In a recent, unfiltered interview with DJ Akademiks, the outspoken artist expressed his candid assessment of the current state of rap's business landscape. He criticized what he perceives as a widespread lack of financial and legal understanding among his peers, arguing that many rely heavily on external expertise, often from foreign sources, to navigate the complexities of the music industry.
"None of these nggas [rappers] are as smart as me," West stated, his words sparking immediate reaction. "I can’t say for at the least, the tech dudes. That’s some other sht. But artists are dumb, bro. It’s like, they can’t even fcking count, bro. Jewish people and lawyers run their whole sht [businesses] like the contracts, the setups etc."
West went further, challenging the industry to prove him wrong. "Okay, go and ask them to run a whole record label without a Jewish person, I will take back what I had to say. Go and set up your whole TV network, make it run, no Jewish investor let me see how that works."
His comments highlighted a perceived disparity in business acumen, urging rappers to look beyond their immediate circle for models of success. He pointed specifically to the burgeoning global influence of Nigerian Afrobeats, the established financial prowess of Jewish investors, and the technological innovation of Chinese and Indian entrepreneurs.
"Until motherfckers can really get their stuff together like the Nigerians, the Chinese, the Jewish or like the tech Indian or some sht, everything I’m saying counts," West concluded.
This latest pronouncement from the artist, known for his boundary-pushing statements, has once again positioned him as a provocateur, challenging the industry to re-evaluate its business practices and embrace a more globally informed approach to success.