John Legend Opens Up About Kanye West’s Transformation: ‘He’s Not the Same Person I Once Knew’

by

In a recent interview with The Times (published May 10), singer John Legend is discussing his past friendship and subsequent estrangement from rapper Kanye West. He reminisced about their relationship, which began in the early 2000s, describing West as being intensely passionate and extremely talented at that time. Moreover, he noted that West harbored ambitious aspirations not just for himself, but also for everyone around him.

John Legend remarked, “He was brimming with optimism and creativity.” He added, “It can be disheartening, even shocking, to witness his current state.” During their collaboration on music, they grew particularly close during the time leading up to Kanye West’s debut album The College Dropout’s release in 2004.

It’s said that being near Kanye West during the early stages of his career offered him significant exposure. He himself mentioned that West skyrocketed to fame after producing Jay-Z’s album The Blueprint in 2001, and quickly became recognized as a solo act. During this period, Legend was accompanying him on tour, performing as both his vocalist and keyboard player. This collaboration also boosted Legend’s own visibility as an artist.

Earlier, numerous record labels turned him down, but West’s growing fame flipped that situation. Following the success of The College Dropout with 400,000 copies sold in its first week, there was a significant increase in interest towards his team. As Legend put it, those who once disregarded his music suddenly found it much more attractive.

When asked about the transformation of Kanye West throughout his years, Legend traced it back to a significant life experience. “I’m not qualified to delve into his psyche,” he noted, “but after his mother passed away in 2007, there was undeniably a shift. It appears that his change began then, and it seems to have intensified more recently.

Over the past few years, Kanye West has found himself in the spotlight due to a series of contentious actions. These include making remarks perceived as antisemitic and openly discussing his personal tribulations, notably around the matter of child custody with his former spouse, Kim Kardashian.

On the 30th of April, Kanye shared during a live broadcast that he was having difficulties spending time with his kids: North (age 11), Saint (age 9), Chicago (age 7), and Psalm (age 5).

In a video posted by Hollywood Unlocked, West stated, “Academics gave me an energy boost because I was at the airport alone…I’m going to pick up these children, man!” He added that he is in communication with his lawyers and the situation has become so difficult for him that he must learn to cope without seeing his kids often.

Read More

2025-05-11 12:37