Kanye West has explained why he threw his microphone to the floor at Donda 2 event.
It raised eyebrows during the event when Ye made the gesture. However, the artist has now explained that it resulted from a disagreement with a promoter over his creative vision. West says he was instructed to call the event a “performance” even though that clashed with his idea, which is why he lashed out.
“It wasn’t about the sound,” West explained in a new clip. “It was the fact that I was told, one thing I was told was that I had to write the word ‘performance’ on the piece. But what I was giving you guys was performance art.”
He continued: “I did these listening sessions when I dropped my album where I put a mask on and I give you this listening session and it’s an installation. And they basically forced me to mix Taco Bell and KFC. They basically forced to mix tequila with Cognac. So right when I did the song and I saw myself grabbing this mic and it wasn’t my original idea, I was like, ‘I’m gonna throw this mic. Why am I doing this?'”
Later in the clip, West brought up his Stem Player and his decision to reveal contract details in 2020, which he found a way to link to the microphone incident in Miami.
He added: “To have the ability to sell out a stadium…and then to be told by a promoter, ‘Still grab that mic, boy.’ I ain’t grabbing the mic if I don’t have to grab the mic.”
Ye also said he wanted fans to attend the event to see “what’s coming out of my mind” and something different from a traditional performance.