Rumor has it Kanye West is off to India to clear his mind. Just last week he canceled his ambitious "Fame Kills" tour with Lady Gaga. Now the troubled rapper has reportedly booked a month at Hindu guru Sri Aurobindo's ashram in Pondicherry, India. This announcement comes less than a month after West's now legendary onstage meltdown during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at September's MTV Video Music Awards. West has become the butt of a litany of jokes in the wake of the outburst; even President Obama weighed in on the matter, calling West a "jackass" off the record in an interview.
West has already apologized profusely for the incident, on his blog, over the phone in a direct call to Swift and during his harrowing Jay Leno Show appearance. How much penance is too much? [NME]
I immediately thought of the Beatles when I first heard this. I have a dream that this will result in some really awesome music, like how his obsession with Japanese culture led to those amazing taiko drums all over 808s and Heartbreak. Imagine what sounds he'll pick up over there.
Exactly. It may be that this results in some great stuff. It's worked in the past.
October 13, 2009 at 9:16 a.m.
max
And where there's a news story, there's self-proclaimed Hindu pope Rajan Zed. Sucking up to all the pop idols thinking it will get him credibility.
October 13, 2009 at 9:16 a.m.
Lee
If we're lucky he will stay over there and never come back!
October 13, 2009 at 11:48 a.m.
Stephon
Am I the only one who thinks that the VMA incident was a big deal because the person Kanye offended was a pretty, skinny blonde? Would it be as big of a deal if it were Keri Hilson or Keyshia Cole? Probably not. Having said that, what he did was asinine, but I am a huge fan and will continue to be. This alleged trip to India further cements his status as a biggest rock star of the decade since Mr. Mathers in his prime.
October 19, 2009 at 3:23 p.m.
PB
the VMA incident only reflects a lack of common decency - to anyone. It has nothing to do with what the target looks like. To suggest that is to also suggest that the only reason Beyonce ceded the spotlight to Swift was because Swift was "a pretty, skinny blonde." On the contrary, it was because Beyonce, unlike Kanye, recognized that someone common civility and decency doesn't dump all over someone else's moment. It speaks of a lack of civility, and if a month in India will help him become a considerate person, great.
Kanye West »
Dave Chapelle ran away to South Africa, and he didn't even humiliate himself first. He's Kanye West, bi-yatch!