Kanye West doesn't need to tell the world he's a genius anymore—Elon Musk is doing it for him.
The "Only One" rapper has been bestowed with the honor as being one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People. Appearing in the Titans category, West has received the coveted award because of his outspoken nature! All of those rants about his creative genius seem to have been worth it.
"Kanye West would be the first person to tell you he belongs on this list," writes Tesla Motors CEO Musk, who raises a very valid point. "The dude doesn't believe in false modesty, and he shouldn't. Kanye's belief in himself and his incredible tenacity—he performed his first single with his jaw wired shut ('Thru the Wire')—got him to where he is today."
The outspoken rapper-turned-designer certainly has left his mark not only in the music world but also in the fashion world. Whether he's storming the stage to interrupt Beck or Taylor Swift or debuting his fashion line in partnership with Adidas, West is always up to something.
"He wants everybody else to do the same: to engage, question, push boundaries. Now that he's a pop-culture juggernaut, he has the platform to achieve just that," Musk notes. "He's not afraid of being judged or ridiculed in the process."
To be fair, Kim Kardashian's husband has received his share of flack, but that hasn't stopped him from doing what he does best, which is why he makes Time's list. But West has calmed his temper down since getting married...or so he says.
He recently told New York Times' fashion magazine, T, "I feel like now I have an amazing wife, a super-smart child and the opportunity to create in two major fields. Before I had those outlets, my ego was all I had."
He also revealed that he talks to his anger management doctor "all the time."
Although the SpaceX CEO explains why the "Gold Digger" performer made the list, the co-anchors of NBC's Today still seemed a little surprised Thursday morning. But Carson Daly said regardless of your opinion of West, he has made waves.
"Like him or not he's certainly making an influence," Daly said.
(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)