Kanye 'Ye' West: Legendary rapper, music producer, and fashion designer (Yeezy, formerly with Adidas), and one of the wealthiest figures in entertainment. At the time he was running for president and embroiled in public controversy over antisemitic remarks.
What this episode covers
Recorded in October 2022 amid intense backlash over Ye's antisemitic tweets, the conversation centers on Ye defending and refusing to fully retract his claims that Jewish people control media and the music industry, while Lex Fridman repeatedly and personally pushes back, urging him to attack individuals rather than groups. Ye frames himself as a being with 'engineering opportunities,' rejects history and dwelling on pain, and casts his business grievances (lost Adidas, Balenciaga, GAP, and Louis Vuitton deals) as collusion. He weaves in views on abortion as 'genocide' against Black people, his divorce from Kim Kardashian, his fashion philosophy, and his vision for monasteries, water-city living cells, and the Parler platform. The episode ends with Ye offering an apology to Jewish people while still defending the substance of his claims.
Also referenced (named, not recommended)
Money for Nothing
Dire Straits
“Dire Straits Money for Nothing and your chicks for free. Look at that band... That video. Yeah, I know. It's a great video.”— Lex Fridman
Super Mario Bros.
Nintendo
“King Koopa has her in the castle right now and just on uh Mario Brothers, you know how it is. just keep go for the princess”— Kanye West
Big reveals from this episode
- Ye dismisses the Holocaust Museum, calling Planned Parenthood 'our Holocaust Museum' and equating abortion to genocide.
- Claims 90% of Black people in entertainment are tied to Jewish business people who control their voice.
- Says he learned of Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson via a text from Pete bragging about being in bed with his wife.
- Lex tells Ye directly: 'the artist formerly known as Kanye West doesn't care about Jewish people.'
- Recounts Bernard Arnault offering then withdrawing a Louis Vuitton-backed clothing deal, blaming 'collusion.'
- Says he won't back down on his statements until the music-industry contract problems change.
- Tells Lex 'I don't fucking trust you,' a turning point that visibly affects Lex.
- Ye offers a sincere apology to Jewish people, framing it as obedience to God.
Worth remembering
- Ye argues schools should teach only engineering and treat everything subjective as indoctrination.
- States 50% of Black deaths per year in the U.S. are abortions, calling the womb 'the most dangerous place for a black person.'
- Says his company has ~60 full-time employees but only two Black engineers, prompting a hiring pledge.
- Describes telling Adidas to drop the apparel side to pursue the Louis Vuitton deal that later collapsed.
- Claims he spent $5-10 million personally on Balenciaga while they paid him zero in royalties.
- Paid Demna $3 million from the GAP marketing fund to design a collection that under-delivered (60 of ~120 SKUs).
- Explains his zipper-hoodie design philosophy as enabling the 'douchebag' open-chest Vegas look.
- Pledges biodegradable clothing, noting elastic waistbands aren't biodegradable so jeans-and-belt is greener.
- Says he hopes his legacy is to be forgotten, like the anonymous designer of the stop sign or sidewalk.
- Admits being full of contradictions, cycling between celibacy and monk-like discipline and drinking Hennessy.