Current Events > Kanye West: "I've NEVER read any book"

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Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has never been one to mince words or opinion. On Friday, he said reading is not his forte and claims he never reads books.

Speaking on a podcast episode of Alo Yoga's "Alo Mind Full" podcast, which was tabbed "Ye: Music and Fashion Icon," Ye said he's a bigger fan of "good conversation" and talking as a way of learning. He compared learning through reading to one of his least favorite foods.

In response to the podcast's host, Alyson Wilson Ye said: "I actually haven't read any book," Ye said.

"Reading is like eating Brussels sprouts for me. And talking is like getting the Giorgio Baldi corn ravioli," comparing talking to a famous pasta dish that's served at Santa Monica restaurant Giorgi Baldi.

Ye's contempt for reading didn't just stop at books in the podcast interview. He expressed disdain with having to read long text messages, admitting to often only reading the first and last paragraph of those.

And this man ran for president....

And this man ran for president....

Scary to think about...

And this man ran for president....

Unless you really like it for a hobby, I can't really imagine sitting down to read a book these days tbh. With the little free time there is, I'd much rather be hanging with family/friends, watching tv/movies, listening to music, or playing video games.

Pretty sure he's just lying for no reason lol

I don't see how anyone can consider themselves a competent lyricist without a deep understanding of poetry. Of course Kanye's lyrics are just as bad as the rest of his music so it makes sense that he doesn't read any books.

You can learn poetry from others performing poetry from what was originally learned from books. It's why the book isn't as necessary anymore. Just because something was first, doesn't mean it's the best version. In fact, it's usually the opposite. Written poetry deserves all the respect for it's place as the original and ability to inspire everything after it. But there's a difference between influence and modern usefulness. Just because if you take consideration of all time periods, it's the biggest influencer. That doesn't mean it's currently the only way to learn or even the best. That's silly. This is just what nostalgia feels like. Thinking because something was the first, it's automatically the best form and always will be. It completely ignores that society constantly advances and builds onto itself

I don't see how anyone can consider themselves a competent lyricist without a deep understanding of poetry. Of course Kanye's lyrics are just as bad as the rest of his music so it makes sense that he doesn't read any books.

Oral poetry came first. Rhyming schemes were necessary mnemonics to know the lyrics because they were never written.

The Greeks were the first to write their poetry down first IIRC. Legends like Gilgamesh or Beowulf were written down centuries after they were just campfire songs.

Regardless there's a strong correlation between people who read a lot and people who write well.

You look at someone like Rza and he's extremely well read and his lyrical diversity is far above many other rappers. Even something as simple as reading the Qur'an helps.

Unless you really like it for a hobby, I can't really imagine sitting down to read a book these days tbh. With the little free time there is, I'd much rather be hanging with family/friends, watching tv/movies, listening to music, or playing video games.

Pretty sure he's just lying for no reason lol

Anyway, My argument was basically that it does help, but discluding people or saying stuff like "oh, that's why they're bad" just because they don't read classic poetry isn't very forward thinking.

Pretty sure he's just lying for no reason lol

I am just taking a dig at Kanye. While not reading probably doesn't help, it's not really the only reason I don't like his music.

I also don't believe he's literally never read a book: