Just one day after being lambasted for interrupting Taylor Swift's acceptance speech during MTV's Video Music Awards, a remorseful Kanye West announced during his appearance on the debut of 'The Jay Leno Show' that he's going to take some time off.
When asked by Jay Leno what his late mother, Donda West - who died from complications from plastic surgery in Nov. 2007 - would have thought of his actions at the VMAs, the rapper choked up and announced he intends to take a sabbatical.
"You know, obviously, I deal with hurt and, you know, so many celebrities, they never take the time off," West responded following his extended pause. "And I've never taken the time off, just music and music and tour after tour, and I'm ashamed that my hurt caused someone else's hurt. After this, I need to just take some time off and analyze how I'm going to make it through the rest of this life, how I'm going to improve, because I am a celebrity and that's just something I'm going to have to deal with."
The 32-year-old Chicago-bred native said he hopes to be able to apologize to the 19-year-old country singer in person.
"If there's anything I can do to help Taylor in the future, or help anyone, I want to...It's hard sometimes, you know," he said.
West acknowledged he knew his actions were out of line as soon as he finished his tirade on live television.
"Soon as I gave the mic back to her and she didn't keep going," he admitted, before adding: "Dealing with the fact that I hurt someone or took anything away, you know, from a talented artist-or from anyone-because I only wanted to help people."
Leno applauded West for not canceling his appearance on his new 10pm talk show, where the '808s & Heartbreak' rapper performed 'Run This Town' alongside Jay-Z and Rihanna.
West is supposed to co-headline a tour this fall with pop star Lady Gaga. No word on whether he intends to postpone the concerts.
To read more about West's antics at the VMAs, check out 'Janet Honors Michael, Kanye West Steals VMA Moment From Newcomer Taylor Swift' in the Entertainment Newswire.
VIDEO: Watch Kanye West apologize on 'The Jay Leno Show.'
Black Music Notes Mar. 19
3/19/09: Rihanna / Chris Brown
Contrary to previous claims that Rihanna and Chris Brown reunited in the studio last month to record a new duet, record producer Polow Da Don recently confirmed that the couple recorded the newly surfaced track last year. "The reports are inaccurate," Polow's publicist, Laura Wright, told US magazine. "The duet was recorded long before the incident." According to People, the track, reportedly titled 'Bad Girl,' was intended to be on the soundtrack for 'Confessions of a Shopaholic,' but the song was eventually recorded by the Pussycat Dolls.
Frank Micelotta, Getty Images
3/19/09: Kanye West / The Dream
Seven years ago this month, music heavyweights R. Kelly and Jay-Z released their highly anticipated collaborative album 'The Best of Both Worlds.' Now it appears Kanye West and The Dream are vying to work on a similar project. "Everybody is trying to talk us into it," Dream told 'MTV News' of his and West's friends and business associates. "It was first thought of by me. I was in Miami at the time, and I gave Kanye a call and said, 'The best thing would be for me and you to do an album.'... Let's take the best of both worlds and put it on a CD and try to make something we can sell to the consumers. He says he's with it. We're gonna try to make it happen." For now, you can catch Kanye on Dream's potential third single 'Walking on the Moon,' which is featured on his newly released album 'Love vs. Money.'
Getty Images
3/19/09: The Miracles
Legendary Motown group The Miracles is the latest musical act to receive a Hollywood star on the world-renowned Walk of Fame. The 'Ooo Baby, Baby' singers were presented with the 2,381st star on March 20 by Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, President and CEO Leron Gubler. Motown founder Berry Gordy and Stevie Wonder were also on hand as guest speakers for the ceremony.
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
3/19/09: Chester Gregory
After several years of blowing audiences away on the 'Great White Way,' Broadway Star and R&B soul recording artist Chester Gregory is preparing the release of his debut album 'In Search of High Love.' The March 31 release finds the multitalented singer introducing himself as a thoughtful and sensitive songwriter blessed with a voice that captivates and demands attention. "While I've thoroughly enjoyed performing on Broadway -- eight shows a week and telling other people's amazing stories -- now it's time for me to share my own," explained Gregory. Highlights of 'In Search of High Love' include the poetic 'Clouds to the Ground,' the crossover-bound 'Say it's Over' and Jackie Wilson's soaring 1967 chart-topper 'Higher and Higher.'
Jemal Countess, WireImage
3/19/09: Sammy Davis Jr.
Altovise Davis, the widow of Rat Pack member Sammy Davis Jr. , recently died at the age of 65. Two days prior to her death, she was admitted to Los Angeles'Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after suffering a stroke. The couple, who met in 1967 on the set of the musical 'Golden Boy,' married in 1970 and remained together until Davis' untimely death of throat cancer in 1990.
Evening Standard / Getty Images
3/19/09: Earth, Wind & Fire
Iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group Earth, Wind & Fire is set to hit the road this summer for a 30-city tour beginning June 5 in Orange Beach, AL. In addition to Maurice White and company gracing the stage will be pop-rock band Chicago, which will perform a full show before joining for a final set together, according to Billboard. The tour will conclude on Aug. 1 in Lake Tahoe, NV.
Santiago Llanquin / AP
3/19/09: Kim Burrell
Gospel vocalist Kim Burrell is on deck to release her first new album in nine years titled 'No Ways Tired.' The project's title is inspired by gospel pioneer James Cleveland's classic of the same name. In addition to covering Cleveland's hit, Burrell also tapped other timeless classics including 'My Faith Looks Up to Thee,' 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus,' 'O Lamb of God,' and 'I Surrender All.' There are also a few originals. 'No Ways Tired' is set to hit stores April 7 via Shanachie Records.
Zomba
3/19/09: Mike Jones
Despite being on hiatus since the release of his debut album 'Who Is Mike Jones?' Houston's own Mike Jones is ready to make his mark on the charts once again with the release of 'The Voice.' Jones' sophomore effort is packed with some of the industry's most talented artist including, Lil' Wayne, T-Pain, Devin the Dude, Hurricane Chris and Twista. He's had recent success with his latest single 'Next To You,' which is currently number 16 on Radio and Records Rhythmic charts. "For the past four years, I have been doing a lot of restructuring, getting this record right, making sure my business is right and more," Jones said of his hiatus. "Now, I am ready to finish what I started. I'm hoping my fans will feel 'The Voice' was worth the wait." Mike Jones 'The Voice' is due in stores April 28.
Gilbert Carrasquillo, FilmMagic
3/19/09: Prince
With the recent announcement that Michael Jackson will return to the stage this summer, another influential artist is also planning to make his return. Beginning March 25, Prince will be performing on the 'Tonight Show with Jay Leno' for three consecutive nights. In addition, the 'Little Red Corvette' singer is also readying the Mar. 29 release of his two new albums 'LOtUSFLOW3R' and 'MPLSoUND.' Prince is the latest artist to promote a release through multiple late-night talk show performances. U2 also recently performed five nights in a row on the 'Late Show with David Letterman' in support of its new album 'No Line on the Horizon.'
Kevin Winter, NCLR / Getty Images
Comments: (21)
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By: ADMR on 9/15/2009 8:38AM
A Sabbatical Oh My!!! - Perhaps He will Come Out of the Closet while taking Time Off ya Know...
ENJOY!
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By: Aishley on 9/15/2009 10:54AM
ADMR you sound like a hater, instead of acknowledging the fact that Kanye has admitted he needs to take a break and deal with the passing of his mother you sound like an ass!
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By: Aishley on 9/15/2009 10:55AM
ADMR you sound like a hater. He is acknowledging the fact that he needs to deal with his pain in a better way and you bring up rumors! I hope YOU are out of the closet!
Haters SMH!
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By: Ella on 9/15/2009 12:29PM
he the victum of racism. If he was white, they'd give him a medal.
Besides, no white singer is better than a sistah, the whole awards are racist
why he apologizing to white people?
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By: JJ on 9/15/2009 2:46PM
I know your joking!
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By: BOYCOTT on 9/16/2009 12:56PM
Boycott this idiot’s music. Hit him where it’s going to hurt the most. His bank account.
I’ll never buy his music again.
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By: JENN on 9/16/2009 1:48PM
Boycott please it's not all that...but suit yourself...everyone will not follow suit.
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By: roy on 9/16/2009 2:34PM
kanye needs a rehab
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By: jewell on 10/16/2009 4:06PM
Kanye needs to have taken time off when his mother passed he has alot of anger in him. If you listen to his music since his mother's passing you can feel the pain. I don't feel this should excuse her recent behavior but let's see what happens next
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By: Curt on 9/16/2009 6:26PM
It was a bit insensitive but it wasn't as bad as people are making it seems.
The media is really having it's day with this because they are making it out to be this racial divide in our country, which I have to say has always been there.
Of course they lumped in President Barrack Obama and even Serena Williams, who has been a victim of so much racism that it's not even funny.
I love being an American more than anyone and I happen to be Black and Gay and I'm also proud of those factors as well but I know for a fact that the United States of America is the most sexist, racial and homophobic country on the planet.
We tend to masquerade on a global level as this loving everyone's differences but truthful we hate differences.
You can't forget during Katrina when Kanye looked directly into the cameras on a live broadcast and said that President George W. Bush hates Black people.
Did Kanye approval rating go up or down?
No one didn't know what to say except that Kanye was someone with courage and speaks his mind, whenever he got the opportunity to do so.
Of course, he chose to do it on stage and in front of a huge crowd. I can't say that I would be as bold but I appauled his courage.
When it comes down to music and just popular culture in general Kanye is the master. No one appreciate it more or knows more than Kanye.
With hits for many artist along with making hits for himself, he has shown and proven many times.
Let's talk about Taylor Swift. She is amazing, gifted and blessed with this talented that she honed and crafted like no other since she has been a little girl.
I'm from Reading, PA and she is basically from my hometown or close by. You know I have heard stories about her from people that went to school with her and some were flattering and others I chose not to listen because jealous is an ugly color on everyone.
However I met a radio personality (Murph from Murph and Casey/Big I105) who let me in on the 411 about Taylor. It was just like I figured, she is just a simple down home girl that was born to write and perform. Just loves music, just loves to be creativity and loves her family and her 'real' close friends.
In her short amount of time she paid her dues from doing tiny performances at carnivals and such, to now being an international star.
The one thing Murph said about her that was the selling factor for me was the fact that she was geniuenly the nicest person that he has ever met.
Watching Kanye take her glory away from her was painful but in an odd way I understood exactly what he was doing.
It wasn't a Black or White thing like the media has being claiming but Kanye was being a 'real friend' to his 'real friend'.
Kanye has been close to Beyonce for years and especially since her husband is the incredible Jay Z aka 'Jigga'.
When Kanye mother passed I remember I saw a picture of Kanye and Beyonce sitting like two good friends playing a board game, it's probably one of the most tender pictures I have ever seen. It's not showing two mega stars like they are but it's showing two friends during a crisis being 'real friends'.
What the word 'friend' means to me is someone that during good times and bad times are always going to have your back and your best in mind. A friend is someone that you can call at any time and they are never going to dismiss you or not take time out to make sure your ok.
Even in your absence they are going to make sure that they are still being your friend and stick up for you and defend you.
To Kanye, no one in that category was working harder than Beyonce because even though Kelly, Pink, Lady G. and even Taylor are amazing, no one had a year or a song like 'Single Ladies'.
This song alone spawned parodies on TV with JT and Paul Rudd on SNL but also had the Jonas Bros, getting in on the act too. Commericals and even TV shows were in on the act.
Beyonce didn't just release a few hits songs but she put out a double disc with songs and videos that were a mainstay on MTV.
You couldn't turn on MTV and not see Beyonce or hear something about Beyonce because she was their 'IT' girl.
Taylor is coming into her own on MTV because like her 'real friend' Miley and all the other girls that the media decided to lump together, they are completely taken over the world. From all genres of music to movies and magazine covers and fashion lines, I could go on and on and on. These girls are on top of their game and doing big things which no one can or will take anything from them.
I know that Beyonce can totally relate to Taylor's drive and determination and I know she tips her hat off to her.
I heard a few media outlet claim that Kanye didn't want to see the Black Pop Queen be dethroned by this Ivory Princess of Country.
Of course no one wants to lose but getting snubbed is hard for some people to handle. I don't take it well or lightly myself but you have to remember he wasn't doing this for himself but for his 'real friend'. Of course everyone has an opinion because now everyone's opinion about Kanye is just bad and wrong. He is almost always invited to award shows so that he does something out-of-character. He doesn't get invited to awards shows because of his good behavior or he the fact that he is so quiet. "Oh hell noooooooooooooooo", is something that producers of the show is praying that it's going to happen. Ok this time here Kanye picked a wrong time to voice his opinion but he was exactly right.
Taylor is my hometown girl and she truly had an amazing year musically because everything she put out was a huge hit on the country charts and pop charts and so on.
Taylor was everywhere and I mean everywhere, from every magazine to every TV outlet and show, you couldn't turn on the TV and not see Taylor. The girl was on fire and her flames aren't going out for a long time.
Taylor is probably one of the most talented people thus far in the business but she is no Beyonce.
I have heard people commenting now about how Beyonce's Bob Fosse inspired video isn't all that. I don't remember Chita Rivera or Shirley Maclaine looking that hot during their similar dance.
I just remember when that Beyonce video first came out and how everyone had an opinion and most of the responses weren't that good because they think that Beyonce loves to show off and cause a bit of a scene. Then all the haters came to their senses because that video was one of the biggest videos because it was Beyonce and two fierce dancers in the back. Rumor was one of the dancers was a man. Do you see how odd things get in the land of milk and honey.
Kanye isn't crazy or a jackass but he was just being a 'real friend' to his 'real friend', who he thought was getting snubbed.
I guarantee you if someone would have went on stage during the daytime emmys and during one of Susan Lucci/Erica Kane's big loses and called her out as being the best one in the industry it wouldn't have come any sooner. She was almost on nomination 13 before she finally won. Nominated every year but never won. Most of her peers stay back and made fun of her and then waited to she got on Dancing with the Stars and made sure she was voted of with a mini-Roast.
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