Elon Musk Says Kanye West Inspires Him
Elon Musk is considered one of the world’s most influential figures, but it’s Kanye West who inspires him. During a SXSW Q&A, the SpaceX boss gushed about Yeezy.
When asked about his inspirations, Musk said: “Kanye West, obviously. And Fred Astaire. You should see my dance moves,” according to The Hollywood Reporter’s Natalie Jarvey.
Who inspires Elon Musk? “Kanye West, obviously. And Fred Astaire. You should see my dance moves."
— Natalie Jarvey (@natjarv) March 11, 2018
This isn’t the first time the Tesla leader has praised West. In 2015, he also wrote about Yeezy for the TIME 100. “The dude doesn’t believe in false modesty, and he shouldn’t,” he explained. “Kanye’s belief in himself and his incredible tenacity–he performed his first single with his jaw wired shut–got him to where he is today. And he fought for his place in the cultural pantheon with a purpose.”
The admiration goes both ways. In 2015, West explained why he admired Musk’s openness. “I love Steve Jobs, he’s my favorite person, but there’s one thing that disappoints me,” he said during an Oxford University lecture. “When Steve passed he didn’t give the ideas up. That’s kinda selfish. You know that Elon [Musk’s] like, ‘Yeah, take these ideas.’ Maybe there are companies outside of Apple that could work on them and push humanity forward.”
Over the weekend, West debuted pink hair in Jackson, Wyoming, where he is reportedly working on a musical project.