Kanye West loves to give speeches — his own and other people's. Earlier this week, he broke new oratory territory with a pretty epic acceptance speech for...wait for it...a highly contested honorary doctorate from the Art Institute of Chicago. (The star attended Chicago State University for one semester, but dropped out to pursue music full-time.)
Let's review the highlights:
- The thematic opener killed it: "I am a pop artist, so my medium is public opinion, and the world is my canvas."
- As did his farcical entrance. Kanye walked off the stage BEFORE beginning his speech.
- The self-deprecation was a recurring theme. Yes, Yeezy seemed to be...making fun of himself.
- At one point, he said, "George Bush has some very cool self-portraits," for no discernible reason.
- He acknowledged "the nerves of humility and modesty when being honored," and called the experience "a humanization, a reality of being recognized."
- Before his speech, he was "shaking a little bit."
- Of course, he managed to slip in his other accolades, like topping Time's Most Influential list and lecturing at Oxford University.
- He made EVERYONE laugh.
- After the speech, he was hailed as "Dr. West!" Watch the whole shebang here:
- As did his farcical entrance. Kanye walked off the stage BEFORE beginning his speech.
- The self-deprecation was a recurring theme. Yes, Yeezy seemed to be...making fun of himself.
- At one point, he said, "George Bush has some very cool self-portraits," for no discernible reason.
- He acknowledged "the nerves of humility and modesty when being honored," and called the experience "a humanization, a reality of being recognized."
- Before his speech, he was "shaking a little bit."
- Of course, he managed to slip in his other accolades, like topping Time's Most Influential list and lecturing at Oxford University.
- He made EVERYONE laugh.
- After the speech, he was hailed as "Dr. West!" Watch the whole shebang here: