Nick Cave spoke with journalist Sean O’Hagan at the London Literature Festival on Thursday (October 27) about their book Faith, Hope and Carnage. Both also answered questions from the audience, and this is what Cave said about Kanye West: “I think Kanye is the greatest artist of our generation, […] but I personally think it’s a disgrace that he lets these anti-Semitic rhetoric out.”
Originally, the question asked was not about Kanye, but about singer Morrissey, of whom Cave thinks “he wrote some of the most beautiful songs of my generation, [aber] he has views that are unacceptable in my opinion,” and so he makes the connection to Kanye West.
Referring to the rapper, who is currently on a self-destructive campaign, Nick Cave says: “I love his music. YEEZUS and those gospel songs… those gospel songs are unlike anything I’ve ever heard. But for me personally, it’s a shame that he’s making these anti-Semitic statements. Does this person need to descend from such great heights into that boring crap we’ve heard so many times? This is deeply disappointing to me, and for some time it may be difficult for me personally to listen to a Kanye record.”
Ultimately, he appreciates Kanye West’s music — and doesn’t want him “to be trapped in the worst side of his character forever.” However, it does not change the fact that West’s false claims and anti-Semitic statements are not correct.