Kanye West to Audience: 'I Contemplated Suicide'

By PopEater / Wire Services Posted Oct 19th 2010 10:22AM

Kanye West told an audience at a screening of his film/extended music video, 'Runaway,' that he thought about killing himself, but now feels a responsibility to make a meaningful contribution to pop culture and art.

Describing himself as a pop icon and "soldier for culture," West, 33, told the crowd "there were times that I contemplated suicide." However, he said, "I will not give up on life again."

"There's so many people that will never get the chance to have their voice heard" as loudly as his, West said Monday. "I do it for them."

West, who didn't say when he had considered suicide, is credited as director of the abstract 35-minute film, which features portions of nine new West songs, boldly colorful visuals and off-kilter camera angles. The mostly dialogue-free piece, set to premiere this weekend on MTV, VH1 and BET, will accompany Kanye's upcoming album, 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,' which will be released Nov. 22.

PopEater Hit the Streets to Talk Kanye Album Art and 'Suicide' Talk >>

After a prelude featuring narration from rapper Nicki Minaj, West's character, Griffin, is seen driving a black MTX Tatra supercar down a country road. Lying next to a hole in the pavement is a phoenix fallen to Earth, played by model Selita Ebanks in pink, gray and brown feathers.

He takes her home and offers this advice: "First rule in this world, baby: Don't pay attention to anything you see on the news."

The phoenix sits on a lawn with a deer, rabbit and sheep, then joins West at a private parade featuring fireworks, a marching band and a float depicting Michael Jackson.

Playing over those visuals are West's next single, 'All of the Lights,' which he said features Elton John on piano and an all-star chorus including Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Fergie and John Legend.

Ballerinas in black tutus perform in a scene featuring his current single, 'Runaway.' When the tune ended, there was applause from both the on-screen and live audience. In attendance were Morgan Spurlock, Ryan Phillippe, Pete Wentz and others in the entertainment industry.

West told them that after a "long, hard year," he'd found his "creative sweet spot" by thinking like "a 5-year-old at all times." Besides his mother Donda West's death in 2007, West said he'd also lost three other parental figures in the last three years.

"Everything has been taken away from me," he said. "I'm so not ... scared. I so don't care."

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Kanye West Photos

Kanye West waves to fans in Hollywood, California. More Kanye photos >>

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Kanye West Snapshots

Kanye West Foundation Chief Executive Officer Joseph Collins (R) and Chicago Public School Chief Executive Officer Ron Huberman (second from right) are interviewed with students at the Kanye West Foundation's 3rd annual Stay in School event at the Farragut Career Academy on June 8, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Kanye West Foundation's 3rd Annual Stay In School Event Farragut Career Academy Chicago, IL United States June 8, 2010 Photo by Paul Warner/WireImage.com To license this image (60680843), contact WireImage.com

Kanye West Snapshots

Kanye West Foundation Chief Executive Officer Joseph Collins (R) and Chicago Public School Chief Executive Officer Ron Huberman (L) attend the Kanye West Foundation's 3rd annual Stay in School event at the Farragut Career Academy on June 8, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Kanye West Foundation's 3rd Annual Stay In School Event Farragut Career Academy Chicago, IL United States June 8, 2010 Photo by Paul Warner/WireImage.com To license this image (60680846), contact WireImage.com

Kanye West Snapshots

Musician Lupe Fiasco and musician/actor Common attend the luncheon on behalf of the Kanye West Foundation at Buca di Beppo Chicago on June 8, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. Kanye West Common & Lupa Fiasco Luncheon on Behalf of Kanye West Foundation Buca di Beppo Chicago Chicago, IL United States June 8, 2010 Photo by Barry Brecheisen/WireImage.com To license this image (60681258), contact WireImage.com

Kanye West Snapshots

CHICAGO - JUNE 08: Kanye West (L) and Common perform at the Kanye West Foundation's 3rd annual Stay in School event at the Farragut Career Academy on June 8, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kanye West;Common

Kanye West Snapshots

CHICAGO - JUNE 08: Common performs at the Kanye West Foundation's 3rd annual Stay in School event at the Farragut Career Academy on June 8, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Common

Kanye West Snapshots

FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2005 file photo, rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight is taken away by paramedics after he was shot in the leg at the Shore Club in Miami Beach, Fla. Knight, was shot once in the upper right leg by an unknown assailant at the star-studded party hosted by Grammy-wining hip hop artist Kanye West. More than four years later, Knight is claiming in a lawsuit that West and the Shore Club's owners failed to provide adequate security. Knight is seeking more than $1 million, including a 15-carat diamond earring he lost in the chaos. (AP Photo/Kim Tumey, File) NO SALES

Kanye West Snapshots

Singers Kanye West, Tony Bennett, Jennifer Hudson, Al Jardine, Jamie Foxx, Carlos Santana and others perform "We Are The World 25 Years for Haiti" pose for a group picture following the recording session held at Jim Henson Studios on February 1, 2010 in Hollywood, California. "We Are The World 25 Years For Haiti" Recording Session Jim Henson Studios Hollywood, CA United States February 2, 2010 Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com To license this image (59480499), contact WireImage.com

Kanye West Snapshots

Singers A.R. Rahman, Gladys Knight, will.i.am, Toni Braxton, Brian Wilson, Kanye West and others perform at the "We Are The World 25 Years for Haiti" recording session held at Jim Henson Studios on February 1, 2010 in Hollywood, California. "We Are The World 25 Years For Haiti" Recording Session Jim Henson Studios Hollywood, CA United States February 2, 2010 Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com To license this image (59480685), contact WireImage.com

Kanye West Snapshots

Singers Wyclef Jean, Kanye West and Jennifer Hudson perform at the "We Are The World 25 Years for Haiti" recording session held at Jim Henson Studios on February 1, 2010 in Hollywood, California. "We Are The World 25 Years For Haiti" Recording Session Jim Henson Studios Hollywood, CA United States February 2, 2010 Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com To license this image (59480534), contact WireImage.com

Kanye West Snapshots

Singers Natalie Cole, Kanye West and Jennifer Hudson perform "We Are The World 25 Years for Haiti" pose for a group picture following the recording session held at Jim Henson Studios on February 1, 2010 in Hollywood, California. "We Are The World 25 Years For Haiti" Recording Session Jim Henson Studios Hollywood, CA United States February 2, 2010 Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com To license this image (59480776), contact WireImage.com

Kanye West Snapshots

After the Taylor Swift incident last year, which he called "a moment of sincerity," West took a six-month break. (At the MTV Video Music Awards, Swift's acceptance speech for best female video for "You Belong with Me" was disrupted by West, who took the microphone to say Beyonce should have won instead for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).")

West said he moved to Rome and "was interning at Fendi" before finding the inspiration to get back to music.

He has hinted at the subject of suicide in his recent song 'Power,' which includes the repeated lines: "Now this would be a beautiful death – I'm jumping out the window, I'm letting everything go."

That song's remix is among the 10 tunes that West has released for free in recent weeks through his website, a buzz-building initiative he dubbed "G.O.O.D. Fridays" for his label imprint, Getting Out Our Dreams Music.

The producer-turned-rapper said that after 'Fantasy' – recorded in Hawaii with the likes of Q-Tip, DJ Premier, RZA and Pete Rock – he will release an album of songs with Jay-Z and another with Lupe Fiasco and Pharrell Williams under the name Child Rebel Soldiers.

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Tags: Kanye West, Runaway

Comments

(106)

Tuesday 19 October

By WHITEMAN

Vote down Vote up Report this

The only white girls who like nappy pubes are real fat white girls who can't get a white man to look at them. LOOK Around, see for yourself, its true.

By Gary

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

"hateful bullies"..........Irony. That describes West perfectly. As for hateful, as with most people who throw that insult around, you don't seem too sophisticated about real emotions. Contempt is not the same as hate. Few people actually hate Kanye West - but any person of character would have contempt for him. For good reason. He has no decency, at any level. Read his lyrics. Look at his behavior and you see a wastrel. He is hopelessly focused on the image in the mirror. He's also a wannabe gansta - what respect does he deserve when his secret desire is to be a womanizing thug?

By Andy V

mabey he should

By nalguy5

I really hope that Kanye can someday be a success in at least one suicide attempt! However, he is such a loser I don't think he can even get that right.

By Beauregard Shagwell

Just more hot air from a self-absorbed, untalented, irrelevant, gay loser. Kanye, next time please jump!

By xue

A few months ago, some swarovski young children, to the swarovski crystals family, and parents to tonsured happened last, some of the family ethics father to the "hard" swarovski sale might "lost" children, some shed tears, the mother pain ran to let the tears streamed ran out Swarovski earrings sale, soften the child.

By MO

Such an opportunist! I don't believe a word he says.

By Lita

I believe this man will say or do anything to get attention. Sadly, suicide (from bullying) is all over the news nowadays. And rightfully so. And now this *sshat tells us all about his contemplation of suicide. Somehow, I really doubt it.

By Nadine

I have long thought that Kanye's many antics and outbursts could be indicative of depression or some other psychological disorder, and not merely of his being a jerk, which he may also be. I hope he gets the professional help that he needs. I hope that those of you wishing him ill also get help; you need it as much as - if not more than - Kanye does.

By Evil Jack

Don't let the the concerns you THINK your fans have hold you back - Go for it,

By obamasahorsesass

kanye west is so full of himself.

Wednesday 20 October

By tomlord35

a racist and a jerk..who cares.,.

By tomcatdean

This guy is a real PEANUT HEAD!!!!!!!!

By Zelda

This man is by far one of the most self-absorbed, self-centered, egocentric obnoxious people I have ever seen. He could use a few servings of some humble pie.

By Jerry

Kanye, please swallow a lot of bleach.

By Inkjeans

Hey do any of you know what its like to be a genius? Oops I forgot about how simple regular people are!! You don't know what its like to be public figure and rich. You deal with haters on a different level. So yeah he's thought about it and I think it's cool that he's letting people know to Never Give Up!! Unlike many people he's not FAKE and let's people know how he feels and this is what I admire about him!! He keeps it real!!! He simply says what people are too fake and scared to say!! Is this what you hate about him????

By be

If he EVER needs help , ammo, pills, rope, razor blades or whateve I will be glad to help him out!!

By Kanye is a Dbag

Hey Kanye don't nibble on the barrel pull the trigger!

Thursday 21 October

By Chris

kanye is a douche.he's a lousy singer and an ego maniac to boot.he should've offed himself when he thought of suicide. obviously he's just an attention hound. DO IT ALREADY !

By Elixis

Kanye is a gay fish. Nuff said.

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