, West also calls out Nate Goldberg, the photographer’s lawyer, for saying “niggas” when quoting West’s lyrics from “Flashing Lights.” The line quoted was: “I get flashed by the paparazzi, damn, these niggas got me.” West’s response?
“You have to ask for a hall pass,” he says. “You can’t just say the ‘n’ word around me. It offends me because you’re a White person saying ‘nigga.'”
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At this point, TMZ says West goes further, comparing the treatment of celebrities to the treatment of Black people in the 1960s in America.
“I mean in the ’60s people used to hold up ‘Die N****r’ signs when my parents were in the sit-ins also,” he says. According to the publication, Kanye is then asked “if he equates the struggle of blacks in the past with celebrities today.” To this, Kanye West reportedly says, “Yes, 100…I equate it to discrimination. I equate it to inequalities…We, as group of minorities here in L.A., as celebrities, have to band together to influence guys like this, guys trying to take the picture, guys trying to get the big win, guys trying to get the check.”
The publication says Kanye West also used sarcasm throughout the deposition, including a portion in which the rapper said “Earth,” when asked where he lives.
Last month, West spoke about his belief regarding the treatment of celebrities with GQ. According to West, his wedding toast included information regarding this topic.
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“What I talked about in it was the idea of celebrity, and celebrities being treated like blacks were in the ’60s, having no rights, and the fact that people can slander your name,” he said in the GQ article. “I said that in the toast. And I had to say this in a position where I, from the art world, am marrying Kim. And how we’re going to fight to raise the respect level for celebrities so that my daughter can live a more normal life. She didn’t choose to be a celebrity. But she is. So I’m going to fight to make sure she has a better life.”
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