In unlikey bromance news: it looks like Kanye West’s admiration for Dr. Ben Carson is a mutual feeling shared by the retired neurosurgeon turned Republican presidential candidate.
In a recent Vanity Fair interview, the “All Day” rapper beamed with enthusiasm as he recalled his efforts to make contact after being impressed with a speech given by Carson.
“As soon as I heard Carson speak, I tried for three weeks to get on the phone with him. I was like this is the most brilliant guy,” West said.
During his appearance on ABC’s “This Week” over the weekend, Carson told guest moderator Martha Raddatz that he had the opportunity to speak with West and found himself “extremely impressed” by the Chicago emcee.
“I did have an opportunity to talk with him. I was extremely impressed with his business acumen. He knows a lot about business,” Carson told Raddatz. “I talked to him about the possibility of maybe himself and some of the other people in pop culture doing some music that might be uplifting, that might give young women a sense of their value and young men a sense of responsibility. I think it could be a tremendous thing in our society.”
Despite West’s admiration for Carson, the rapper does not appear to be completely endorsing him or siding with the Republican Party as he’s recently rubbed elbows with and been photographed with Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton. West is also scheduled to perform at a Democratic National Committee event in San Francisco next month.
West made it clear in his Vanity Fair interview that he’s had it with the traditional two party system saying, “The idea of this separation and this gladiator battle takes away from the main focus that the world needs help and the world needs all the people in a position of power or influence to come together.”
Time will tell what if any effect West’s public admiration will have on Carson’s campaign. The latest polls place Carson a single percentage point behind front runner Donald Trump with The Don leading Carson 21% to 20%.
